What Cult Is This?

[terpkristin]

I keep getting this junk mail sent to my folks' house. I have no idea what group it's from, or why I keep getting it, or what mailing list my name got put on that I keep getting it, was wondering if anybody else has seen it and/or knew where it came from....

It comes with some letter that I think I threw out, and includes a book. The book is called "ProEvo: Pro Evolution -- Guidline for an Age of Joy." The only other writing on the cover is Tomotom and Asama, on the top and bottom of the cover, respectively. So this book is about 7ish" x 3.5ish", and about 140 pages long. Thusly, it cost somebody money to send it once, much less three or four times...

The title page has the same information but also has "Asama AG Publishers CH-7001 Chur, Switzerland." The copyright page includes:

"The author (1911-2001) studid first agriculture and then economics. He had a successful career as a business man and business consultatn. In search of the origin and meaning of existence, he discovered in the 1950's a new, simple and reliable guideline for human thought and action. This guideline is oriented on cosmic evolution. Scientists have termed it the 'evolutionary ethic.'
The author, beginning in 1971, published books about his discovery under his own name and pseudonyms. The titles included Lebensrichtig, Age of Joy, On the Side of Life, Zeitalter de Freude and ProEvo. The editions now available are ProEvo in German and this English translation of it.


The chapters include:
Part I: In Search of the Origin and Meaning of Existence
Where are we?
What are we?
How did we come into existence?
Are we a product of chance?
What is the purpose of our lives?
How do we recognize the rightness and worth of our thoughts and actions?
How can we consciously create joy and well-being?

Part II: Aspects of the New View of the World and Life
The energy-organism of the cosmos--the univesal unity
Evolution-drive
Regulating structures
Living in joy

Part III: Examples of Applying the New Insights--Including Clarification of Questions and Enigmas that Have Long Occupied Mankind
Consciousness
Are we immortal?
Do we have an "independent" mind?
The limits of knowledge
The limits of power
Priority
Wisdom
Will
Conscience
Morality
Beauty
Faith
Prophecies
Soul
Guilt
Sin and crime
Remorse
Reincarnation
As if led by an invisible force
Fear
Freedom
Culture
Steadfastness
Human worth
Masters of life
Constant, conscious improvement
Human society
Education
Art
Law
The economy
Death
Some questions for a weekly examination of one's own behavior
Suggestions for readers who would like to meditate occasionally on themes from this book
Some suggested themes for meditation

As if this wasn't all weird enough, the "reviews" on the back are sort of...odd:
**"...an incomparable guide." (Prof. Dr. L.K., world-famous scientist)
**"What the author has perceived has the character of a natural law." (Dr. W.S., university professor)
**"The principle to guide human thought and action is convincing." (P.H. Chinese scientist)
**"The author should make the book available everywhere,--so many people would be helped." (A large country's institution for press, books, films, television and radio)
**"The book is great." (Dr. J.H., university professor)
**"The book may be a catalyst for the process of human renewal." (Dr. H.D.W., physics)
**"I will give the book to my friends, enemies and politicians." (Dr. B.M.S., university professor)

Seriously, that this was sent to me once was weird. That I've received it at least 3 times is bordering on odd. The last time I got it, I kept it. I figured I'd read it at some point and see what crackpot theories this cult (or whatever) is preaching...granted, it came a few months ago and has been sitting on the floor next to one of my couches for all that time.

Any idea what it is?

/tk

[Desnudo]

I think the net is they would like to transfer a large amount of your money from you to them.

[Greyroofoo]

Ya know, I've been looking for a good cult to follow!

[Joe]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[JonInMiddleGA]

Dunno yet, but you aren't alone in getting it in the mail.

Check these out (found 'em by Googling part of the book title)

http://missourilovescompany.blogspot.com/
scroll to the bottom

http://martygrossman.blogspot.com/
scroll down to the entry of January 29th

http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/9950
this is the thread & inquiry referenced by the Missouri blogger

http://commadotcomma.net/blog/2006/01/26/a-vewy-suspicious-mystery/#comments
this one was left on somebody's desk

http://www.nikchick.com/2004_08_01_pastblog.html
mentions getting unsolicited mail, including this book, notable mostly because it's one of the oldest references I've found

http://www.carfreeuniverse.org/Members/colin/tgcbp
And then there's a website that not only mentions the book but actually quotes from it and cites it as an inspiration for some sort of "catheral building project"

[TroyF]

Babelfish translation of the author from the books web page:

The author (1911 - 2001) studied agriculture and economic science. As economic adviser and an entrepreneur he was successful.
On the search for origin and sense of the existence he discovered a new, simple and safe standard for human thinking and acting in the fifties. This standard oriented itself at the cosmic development. For the life of the author its discovery was decisive. It brought it joy, fulfilment and optimal results.
From gratitude, in order to make for its fellow men this ideas accessible, it created a donation and published its discovery, for which it met much agreement.
All incomes from the sales of this book are used for the further spreading of its ideas.

-----------------------------------------------------

Figures. A good cult opens up and I'm not invited. Damnit.

[MacroGuru]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I can say it definately isn't from the Mormon church,it looks like Jehovah's Witness information

[AlexB]

I keep getting this junk mail sent to my folks' house. I have no idea what group it's from, or why I keep getting it, or what mailing list my name got put on that I keep getting it, was wondering if anybody else has seen it and/or knew where it came from....

It comes with some letter that I think I threw out, and includes a book. The book is called "ProEvo: Pro Evolution -- Guidline for an Age of Joy."

(snip)

/tk

Wow - Konami go to new heights of marketing pressure :D

[stevew]

If there is a watchtower on the back it's the jahovahs witness's

[FrogMan]

Wow - Konami go to new heights of marketing pressure :D

that was my first thought too, like "Woah, they really know you love soccer and they have found some weird way of getting you to buy the game" :D

FM

[terpkristin]

No watchtower.

I think it might be an Eastern thing...the meditation and such make me think so, anyway...

Ah well, I'm not sending them money. But, TroyF, if you want to join, you can get the book from ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ProEvolution-Guideline-for-an-Age-of-Joy-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ4626014495QQcategoryZ378QQcmdZViewItem

Also, this guy has referenced it in some paper on "An American Ethical Dilemma." He's fairly well-educated, "Jim Malley is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy at Central Connecticut State University. He is also Chair of the Ethics Committee for the Connecticut Counseling Association." http://www.ccamain.com/pdf/ethical_dilemma.pdf

Still don't know what to make of it, but for now, it's just sitting on my coffee table. Hey, at least it's moved from the floor almost under my couch. ;)

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

No watchtower.

I think it might be an Eastern thing...the meditation and such make me think so, anyway...

Ah well, I'm not sending them money. But, TroyF, if you want to join, you can get the book from ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ProEvolution-Guideline-for-an-Age-of-Joy-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ4626014495QQcategoryZ378QQcmdZViewItem

Also, this guy has referenced it in some paper on "An American Ethical Dilemma." He's fairly well-educated, "Jim Malley is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy at Central Connecticut State University. He is also Chair of the Ethics Committee for the Connecticut Counseling Association." http://www.ccamain.com/pdf/ethical_dilemma.pdf

Still don't know what to make of it, but for now, it's just sitting on my coffee table. Hey, at least it's moved from the floor almost under my couch. ;)

/tk

TK...you now have a quest: start a website to figure out WTF this is and connect people who have received the book and make sure that it's #1 on google when you search for all the terms surrounding the book.