236:" popularized years later. Entrance to the commune was extremely selective. Potential members were expected to attend the Growth Coop for several months, interact with other Keristans at potluck volleyball and during newspaper distribution, and socialize with various BFIC families. This intense mutual-selection process included months of transitional celibacy. Starting in Fall 1986, it included screening for AIDS/HIV before joining a sleeping schedule. By 1987 there was no celibacy period, but three months of transitional safer sex and quarterly HIV testing for the duration. A more controversial policy was men being required to undergo a vasectomy in order to join. That policy was overturned a year before the New Tribe ended.
285:("enhanced awareness of sensation, perception, bodily feelings, emotion, and behavior, in the present moment.") For Keristans, gestalt consisted of a lot of conversation in groups. Maintaining personal 'resolve-on-the-lifestyle', a euphemism for being aligned with the social contract, was a daily task for many Keristans. Being 'unresolved-on-the-lifestyle', even momentarily or temporarily, warranted immediate gestalt and possible expulsion from the family or commune. Practically, a member could be "called out" on any standards violation or non-utopian thought or action by anyone at any time.
83:
443:. The show featured Judd set behind a desk in a chroma-keyed background featuring pre-recorded psychedelic visuals. After Jud's opening invitations to global thought leaders to collaborate in his utopian vision. Associate member Jennifer Glee would make a reading, which was then interspersed by songs the 'Bargain Basement Band' a mix of followers and local San Francisco musicians. Glee briefly took over the show after Jud suffered a hip injury in 2007 and has since started her own Youtube channel.
25:
417:
separate dissertation, written by an ex-Keristan, argued that Jud was not the primary problem, and instead criticized
Kerista for institutionalizing '...a fetish for purity', describing 'the core psychological process in Kerista anxiety-producing and ultimately destructive because it centered around the toxic value of purity, which made the commune a bad place to live.'
379:
men and women (typically more women than men), on any given night several family-members would have no partner to sleep with and were assigned a 'Zero-Night' when they slept alone. In addition to the programmed sleeping schedule, it was permitted to sleep with any opposite-sex family member at any time, which was termed a 'freebie'.
334:
The most successful of the businesses was Abacus, Inc., an early
Macintosh computer vendor in San Francisco, which eventually offered a variety of computer hardware, training, and services. At its height, Abacus had over 250 employees, offices in five cities, and revenues in excess of $ 25 million a
425:
In
November 1991, Bro Jud left the Purple Submarine and the Kerista Commune after sharp divisions were exposed within the membership. Conflicts between Abacus and Kerista had grown more acute, as Abacus became more successful and difficult to manage. Other issues discussed during dissolution include
378:
A single B-FIC was composed of men and women who rotated sleeping with all of the opposite-sex members on a balanced rotational sleeping schedule. The sleeping schedule assigned each family member to sleep with a different opposite-sex partner each night. Since the BFICs were rarely balanced between
187:
Kerista-inspired storefronts and communal houses existed in New York, Los
Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area throughout the 1960s, and were moderately popular. The ideology shared by the Old Tribe was remarkably simple: 'Wash your own dish', 'No one belongs to anyone else', 'Kerista is freedom
200:
One division occurred in the Old Tribe over the
Vietnam War. Jud was a patriotic WWII ex-soldier, and he supported US military intervention. However, the vast majority of the Old Tribe were anti-war. Jud's pro-military beliefs were unpopular in leftist circles, and regularly surprised visitors who
416:
After an arranged visit to
Kerista by three professors, the New Tribe was criticized for not being egalitarian, notably in Bro Jud's dominance of many commune matters. The same professors questioned whether Kerista was feminist, and whether Kerista made only token contributions to philanthropy. A
387:
Jud exerted clear leadership and unparalleled influence over the daily life and direction of the commune and its members. He was highly verbal and charismatic, and had boundless confidence in his own opinion. As the oldest
Keristan with many marriages and communal experiments behind him, he often
244:
Kerista accumulated a codified social contract over its history with which all members were expected to agree and comply, at all times. Starting with a few unwritten rules in 1971 to 26 standards in 1979, the social contract evolved to 84 standards by 1983. There were over 100 standards in 1991,
361:
In 1979 and 1980, two children were born in the community. Beginning in 1983, the adult male
Keristans underwent vasectomies to deal with birth control and address global population issues. All male members subsequently had the requirement of having a vasectomy within a set period of time after
312:
that revolved around a pantheon of benevolent and technologically adept goddesses and gods. The comic Far Out West, written by one of the founders Eve "Even Eve" Furchgott, claimed to be "The First
Utopian Comic Strip." Features presented in the zine included articles and essays concerning life
353:
A website run by a long-term former member, Kerista
Commune website, lists 44 people as having joined Kerista at various times during the community's history, though at least 75 passed through briefly. The commune population numbered 5 at founding in 1971, and 26 at dissolution in 1991. Before
357:
The commune maintained a very active program of social events and Gestalt-o-rama rap groups, which were open to the public 3-4 nights a week, and were mandatory for Keristans to regularly attend. The commune functioned much like a religious order and was an important focal point for a larger
192:
ideals of 'good vibes' and the 'righteous high', racial and sexual liberation, and a strong tendency toward dropping out of the default/mainstream world and living a non-conformist life of idealism, spontaneity, and fun. In addition, Old Tribers began the use of a
374:
Non-preferentiality was an important concept of Keristan polyfidelity, and had lofty goals but was more intended to keep people from coupling up. Keristans had a transitional celibacy period after joining a group of three months, sometimes waived.
370:
The family structure of Kerista was composed of fidelitous groups called B-FICs (Best-Friend Identity Clusters). Keristans practiced non-preferential polyfidelity, which required consensus to accept a new person into the group.
500:(1961), in which the Martian-raised human Michael Valentine Smith founded The Church of All Worlds, preached sexual freedom and the truth of all religions, and is martyred by narrow-minded people who are not ready for freedom.
166:
Kerista was founded by John Presmont after an auditory hallucination telling him that he was the founder of the next great religion of the world. After time spent in New York in the 1950s, and several island experiments in
330:
The Keristans shared income and could choose whether to have outside paying jobs or work within the community (which operated several businesses, a legally incorporated church, and an educational non-profit organization).
317:
society on a larger scale. The volume of publications and art work produced by Kerista Commune was quite a bit greater than other groups that were active in the Haight Ashbury during this period. Kerista claimed singer
232:
were coined at the Kerista Commune. The commune developed an entire vocabulary around alternative lifestyles; for example, the term "polyintimacy" in their literature was similar to the term "
429:
After many incidents with members beginning to confront Jud's behavior, Jud left Purple and Kerista. Within a few months, the community was dissolved by vote. Bro Jud went on to create
433:. Several former members of the commune still live in the San Francisco Bay Area, while a number moved to Hawaii and purchased a block of adjoining parcels of land.
35:
1070:
1055:
436:
John (Bro Jud) Presmont died on December 13, 2009, in San Francisco. In his last years, Jud had been seen regularly on 'The Bro Jud Show' on San Francisco
496:
Kerista's polyamorous sexual practice was influenced, as was that of the Church of All Worlds, by Robert A. Heinlein's (1907-88) science-fiction novel
358:
community of people in San Francisco interested in alternative lifestyles. The events sponsored by Kerista were almost always free and non-commercial.
158:. Kerista underwent several incarnations that later became known as the "Old Tribe", which was associated with a fairly large but fluid membership.
46:
1040:
221:. The Keristans maintained a very high profile that included publication of a popular free newspaper and several national media appearances.
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No jealousy, no anger, no rivalry, no sexism, no ageism, no racism, no classism, no duplicity, no alienation, no profanity, no flippancy
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I recently learned that it was considered the "New Testament"—and compulsory reading—of a far-out cult called "Kerista." (Kee-
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When it was active, Kerista was a focal point for those interested in alternative and non-monogamous lifestyles. The terms
998:
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dominated commune discussions. Jud typically got into fights with famous people who came to visit or study Kerista, like
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476:!). I don't know exactly what "Kerista" is, but its L.A. chapter offered me $ 100 to speak. (I turned them down.)
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Social tolerance, equality, verbality, participatory democracy, accountability, conviviality, graceful distancing
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in 1956 by John Peltz "Bro Jud" Presmont. Throughout much of its history, Kerista was centered on the ideals of
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that states a Knowledge editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic.
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year. It was voted the 33rd and 42nd fastest-growing privately held company in America by
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allowing less-religious people into the commune and the loosening of superfluous rules.
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John Peltz Presmont passed from this life on Sunday Dec 13, 2009, in San Francisco, CA.
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in 1990 and 1991 respectively, and was the top reseller of Macintosh computers in the
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for wisdom and guidance, and use of the "alphabet-board" continued in the New Tribe.
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791:"And To No More Settle For Less Than Purity: Reflections on the Kerista Commune"
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816:
636:"Social Contract of the Gestalt-O-Rama Do-It-With-Friends Mental Health System"
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492:. Thornley had joined Kerista in 1966 and was a lifelong science-fiction fan.
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within the community and their proposed World Plan to establish a functional
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Positive attitude toward the 'toggle-switch' mode of decision-making
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in the 1960s, Jud settled in San Francisco at the end of the 1960s.
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305:. Some concerned day-to-day life. Others presented a lighthearted
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298:
314:
302:
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519:"Polyfidelity - description of a new type of family structure"
978:"The Dark Side of Community: Hidden Limits to Lasting Groups"
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dissolution, there were closer to 30 Keristans in residence.
944:
294:
36:
personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay
1022:
Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library
839:"Kerista.commune - Historical Home of the Kerista Commune"
838:
252:
Search for truth through the elimination of contradictions
909:
Invented religions : imagination, fiction and faith
541:"My Brief Encounter with Kerista; An Outsider's Account"
209:
From 1971 until 1991, the community was centered at the
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The person who invited Heinlein to speak may have been
188:
and love'. The main tenets of the Old Tribe embody the
855:
462:, mentioned Kerista in connection with his 1961 novel
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911:. Farnham, Surrey, England; Burlington, VT: Ashgate.
731:"An introduction to utopianism | Communal Societies"
213:(not a single physical building), founded in the
1032:
760:"Tale of Two Communes: A Scholar and His Errors"
975:
902:
900:
366:Family life / polyfidelity / sleeping schedule
782:
613:"Utopian Social Contract of Kerista Village"
239:
1071:Religious organizations established in 1956
1056:Intentional communities in New York (state)
1026:Kerista Commune collection, circa 1965-2009
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264:There is one and only one objective reality
817:"World Academy of Keristan Education, Inc"
322:as the "Matron Saint" of their community.
277:called Gestalt-O-Rama, loosely taken from
797:. University of Colorado at Denver: 57–73
588:"Basic 17 standards | Communal Societies"
532:
127:Learn how and when to remove this message
65:Learn how and when to remove this message
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90:This article includes a list of general
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566:"Keristan AIDS/HIV Testing 1986 - 1991"
431:The World Academy of Keristan Education
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997:Newitz, Annalee (February 17, 2006).
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516:
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1041:1956 establishments in New York City
789:Hamelin, Lawrence (August 3, 2015).
764:Fellowship for Intentional Community
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680:
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269:Gestalt-O-Rama / Utopian Psychology
201:expected Jud to be left-of-center.
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539:Knull, Roger (November 23, 2005).
96:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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1046:1971 establishments in California
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447:Kerista, Robert A. Heinlein, and
657:"Far Out West at Comixjoint.com"
458:, in a 1966 letter to his agent
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23:
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1066:Polyamory in the United States
875:. New York: Ballantine Books.
735:communalsocieties.hamilton.edu
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592:communalsocieties.hamilton.edu
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249:Total rationality at all times
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1051:Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco
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154:, as well as the creation of
957:"Free Love and Selling Macs"
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245:examples of which included:
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488:, who at the time lived in
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963:. New York, NY: Condé Nast
498:Stranger in a Strange Land
465:Stranger in a Strange Land
449:Stranger in a Strange Land
240:Social contract standards
219:San Francisco, California
438:public-access television
1061:New religious movements
984:. The Historical Record
907:Cusack, Carole (2010).
872:Grumbles from the grave
454:Science-fiction author
362:joining the community.
156:intentional communities
111:more precise citations.
1081:Sexuality and religion
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45:by rewriting it in an
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404:, and the researcher
1024:, Emory University:
1009:on February 17, 2006
402:Free Speech Movement
146:that was started in
758:Cummings, Michael.
999:"Test Tube Lovers"
955:(April 23, 2002).
867:Heinlein, Virginia
863:Heinlein, Robert A
634:Eve, Even (1984).
460:Lurton Blassingame
456:Robert A. Heinlein
400:from the Berkeley
326:Work Life / Abacus
47:encyclopedic style
34:is written like a
293:Kerista produced
144:utopian community
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16:Utopian community
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1005:. Archived from
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976:Luv, Nu (2005).
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103:Please help to
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684:(April 1989).
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1011:. Retrieved
1007:the original
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842:. Retrieved
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821:. Retrieved
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799:. Retrieved
795:Academia.edu
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784:
772:. Retrieved
768:the original
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740:February 16,
738:. Retrieved
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713:. Retrieved
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689:
686:"Saint Joan"
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666:February 26,
664:. Retrieved
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639:. Retrieved
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617:. Retrieved
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597:February 16,
595:. Retrieved
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572:December 12,
570:. Retrieved
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522:. Retrieved
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406:Robert Weiss
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307:polytheistic
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289:Publications
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226:polyfidelity
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217:district of
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152:polyfidelity
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117:January 2011
114:
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52:
33:
823:January 12,
641:January 12,
619:January 12,
421:Dissolution
398:Mario Savio
279:Fritz Perls
195:Ouija board
109:introducing
1035:Categories
715:August 20,
710:1001994059
696:(1): 122.
682:Bull, Bart
505:References
349:Membership
230:compersion
92:references
927:694146872
891:556652452
844:March 12,
702:0886-3032
524:March 12,
412:Criticism
345:in 1991.
320:Joan Jett
310:mythology
234:polyamory
205:New Tribe
183:Old Tribe
55:June 2018
1013:June 14,
988:June 14,
967:June 13,
865:(1990).
801:June 27,
774:June 14,
550:June 27,
441:cable TV
394:The Farm
343:Bay Area
299:drawings
173:Honduras
169:Dominica
162:Founding
869:(ed.).
315:Utopian
283:gestalt
140:Kerista
105:improve
41:Please
925:
915:
889:
879:
819:. 1993
708:
700:
615:. 1979
568:. 2018
303:comics
190:hippie
177:Belize
175:, and
142:was a
94:, but
961:Wired
490:Watts
392:from
295:zines
1015:2018
990:2018
969:2018
923:OCLC
913:ISBN
887:OCLC
877:ISBN
846:2011
825:2018
803:2018
776:2018
742:2018
717:2018
706:OCLC
698:ISSN
668:2018
643:2018
621:2018
599:2018
574:2018
552:2018
526:2011
474:rist
301:and
228:and
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1001:.
980:.
959:.
921:.
899:^
885:.
848:.
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762:.
750:^
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