Struck by blue lightning

This is the third pamphlet in a series criticizing the teachings of Guy Ballard and his wife Edna Ballard, leaders of a bizarre metaphysical cult known as "The Mighty I AM Activity". The cult experienced a fleeting amount of popularity and notoriety in the United States during the 1930's and 1940's. Little seems to be known about the author, one Gerald Barbee Bryan. Judging by his books and pamphlets against the Ballards, he was at one point a student of metaphysical ideas such as New Thought and Theosophy, which made him interested in the I AM teachings. However, Bryan quickly realized that the Ballards were cultists, and he then devoted considerable time exposing and critiquing their message. Later, Bryan must have become a more mainline Christian. At least, his magnum opus "Psychic Dictatorship in America" (published in 1940) suggests that much.

"The I AM Doctrine of Mr G W Ballard" attacks the more curious teachings of Guy and Edna Ballard. Thus, the Ballards believed that animals were created by black magicians, that the colour red is evil, and that "entities" constantly attacks the faithful. This makes psychic warfare necessary. The cult devoted considerable time to "decreeing" that its enemies be killed, destroyed and "blasted" by "the blue lightning". They also had an apocalyptic mentality in general. Bryan is surprisingly patient when explaining why these notions are erroneous or dangerous, according to both the Bible and various occult teachings. The pamphlet is obviously directed at Guy and Edna Ballard's followers, or people who might conceivably be interested in their ideas. One aspect not mentioned in the pamphlet is the similarity between the I AM cult and Pelley's Nazi group Silver Shirts of America. My guess is that Bryan wasn't aware of the connection at the time of writing. He expounds on it at length in his later book, "Psychic Dictatorship in America".

I'm not sure who would be interested in this material today. Defectors from the Church Universal and Triumphant? I don't know how successful Bryan might have been in his endeavours, but the Ballardites apparently bought copies of his works and burned them under ritual forms...

I suppose they were struck by the blue lightning.