University of Cosmic Intelligence
 | |
| Type | New religious movement |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
Founder | Rashad Jamal |
| Website | theuci |
The University of Cosmic Intelligence (UCI) is an American new truth movement founded by rapper named Rashad Jamal. Described as a teacher , ascended masters and one of the 43 scientists , the UCI is primarily based on social media platforms like TikTok and Youtube, and has a predominately African-American membership.
Jamal is the founder of University of Cosmic Intelligence created to enlightened Latino and African Americans of who they are and where they true heritage. He is now being called a cult leader and allegedly connected to murders and missing persons investigations as well as currently serving a 18 year sentence for allegedly molesting a child. Members of University of Cosmic Intelligence believe Jamal has been wrongfully convicted and now targeted because of who he is and his beliefs.
Background and beliefs
[edit]The founder of the group, Rashad Jamal (also known as Rashad Jamal White) was born in 1986[1][2][3] He has claimed he was sent "to enlighten and inform and increase the frequency of the planet, and to rid this planet of its parasitical invaders".[2] Extraterrestrial beings play a large role in the group’s belief system, and they refer to Earth as the planet Ki and to themselves as the Grand Cosmic Rising Family.[4]
Described as a cult, the UCI is primarily based on social media platforms like TikTok and Youtube, and has a predominately African-American membership.[5][6][7] Beliefs of the group include that polygamy is essential for men, that the government is engaged in weather modification and efforts to shut off "stargates" to alternate dimensions,[2] and that African Americans are "true" Native Americans instead of being descended from enslaved Africans.[2][8][9] The group promotes conspiracy theories, anti-vaccinationism and sovereign citizen-style beliefs.[4] Among Jamal's stranger beliefs are that NBA players are synthetic robots and that birds don't exist but are government tracking devices.[4][2]
Jamal and the UCI claim to be exempt from United States laws. Extremism researchers have linked Jamal and the UCI's beliefs to the sovereign citizen movement, the Moorish movement and the Nuwaubian Nation.[2] The Guardian described Jamal's teaching as combining "New Age mysticism, polygamy and Afrocentric and black nationalist ideas".[10] Jamal has a combined social media following of more than 300,000.[6] His online platform sells videos of his lectures as well as crystals and jewelry.[4] He has held mass meditation events across the country.[11]
Jamal and his members of the University have now been labeled as a cult but their beliefs are much different. The University of Cosmic Intelligence is said not to condone violence but to awaken ones self. Jamal's teachings consist of educating majorly African Americans and Latinos of their heritage and history as well as participating in meditation. Jamal has also held events and gathering for people to come together and become further educated.
References
[edit]- ^ Jamal, known as Divine Insight, claims to be a god sent to Earth to heal the planet and that Black and Latino people are gods whom he refers to as "carbonated beings".|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/an-online-prophet-with-a-huge-following-has-been-convicted-of-child-abuse/ |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=vice.com |date=August 21, 2023 |publisher=VICE}}
- ^ a b c d e f Merlan, Anna (December 5, 2022). "An Online Prophet Claims to Be a God. His Followers Keep Getting Arrested". Vice News. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "A self-proclaimed prophet built a 'spiritual cult' online. Now, six followers are missing". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Merlan, Anna (August 21, 2023). "An Online Prophet With a Huge Following Has Been Convicted of Child Abuse". vice.com. VICE. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ Quinn, Liam (March 3, 2024). "Inside an Internet Cult: Missing Persons, Nude Meditation, Desperate Families". People.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Luscombe, Richard (January 16, 2024). "Six people missing in Missouri in clutches of online cult, police say". The Guardian.
- ^ Arshad, Minnah; Santucci, Jeanine (January 20, 2024). "6 who are missing may be tied to a cult. Did social media have a role?". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Settles, Gabrielle. "'Spiritual cult' leader Rashad Jamal also spreads disinformation about slavery". usatoday.com. USA Today. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ Settles, Gabrielle (January 20, 2024). "Rashad Jamal spreads false claims about African heritage". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Conroy, J Oliver (September 11, 2022). "Two women allegedly lured a driver to death. They may be part of a fringe sect". the Guardian. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Merlan, Anna; Marchman, Tim (August 31, 2022). "Followers of Charismatic New Age Influencer Accused of Two Different Murders in Alabama". vice.com. VICE. Retrieved October 21, 2024.