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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 22, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 33.

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Theosophy

By C. H. Bliss

Is It Christian or Antichristian?

By C. H. Bliss
THEOSOPHY is defined by theosophical writers as the divine wisdom. Its object is stated to be the “study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science;” also to “investigate the unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.”
The quotations in this article are largely from the writings of Annie Besant, the author of fourteen tracts and pamphlets out of twenty-four composing a reading course advertised by this sect. So she is considered good authority relative to the teachings of theosophy.
Now “theosophy,” like its twin sister, “Christian Science,” claims to be Christian. That is, it claims to be in harmony with the ethics of the Founder of the Christian faith.
Whether this claim is true or false can only be known by comparing the statements of the two. In a work published by that society, being a lecture by Annie Besant on theosophy, she says, “Theosophy appeals to the skeptic, those whose minds are bewildered by doubts—those who seek to hold to their ancient belief but find it slipping from their fingers.”
But how does it propose to help these unbelieving souls? By facts demonstrating the truth of the Gospel? Let us see. “Theosophy, to the Christian world, is a representation of fundamental truths, clothed in that scientific garment which makes them more acceptable to the mind of the modern man, . . . unveiling unknown depths of thought, unveiling unknown heights of mystic interpretation.”
Like Christian Science, it proposes to bring the teachings of the lowly Nazarene up to the comprehension of the wise men of this century. But let us follow this occult science, and see what some of these “deep mystic interpretations” are. They tell us that man is essentially an eternal spirit. The body is the form which this “eternal spirit” occupies. This eternal spirit which is in all men is divine. In speaking to the criminal in the slum it says, “You are divine as I,” and, “You shall grow to the perfection of God Himself.” Thus God is in all men, and all men are essentially a part of God. And as God will not and can not destroy a part of Himself, so He can not destroy us. Now reasoning logically from this basis, if God punishes men at all for sin, He punishes Himself.
How unlike the teachings of our divine Master, who said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again;” and, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life,” that is, eternal life. Further He says, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not [eternal] life.”
In these teachings, Christ emphatically makes faith in Him a condition to eternal life. But the “deep mystic interpretations” of theosophy are that all men are alike divine, and all will eventually evolve into that higher condition which angels enjoy, regardless of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Theosophy also teaches evolution of both body and spirit, also reincarnation. “What have you done,” say they, “to earn the position and advantage in which you are now placed, unless you have lived in lives before the present?” To the doubting, discouraged soul theosophy says, “You shall climb to the perfection of God Himself.”
Thus as the immortal spirit unfolds and passes from one body to another, the physical form also improves.
Like all other “deep mystic teachings,” theosophy does not make clear at just what point in evolution the human is replaced or succeeded by the divine, or just where in the evolution of the spirit and the body the animal became human. In all the discoveries of evolutionary science, if it be proper to call it a science, there is still a missing link. Some mystic writers indicate that the higher order of the ape are akin to the human; but just where in this evolutionary development the immortal spirit is breathed into the animal form, seems to be a mystery. However, believers in the Bible record and the testimony of Christ are not troubled upon this point.
Plunging a little deeper into this mystic science, we find them teaching that the Christ of the Christian and Vishnu of the Hindu are the same. They say, “In every religion, worship is paid to the same being, tho different names are used.” Unlike Paul, who exhorted his hearers to turn away from the worship of these gods, they advise all missionaries who visit so-called heathen lands, to identify the god there worshiped with the Christian’s God. They say the name is the only difference. Yet theosophy claims to be Christian.
This reminds the reader of history of the times just prior to the Dark Ages, when millions of heathen embraced the Christian faith outwardly by accepting “Christian baptism” and giving Christian names to the gods they worshiped, still continuing all heathen forms and practises.
No Christian missionary, we are told, has a right to outrage the belief of other nations by denying the divine prophet at whose feet he bows. Indeed, we are told that “all religions grow from the same trunk.”
Again we are told that in time “all men become christs,” and when we have reached that degree of spiritual development within the reach of all, we may receive worship. Thus we may bow to all great beings under the name “Christ.” Thus theosophy deifies men, making us all gods.
How different is the testimony of Jesus Christ! When John fell at the feet of the angel to worship him, the angel said, “Do it not; . . . worship God.” To the Christian there is one God, and His Son Jesus Christ. Before Him the angels were commanded to bow. Thus theosophy, while claiming to be Christian, makes every man his own savior, and gives the same honor to the sinner that it does to the Messiah. In speaking of the atonement, it says it consists in inwardly developing—that is, by this divine power which is in every man—a good character, a character like Christ, who they acknowledge was a good man.
Now to me here is a very strange thing—a religion claiming to be Christian, speaking reverently of the Founder of the Christian faith, giving Him worship, yet according the same honor to the gods worshiped by the heathen, and presenting to the world teachings directly antagonistic to teachings of Christ. He told the people, while here among men, that He existed before the world was; that He represented the Father; that He should die for men, and be raised again; that remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations; that by believing on Him there is salvation; that there is no salvation for men only through faith in Him. Now if He told the truth, theosophy is false from beginning to end—it is antichrist. If Christ did not speak the truth, then He was a hypocrite, and the greatest false prophet that ever visited this world.
There can be no compromise here. We can not worship both God and devils, neither can we follow truth and error. If Christ is from above, theosophy is from beneath. These teachings can not emanate from the same source.