Editing Cyrus Teed (section)

===Koreshanity===
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As a young [[eclectic medicine|eclectic physician]], Teed was always interested in unconventional experiments, such as [[alchemy]], often involving dangerously high levels of [[electricity]]. In the autumn of 1869, during an experiment he was badly shocked, and passed out. Teed reported "a relaxation at the... back part of the brain, and a peculiar buzzing tension at the forehead."<ref name=autogenerated6>Robert Lynn Rainard, "In the Name of Humanity -- The Koreshan Unity," University of South Florida, p.5</ref> He claimed his soul left his body and witnessed a woman whom he perceived as "His Mother and Bride."<ref name=autogenerated6 /> Teed claimed this was a calling to spread the word on the true nature of our cellular [[cosmogony]], and to bridge the gap between science and religion.<ref>Robert Lynn Rainard, "In the Name of Humanity -- The Koreshan Unity," University of South Florida, p.6</ref> Cyrus described the messenger as:

"Gracefully pendant from the head, and falling in golden tresses of profusely luxuriant growth over her shoulders, her hair added to the adornment of her personal attractiveness. Supported by the shoulders and falling into a long train was a gold and purple colored robe. Her feet rested upon a silvery crescent; in her hand, and resting upon this crescent, was [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury's]] [[Caduceus]]..."<ref>Howard David Fine, "The Koreshan Unity: The Early New York Beginnings of a Utopian Community,", p.5</ref>

During his period of unconsciousness, Teed believed he was visited by a divine spirit who told him that he was the [[messiah]]. Inspired, once he awoke Teed vowed to apply his scientific knowledge to "redeem humanity." He promptly changed his first name to "Koresh," the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] version of "Cyrus". There was an awakening in the Teed household hinging on dogmatic opinions, mysticism, and the exotic. The family did not buy into the new lifestyle, however, and eventually the family lost Teed to the religious fervor which consumed him.
 
Teed denounced the idea that the Earth revolved around the Sun and instead pioneered his own theory of the Universe, known as the Cellular Cosmogony. According to this theory, human beings live on the inside of the planet, not the outside; also, the [[sun]] is a giant battery-operated contraption, and the stars mere refractions of its light.

Teed persisted in his beliefs, neglecting his duties at home. His ideas, called [[Koreshanity]], caught on with others. Koreshanity preached cellular cosmogony, alchemy, [[reincarnation]], immortality, [[celibacy]], [[communism]], and a number of other radical ideas. Teed started preaching Koreshanity in the 1870s in New York, forming the [[Koreshan Unity]], later moving to Chicago.

The ''American Eagle'' of August 1973 reports that letters from Teed indicated affection for his wife Delia and their son, and despite criticism, Delia accepted him as the messianic personality of the age.<ref>Hedwig Michel, "The Koreshan Unity Settlement," ''The American Eagle'', August 1973</ref> However, they never converted to Teed's beliefs. Due to ill health, Delia and their son moved in with her sister in [[Binghamton, New York]]. They remained there until Delia's death in 1885.