A Topical Look at Religion: Molly Leach and David Jones highlight lesser known 'other denominations' which have followers in the Channel Islands
(Jersey Topic 1967)
Subud
In both Jersey and Guernsey there are thriving Subud groups. The teaching of this cult is best illustrated by the events which happened in the life of the well-known film star, Eva Bartok.
Ten years ago she was seriously ill in Holly-wood and was told by doctors that she might not survive the birth of her baby. She was advised to have a serious operation and she came to England for it.
Miss Bartok telephoned from Hollywood to a friend in England and said she would like to talk to him about preparing herself for death.
The friend, Mr. John G. Bennett, scientist and writer was, at that time organising the visit to the United Kingdom of a Javanese Guru, or teacher, of a new religious cult called Subud.
The Guru, Muhammad Subuh, was teaching a new way of worshipping God. He claimed that in 1925 when he was a 24-year-old local government official at Semerang, a town in Middle Java, he was walking under the open sky one night when he saw high above his head a ball of brilliant light. It descended and entered his body through his head. The vibrations produced in his body by this experience were the first indications of the working of a cosmic power which he later passed on to his followers. He claims tkat the ball of light was seen for miles around and was not a subjective hallucination.
For three years Subuh (called Bapak-Father by his followers) experienced a similar occurrence—witnessed by other members of his family.
On a night in June, 1933, Subuh underwent an experience which his followers say it would be wrong to even attempt to describe. Through this he knew he must pass on the contact which he had with Higher Forces and he began to teach and travel.
In 1957 he was to visit Coombe Springs, a house in Kingston-on-Thames, bought by his English disciples.
Eva Bartok came to England and two surgeons urged her to have an operation without delay or there may be fatal complica¬tions. If she did have it she would lose her baby and all possibility of motherhood. Arrangements were made for her to go into a London hospital.
However, she first went to see Mr. Bennett at Coombe Springs and he urged Pak Subuh to see her.
Subuh taught that after his followers had been psychically "opened" by him they would be able to do an exercise called the "Latihan" during which great forces would pour through them. It could drive out mental, physical and spiritual evils. He could delegate the power of "opening" to some of his helpers. Women must open women and men open men, and the exercise of the Latihan is always practised with the sexes segregated.
Pak Subuh's wife, Ibu, "opened" Eva Bartok. Then the following day as Miss Bartok lay on her bed in great pain, Subuh, his wife, Mr. Bennett and a few friends entered her bedroom. Mr. Bennett says "The bedroom was charged with tremendous energy—we all felt the pain and the fear of the sick woman, as though it were part of ourselves. After 40 minutes Subuh left without speaking. Eva Bartok was in great pain all that day, but Bapak said "The crisis is over, she will not need the operation." On the following day Eva Bartok began to improve. She recovered completely and had a healthy baby girl, Deanna, four months later".
Today Miss Bartok is one of Subuh's most loyal followers.
Both Jersey and Guernsey have Subud Groups.
Followers of the cult say that when the Latihan is practised, men sometimes howl like wolves; run on all fours growling, howl and shriek. Sometimes they prey, chant in strange languages, sing or weep.
Pak Subuh says that when the Holy Ghost descended, in the form of tongues of flame, on Christ's disciples, they shouted and howled so that the inkeeper said of them "These men are mad".
(Jersey Topic 1967)
Subud
In both Jersey and Guernsey there are thriving Subud groups. The teaching of this cult is best illustrated by the events which happened in the life of the well-known film star, Eva Bartok.
Ten years ago she was seriously ill in Holly-wood and was told by doctors that she might not survive the birth of her baby. She was advised to have a serious operation and she came to England for it.
Miss Bartok telephoned from Hollywood to a friend in England and said she would like to talk to him about preparing herself for death.
The friend, Mr. John G. Bennett, scientist and writer was, at that time organising the visit to the United Kingdom of a Javanese Guru, or teacher, of a new religious cult called Subud.
The Guru, Muhammad Subuh, was teaching a new way of worshipping God. He claimed that in 1925 when he was a 24-year-old local government official at Semerang, a town in Middle Java, he was walking under the open sky one night when he saw high above his head a ball of brilliant light. It descended and entered his body through his head. The vibrations produced in his body by this experience were the first indications of the working of a cosmic power which he later passed on to his followers. He claims tkat the ball of light was seen for miles around and was not a subjective hallucination.
For three years Subuh (called Bapak-Father by his followers) experienced a similar occurrence—witnessed by other members of his family.
On a night in June, 1933, Subuh underwent an experience which his followers say it would be wrong to even attempt to describe. Through this he knew he must pass on the contact which he had with Higher Forces and he began to teach and travel.
In 1957 he was to visit Coombe Springs, a house in Kingston-on-Thames, bought by his English disciples.
Eva Bartok came to England and two surgeons urged her to have an operation without delay or there may be fatal complica¬tions. If she did have it she would lose her baby and all possibility of motherhood. Arrangements were made for her to go into a London hospital.
However, she first went to see Mr. Bennett at Coombe Springs and he urged Pak Subuh to see her.
Subuh taught that after his followers had been psychically "opened" by him they would be able to do an exercise called the "Latihan" during which great forces would pour through them. It could drive out mental, physical and spiritual evils. He could delegate the power of "opening" to some of his helpers. Women must open women and men open men, and the exercise of the Latihan is always practised with the sexes segregated.
Pak Subuh's wife, Ibu, "opened" Eva Bartok. Then the following day as Miss Bartok lay on her bed in great pain, Subuh, his wife, Mr. Bennett and a few friends entered her bedroom. Mr. Bennett says "The bedroom was charged with tremendous energy—we all felt the pain and the fear of the sick woman, as though it were part of ourselves. After 40 minutes Subuh left without speaking. Eva Bartok was in great pain all that day, but Bapak said "The crisis is over, she will not need the operation." On the following day Eva Bartok began to improve. She recovered completely and had a healthy baby girl, Deanna, four months later".
Today Miss Bartok is one of Subuh's most loyal followers.
Both Jersey and Guernsey have Subud Groups.
Followers of the cult say that when the Latihan is practised, men sometimes howl like wolves; run on all fours growling, howl and shriek. Sometimes they prey, chant in strange languages, sing or weep.
Pak Subuh says that when the Holy Ghost descended, in the form of tongues of flame, on Christ's disciples, they shouted and howled so that the inkeeper said of them "These men are mad".
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