Psychic Dictatorship in America [Paperback]

Gerald B. Bryan (Author), Talita Paolini (Foreword), Kenneth Paolini (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2000

Psychic Dictatorship in America?

It can’t happen here? Think again.

In the 1930s, a group called the Mighty I AM swept upwards of a million Americans into its nationalist fervor under the banner of the “Ascended Master” Saint Germain. Created and led by the charismatic Guy and Edna Ballard, the I AM movement brought the concept of Ascended Masters to mainstream America. In Psychic Dictatorship in America, former member Gerald Bryan reveals:

• The fascist roots of the organization.
• Guy Ballard’s con man background.
• Sources of plagiarized work.
• Guy and Edna Ballard’s outrageous tales of masters and magic.
• How the Ballards extracted money from their followers.
• Teachings on sex, animals, America, and enemies of the group.
• Decrees of hatred and death.
• The Ballards’ fascination with the White House and their belief that Guy Ballard was George Washington reembodied.
• How the promise of the Ascension was used to lure followers into total subjugation to the will of the Ballards . . . and much, much more.

This candid, engaging book is filled with detail. It gives you a ringside seat to observe one of the strangest movements to captivate the minds and hearts of Americans.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Paolini International LLC (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096662131X
• ISBN-13: 978-0966621310
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,871,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars more to it, April 27, 2009

By 

Joe P. Szimhart (Birdsboro, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psychic Dictatorship in America (Paperback)

In the early 1980s I interviewed Gerald Bryan's widow at her home. By her account he was a kind-hearted man with a yearning to find truth. G Bryan was a chiropractor who dabbled with the I AM beliefs until he noted the extensive harm the Ballard's perpetrated not only through their wild claims about channeling St Germain and the power of I AM decrees, but also for leaving behind so many broken families and financially and psychologically damaged ex-members.

Bryan addressed these issues in pamphlets he distributed himself then compiled into a self-published book. Sure, this was not academically peer-reviewed scholarship but the evidence to support what he wrote is there if one cares to look. Every Ballard plagiarism he cited I have confirmed on my own. During the late 1970s I knew many I AM members and read every one of their books as well as dozens of I AM "Voices." In my view Bryan could have gone much further in deconstructing this quasi-fascist Theosophy sect had he the resources. His book has been a blessing to all who yearn for a clearer idea of just what was behind the Ballards and their bizarre movement.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy this is back in print, August 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Psychic Dictatorship in America (Paperback)

After many years out of print, I applaud the publisher putting Psychic Dictatorship in America back into print. Without Gerald Bryan's book, the history of the Mighty I AM would be lost. Unfortunately, history has gotten repeated over and over again with the continuation of belief in the cockamamie ideas espoused by the Ballards and the Mighty I AM.

Psychic Dictatorship in America is a sometimes hilarious, incredible, and sad story of how an out-of-work broke couple decided to start their own religion and following of sycophants who jumped when they said jump.

It's always amazing to me the credulity of believers who swallow this pap.

Jim Rizzo

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the ages, August 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Psychic Dictatorship in America (Paperback)

When I found this book was available, I ordered it quickly. I had heard some of the stories and have a couple of Gerald Bryan's tracts that he handed out in the 1940s. These tracts were assembled into Psychic Dictatorship in America.

This book is like a 2 x 4 on the head in its effect on the psyche. How do people get swallowed into to these movements? What's been done in the name of religion is to be remembered.

If you read this book, I highly recommend as companion works, 400 Years of Imaginary Friends, Madame Blavatsky's Baboon, Ancient Wisdom Revealed, Purely for Prophet, and Lambs to Slaughter.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Kala Ardis