William Schnoebelen
Encyclopedia
Rev. William Schnoebelen (born 1949) is an American Messianic Christian apologist, author, teacher and lecturer. He is best known as a strong critic of Mormonism
, Freemasonry
and Wicca
. Once primarily published by Chick Publications, he has authored publications in over 14 countries. He is founder and director of the Christian-based ministry With One Accord Ministries.
program titled "Interview with an Ex-Vampire: A True Story", hosted by Stephanie Relfe, where he speaks of his claimed involvement in vampirism. He also claims to have been a Satanist for a time before converting to Evangelical Christianity.Additionally, Schnoebelen claims to have been made a first degree Wiccan priest in 1968, a Spiritualist minister in the Alliance of Divine Love (1972), a priest in the Alexandrian
rite of Wicca (1973), a Druid
ic High Priest (1973) a Third Degree Alexandrian priest (1973), a priest in the Old Roman Catholic Church (starting his studies for this in 1974-5), a Second Degree member of the Church of Satan
(1975), a Master Mason in 1977, a Knight Templar in the York Rite Masonry, a 32nd Degree Mason in the Scottish Rite (1980), a Gnostic Bishop with the Monastery of the Seven Rays (1977-8), a 90th Degree Mason in the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis Misraim Freemasonry, baptized into the LDS
church in 1980 and become Elders' Quorum President and Institute of Religion teacher and formally left this church for evangelical Christianity in 1985
visited him while he was a practicing witch to verify that the magic in the Dungeons & Dragons
line of fantasy role playing games was authentic, although examining the game rules shows this not to be the case. His various claims, if taken at face value, also result in a history where, for five years (1975 to 1980) he was simultaneously a Wiccan, a Freemason, a Catholic, a Satanist and a Mormon as well for one year (1980). All this, despite the fact that the Church of Satan
is an atheistic
organization, and both Mormon and Catholic churches discourage their members from becoming Freemasons, as well as members of any of the other groups listed.
He bases his claims of having been consecrated as a Catholic bishop with a document of consecration in the Ecclesia Gnostica
, instead of the Roman Catholic Church, noting that at the time, he would not have been comfortable swearing allegiance to the Pope. His book incorrectly identifies George H.W. Bush as a Freemason, which he was not.
(1971), a Master of Theology degree from St. Francis School of Pastoral Ministry (1980), an MA in Counselling from Liberty University
(1990) and is a nutritional herbologist and Certified Natural Health Professional
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
, Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and Wicca
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
. Once primarily published by Chick Publications, he has authored publications in over 14 countries. He is founder and director of the Christian-based ministry With One Accord Ministries.
Life and career
William Schnoebelen was born in 1949 and claims to have been raised a Catholic. He released a nine-hour DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
program titled "Interview with an Ex-Vampire: A True Story", hosted by Stephanie Relfe, where he speaks of his claimed involvement in vampirism. He also claims to have been a Satanist for a time before converting to Evangelical Christianity.Additionally, Schnoebelen claims to have been made a first degree Wiccan priest in 1968, a Spiritualist minister in the Alliance of Divine Love (1972), a priest in the Alexandrian
Alexandrian Wicca
Alexandrian Wicca is a tradition of the Neopagan religion of Wicca, founded by Alex Sanders who, with his wife Maxine Sanders, established the tradition in the United Kingdom in the 1960s...
rite of Wicca (1973), a Druid
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
ic High Priest (1973) a Third Degree Alexandrian priest (1973), a priest in the Old Roman Catholic Church (starting his studies for this in 1974-5), a Second Degree member of the Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
(1975), a Master Mason in 1977, a Knight Templar in the York Rite Masonry, a 32nd Degree Mason in the Scottish Rite (1980), a Gnostic Bishop with the Monastery of the Seven Rays (1977-8), a 90th Degree Mason in the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis Misraim Freemasonry, baptized into the LDS
LDS
LDS may refer to:* LDS Church, abbreviation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah...
church in 1980 and become Elders' Quorum President and Institute of Religion teacher and formally left this church for evangelical Christianity in 1985
Claims and Credibility
His claims of being initiated with Freemasonry and the Illuminati involve stories about having intercourse with a demon, leading to his credibility being questioned. He also claims that representatives from TSR, Inc.TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
visited him while he was a practicing witch to verify that the magic in the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
line of fantasy role playing games was authentic, although examining the game rules shows this not to be the case. His various claims, if taken at face value, also result in a history where, for five years (1975 to 1980) he was simultaneously a Wiccan, a Freemason, a Catholic, a Satanist and a Mormon as well for one year (1980). All this, despite the fact that the Church of Satan
Church of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
is an atheistic
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
organization, and both Mormon and Catholic churches discourage their members from becoming Freemasons, as well as members of any of the other groups listed.
He bases his claims of having been consecrated as a Catholic bishop with a document of consecration in the Ecclesia Gnostica
Ecclesia Gnostica
The Ecclesia Gnostica is an openly Gnostic liturgical Church that is practicing publicly. It is centered in Los Angeles, California with parishes in Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sedona, Arizona; and Oslo, Norway...
, instead of the Roman Catholic Church, noting that at the time, he would not have been comfortable swearing allegiance to the Pope. His book incorrectly identifies George H.W. Bush as a Freemason, which he was not.
Education
He has a degree in Music and Education from Loras CollegeLoras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
(1971), a Master of Theology degree from St. Francis School of Pastoral Ministry (1980), an MA in Counselling from Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
(1990) and is a nutritional herbologist and Certified Natural Health Professional
Publications
Schnoebelen has published seven books:- Masonry: Behind the Light
- Blood on the Doorposts: An Advanced Course in Spiritual Warfare
- Wicca: Satan's Little White Lie
- Space Invaders
- Lucifer Dethroned
- Mormonism's Temple of Doom
- The Seventeen 'Straw Men' of the true Church