The Love Family, or the Church of Jesus Christ at Armageddon, was a U.S. communal religious movement formed in 1968 and led by Paul Erdmann, who renamed himself Love Israel. After a fractious conflict in 1984, the community was reduced to a small fraction residing on their property in Arlington, Washington. The Love Family flourished on that acreage from 1984 until 2004, when they were forced to sell the properties due to bankruptcy. Beliefs and practices The group practiced meditation (often with the use of hallucinogenics) and believed that life was eternal and all people were one. Because life was 'eternal', the group did not observe birthdays or perform marriages. They placed personal revelation above traditional doctrine. The group was committed to living in the present - "Now is the time" was one of their mottoes - to the point that they avoided making appointments or incurring debt. Additional prohibitions including smoking, eating meat, owning clocks, mirrors, or watches, and reading books or magazines other than the Bible. The group did not use driver's licenses. The group had a vegetarian diet that they sustained in part through gardening and gleaning. "Love Israel" is a play on one of the fundamental affirmations of the group, "Love is real". Equally important to the remaining members are three other commonly used affirmations: "We are one", "Love is the answer", and "Now is the time". These three 'fundamental belief' statements were used to stave deeper curiosity and invoke a deeper discussion into the role of humanity on this earth. Relationships One practice of the community was group marriage, although Love Israel was the only husband. Unauthorized sexual relationships were not allowed, nor was birth control. Women The group supposedly "eliminated the need for women's liberation by being righteous with each other". Women were expected to do housekeeping and cooking, serving the men first at meals. They were supposed to bow when entering a room occupied by a man and were not allowed to speak unless spoken to. Children Children were raised communally with strict discipline. History Paul Erdmann, a former television salesman from California, moved to Seattle in 1968. The Love Family began in October 1968 as a communal household on Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, with their charter being written in 1971. Shortly after its founding, Erdmann renamed himself Love Israel; many of his followers adopted the "Israel" surname and biblical or virtue first