Niscience

Niscience is a religious movement of the United States. Its parent organization, the Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience, was founded in 1953 by Ann Ree Colton. It is characterized as a combination of Christianity and New Age spirituality, and combines the teachings of Jesus Christ with an engagement with meditation.

Overview
The Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience, located in Glendale, California, was co-founded in 1953 by Ann Ree Colton and her husband Jonathan Murro.
The Niscience website states that Niscience is based upon the teachings of "Jesus, the Bible, and other sacred scriptures of the East and the West.
After Colton's death in 1984 Murro ran the foundation until he committed suicide in November 1991. After his death the Los Angeles Times, describing Niscience as "an obscure Glendale-based religious group", wrote that "several former members--including one who had sat on the board of directors--recently sent open letters to church adherents, calling Niscience an oppressive, deceptive cult, and urging members to leave. Membership reportedly numbers several hundred."
The Foundation publishes a monthly magazine, Agape, containing articles by the Founders and current articles written by Niscience members. It has published 26 books: 17 by Ann Ree Colton, 3 by Jonathan Murro, and 6 co-authored by Colton and Murro. It provides home-study lessons to its members.
Colton encouraged creativity as part of a well-rounded spiritual life. Thus the Foundation has a number of CDs with songs by Colton, Murro, and its members.
The Chapel of the Jesus Ethic was built in 1965. Culver Heaton was the architect. Its newest building, Agape Hall, was completed in 1994. The architect was Tom Zartl of Heaton’s firm. Agape Hall is referred to as “The House that Restitution Built” because it was built after a period of double-tithing in order to save money for the project. The Foundation carries no financial debt or mortgages on its properties.
Adrian Green of Three Rivers, California, sculpted three statues for the Niscience grounds: a pelican, a heart-shaped white granite font, and Joseph with the child Jesus.

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