The Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach [29]
Early Quarrels
During the first two weeks of the experiment the three delusional Christs had almost daily arguments over identity. These quarrels were often heated, but none of them was as violent as the ones we were to witness later. In tone they were relatively restrained, and Leon especially was polite. At least on the surface the intent seemed to be to persuade each other and to impress everyone; including us, with the fact that they were reasonable men who could talk things over.
July 3, 1959
“Sir,” Leon began, “I told them my sincere belief but these gentlemen also stated their sincere belief. I don’t care to lead their life, and they have a right to live their own.”
Then he turned to Joseph: “Captain Davy Jones, will you get up there and talk about your subconscious institution pertaining to your character? Therefore, do you have any past subconscious reflections that you wondered about pertaining to? Do you have any dreams?”
“I’m just simply God and I work for the cause of the English,” Joseph answered.
“Sir, Jesus Christ, man!” Leon exclaimed. “I have to disagree with you on that because England …”
—If Joseph is the reincarnation of Davy Jones, is this to say that he is not God?—
“He’s an instrumental god, now please don’t try to antagonize him,” Leon said. “My salute to you, sir, is as many times as you are a hollowed-out instrumental god.”
“Quite all right,” Joseph said.
—What about Clyde?—
“I’m not sure who he is,” Leon said, “possibly a buccaneer-general, a reincarnation of a king or a pirate. How many times have you been hollowed out, sir?”
“Six,” Clyde answered.
“You have to understand,” Leon went on, “that this particular place has the electronics in many instances to depress, fool, confuse, bewilder, and dupe people.”
“I didn’t know that,” Clyde said.
“And because of that you feel you are somebody way up,” Leon said.
“That’s right.”
“That isn’t you, Clyde, when you do that,” Leon explained. “That is initiative in the wrong direction trying to fool you. That’s when you get the idea you are the Almighty. But I do admit that you are only an instrumental god. But these other characters who through electronics are doing this to you, they want you to be misinformed. That’s why I’m telling you the truth. I’m not trying to mislead you. I’m talking simple righteous Christian doctrine, sir.”
July 7
“I made God,” Clyde stated.
—You made Joseph?—
“Why, he’s a Catholic. I didn’t have anything to do with him. I made a fine God. I made the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, by baptizing, I suppose, baptized at seven years old.”
—What do you mean, seven years old?—
“Is it any of your business? It doesn’t concern you, birdy-burger. Because I worked myself up to a saint. I got the light around my head too, for that is Jesus, isn’t it? It doesn’t matter what he (indicating Leon) says. He’s a Catholic.”
“I’m a Protestant, genuine Protestant,” Leon protested. “I was held under duping to a certain extent under the Catholic Church when I broke away.”
“You’re a Catholic!” Clyde insisted.
“I believe in truthful bullshit,” Leon said. “There are two types of bullshit. The genuine is truth and truth can be compared to dung: it looks like dung, smells like it, and acts like it. When you put it on top of soil, it makes it grow.”
Clyde objected to Leon’s use of the word “bullshit” and suggested he call it manure. “I don’t like to hear junk.” he said. “I’m too good.”
“Have you ever been a farmer, sir?” Leon asked him.
“Well, I guess I am a farmer. You’re a city pinhead.”
July 8
Joseph began: “There is nothing wrong; you can’t tell me there is another God that’s bigger than I. Nobody confuses me.”
“Nobody can change you, you are too set in your ways,” Leon answered.
“I’m God, for crying out loud!” Joseph shouted.
Of the rationalizations offered by the three Christs, Leon’s were clearly the least stable. Whereas Clyde said consistently that the other two were dead, and Joseph that they were crazy, Leon had to employ a variety of explanations—Davy Jones, duping, insanity,