My name is Rev. M. L. “Joshua” Rosenblad, I was born into a Pagan Family, who encouraged me to explore the many belief systems in the world. Raised in an Earth-Based, Family Tradition, I learned and lived the path that I would ultimately follow.
As my studies progressed, I did learn about many beliefs by visiting the different Churches, talking with members and leaders and allowing myself to learn from these experiences. As my understanding grew, so did my desire to learn more.
I began studying Religious Philosophy and ultimately earned an advanced degree in the subject. In my education, I found the many similarities of all the belief systems and questioned the “one true religion” concept and felt that it was important to create an environment that allowed people to share their beliefs so that the chasm between beliefs could be bridged. These thoughts gave birth to the Gaianist Free Church, which was developed over about a ten year span.
I have authored five books and several articles over the past few years and am currently working on three more books to be published in 2016-17.
In 2011 along with my Wife and Brother in spirit we founded the Gaianist Free Church (gaianist.org), which is an Earth Based and Interfaith spiritual organization. In 2012, together, we created the American Spiritual Alliance Interfaith Academy (americanspiritualalliance.org) which carries a Religious exemption authorizing us to bestow Religious Degrees based on our Earth Based and Interfaith direction. Currently, we are developing a distance (online) learning program which also carries our Religious exemption. This learning platform is scheduled to be deployed in late 2016.
In 2015, I became a member of the Council for a Parliament of World Religions which has helped us in our growth toward mainstream understanding and cooperation. Our Church is also currently a member of the Covenant of the Goddess. This prompted us to engage in a number of different community action programs such as domestic violence spiritual counseling, working with a number of groups associated with the LGBT communities and a number of earth stewardship ventures.
It is my belief that as an earth based spiritual organization, it is our duty to eliminate as much of the myth and misconception that we have so long been persecuted with through social involvement and participation. We have for so very long hidden in the shadows which has ultimately been a powerful source for all of the negative tales about our spiritual path.
As a Church and Educational Institution, we are beginning to see a growing level of respect and acceptance through our efforts.
Thank you for your time and many blessings;
Rev. M. L. Rosenblad
Executive Director, Gaianist Free Church
rev.joshua@gaianist.org
