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Endeavor Academy, founded in 1992 as a subsidiary of the New Christian Church of Full Endeavor of Wisconsin, is religious vocational school. Its teachings are derived from A Course In Miracles and from the New Testament. The organization is headquartered in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, USA.

Leadership

The leader and spiritual guide of the Endeavor Academy is the "Master Teacher", identified as Chuck Anderson.

In a letter to the Atomic Veteran's History Project, Anderson described how his life was influenced heavily in 1945, when, with the Marines 6th Regiment, was one of the first to land at Nagasaki after the atomic bombing of that city. Faced with the vast and overwhelming level of devastation he witnessed at Nagasaki, he has described his anguish:

On "one particular day", at "one particular moment in time", I found myself standing directly in the center of this unspeakable, indeed unthinkable, devastation that had to have been caused by someone or something. At "that one time" I was filled with complete rage, a wrenching, seething, frustrating, insatiable need for revenge. But against what or whom? It had no point of location, no focus of causation - in effect, no one to blame, no one to hold responsible. It became a passion of intense revulsion for myself, for this world and for any and all members of the human species - a contained certainty from deep within me that all of us, everyone on this earth, all were totally guilty together. And then at "that one moment in time", the light of an inner peace enveloped me. It became "a space in time" where a new resolution appeared, and with it, the message, "Look at this as a new beginning."

Anderson writes that he had a second "space of peace and happiness" in 1971 while lying on what he presumed would be his deathbed, and reminded himself of his "mission to teach to all, a "continuing rebirth".

Anderson, a former realtor, acknowledges his experience with the 12-Step process.

In an interview with CBS News Anderson denies having followers, claims to be "returning to heaven" "shortly", and says that "everybody" is going with him. He says "There's nothing dangerous about me. I am the danger of eternal love."

History and Activities

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The organization originated in 1991 in Wisconsin Dells, and was first known as "God’s Country Place" (GCP) under Anderson’s direction. In 1992 the organization was registered to operate under the names; Endeavor Academy, and New Christian Church of Full Endeavor. At about this time, the use of the GCP name was discontinued.

The headquarters facility for this organization, located in an idyllic wooded setting in the Wisconsin countryside, is a converted summer resort facility. The original facility of 1991 was a large main house, but in 1992 a summer resort motel complex was acquired and converted to meet present needs.

The inclusion of the phrase "full endeavor" in one of the organization’s titles is a reference to the total dedication that is taught as being a prerequisite in order to achieve the spiritual awakening which A Course in Miracles (the Course) teaches. Endeavor Academy utilized the teachings of A Course In Miracles, the New Testament, the 12 step healing program of Alcoholics Anonymous, miscellaneous scientific journals, and some forms of more traditional art and music. The organization also offers its own ministerial certificates.

From 1995 through 2003, Endeavor Academy spearheaded a legal campaign to have the copyrights attached to A Course in Miracles overturned, on grounds of excessive prior distribution. Ultimately this effort was largely (but not entirely) successful, in that it effectively removed the copyrights to all but approximately 2% of the current popular 2nd edition of the work. This has resulted in public access to many early pre-press manuscripts of the Course which were formerly not available, and has also resulted in much freer distribution of various passages and quotes excerpted from the work.

References

1. "Endeavor Academy ~Teaching Enlightenment through A Course In Miracles". Endeavor Academy. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
2. Wayne Smith (2001-05-19). "Sects on the beach". Courier Mail (Queensland, Australia). {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
3. Troy Roberts (1999). "The Academy: Miracle or Cult?". 48 Hours. CBS. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help) Transcript at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/12/06/48hours/main73246.shtml
4. Endeavor Academy. "Meet The Master Teacher". Retrieved 2006-07-15.
5. FACTNet. "A comparison of FACTNet's criteria with Endeavor Academy". Retrieved 2006-07-15.
6. Atomic Veterans History Project. "Atomic Veteran: Chuck Anderson, Nagasaki, Japan 1945". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
7. Havel's House of History. "Autographs OF Religious Leaders: AM-AO". Retrieved 2006-07-15.
8. Chuck Anderson. "Beginners 12 Step Meeting: "How It Works"". Retrieved 2006-07-15.
9. David Kohn (1999). "Leaving Endeavor Academy". 48 Hours Mystery. CBS. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help) Transcript at

External links

• Endeavor Academy. "Endeavor Academy ~Teaching Enlightenment through A Course In Miracles". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
• Endeavor Academy. "What is A Course in Miracles?".

• Staff. "James Tyman". Retrieved 2006-07-16.

• Robin "Bodhi" Evans. "MEXICO DIARY - WRITINGS". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
• Hassan, Steven. "Endeavor Academy". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
• Watch on-line broadcasting of ACIM programs at Endeavor Academy TV (press release)
• "Suicides spark fears of Byron church cult". The Courier Mail. May 19, 2001. Retrieved July 16, 2006.

• Intentional communities
• A Course in Miracles
• Cults