{"product_id":"the-allure-of-immortality-an-american-cult-a-florida-swamp-and-a-renegade-prophet","title":"The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet","description":"Wall Street Journal’s Five Best Books About Cults\n\nThe true story of cult leader Cyrus Teed and his hollow earth theory\n\nFor five days in December 1908 the body of Cyrus Teed lay in a bathtub at a beach house just south of Fort Myers, Florida. His followers, the Koreshans, waited for signs that he was coming back to life. They watched hieroglyphics emerge on his skin and observed what looked like the formation of a third arm. They saw his belly fall and rise with breath, even though his swollen tongue sealed his mouth. As his corpse turned black, they declared that their leader was transforming into the Egyptian god Horus. Teed was a charismatic and controversial guru who at the age of 30 had been \"illuminated\" by an angel in his electro-alchemical laboratory. At the turn of the twentieth century, surrounded by the marvels of the Second Industrial Revolution, he proclaimed himself a prophet and led 200 people out of Chicago and into a new age. Or so he promised.\n\nThe Koreshans settled in a mosquito-infested scrubland and set to building a communal utopia inside what they believed was a hollow earth--with humans living on the inside crust and the entire universe contained within. According to Teed’s socialist and millennialist teachings, if his people practiced celibacy and focused their love on him, he would return after death and they would all become immortal.\n\nWas Teed a visionary or villain, savior or two-bit charlatan? Why did his promises and his theory of \"cellular cosmogony\" persuade so many?\n\nNow comes the bombshell news that David Koresh, apocalyptic leader of the Waco Branch Davidians, plagiarized Teed, and did so unwittingly. Released on the 30th anniversary of the deadly events in Waco, this edition of The Allure of Immortality includes a preface about this astonishing discovery. In this book, Lyn Millner weaves the many bizarre strands of Teed's life and those of his followers into a riveting story of angels, conmen, angry husbands, yellow journalism, and ultimately, hope.\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 0813080290\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: GBV.0813080290.A\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Acceptable\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Millner, Lyn\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: This book is in acceptable condition and may have highlighting and or writing throughout. The actual cover image may not match the stock photo, dust jacket may be damaged or missing. Book may show internal and or external wear on spine or cover and may be slightly skewed or have creased pages. This is a used book so codes may be invalid or accompanying media may be missing. May be an Ex library book with stickers and stamps.  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Good Books Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50582472786225,"sku":"GBV.0813080290.A","price":6.65,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0914\/3730\/2065\/files\/skuimage_96a21028-7ef8-474e-b5a8-1c963a320e43.jpg?v=1736967922","url":"https:\/\/goodbookscompany.org\/products\/the-allure-of-immortality-an-american-cult-a-florida-swamp-and-a-renegade-prophet","provider":"Good Books Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}