happily stuck in Ithaca: The Mate Factor/Twelve Tribes

Wednesday, September 08, 2004
The Mate Factor/Twelve Tribes

Matthew and I were probably doing research on the same topic at about the same time. He and Tiffany, over at Life in Ithaca had a near-Mate experience the other day.

Having lived in Ithaca through the construction of the "pretty neat" Mate Factor cafe, I have been privvy to all sorts of rumors about the religious group (i.e. Twelve Tribes) that has made a home in our city and opened a cafe on the Commons to support themselves.

I have refused to step foot in the Mate Factor because I've gone to the Twelve Tribes web site and seen their positions on social issues. So I had decided that none of my money will be going to support the success of this group. (If the Roman Catholic Church opened a cafe on the Ithaca Commons whose proceeds went back to the Vatican, I would also refuse to go.)

But I also spend a lot of time on the Commons and I get frustrated when I see people who I know wouldn't normally patronize the cafe if they knew what the Twelve Tribes stood for. I have confronted a few of them, told them in very general terms about the anti-gay positions and the allegations of child labor, racism, etc. and they just look at me blankly and say, "But they make fantastic smoothies!"

If only Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell had had a blender.

So, being the intellectually curious guy that I am... upon finding a copy of The Twelve Tribes Free Paper on the Commons, I decided to read it cover to cover to see just what I had to fear from/learn about some of the newest members of the Ithaca community. This particular issue was dated December 1999, and was themed around the topic of 'The Last Day', which of course is the end of the world and second coming of the savior.

The first paragraph that I found interesting was written for those who fear the end of the world coming in the year 2000. It said that the Twelve Tribes were not afraid of The Last Day, and:

"Instead of escaping to some corner of the wilderness, we live in an environment that is separate from the world while remaining right in the middle of it. In our communities we try to exclude the evils of this world. At the same time we are near those who are floundering in the muck of this society."

..."the muck of this society"? I guess that would be Ithaca.

Then comes some interesting (kinda out there) stuff:

"We regard all hardship as discipline." and Instead of worrying, we eagerly await the day that we will be a spotless Bride, prepared for our future as the wife of the Lamb."

This seemed to be a recurring theme... that all of the hardships the Twelve Tribes face in this life were to prove that they were the true inheritors of the earth on The Last Day and that as a people they would be chosen as 'their savior's bride.'

--Insert Twilight Zone Music Here--

They also believe that God created the heavens and earth twice... once 17 billion to 4.5 billion years ago and then once again around 4,000 B.C.

There were also tons of references to the death penalty scattered throughout this magazine and I gather they are very much in support of it.

Then, the Feminist in me just about had a heart attack when I got to the article about how to raise a happy healthy family and prepare for the coming of the end:

"[The limits we must stay within to avoid eternal death in the Sea of Fire] are simple. A woman is to desire her husband and let him rule over her. She is to bear their children in pain. A man is to toil and sweat to provide for his family, not live off the labor of others. He is to rule over his wife. Sexual relationships are to be limited to the covenant of marriage."

For a moment there, I thought I was reading the republican party platform.

Here I was, 15 pages into the magazine, and still no mention of anything 'gay'. I was beginning to get worried that as The Last Day approached, the Twelve Tribes was less concerned with me than I hoped. (What a blow to my ego.) And then there it was, a fictional tale of a man who encounters 'the flood of evil accepted by society' in everday life. This particular story focused on marriages ending:

"Families falling apart happened so frequently that it was shaking his security. It wasn't even a week ago that Ralph Evans left his faithful wife and children announcing that he was gay, to pursue an apparent "gender preference" that, until recently, didn't seem to have been a problem at all. His drastic change not only devastated his family, but left Allen having to explain to his daughter what happened to her best friend's father and why he still came over for business socials. When he heard his daughter say how afraid she was to ever get married, Allen found himself bankrupt on answers with tears running down his cheeks. Allen could hardly say what he really felt. He was afraid he might offend someone at work and lose his job."

What drama... look for "Twelve Tribes" the series coming to daytime television this Fall!

I joke, but seriously... The Mate Factor is not the kind of business that people who truly consider themselves feminists or gay-rights advocates... or, well, fair-minded intelligent people... should be giving their money to. Boycotts of companies have been called for lesser reasons than this. I, and you, can respect their right to live in our community and run a business... but we don't have to give them our money.

I don't care what their smoothies taste like.

[The Mate Factor]
[The Twelve Tribes Community in Ithaca]

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Comments:

is it or not a free country? this country was founded on religious freedom not liberal ideaology that is anti-god and anti-natural law that is not just conservative thinking but the freedom to find the true church which obviously wasn't found with the 2 thousand years of religious bloodshed in Europe and Asia...etc

# posted by

Anonymous : 9:12 PM

Are you a communist?
i guess will see who ends up in a better place in the end...

# posted by

Anonymous : 9:21 PM

You are right about the fact that your purchases go to support a transnational cult apparatus, but how is that different from McDonalds?

Mate Factor food is healthy and probably kosher. And the soups are so wonderful. I also find earthy, easily controlled women very attractive. So I will continue to frequent the establishment.

Enjoy your soupless boycott.

# posted by

Zyklon-B : 10:55 AM

All I could think of, while eating a very enjoyable Belgian waffle, is 'who funded this place?' I was very impressed by the 'no rock unturned' attitude toward detail. There was a lot of time and money put into the Mate Factor...more so, it would seem, than just a local, comforting coffee shop. Just interesting now to think where this money came from.
I guess they ran a successful McDonalds franchise before deciding on healthier fare ;)

# posted by

Little Ricky : 8:20 AM

I think i'm going to spread the word. I wonder if the cult intentionally marketed themselves to the very branches of society they hate.

# posted by

Anonymous : 7:48 PM

More info on Twelve Tribes and the Ithaca Maté Factor at http://iottc.blogspot.com

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:01 AM

I was sort of with you, until "For a moment there, I thought I was reading the republican party platform."

Just because you're a Democrat doesn't mean you're required by law to be a jackass. But I digress.....

The Twelve Tribes - or Yellow Deli as they are known around here - have recently resurfaced in their birthplace. The thing is, I'm not sure people will care one way or another about what they stand for, much like where you live.

If you read statements on the web from ex-members, including an article in a local paper you'll hear all kinds of stories, including child labor. I wonder if there are any children working 12-14 hour days in the kitchen where you live. They may have stopped doing this, as I think they've been in trouble over this issue a lot, but who knows?

I know if people thought there were children slaving away in the kitchen, they might think twice before patronizing such a place.

RepublicanWoman

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:36 AM

South American nazis, duh.

# posted by

Anonymous : 8:46 AM

I happen to know that these allegations are not true about this group.

It is interesting that so many who commented on this blog seemed to assume what the writer said is true.

Have you ever heard of being prejudice and misunderstanding against a minority group? It is obvious that the writer has an intolerant hatred for those who do not agree with his lifestyle. I am embarrassed for those who are so gullible as to take a blog in as fact and start spreading allegations worldwide about a group. Did you ever stop to think that there are real families who make up this group. You who say you want to spread this stuff, what will you do when you find out it isn't true? Will you be able to repair the hatred you spread?

This is the kind of thing that destroys a good society. Is this the level of education we are resorting to, to base one's understanding on reading an internet blog? Cannot anyone sit in their own room and publish worldwide on the internet at the push of a button, with no real accountability at all?

It's sad to see the spread of prejudiced hatred against others. Fortunately, I believe most people still have more integrity and decency than that in our country. Let's hope it doesn't degrade any further.

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:03 PM

all those i have met at 12 tribes are beautiful loving,people ..... who live by God's word. They live above the hate and greed around them. Their children are respectful , kind and happy individuals .

# posted by

Anonymous : 1:19 PM

I will not step inside the mate factor either. My friends and I had a horrible experience with the Twelve Tribes at the Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg, NY. Three of us ordered pancakes. The young boy behind the counter said that it was required for everybody to work 12 hour shifts regardless of age. He also looked as if he was about to collapse from exhaustion. During the 45 min wait for the 6 pancakes, various members of Twelve Tribes, placed strategically around the eating area and presumably posing as customers preached to us about the evils of our lifestyles. As a child I was subjected to endless hours of Sunday School, church services, and youth group meetings. I came to the conclusion at a young age that religion is a deeply personal and spiritual journey. I do not believe that religion should be forced on another person. That is why I was further infuriated when 2 other members approached us as we were trying to enjoy a concert and asked us if we were interested in finding God. I wonder, how could they tell just by looking at us that we hadn't found God?

I believe in freedom of religion. I also believe in civil liberty and human rights. The food is delicious, but the price is way too high.

# posted by

Anonymous : 6:12 AM