Methernitha

Methernitha is the name of a Christian community and a cooperative of Linden in Switzerland. Originally founded in 1956 by Paul Baumann as a purely religious community, she was divided in 1960 into the Christian community and the cooperative.

The Christian Association Methernitha

The Association's members live according to Christian principles and renounce the basis of a commitment to the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Most members live in Linden.

The founders

The founder of the Christian community were special Paul Baumann ( born November 30, 1917 in Heimenschwand; † 19 August 2011), also known as Daddy, and many others who originally came from the Evangelical brothers club.

His father was a tailor, the family could bring in between but not by yourself. So Paul Baumenn was pushed around as a child as a hireling. He was not a good student, but had a mechanical and technical talent and was able to repair watches and equipment.

In his revelations are still influences of Brothers Association noticeable. It will emphasize that everyone should live " his own spirituality," but still it is considered desirable, if possible observe the whole " law of God ".

Baumann visions that have not yet had a certain importance to the community in the early days (1950), do not play a significant role in the more religious view of today's community. These visions are accepted, but only comes to their individual meaning. A decisive influence they were for Paul Baumann himself, because only on the basis of these visions he has " found its way to the Bible ".

Shortly after leaving school Baumann had claims to contact with " messengers from the spirit world." More and more people sought contact with Baumann due to his teachings that he received from the "spirit beings ". 1952 or 1956, the Mental Linden Association is founded. It was later called Spiritual Association Methernina.

Baumann is also known for the construction of the " Testatika ", supposedly a on " free energy " based DC generator. The claim that the machine generating to non-conventional way power, could never be verified because no copy for independent investigation has been made available.

The core message of Methernitha is to seek as individuals and in the community God, to live in peace with each other and every day to strive for the rules of life given to us by Christ anew.

The members of this circle of friends who reside and work in different places in Switzerland and abroad. Each member shall itself determine how often and in what form it maintains contact with the community. You are not simplistic moderately organized, raising charges, no advertising and driving hold neither meetings nor rallies.

They believe that man should recognize the love and mighty work of God in creation and paste this divine order, so as to fulfill its true role within the whole of creation. For this, he has the nature, the Scriptures and the commandments and instructions contained therein available.

In 1969, the union more than 100 members in Linden and to 200 in the cooperative outside companies. In 1978 there were claims to own 130 members.

Outstations mid-1990s, in the canton of Appenzell, Austria, Italy and the United States.

In the 1990s, the spiritual union Methernitha was renamed Christian Association Methernitha.

The cooperative Methernitha

The cooperative Methernitha founded in 1960 is a non-denominational residential and working community with democratic principles. There are about 140 members (as of 2005 ), some of which are not a member of the Christian Association Methernitha, but in one of the Swiss national churches. The main objective of the cooperative is the joint development of resources for the livelihood. Close to nature management and the operation of a small hydroelectric power plant belong to it as the common pursuit of knowledge of the wonders of nature and of man.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the cooperative produced especially Archive scaffoldings and electronic products.

Controversies

Founder Paul Baumann was sentenced to six years in prison on 29 October 1976 by a Bernese Oberland jury trial for qualified fornication with underage girls. After his release in 1982 Baumann lived again within the Methernitha. The condemnation Baumann meant that around 200 of the 300 members left the community.