Niscience

The Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience, Inc., headquartered in Glendale, California, was co-founded in 1953 by Ann Ree Colton and her husband Jonathan Murro.{{cite web |title= About the Founders: Ann Ree Colton and Jonathan Murro |url= http://www.niscience.org/founders.html |website= niscience.org |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 24 March 2014}}{{cite book|title=Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3274100116.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924170716/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-3274100116.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-09-24|year=2009}} The Niscience website states that it is a “non-profit religious and educational foundation.” The word “niscience” means knowing.{{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/ |title=Niscience |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}{{fcn|date=September 2023}}

The Niscience website states that Niscience is based upon the teachings of "Jesus, the Bible, and other sacred scriptures of the East and the West.{{cite web |url= http://www.niscience.org/about.html |title= Niscience: The Next Step |website= niscience.org |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 24 March 2014}}

“It is a renaissance faith that blends nearly all facets of humanity, religion, science, the creative arts and philosophy.” {{cite news |last=Moore |first=Jean |title="Niscience Religion Starts Here" |newspaper= Lansing State Journal |date= 23 November 1985}}

The first NIscience book, written by Ann Ree Colton, Islands of Light, was published in 1953. In 1957 property was purchased on Colorado St. in Glendale, California, where the Foundation is still located.

The Foundation's credo is: “To inspire others, to create, and to serve God.” Its motto is “Christ for this Age.” {{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/ |title=Niscience |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}{{fcn|date=September 2023}} The front wall of the foundation property reads: Religion, Philosophy, Science, and the Creative Arts.

Niscience is a ministry training school “sustained by the theme of participation; each member is given the opportunity to qualify to become a Lay Minister. At present the majority of members are active participants in the Lay Ministry.”{{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/ |title=Niscience |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}{{fcn|date=September 2023}}

Services are held in “The Chapel of the Jesus Ethic”, which was built in 1965.{{cite book|last=Wilson |first=Anastasia | title=The Early Years of Niscience | date=2002 |publisher=OM Publishing, CA}}

After Colton's death in 1984 Murro ran the foundation until he committed suicide in November 1991. After his death the Los Angeles Times, describing Niscience as "an obscure Glendale-based religious group", wrote that "several former members--including one who had sat on the board of directors--recently sent open letters to church adherents, calling Niscience an oppressive, deceptive cult, and urging members to leave. Membership reportedly numbers several hundred."{{cite news |last= Kazmin |first= Amy Louise |title= Leader's suicide stuns church : Some Niscience Foundation members say minister was grieving over charges he led a cult and stole money |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-14-gl-2008-story.html |access-date= 24 March 2014 |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date= 14 November 1991}}

Since that time, Niscience has operated under the guidance of an Administrator, appointed by the Board of Directors, a Board of Directors who are elected from its membership, and its ministers.

During their lifetimes, the founders published 26 books: 17 by Colton, 6 co-authored by Colton and Murro, and 3 by Murro.{{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/ |title=Niscience |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}{{fcn|date=September 2023}}

They established White Paper lessons, monthly materials providing daily instruction.

A monthly magazine, Agape, contains articles by its members along with selected writings from Colton and Murro.{{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/copy-of-home-study|title=Home Study|publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}

As noted in its website, creativity is encouraged. Colton and Murro produced many paintings, mosaics, sculptures, and songs. All members are “urged to contribute his artistic and spiritual gifts to the creation of murals, mosaic-tile windows and other works of art.”{{cite journal|title=Art that speaks to all of man |last=Brager |first=Ruth |journal = California Living |publisher=Los Angeles Herald Examiner |date=24 December 1967}} The creativity extends to pleasance (pronounced pla-zance), creative dance to the writings of Colton and scripture,{{cite journal|last=Brager |first=Ruth |title=Bringing the scripture to life |newspaper= Glendale Newspress |date= December 22, 1980}} an annual New Song Night, when songs by members are presented by the choir, and an annual Art Show, where members creative projects are exhibited. Many of the songs are available on CD.{{cite web |url=https://www.niscience.org/bookstore|title=Bookstore |publisher= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience |access-date= 2 January 2023}}

Hundreds of Colton's and Murro's talks and darshans are preserved on CD and DVD formats. Some may be purchased, while a few are available to watch on its YouTube channel.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |url= http://www.niscience.org |title= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience website}}
• {{cite news |last=Moore |first=Jean |title="Niscience Religion Starts Here" |date=November 23, 1985 |newspaper=Lansing State Journal}}
• {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Anastasia | title=The Early Years of Niscience | date=2002 |publisher=OM Publishing, CA}}
• {{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-11-we-309-story.html |title= Dancer's movements express her anguish: Arts: Former cult member Donna Sternberg will appear in the premiere of a work based on her painful break with a New Age religious group |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date= 11 June 1992 |last= Biederman |first= Patricia Ward}}
• {{cite news |title= Art that speaks to all of man |work = California Living |publisher=Los Angeles Herald Examiner |date= 24 December 1967}}
• {{cite news |last=Brager |first=Ruth |title= Bringing the scripture to life |newspaper= Glendale Newspress |date= 22 December 1980}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.niscience.org/bookstore |title= Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience website}}
• {{cite news |title= Art that speaks to all of man |work = California Living |publisher=Los Angeles Herald Examiner |date=December 24, 1967}}
• {{cite news |last=Brager |first=Ruth |title= Bringing the scripture to life |newspaper= Glendale Newspress |date= December 22, 1980}}

Category:Christian new religious movements