THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SUN
Televangelists doing the work of the Lord? Or cult criminals disguised as do-gooders?
The Fellowship of the Sun is an anti-vampire organization with a mission to harm and eliminate vampires and those associated with the vampire community. Their work is focused on actions working to “reverse the integration”* of vampires into American society. Contrary to these actions, the Fellowship is rooted within the church and religious community, and vows to be based upon Christian, fundamentalist beliefs. The group claims they are “guided by goodness and the light of the sun, desired and protected by God against creatures of darkness and death, incarnations of evil that come to threaten and contaminate the very foundation of “our” civilization.”* FotS leaders, Rev. Steve and Sarah Newlin, attempt to exert human dominance over the vampiric race through exploitation of religion.* They mask their violent acts, such as murder and terrorism, as ‘true Christianity’ by claiming that these acts protect God’s people from the influence of vampires. Ironically enough, a ‘true Christian’ would not participate in these types of acts. However, this group is able to get away with their operation as they state they are doing the work of the Lord.
Televangelists doing the work of the Lord? Or cult criminals disguised as do-gooders?
The Fellowship of the Sun is an anti-vampire organization with a mission to harm and eliminate vampires and those associated with the vampire community. Their work is focused on actions working to “reverse the integration”* of vampires into American society. Contrary to these actions, the Fellowship is rooted within the church and religious community, and vows to be based upon Christian, fundamentalist beliefs. The group claims they are “guided by goodness and the light of the sun, desired and protected by God against creatures of darkness and death, incarnations of evil that come to threaten and contaminate the very foundation of “our” civilization.”* FotS leaders, Rev. Steve and Sarah Newlin, attempt to exert human dominance over the vampiric race through exploitation of religion.* They mask their violent acts, such as murder and terrorism, as ‘true Christianity’ by claiming that these acts protect God’s people from the influence of vampires. Ironically enough, a ‘true Christian’ would not participate in these types of acts. However, this group is able to get away with their operation as they state they are doing the work of the Lord.
This photo of Steve Newlin, founder of the Light of Day Institute, provides imagery that is associated with innocence and even angels, including color and lighting.
This appearance has proven to draw in new group members, as they believe they are doing right by God. However, the contradictory message captures the organization's true beliefs in that vampires cannot coexist with humans, and thus must be eliminated.
The Fellowship of the Sun could most definitely be considered a cult as they seem to target recruits that are naïve, are in need of a place to belong, and can easily be converted to their way of thinking. This is exhibited when Rev. Newlin enlists the series’ stereotypical, knuckleheaded, football player, Jason Stackhouse during a low point in his life. Contributing to the group’s cult-like feeling, all recruits must pay $1200 upfront in order to register for the Light of Day Institute program (ironically named, as light kills vampires).
In the above video, members of the Light of Day Institute demonstrate how 'un-Christian' their actions and words are toward the vampire community, and provide a taste of how cult-like the group is.
From this image, it is clear that Jason Stackhouse's knowledge on religion and Christianity is limited. Rev. Newlin took advantage of Jason after he felt as though he had hit rock bottom and had been jailed. Jason's naivety enabled the Fellowship to recruit him and attempt to have him learn their ways.
Jason's gullibility in regard to religion is laughable. However, he does make a valid comparison between drinking the blood of Christ and the blood of vampires and the powers they both give those who drink it.
Similar to Jason, Luke McDonald is a recruit of the Fellowship of the Sun who is wholly dedicated to the organization because of his frantic need to belong and excel. It is through Luke that the Newlins are able to exploit Christian values and influence the young man to commit an extreme act of violence ‘all for the good of God’. McDonald takes the organization’s mandate upon him and becomes a suicide bomber by strapping explosives to his body to sacrifice himself and to kill off a portion of the vampire population. Not only does this act of self-sacrifice have a religious undertone, but also it appears as though group members have been brainwashed, a characteristic often associated with cults. Through Luke’s actions it becomes clear that the ‘Christian’ values of the organization are corrupt and their motto to protect God’s people is merely a façade to disguise the violence.
In addition, evidence points toward the idea that the characters of Rev. and Mrs. Newlin are modeled after Barbie-like, Texan televangelists, Joel* and Victoria Osteen. From their Southern accents, to their frozen, pearly white smiles, and their apparently strong faith in Christianity, the comparisons between the Newlins and Osteens are uncanny.
It is clear that The Fellowship of the Sun utilizes deceptively innocent messaging to hide their plans of brutality in order to maintain their false image of purity. Moreover, their scheme to recruit credulous individuals for wrongdoing is corrupt and exploits Christian beliefs. The group’s allowance for members to give their own lives in attempt to wipe out the vampiric race solidifies the idea that The Fellowship of the Sun consists of criminals disguised as do-gooders.
Text Sources:
Indicated with an asterisk.
1. Mutch, Deborah. "Coming Out of the Coffin: The Vampire and Transnationalism in the Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse Series." Critical Survey 23.2 (2011): 75-90. Print.
2. Marrati, Paola. "True Blood, Bon Temps, Lousiana 2008-2012." MLN 127.5 (2012): 981-996. Print.
3. Hudson, Dale. ""Of Course There Are Werewolves and Vampires": True Blood and the Right to Rights for Other Species." American Quarterly 65.3 (2013): 661-687. Print.
4. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2012/07/true-blood-and-religion.html
Indicated with an asterisk.
1. Mutch, Deborah. "Coming Out of the Coffin: The Vampire and Transnationalism in the Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse Series." Critical Survey 23.2 (2011): 75-90. Print.
2. Marrati, Paola. "True Blood, Bon Temps, Lousiana 2008-2012." MLN 127.5 (2012): 981-996. Print.
3. Hudson, Dale. ""Of Course There Are Werewolves and Vampires": True Blood and the Right to Rights for Other Species." American Quarterly 65.3 (2013): 661-687. Print.
4. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2012/07/true-blood-and-religion.html
Photo & Video Sources:
http://www.fellowshipofthesun.org/lodi/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL5s7ZQ0hL0
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110101030710/trueblood/images/0/0c/JasonGif12.gif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rGWVmweD1E
http://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Joel-Osteen-Associated-Press-File-Photo-e1322495110213.jpg
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120804194249/trueblood/images/f/fe/Reverend-steve-newlin.jpg
Utilized www.fotor.com to create collage
http://www.fellowshipofthesun.org/lodi/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL5s7ZQ0hL0
http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110101030710/trueblood/images/0/0c/JasonGif12.gif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rGWVmweD1E
http://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Joel-Osteen-Associated-Press-File-Photo-e1322495110213.jpg
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120804194249/trueblood/images/f/fe/Reverend-steve-newlin.jpg
Utilized www.fotor.com to create collage