The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

III. Total Departure From “Christian Faith” Platform

The depart-from-the-faith-the Bible faith-aspect of Spiritualism is all-inclusive. In support we quote four questions and their amazingly candid (and incriminating) answers from Dr. B. F. Austin’s The A.B.C. of Spiritualism, issued by the National Spiritualist Association of Churches. Note them most carefully. They offer irrefutable proof of total departure. CFF2 1098.3

1. SPIRITUALISM NOT BASED ON BIBLE

Spiritualism’s unequivocal repudiation of any Bible basis is declared in answer No. 11: CFF2 1098.4

“11. Is not Spiritualism based upon the Bible? CFF2 1098.5

“No. The Bible so far as it is inspired and true is based upon Mediumship and therefore, both Christianity (the simple and beautiful teachings of Jesus-real primitive Christianity) and Spiritualism rest an the same basis. CFF2 1098.6

“Spiritualism does not depend for its credentials and proofs upon any former revelation.” ¹⁶ CFF2 1098.7

It is unequivocally not Bible based. CFF2 1098.8

2. JESUS HELD NOT UNIQUELY DIVINE

Next, holding that Jesus is divine only as one believes “in the divinity of all men,” ¹⁶ Spiritualists expressly deny the Trinity and coequality of Christ with the Father: CFF2 1098.9

“17. Does Spiritualism recognize Jesus as one Person of the Trinity, co-equal with the Father, and divine in a sense in which divinity is unattainable by other men? CFF2 1099.1

“No. Spiritualism accepts him as one of many Saviour Christs, who at different times have come into the world to lighten its darkness and show by precept and example the way of life to men. It recognizes him as a world Saviour but not as ‘the only name’ given under heaven by which men can be saved.” ¹⁸ CFF2 1099.2

Spiritualism totally rejects Jesus Christ as the sole Saviour of men. CFF2 1099.3

3. NO ATONING VALUE IN DEATH OF JESUS

Again, dening any “special atoning value” in Christ’s death, Austin answers, similar to others already noted: CFF2 1099.4

“19. Does not Spiritualism recognize special value and efficacy in the death of Jesus in saving men? CFF2 1099.5

“No. Spiritualism sees in the death of Jesus an illustration of the martyr spirit, of that unselfish and heroic devotion to humanity which ever characterized the life of Jesus, but no special atoning value in his sufferings and death. The world has had uncounted illustrations of men who have died for the truth. All such deaths have a moral value and influence but not in a sense of a ransom price for the souls of others, as taught by the so-called orthodox churches.” ¹⁹ CFF2 1099.6

Man is thus left without any redemptive atonement. CFF2 1099.7

4. JESUS BRAZENLY DECLARED “GREAT MEDIUM.”

Austln presumptuously characterizes Jesus as a “great Medium,” practicing the fundamental principles of Spiritualism:” CFF2 1099.8

21. From the standpoint of Spiritualism how is the character and work of Jesus to be inter preted? CFF2 1099.9

“Jesus was a great Mediator, or Medium, who recognized all the fundamental principles of Spiritualism and practiced them. The existence of a Supreme Power; the Spiritual nature of man; man’s continued life after death; the open door between the two worlds; the efficacy of prayer; the Power of healing; the gifts of clairvoyance and clairaudience; and the practice of communion with angels and spirits, are all to be found in the teachings and examples of Jesus.” ²⁰ CFF2 1099.10

“Jesus himself communed with angels and Spirits and took his favorite disciples to a séance an the Mount, where Moses and Elias appeared and communed with them.” ²¹ CFF2 1099.11

5. ASSERTS CHRISTIANITY “BORN IN A SÈANCE.”

The ultimate in the daringly distorted claims of Spiritualism’s relation to Christianity is stated in these words: CFF2 1100.1

“How-it may be asked-could Christianity be opposed to Spiritualism when the Christian Religion was really born in a Séance? The real beginning of Christianity, its motive power, its great impetus, came-not from the birth or death of Jesus-but from Pentecost, the greatest Séance in history.” ²² CFF2 1100.2

What daring sacrilege! CFF2 1100.3

6. SUBSTITUTES SPIRITUALISM FOR HOLY SPIRIT AS “COMFORTER.”

Austin actually implies that the functions of the Holy Spirit have their fulfillment in “Spiritualism as a World Teacher, Inspirer and Com f orter of humanity.” ²³ CFF2 1100.4

These are the very terms applied by Christ to the work of the Holy Spirit. CFF2 1100.5