John de Ruiter, 63, has managed the College of Integrated Philosophy in Edmonton for decades while avoiding controversy and charges of cult leadership.

In western Canada, a messianic leader of a multimillion-dollar spiritual organization has been accused of four charges of sexual assault.

Mr. de Ruiter’s counsel informed the BBC in a statement that he will contest the charges in court.

This week, he will return to work at the College, according to the organization’s website.

Police in Edmonton, Alberta reported that they had arrested Mr. de Ruiter, a “self-appointed spiritual leader,” and charged him with sexually assaulting four women between 2012 and 2020.

Mr. de Ruiter allegedly told select female members of his group that he “was commanded by a spirit to engage in sexual contact with them and that engaging in sexual activity with him would give them an opportunity to acquire a state of a higher being or spiritual enlightenment.”

The police suspect there may be further victims and have contacted them

In an email to the BBC, Mr. de Ruiter’s spokeswoman Zaba Walker stated that he would be represented by legal counsel “and intends to fiercely dispute these claims in court.”

She stated,

“This scenario has a profound effect on individuals who know Mr. de Ruiter.”

According to the organization’s website, events with Mr. de Ruiter commencing this weekend, including meetings in St. Albert and Edmonton, will proceed as planned.

Mr. de Ruiter, whose given name is Johannes, was raised in rural Alberta, where he worked as a cobbler and a youth pastor prior to creating his own beliefs.

He has referred to himself as the “living incarnation of truth” and urged his thousands of devoted followers to discover the meaning of life through “gut-wrenching candor.” Mr. de Ruiter, the head of the College, is neither qualified nor licensed as a psychologist or therapist.

He became well-known for weekly meetings in which he would look at his followers in silence for extended durations.

Uncertain is the exact number of his followers, some of whom have relocated worldwide to join his group.

In 2017, The Globe and Mail conducted an investigation that includes interviews with some of Mr. de Ruiter’s followers who questioned his sexual relationship with several of his female believers.

Nicolas de Ruiter, the son of Mr. de Ruiter, commented online about his father’s sexual encounters with married women in their community, according to the Globe.

The Globe said that Mr. de Ruiter informed his son he had a “knowing” that he was destined to “had sexual encounters with multiple women with a purpose.”

A frequently asked questions page of Mr. de Ruiter’s website contains a “controversy” section.

One inquiry asks,

“Are the severe criticisms of John de Ruiter accurate?”

John did not and does not use sex to dominate or subjugate anyone, as stated in the post.

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