Voting Station

Guy Warren Ballard

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (July 28, 1878-December 29, 1939)
    Born in Burlington, Iowa
    Founder of the I Am 'Activity' religion
    Believed in reincarnation and taught that the life-death-rebirth cycle could be overcome by becoming an 'Ascended Master'
    One becomes an 'Ascended Master' by following his teachings which he learned from the mysterious and mythical Count St Germain
    Aided in his work by his wife Edna
    Also known as Godfre Ray King; his wife sometimes went by Lotus

Why he might be annoying:

    He believed in reincarnation.
    He ripped off much of his material from Theosophy.
    Like many charlatans over the last few hundred years, he claimed to know Count St. Germain.
    He was an engineer by trade with no formal training in theology, philosophy or history.
    Like most people who claim to have been reincarnated, he claimed to have been someone important in his previous lives, specifically Richard the Lionheart and George Washington.
    He claimed that Jesus and many other important people throughout history were 'Ascended Masters' although none of them said so.
    Before he died he taught that as an 'Ascended Master' he would escape death, after he died his followers taught that he didn't just die but 'ascended.'
    A lot of today's goofy New Age stuff is derived from his teachings.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Although they accept donations, neither he nor the present day I AM 'Activity' organization charges for their work.
    After his death his wife and son repeatedly successfully fought US government/IRS harassment.
    His teachings (a mishmash of New Age and eastern religions) are harmless, against bad stuff like prejudice and violence and for good stuff like treating people right.
    At the height of the Great Depression, they had close to a million followers and still have over three hundred chapters in the United States.
    He fought in World War One.

Credit: tom_jeffords


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 92.86% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 26 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 48 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying