Creativity (religion)
Creativity is a White nationalist, pantheistic religion.
It was founded by Ben Klassen (1918 – 1993) as the Church of the Creator in 1973. Creativity is now promoted by at least two organizations: the Creativity Alliance and the Creativity Movement.
Creativity rejects a supernatural while affirming a pantheist view of nature, asserting that "everything is in nature" and defining it as "the whole cosmos, the total universe, including its millions of natural laws through space and time. The term "Creator" does not refer to a supernatural being, but to adherents of Creativity and the White race (which is credited with the creation of "all worthwhile culture and civilization"). Creators do not believe in a supernatural afterlife, believing "immortality" to be genetic continuation. They believe that they should view life and death on Earth in a "rational, fearless manner," concentrating on life's positive aspects.
Whereas Ben Klassen was classified by some as an atheist and Creativity has sometimes been labelled atheistic in the press, Klassen rejected the term, arguing that atheism lacks a "positive creed and program" to replace the Abrahamic religions. It has been recognized as a religion in various court cases. It has ordained ministers, sacraments, ceremonies, and holidays.
Leftist Wikipedia and the Southern Poverty Law Center dubiously labels the movement as "neo-Nazi", which Klassen rejected, but there was no fundamental incompatibility with at least some forms of National Socialism, and some stated National Socialist have been members or otherwise associated, which opponents cite as guilt by association. Wikipedia also makes many dubious claims regarding the movement, often lacking even a claimed source.
The movement opposes illegal activity and violence. The member handbook threatens expulsion from the church for members who commit crimes or encourage others to do so. Regardless, leftist Wikipedia lists some real or claimed crimes by some associated individuals as guilt by association. See also Church of the Creator: SPLC lawsuit and Matthew F. Hale.
