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Joseph S(ieber) Benner (1872–1941) was an American author and
spiritual automatic
writer who used the pen name "anonymous". His most
famous books are The Impersonal Life and The Way Out. Benner
taught that Christ's proclaiming "I AM" indicated "the true
spirit that resides in every human being."
The Inner Life Course
The Sun Center was a theosophical group
formed in Akron, Ohio, in the 1920s which developed a uniquely Christian
emphasis. It took its name from the theosophical concept of God as the Great
Central Sun. Much of the inspiration for the center came from Joseph S. Brenner (d. 1941) author of the popular mystical/occult volume, The Impersonal Life. The small book, penned prior to
World War I, was directed to what was considered to be the true self, the
impersonal self, the spirit within, also identified with the "I AM," the Christ Self, and God's
Holy Spirit. Beginning in the 1920s, Brenner also developed a
series of lessons to assist students to understand and progressively work with
the ideas presented in The Impersonal Life. The Way Out and The Way Beyond, the first of these booklets, provided training for the development
and discipline of the mind. The Inner Life Course dealt with the awakening of the soul. A final set of
lessons led students to the unfolding of the spirit.
Through its magazine, The
Inner Life begun in 1933, the Sun Center solicited
support for its work as a group of followers of Christ to bring the Light of
Christ to every soul ready to receive it. As a first step, those related to the center were asked to serve
in the cause of brotherhood by entering into the silence each day at noon. During
these silent moments, each person would see him/herself as a center of Love's
Light and Power and would pour that Love out upon the world. Noon was chosen as the moment
when the earth received the greatest down pouring of the light (wisdom), heat (love) and energy (power) of the sun (the visible
expression of Father-God).
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