Holy Family (Pulacan)
| Seed Family for Rebirth in Holy Fire (Seed Family) | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | SFRHF, SF |
| Classification | New religious movement |
| Orientation | Eschatological |
| Scripture | The Word of Lord Fire |
| Huetetateopixcatl | Tlaaquiani Tecpilconetl |
| Region | Pulacan Pulau Keramat Zacapican |
| Origin | 1 May 1994 Ghanzi, Pulacan |
| Members | Unknown, est. 2,500 |
| Other name(s) |
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The Seed Family for Rebirth in Holy Fire, commonly shortened to the Seed Family, is a new religious movement centered in Pulacan. It was founded by Huetetateopixcatl (Great Father-Priest) Tlaaquiani Tecpilconetl in 1994 in the city of Ghanzi under the name "World Renaissance Society." Tecpilconetl continues to run the group to this day, though it is suspected that he has multiple spouses and mistresses whom contribute significantly to day-to-day administrative operations.
The group's purported beliefs are based on Tecpilconetl's book and holy scripture, The Word of Lord Fire. These teachings are mainly based on N'nhivara beliefs on purity, but their apocalyptic bend is explained in terms of "doomsday cycles" from Cozauism and some ideas on actualizing the apocalyptics from Sarpetic religions. The movement itself is not well-known outside of Pulacan, as it deliberately maintains a high degree of closeness and secrecy. What attention the Seed Family has received is overhwelmingly negative, with many criticizing its attempts to influence society, business, and even government toward its eschatological aims. Some members have even been accused of committing violent acts against high-profile detractors, though this has never been proven conclusively. Some sources have labeled the Family as a "dangerous cult," and it has repeatedly failed to achieve official registration as a religious group in Pulacan.
History
Due to the high level of secrecy practiced by the group, the exact circumstances of its founding are unclear. According to the group's own statements, founder Tlaaquiani Tecpilconetl declared the group in the railway station square of Ghanzi on the 1st of May, 1994. At the time of his announcement, it is asserted that a dry lightning storm formed and sent bolts into the city, setting some debris ablaze. This story is highly dubious, as no such storm was ever recorded on that day, but nonetheless features heavily in Seed Family material as a sign. The group was originally founded as the "World Renaissance Society" as a proselytizing group. Printed material and statements from this time reveal an intent to spread the message as far and wide as possible, with early members being set up as a kind of missionary priesthood. The group gradually expanded, especially in the north where its N'nhivara elements found the most appeal, and in the city of Ghanzi. The city was the worst-hit by a general Pulatec economic decline in the 1990s, and many people were thus attracted to the message of coming rebirth and redemption. Despite this growth, the group failed to attain official "registered religion" status from the Pulatec central government when it applied in 1997.
Following its first rejection, the Society suffered a social implosion and many new members were either turned away or forced to prove their utmost loyalty as the group rebranded. The summer of 1997 saw the first mentions of the "Seed Movement" and "Seed Family" in print as group spokespeople began spreading new forms of gospel. Far from promoting salvation and a widespread gospel as before, only early members and those who proved themselves "sufficiently worthy" were allowed to stay in the group. This group became increasingly insular, as Tecpilconetl explained that their rejection was only proof that the end times was near. The chosen few were now an elite, world-rejecting cadre of "Elect" who were tasked with bringing about a so-called "spiritual purge" via performing acts to hasten the coming of a fiery renewal and "cleansing" of the world's souls. This description would only heighten the worries of those in government and academia keeping track of the group, with the Seed Family now receiving more direct attention from select observers. Tshipe Monare, a professor of sociology from Mtsanga Ozeros University, took an extended "research sabbatical" in summer of 1997, managing to join the group incognito. Over the following 18 months, Monare conducted a clandestine sociological study on the group, creating one of the first extensive insider narratives of the Family. According to his observations, the rhetoric of the group grew increasingly antinomian and violent at an increasing pace as the group shrank; far from fracturing the group, the growing intensity of the rhetoric helped to filter out stragglers and reveal the so-called "true Elect." He also described techniques of manipulation used by Tecpilconetl and other elders on newer members to keep them unquestioningly loyal. Members were slowly deprived of outside information, moved into communal housing, and placed in social situations that encouraged groupthink, gaslighting, and self-correction. Monare's study was later turned into the book The Death of Rebirth. While the work at best straddled the line of scientific ethics, his work has nonetheless become one of the most exhaustive and insightful views into the thought processes
Beliefs
The Seed Family's beliefs are primarily focused on doomsday teaching. Various cultural ideas and practices from religions with influence in Pulacan's history and society are cherrypicked piecemeal to fit the Family's central narrative. Its two major doctrinal influences are the N'nhivara ideas on personal salvation and the Cozauist beliefs on millenarian cycles. The group is most often characterized by academics as an eschatological offshoot of the Dwi sect of N'nhivara, though many of its beliefs lead others to assert it as entirely alien from the mainstream sect of Dwi.
Secrecy
It is extremely difficult to establish hard facts about the Seed Family. Besides the testimony of former members and official group-owned publications, it is nearly impossible to observe the group objectively. As such, opinions differ wildly on the group's motivations and internal circumstances. Former members often speak of ritualized abuse by the elders in the group, with humiliation and mortification practices common as well as group punishments and even corporal punishment.
Controversy
Due to a variety of factors, the Seed Family has been embroiled in numerous controversies throughout the years. The first major issue for the group came in June of 1997, shortly after their first application for religious recognition from the Pulatec government was rejected.
Another, more unusual controversy came in 2011, with the macuaollamaliztli team MOLC Ytzac Tlalocan Priests. The Priests franchise as a whole had been performing poorly for nearly a decade, and were seen as the worst in the nation's major league. The team was widely viewed by Tlalocan residents as an embarassment and a blemish on their otherwise-prestigious city, and the owner was under threat of financial investigation for poor team handling. At this time, a local minor businessman named X created a plan to purchase the Priests, proposing major changes including new coaches described as "promising amateurs" to introduce "creative management" intended to increase the entertainment value for residents.