HE WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER : IMMORTALITY MOVEMENT LEADER SURVIVES TRYING LEGACY.

Byline: Dennis Love Daily News Staff Writer

The immortal Charles Paul Brown, age 62 and not counting, sat in a hotel lobby Saturday afternoon and prepared to lead a seminar that, not so long ago, would easily have filled an entire conference hall.

On this day, however, only a meager dozen disciples of the founder of People Forever International, an organization of people who ``experience physical immortality as a way of life,'' have gathered in a nearby suite to hear Brown impart the gospel about, as he puts it, ``that immortal seed that is within us all.''

``There was a time when we had 30,000 people on our mailing list,'' Brown was saying. ``But then we had bad press that was a nightmare, and the problems began. Things have been very difficult. My wife and I divorced after more than 30 years. I lost my houses. I had to declare personal bankruptcy. . . . It's been very, very hard.''

What if life's a bitch, then you never die?

Since 1960, Brown has been the charismatic leader of his immortality movement, now with some 2,000 people who claim to have undergone a ``genetic shift,'' which has empowered them to live indefinitely. By casting aside the psychological onus that humans ``must'' die, Brown and his adherents believe that a physiological reaction then follows - a regeneration of body cells that defies death and disease.

``We live in a death-oriented culture,'' Brown, tall, fit and trim, said. ``We are programmed to limit our lives to `three score and 10' . . . but that is not the way it always has been.''

The biblical patriarch Methuselah lived 969 years, according to the Old Testament. Adam supposedly lived to be 930. Others routinely lived 200 to 300 years. Brown argues that Jesus Christ later preached physical as well as spiritual immortality. But as the Dark Ages set in, life expectancy spiraled downward; 25 was considered old. People would marry as early as 10.

As the centuries passed, life spans began to inch up again. Today, Brown and his followers believe that their cell regeneration combined with healthy lifestyles and continuing medical advances has opened the door to lives of infinite length.

Yet they don't consider themselves invulnerable; an automobile accident or any similar catastrophic event that destroys too many body cells at once is too much to overcome, they believe. But cancer, AIDS and other naturally occurring ailments can, in theory, be overcome; aging is defied.

Members' ages range from their teens to their 90s. A few have died, ostensibly mere mortals after all. But Brown and the others are undeterred, striving not only for eternal life but to obliterate the ``passiveness'' they contend comes with the acceptance of death as fate.

``Most people don't want the responsibility of thinking for themselves,'' Brown said. ``We talk about passing along a clean planet to our children, but as death approaches, a certain passiveness sets in. Jesus talked about a kingdom on Earth. . . . Immortality means that the life experience does not stop.''

As Saturday's seminar got under way, several of the attendees testified to the impact Brown's philosophy has had on their lives. One man who appeared to be about 70 said, ``When I was 60, I was ready to die. I had cancer, prostate problems, other things . . . but something entered me. I owe my life to you, I really do.''

A younger man, Curtis Harwell, said that Brown had inspired him to found a ``rejuvenation center'' in Topanga Canyon, where principles of immortality will be used to help others. ``I want to stay here (on Earth),'' he said. ``I'm committed to staying here.''

Bob Fisher, a Woodland Hills public relations executive who has worked for Brown for several years - although now, because of Brown's recent difficulties, Fisher works more due to friendship than money - said he does not believe in immortality, but understands how the notion affects those who do.

``Think about it,'' he said. ``If you completely take away the fear of dying, then you've already eliminated about half the stress in your entire life. . . . These people have a quality of life that you or I will never achieve.''

And yet, given Brown's travails, immortality may not be all it's cracked up to be.

Brown grew up in Bakersfield and came to Los Angeles in the 1950s with visions of becoming a nightclub singer. He became a fundamentalist minister instead. In 1960, while listening to another Los Angeles preacher, he had a ``revelation,'' as Fisher describes it, and developed his immortality beliefs.

He had great success, finding audiences on five continents and writing books and publishing magazines with titles such as ``Together Forever.'' The unraveling of his still-budding empire began in 1993, when Gentleman's Quarterly ran an article depicting the Scottsdale-based People Forever International as cultlike. More unfavorable stories followed both in print and on network TV, effectively kneecapping Brown's efforts to maintain his base and recruit new blood.

Brown said the reversal affected him deeply. ``I've never left anyone in my life,'' he told the seminar group at one point Saturday. ``But I've sure had a hell of a lot of people leave me.''

Now, with his divorce and bankruptcy behind him, Brown said he will go to Israel - where the movement still is quite strong - for a few months, then evaluate his future.

``I may not go on with it,'' he said. ``I don't know. It's been a nightmare. I may seem beat - but I'm not sure I can stop.''

At the very least, Charles Paul Brown seems to have ample time for a comeback.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Charles Paul Brown leads a discussion in Redondo Beach.

(2) Charles Paul Brown, founder of People Forever International, addresses a group of disciples at a seminar at the Palos Verdes Inn.

Phil McCarten/Daily News