THE DEVELOPMENT OF FALSE RELIGIONS AND ISMS.
By L. A. Phippeny
TO BE consistent, a Christian must regard Christianity as the only true religion, and base his estimate of other religions, or systems, on their attitude towards it. Using a general term, they are false. It does not follow that they contain no truth, but it does follow that the Christianity which he holds as the standard must be the Christianity of its Founder, and the exponent of that religion, the Holy Scriptures, in their simplicity, interpreted only by the Spirit of the living God. Comprehended in its fulness, it contains all of truth, and its actuating principle is a love that casts out all fear. In its perfection it is more than mere religion, it is a life. But it is well recognized that the popular Christianity of the closing years of this nineteenth century is far removed from the faith of its Author. It lacks the life. This condition is deplored by those who would be its friends, and exulted over by its enemies. There are many reasons for the deterioration, chief of which is the waning of faith in the Bible as the only inspired revelation of God to man. The weightiest factor in producing this condition is the attitude of a large majority of the professed ministers of Christ. In place of the Word, the teachings of a changeable science are publicly advocated, with the result, inculcation of doubt in the minds of millions prone to gauge their faith by that of their pastors. This is in harmony with the constant purpose of Satan ever since the fall of man. As the centuries have rolled by, and the race has departed more and more from God, its knowledge of Him and of His love has been lost in the mazes of fables. And so it is that against the Scriptures of truth are brought to bear, in these latter days, the most delusive sophistries, with disastrous effect. In all ages, as men have lost sight of God as He is and the true records of creation, numerous theories have been invented concerning the origin of things. Nearly all of these can be classed under the general term Evolution, which teaches the gradual growth of the earth through millions of years, and the development of all forms of life from lower to higher orders. In our day a mighty impetus has been given to the spread of the belief by the contributions of a hypothetical science in its investigations along these lines. Needless to say, science apparently disproves the testimony of revelation, and thus it is that evolutionists insist that the Bible opposes knowledge, and hence that its records must stand aside, and faith be placed somewhere else. Leading to practically the same conclusions as Evolution, or, as it is preferably called, "revelations of science," as concerns faith in the Bible, is the commonly called Higher Criticism. This scheme of supposedly critical and learned analysis of the text of the Scriptures in the original languages and from ancient manuscripts, claims to discover flaws here and there, with evidence upsetting the accepted authorship of certain books. Take these two systems together, as developed in modern thought, and they are fitted to destroy effectually all faith in divine revelation in the Bible. But in the estimation of the individual who sees in the Word one great harmony of design, and knows the power of the Author of that Word in his life, no weight can possibly attach to revelations of science that contradict its records, nor to the learned derogatory criticisms of its text by those who fail to discern the fulness of its teachings. In his view true science and the Bible harmonize perfectly, for the principles of all true science originate with the Creator. Hence the interpretations of nature by science will be guided by revelation, and not vice versa. Here modern science errs in supposing that conditions as now found in nature are perfect conditions. The Word teaches far otherwise.21 Note now some of the logical results of these errors. As faith in the Scriptures fades away, the trend of modern thought is towards man's estate in this world, independent of revelation. Perhaps by very few is the Bible cast aside entirely, but its teachings are interpreted conformably to the popular idea of progress, which is woefully unlike the simplicity of the Word. The principles underlying social conditions which it teaches are held to be universal in nature, and the conception of God as the first cause is retained, because human logic demands a first cause. But the incarnation and redemption are set aside consistently with rejecting Genesis and the record of creation and the fall. Christ is a wonderful man, but salvation now lies in the doctrine of good works, which teaches that the man best serves God who serves his country best, and contributes most to the popularly-estimated material and social welfare of his fellow-men. Under the name of Christianity a form of worship is maintained, which in a double sense denies the power claimed for it by the Word from which it originates. A striking similarity is noticeable in the popular thought and teaching as compared with many of the teachings of Buddhism and Theosophy. This is to be expected in view of the rapid strides the principles of these systems are making throughout Christendom. It is a noteworthy fact, also, that a missionary zeal has of late taken possession of the disciples of the religions of the far East. Especially is this observable since the holding of the Parliament of Religions at the World's Fair in 1893. From that Parliament the representatives of the East returned to their homes proclaiming a virtual victory for Buddha over the Christianity of the West. A Buddhist movement is now on foot in this country. But, clad in form more pleasing to the Western mind, is Theosophy, altho more or less stigma has attached to the name in recent years because of divisions and wranglings among its leaders. Its announced mission is to reconcile and unify all beliefs, and to establish a universal brotherhood of man. In accordance with this idea, it does not seek to make proselytes, but rather to impart knowledge. It therefore requires of its adherents no change of denominational name. In this we discover one of the secrets of its quiet yet powerful influence. As its name implies (Divine Wisdom), it professes a knowledge of the mysteries of nature, and attainment to this knowledge along scientifically demonstrable lines. It thus appeals in a subtle manner to the more thoughtfully inclined. In this system, also, as well as in Buddhism, occur the finest expressions of moral conduct; but, nevertheless, it is taught that all salvation from conditions of evil depends upon a change in man's nature brought about by his own self-denial and self-control. The Christ of Theosophical thought is to all intents the Christ of professed Christians who reject His divinity, unless it be that the Theosophical conception is more elevated. It is essentially a religion of self-salvation, self-exaltation. Involved in the same thought of self-salvation, which is becoming so prevalent nowadays, is the principle at the foundation of Christian Science. The world is full of misery and sorrow because of sin and bodily sickness, and whatever promises relief is eagerly sought after. Christian Science presents an attractive name, and its promises draw large numbers who are afflicted with disease. The system is based on peculiar interpretations which give to the teachings of Scripture a spiritualized meaning. It holds that all sin and sickness are mental only, and that by following certain rules which it lays down, these ailments will be mentally banished. Beyond question, marvelous cures are effected through this medium, but as we compare its teachings with the great Standard, we must unhesitatingly place it among systems of error. The Word reveals the existence of a power other than God, capable of healing disease, and which will in these last days point to the signs attending its disciples as evidence that they are the true ministers of Christ. This plain testimony concerning another power, Christian Science and like systems deny by giving to it a spiritualized interpretation. But in the Word itself is divine healing, full and complete, for soul and body, without interpretation or spiritualization of simple and plain language. Follow its directions. There is power in the Lord. One of the most inexplicable forces that modern science has to grapple with is that displayed in the remarkable phenomena of hypnotism. Here is a mysterious power, the use of which appeals strongly to vast numbers of minds, and whose possibilities have only begun to be grasped. A distinct field is already opened for its use by physicians in the treatment of disease, and in this direction we discover a kinship with the operations of Christian Science. But while it is thus used by some for the purpose of conferring good, the possibilities for evil are so immense that the laws of the land are taking cognizance of its operations. Surely it is not a hard thing to locate the power behind the scenes. The Scriptures tell of one who is the "prince of the power of the air," who works in the children of disobedience, to deceive and ultimately to destroy. The earmarks of this system show that it belongs among the dangerous systems of error that are so plentifully developing in this latter day. Until recent years the claims for Spiritualism have been regarded with more or less disfavor, especially by men of science. The conduct of certain classes of its earlier adherents was such as to bring it into disrepute, while slight-of-hand fakers have contributed to unpopularizing it by pretended duplication of the spirit manifestations. The attitude of its earlier teachings relative to the Scriptures also retarded its progress. But late years have witnessed a surprising change of front in its professions. Gradually many of the coarser elements have been eliminated, until to-day it presents a well-defined organization, and stands knocking for admission into the lists of Christian religions by virtue of its acceptance of the Bible in the light of modern science and advanced criticism, and its millions of followers among all creeds. Beyond controversy the central idea of this system is the greatest delusion ever sprung upon the human race. This is the theory of the inherent immortality of the soul, which is by no means limited to the one system, but, almost without exception, is the basic idea of every form of religion, faith, belief, creed, or ism on the face of the globe, that does not accept the plain teaching of Holy Writ on the subject. Unconsciously millions worship at this false shrine, and the way is now fast opening for the elaboration of the most sinister designs upon mankind that the master mind of a fallen angel can devise. This departure from the Bible and its revelations of the future has set adrift vast multitudes upon an unknown sea. As a consequence no line of thought is more intently pursued to-day than that which pertains to conditions beyond the grave. And it would seem, also, that to the blinding of men's minds concerning this theme, the arch-deceiver has given his special attention. Probably the most significant movement in modern times along this line, and one that promises greatest results from the human standpoint, is the work of the Society for Psychical Research. This body, only a few years old, is already represented in all parts of the world by a membership of about 1,500, among whom are men of the highest standing in scientific and religious circles and in national affairs. Its present president is Sir William Crookes, F.R.S., and its secretary, Richard Hodgson, LL.D., of Boston, Mass. Among its vice-presidents are The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., F.R.S., The Right Rev. the Bishop of Ripon, Prof. William James, of Harvard University, Prof. S. P. Langley, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., and others. The object of this society is the investigation by scientific methods of super-normal manifestations through spiritistic mediums, as well as all other occult or hidden phenomena, such as telepathy, hypnotism, dreams, etc., for the purpose of arriving, if possible, at a knowledge of some of the mysterious forces producing these various phenomena. And, in the end, it is desired to prove or disprove the theory of the immortality of the soul, and the possibility and conditions of life beyond the grave. Only the briefest reference can here be made to the results thus far obtained by the exhaustive and careful investigations of the society, which extend through a period of years. Suffice it to say that the most rigid tests were arranged again and again for the supposed communicators from the spirit world, and were so uniformly and successfully met that the learned secretary of the society, who at the beginning of the investigations was a pronounced disbeliever in any future existence whatever, is fully convinced that the soul does survive the death of the body, and can, under certain limitations, return and communicate with friends still in the flesh. The society's published reports have produced a profound sensation and awakened widespread discussion. In the columns of the New York Independent of September 29, 1898, Prof. James H. Hyslop, of Columbia College, New York, admits that the facts produced by the society can not be "laughed out of court," and wonders if those who have hitherto doubted the demonstration of immortality by science would not better cease resistance to Spiritualism. From this night of moral darkness there is only one escape, and that is in following the light of God's Word. In this Word is given full information concerning existence and conditions beyond the grave, and there is likewise furnished a logical and scientific explanation of the phenomena that are so puzzling unbelievers in this latter age. Two general truths of revelation settle these questions effectually. They are:— Second, (a) there are about us, tho invisible to our eyes, good and evil angels, beings superior to man. (b) Satan, the head of the evil angels, is called the father of lies (John 8:44), and the deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12:9). His first lie on this planet was the notable assertion that has formed the basis of all false systems, and is the only text in existence upholding the theory of the immortality of the soul. It is found in Gen. 3:4, and is, "Ye shall not surely die." The Word reveals the history of both these classes of beings, and the reasons for their presence here. That Word of revelation is free to all who wish to search its pages. Knowing, therefore, the state of the dead, and having information concerning the presence of wicked spirits possessed of superior powers, we know what intelligence it is that is working thus near the surface, tho with an air of profound mystery, in leading men to a pretended communication with the souls of departed human beings. Most certainly, marvelous things will be communicated, but it is a will-o'-the-wisp chase, for it is a deception, whose object, together with all other forms of error from the same source, is the destruction of souls that might otherwise, through faith in God's revelation, know of His love, and share in His high purposes for those who choose to be true to Him. "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:19, 20.