Miltonism
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[edit] Definition
Belief in Milton S. Hershey and the worship of the chocolate he created.
[edit] Creation/History (Genesis)
The leader of Miltonism, Milton S. Hershey, was born on September 13, 1857. In 1893 Milton Hershey visited the Columbian exposition in Chicago. Here he bought the equipment necessary to create the sacred chocolate which would become the center of Miltonism. He then shipped everything back to what is now known as Hershey, Pennsylvania and decided to open a factory in order to spread the divine substance he created. Legend says that as soon as Milton's shovel touched the Earth, the scent of chocolate filled the air. Even to this day while driving through the town of Hershey the scent of chocolate fills the air.
In 1963 the Hershey Company bought the H.B. Reese’s Candy Co. This was Hershey's attempt to spread Miltonism. Even though a large number of people were reached, more started following the Reese’s instead of staying true to the original Miltonist beliefs. On ground breaking day the Reesians claimed to have smelled the sweet aroma of peanut butter along with the chocolate. Today, Reesians have proven to provide a larger outreach due to the fact that they continuously try to put out new products, more so than an original chocolate bar. Since they have drawn such a large following and have thus earned more revenue, they have been able to give more back to the Hershey community. (Buddhist nuns-historical aspect)
[edit] Rituals
~Everyday Miltonists must eat at least one piece of miniature Hershey's Chocolate and say the prayer pertaining to each type of chocolate (see symbols).
~Every month Miltonists must make one trip to Chocolate World and ride the Chocolate World Tour to remind oneself of what Heaven and Hell is like. A true Miltonist will feel the heat of the roaster and begin to think of the morals Miltionists should keep and spread to others to protect them from the roaster. (Going to Hell).
~Once a year Miltonists must enter Hershey Park to give an offering. This is when you pay admission to enter the park. While there, one must eat a 5 pound chocolate bar and meditate in front of the statue of Milton Hershey. During the meditation process Miltonists must focus their mind on the hard work Milton put into creating chocolate. Part of this meditation is the experience of getting chocolate on your face and hands, allowing the melted chocolate to penetrate your soul. Once you have finished the 5 pound chocolate bar Miltonists may enjoy the rest of the park to celebrate what Milton has created with other members.
~While at the park, each year one must go to the weighing station by the SuperDooperLooper to see how one has progressed over the year.
[edit] Symbols
Each type of chocolate holds a different power (Freud):
- milk chocolate: strength
- dark chocolate: health
- white: purity
Milk Chocolate Prayer
- Oh holy Milton,
- In this time of need, strengthen me.
- Cover me with your chocolate shield.
- As I eat this milk chocolate, may it give me the strength to spread your word.
- Kisses to you oh Milton.
Dark Chocolate Prayer
- Oh holy Milton,
- I partake in this dark chocolate to be able to continue to spread your chocolate love.
- Let this chocolate keep us healthy on our journey to the level of the Jolly Rancher.
- Kisses to you oh Milton.
White Chocolate Prayer
- Oh holy Milton,
- Allow me to resemble this pure, white chocolate.
- Cleanse my soul of any Nestle or Mars chocolate I may have eaten.
- Save me from burning in the roasters.
- Kisses to you oh Milton.
When performing these prayers, it is necessary to wear some form of clothing demonstrating your faith. This allows you to put yourself in the sacred frame of mind. Ritual is how we get into the mode to be connected with the sacred. (Durkheim)
[edit] Festivals
HersheyPark in the Dark: children dress up as spirits once a year and Miltonists give them chocolate to appease these spirits. This festival began many years ago when the untimely dead were believed to be poisoning the chocolate (Virabadhra).
Candy Lane: This is the last chance of the year for Miltonists to come complete their rituals and participate in fellowship. This celebration takes place during the time of the last harvest of cocoa beans for the season. Hershey Park will be seen in a new light as the rides and park are lit up at night to glorify Milton’s name.
Springtime in Hershey: A gathering to celebrate the beginning of a new cocoa bean season. This is the first day of the new year that Miltonists can go into the park to fulfill their rituals and bring joy to Milton. During this celebration Miltonists must ride the "Comet" the first roller coaster placed in the park. This is to celebrate a new chapter beginning in their spiritual growth.
[edit] Holidays
- March 2: This was the day of the ground breaking ceremony for the Hershey's Factory in 1903. On this day, Miltonists must go to the factory in Hershey, PA and meditate outside the building. While meditating Miltonists must chant "Kisses to you oh Milton."
-April 17: This is the day of the first recorded sale of a Hershey's chocolate bar in 1903. On this day, Miltonists must buy and eat only plain Hershey's chocolate bars.
-September 13: This is the holiest day in Miltonism. Milton S. Hershey was born on this day in 1857. On this day families gather and indulge themselves in a meal that includes chocolate in some way (i.e.: breakfast=chocolate chip pancakes, lunch=chocolate covered potato chips, dinner=chocolate glazed chicken etc.). Then after each meal they must eat a piece of each type of chocolate (milk, dark and white) and say the prayer that goes along with each. After the final meal, family members gather and exchange gifts of chocolate. On this day it is believed by Miltonists that the spirit of Milton strolls down Chocolate Avenue. In the morning the children who live in Hershey wake up to find Hershey Kisses scattered on the lawn.
[edit] Beliefs
The purpose of Miltonism is to gain favor with Milton S. Hershey by indulging in the chocolate he has created for us. Your devotion to Milton is shown by a scale based on the weight you gain once you are initiated into the religion.
Once you have reached the Jolly Rancher stage when you die, you will go to a heaven made completely of chocolate.
If, however, you die before you reach the Jolly Rancher stage, you are sent to the roaster (going to Hell).
The Scale of Truth
- Miniatures: 1-30 lbs
- Kisses: 31-70 lbs
- Reese's: 71-110 lbs
- Hershey's: 111-160 lbs.
- Twizzlers: 161-200 lbs
- Jolly Rancher: 200+ lbs (welcome to heaven!)
There are some people that may be allergic to chocolate or other Hershey's products. These Miltonists are considered to be martyrs because they eat the chocolate and suffer the consequence of endangering their health (martyrdom).
We believe that Hershey has the only pure cocoa beans coming from Ecuador and West Africa. Other companies such as Mars and Nestle obtain their cocoa beans from places like Uruguay and South Africa. Hershey's beans are considered to be so pure because they are grown closer to the equator which supplies the most suitable environment for growing cocoa beans. (Leviticus)
Miltonists believe that before Hershey Park in the Dark occurred the spirits tampered with the chocolate recipe creating dangerous chocolate Giants. They are trapped in the park and other Hershey areas. There are different types of Giants that exist in the world and there are certain things you must do in order to kill the Giants. A few examples include:
Hershey Kiss: pull out his tag Hershey Bar: snap apart the pieces Reese’s: peel away the brown rapping
Researchers claim these Giants exist because the Nestle and Mars companies were the ones that actually tampered with the recipe to create these beings.
Workers at the Hershey Company are considered by some to be a "higher class". In order to work for any part of the Hershey Company, you must reach the Hershey's level on the Scale of Truth. The younger you are accepted into the Miltonist faith, the sooner you are able to work and serve Milton. This is believed because they have certain privileges like getting into parks without paying, or receiving free chocolate. They are also the group of people that have written some of the sacred texts. (Manu)
The local habitants of Hershey Pennsylvania have more power than other believers in the world. This is because they have more access to the chocolate and a greater connection to the place of worship. They are able to move up the scale quicker, and may try to shape the religion with their powers. (Geertz & Asad).
Only once you have become a Miltonists can you truly experience the nature of religion. Miltonists are the only ones that can describe what goes on in religion. (Segal)
We believe that Hershey's chocolate is the purest chocolate in all the land and that other groups such as Mars and Nestle are just trying to corrupt Miltonists. Even though they believe we are evil in our own ways, you can be assured that those groups are the incorrupt ones. (9-11 Bush vs. bin Laden)
[edit] Sacred Text
There are four main texts that all Miltonists must have. They include:
The Hershey Story: provides background information on Milton S. Hershey and how he created the Hershey World. It also provides Miltonists with many opportunities that are available within the town of Hershey to experience what Milton has created.
Hershey's Chocolate World: describes the tour in Chocolate World as a necessary pilgrimage that must take place in order to understand what the Roaster and the Chocolate Ream are like. It also gives information on how to obtain the chocolate and other things that are necessary to perform certain rituals.
Hershey, PA Chocolate and more!: this text provides a map of the town of Hershey leading you on the path to the Chocolate Realm.
Milton Hershey School: describes the moral code that a Miltonist should follow (i.e. giving back to the Hershey community just as Milton did by donating money to start a school)
[edit] Glossary
Candy Lane: final point in the year when miltonists can complete their rituals and participate in fellowship
Chocolate: sacred food that must be consumed daily
Chocolate Realm: heaven
Chocolate World: place where Miltonists can go to worship and share their devotion to Milton
Chocolate World Tour: made to scare the hell out of Miltonists and show them what heaven is like
Dark Chocolate: symbolizes health
Five pound Chocolate Bar: what is eaten when meditating in front of the Milton Hershey statue
Hershey clothing: sacred garments worn during prayer
Hershey, PA Chocolate and more!: sacred text
Hershey Park: where Miltonists go to pray and worship the almighty Milton Hershey and celebrate with other followers
HersheyPark in the Dark: when children dress up as spirits and Miltonists give them chocolate to appease the spirits and keep them happy
Hershey Story, The: sacred text
Hershey's Chocolate World: sacred text
Mars & Nestle: the devil in disguise
Martyr: someone allergic to chocolate that still eats it for their religious beliefs
Milk Chocolate: symbolizes strength
Milton Hershey School: sacred text
Milton Hershey Statue: physical representation of our leader
Miltonist: a follower of Miltonism
Milton S. Hershey: central figure in Miltonism
Reesians: A Miltonist that focuses their belief around Reese’s.
Roaster: hell
Scale of Truth: shows the different levels given to reach the Chocolate Realm
Springtime in Hershey: gathering of Miltonists to celebrate the start of a new cocoa bean season
Weighing Station: stand near the SuperDooperLooper in Hershey Park where one must go to check their progress on the scale to heaven
White Chocolate: symbolizes purity
