George Freeman

George Freeman (born 1938-39) is the founder and chaplain of the Universal Life Church Monastery.

Quotes

It was hell, but for every negative stroke I've received in my life, I've had two positive strokes to counter it.
(in an interview following release from prison)
- Abraham, Pamela (February 25, 1974). "The Ex-Con's Unhappy Lot". Newsweek: pp. 84-88.

It is part of our doctrine that homosexuality and bisexuality are morally and socially equal to heterosexuality.
- "Church sues over church name". Seattle Daily Times. February 3, 1980.

"Residential Area - by invitation only"
Freeman's sign in The Monastery
- "Disco operator guilty of liquor-law violations". Seattle Times. March 15, 1981.

Every church is a business enterprise. The question is pecuniary gain, if we have a profit here. The answer is no.
- Rinearson, Peter (May 14, 1981). "Self-styled gay church files $4 million suit in federal court". Seattle Times: p. B4.

We view dancing as a form of worship and we teach through the medium of music.
- "Church sues over church name". Seattle Daily Times. February 3, 1980.

I can't even have a beer with friends at home.
(Said in response to legal persecution due to church and residence at same address, with alcohol disallowed at church)
- "'Can't even have a beer with friends at home'". Seattle Times. June 7, 1983.

The gut issue is that I'm black and I'm queer. That bothers a lot of people. So what we have is a vice squad that has a mandate to prosecute sin.
- Anderson, Ross (July 19, 1983). "Church-disco owner sentenced". Seattle Times: p. C4.

I am a black homosexual minister of the Universal Life Church.
- Powell, Ronald W. (April 21, 1986). "New life for notorious building - another teen club planned for Monastery". Seattle Times: p. A1.

In the eight years of the Monastery, nobody was ever stabbed, nobody was ever killed, nobody ever OD'd, nobody ever died. The only security we ever used were two people at the front door, the ushers. And yet we ran the gamut of black people, white people, young people, old people, gay people, straight people. All in one head space. The most integrated institution ever to exist in this city! Probably it will never exist again.
- The Return of the Demon (in en). The Stranger (September 2, 1999).

We believed that God is in all forms of creativity. We're all joined in the same universe. No matter who you are, you're a creation of God. The Bible isn't the absolute document on the word of God. It can't be. It was written by man.
- The Return of the Demon (in en). The Stranger (September 2, 1999).

You know when the spirit's there, when the place is hopping and people are jumping and they're crazed and they're having fun and they're down and everybody's on one mental plateau, and they're traveling all together, and you have unity. That's the essence of life.... That was the whole experiment with the Monastery, as opposed to a cult -- this evil, wicked place where people are having sex.
- The Return of the Demon (in en). The Stranger (September 2, 1999).

My mind is a free mind. I'm not locked into territories that are traditional. And yes, it may get you into trouble, but it's the right way that we should mold a society. We can't go on the way we are.
- The Return of the Demon (in en). The Stranger (September 2, 1999).

We are all children of the same universe.
Personal statement on website
- George Freeman (in en). GeorgeFreeman.com.

Science is God.
Personal statement on website
- George Freeman (in en). GeorgeFreeman.com.