From Kelpius to the Rod of Iron: Cults and New Religious Movements in Pennsylvania
Parkway Central Library 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesThe state of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia are home to a diverse array of churches and religious organizations. This program will outline the history of some of the most famous religious monuments of our region. We will begin in the 17th century with the figure of Johannes Kelpius, a German Pietist who established an apocalyptic religious community in the Wissahickon Valley. We will then move to the 19th century to examine the Theosophical Society, a new religion that merged East and West, whose United Lodge is still located in Center City. We will conclude by discussing the Iron