Science of Identity Foundation

Science of Identity Foundation
Abbreviation	SIF
Established	April 12, 1977 (47 years ago)
Founder	Chris Butler
Founded at	Hawaii, United States
Type	Religious organization
Purpose	Educational, Philanthropic, Religious studies, Spirituality
Headquarters	Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Region served	Worldwide
Services	Yoga classes
Official language	English
Affiliations	Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Website	scienceofidentity.org
Formerly called	Hari Nama Society; Holy Name Society

The Science of Identity Foundation (SIF) is a Bhakti Yoga spiritual and religious organization,^[2] grounded in Hindu Vaishnava principles, founded by Chris Butler (also known by his Vaishnavite name Siddhaswarupananda Goswami) in 1977,^[3] based in Hawaii, United States.^[1] Its theology is broadly based on Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana.^[4]^[5]

Early history

Butler gained followers after founding the Haiku Meditation Center in 1969. He joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1970, and had received the name Siddhaswarupananda. After the death of ISKCON founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Butler broke away from ISKCON and founded SIF.^[6]^[7]

SIF was initially known as the Hari Nama or Holy Name Society.^[6] In 1977, Butler estimated the group had 1,000 devotees throughout the world.^[8] Butler had a late-night television show called "Chris Butler Speaks" on Hawaii's Channel 13 in the 1980s.^[2]^[9]

Theology

The organization combines the teaching of yoga and other aspects of Krishnaite Vaishnava Hinduism.^[3]^[10] Although grounded in Hinduism, Butler has asserted that SIF philosophy of Bhakti yoga "does not conflict with Christianity, with Islam, with any bona fide religious system. We're trying to teach the essence of Bhakti yoga without having anybody say 'Oh that's Hindu' or 'Oh that's Christian'."^[2] The teachings are similar to those of Prabhupada: that human beings are "sparks" of God whose sole purpose is to please the Lord.^[11]

Followers must practice vegetarianism and are not allowed to drink alcohol, smoke, have illicit sex, or gamble.^[2]

Activities

SIF developed a close-knit community of disciples in Hawaii, whose activities include gathering on the beach for kirtan, the practice of singing or chanting sacred songs and learning the spiritual principles of Vaishnava Hinduism.^[12]

In 2019, the New Yorker reported that Butler now presents himself less as a Hare Krishna dissident and more as a member of a loosely connected worldwide Hindu Vaishnava movement. ^[12]

Reception

A 2019 New York article described Butler as teaching "a virulent homophobia, skepticism of science, and the dangers of public schools".^[13]

The Independent reported in 2022 that a former member described SIF's teachings as "virulently homophobic, often anti-Islamic and misogynist" and that SIF followers "were forced to worship Butler, who is considered to be akin to a God."^[14] The article described SIF as a "secretive cult".^[14]

According to a 2022 Insider article, Butler taught that "homosexuality is evil" and a former SIF member said they were taught that Butler's teachings were not to be questioned by members.^[15] Butler denied the allegations.^[15]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Science of Identity Foundation business information on the website of Hawaii State Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs". Hawaii State Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, Business Registration Division. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Christensen, John (November 23, 1982). "Chris Butler: About this guru business". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. B-1.
^ ^a ^b Reflections on Hindu Demographics in America: An Initial Report on the First American Hindu Census. Archived 2019-10-20 at the Wayback Machine J. Gordon Melton & Constance A. Jones. A paper presented at the Association for the Study of Religion, Economics & Culture meeting in Washington, D.C., April 7–10, 2011. p. 14.
^ Bryant, Edwin (2017). Bhakti yoga: tales and teachings from the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780865477759.
^ Holdrege, Barbaraga (2017). Bhakti and Embodient: fashioning divine bodies and devotional bodies in Kṛṣṇa Bhakti. Routledge. ISBN 9781138492455.
^ ^a ^b Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). "Siddhaswarupananda, Jagad Guru". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of World Religions. J. Gordon Melton, Series Editor. New York: Facts On File. pp. 411–412. ISBN 978-0-8160-5458-9. [Butler] remained with ISKCON until after Prabhupada died in 1977. [...] He founded the Science of Identity Foundation as a vehicle to facilitate his teachings. [...] The Science of Identity Foundation (originally the Hari Nama or Holy Name Society) is located in Honolulu, Hawaii.
^ Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti (1999). Our Family — the Gaudiya Math. A study of the expansion of Gaudiya Vaisnavism and the many branches developing around the Gaudiya Math. VRINDA The Vrindavan Institute for Vaisnava Culture and Studies. p. 58. ISBN 3-927745-90-1. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019.
^ Wright, Walter (August 22, 1977). "Hawaii's 'other' Krishnas". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. p. A-1. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
^ Ronck, Ronn (December 9, 1983). "Arts Scene". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
^ "Science of Identity one of founders". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. July 1, 1991. p. A-4. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
^ Farrar, Derek (August 12, 1992). "Rick Reed's Inner Self" (PDF). Honolulu Weekly. p. 4. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Sanneh, Kelefa (October 30, 2017). "What Does Tulsi Gabbard Believe?". New Yorker. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
^ Howley, Kerry (2019-06-11). "Tulsi Gabbard Had a Very Strange Childhood". New York. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^ ^a ^b Hurley, Bevan (2022-10-16). "Tulsi Gabbard's ties to secretive cult may explain her perplexing political journey". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^ ^a ^b Han, Yoonji. "Tulsi Gabbard's ties to the Science of Identity Foundation, a controversial religious sect that some call an abusive 'cult'". Insider. Retrieved 2023-05-09.