The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

II. Eastern Occultism’s Penetrations and Footholds in the West

Tangible evidence of the penetrations and footholds of Eastern occult concepts into Western thought is further illustrated by the Book of Destiny publications, issuing from Tarrytown, New York. Two of these, by GORDON COLLIERS ³⁴’—Will You Be Alive in 1975? with a circulation of eighty thousand copies, and Make Your Own World (three volumes), with a further distribution of fifty thousand—are representative. Their significance will become progressively apparent. CFF2 1205.1

1. SPIRITISTIC ORIGIN OF PLAUSIBLE FANTASIES

Note Collier’s first book. Along with numerous helpful features, such as good health counsels and success pointers, this first volume is surcharged with occult teachings and alleged revelations from the astral world. In chapter two Worth Smith says, “Immortality, the dream of man for ages will be a reality, here and now,” and every soul is to become a “golden shrine for the Eternal Verities.” ³⁵ It sounds impressive. “Reincarnation” is likewise emphasized repeatedly. It is presented as “a way to reach God which man had now lost,” ³⁶ with assurance of “daily direction” from “above.” Such are some of its characteristic features. CFF2 1205.2

The “proportions and symbols” of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh are dwelt upon at length. The designers were ancient wise men who had a dependable “knowledge of the past” and “clear vision of the future.” ³⁷ The Great Pyramid is alleged to indicate the “Divine Plan of the Ages,” and to “augur the exact date of the birth of Jesus Christ.” ³⁸ Then Collier sets forth phantasms such as the tale of “Atlantis,” the submerged “lost continent,” with its “sunken cities” and their alleged “supermen” (the “Atlanteans”), assertedly revealed through occult revelations. ⁴⁰ This intriguing “continent” is supposed to have become submerged at the time of the Flood, as graphically told by Spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his fictional The Maracot Deep (1929), and by Cyrus Headley and others.” CFF2 1205.3

2. TIED IN WITH THE OCCULT AND THE EAST

This story of Atlantis is amplified in the fanciful Dweller on Two Planets (1952), a “metaphysical masterpiece,” given through “automatic writing” to F. S. Oliver, from the “spirit of Phylos.” ⁴¹ Following this come allusions to the “Masters of the Far East,” ⁴² “New Thought and Metaphysics,” ⁴⁴ and the recitals of Baird T. Spalding (just surveyed). Then there is a long list-New Thought, Unity School of Christianity, Divine Science, Religious Science, Metaphysics, Psychiana, and Rosicrucianism.” And along with these is the Psycho-Metaphysical Research Society, and the Aquarius School of the Masters, with branches of the various groups constantly being opened in the cities of America. The old and the new are thus being blended, and East and West commingled. And be it remembered that the occult forms the undergirding for it all. CFF2 1206.1

3. PERSONATIONS THROUGH REINCARNATED “AGASHA” PRIEST

Then comes a play-up of the “world-famous medium” Richard Zenor, with his trances and messages from the “great spirit Agasha,” ⁴⁶ claiming to disclose the metaphysical secrets of the universe. One of the messages allegedly comes from Ravine Aum Tate, of Egypt, in the long ago, with whom Zenor had, according to the medium, been associated during one of his incarnations, as “one of the high priests of Agasha.” Ravine Aum Tate is also declared to have formerly been “one of the builders of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh.” He prophesied that Collier “would write books to... help spread the wisdom of Agasha,” and the Agashan philosophy. ⁴⁷ CFF2 1207.1

According to Collier, who attended Zenor’s meetings in Agasha Temple in Los Angeles, not only was the spirit of Mary Baker Eddy heard but that of “Jesus,” who allegedly spoke through Zenor. ⁴⁸ Agasha constantly stresses “reincarnation,” with mention of “materialization,” seance appearances from the “spirit world,” with “departed relatives materialized,” trances under a “control,” ⁴⁹ and other “psychic phenomena.” CFF2 1207.2

Dilating on the “Psychic Age,” Zenor claims that “flying discs,” or “flying saucers,” have “astral” significance, according to the Master Agasha, and are “created by those who dwell in the etheric world.” ⁵⁰ Along with this is stressed “God-consciousness,” and the forces of “occult science,” with “souls” once living on “Atlantis” being “reborn (through reincarnation) into this country.” ⁵¹ Then, according to James Crenshaw, tied in with all this are strangely familiar contentions that we are now living in time’s “Latter Days,” when “great changes” are to be “wrought,” ⁵² with nature “on a rampage.” This “Latter Days” point is, of course, patterned after the clear Biblical teaching, which is widely held among Evangelical Christians. So error and truth are commingled. And all this is according to “Agasha, the Master Teacher.” ⁵³ CFF2 1207.3

4. NEW DISCOVERIES TO AUGMENT CHRIST’S TEACHINGS

Richard Zenor likewise predicts “strange things” to appear in the “heavens” and the “vast etheric worlds,” along with “mysterious manifestations,” ⁵⁴ and “millions of truth-seekers” “turning to the occult.” Reference is again made to “Agasha, the Master Teacher,” and Richard Zenor, and the prediction is repeated of the appearance of “unprecedented phenomena” in this new “Psychic Age.” ⁵⁵ The arresting claim is then put forth that “more authentic Biblical records will be found,” which will furnish supplemental evidence as to “the original statements of the Master Jesus.” “His Jesus] own writings” will yet come to light, ⁵⁷ he avers. And again there is stress of the “Psychic Age,” wherein that special “sense” which “has been lying dormant for generations” will be “awakened” through occultism. It will “explain everything,” and is destined to come to the “attention of mankind.” Then again the claim is boldly made: CFF2 1208.1

“Parchments will be found in Palestine that will clarify much that is in the Old and New Testaments, particularly in reference to Jesus. Writings by Jesus Himself will be found.” ⁵⁸ CFF2 1208.2

These are the “wonders of the future.” The significance of these statements must not be missed-“archeological” discoveries will be produced, allegedly giving the endorsement of Jesus Himself to these psychic claims, thus preparing the way for tremendous deceptions to follow, wherever such endorsements are accepted. Thus it is that the occult East is progressively penetrating and influencing the susceptible West. CFF2 1208.3

This first Collier volume closes with more forecasts by the Master Agasha through Zenor. Allusions are made to the “return of the Atlanteans,” “psychic force,” the power of appearing and disappearing, “strange things”—and all in alleged “completion of the Cycle Seven,” and the development of the “sixth sense.” ⁵⁹ There is further evidence in the other Collier three-volume treatise, which we will trace in the next chapter. But let us first advert to Collier’s periodic reference to New Thought, and note its involvements. Here Eastern impulses are adapted to Western thought. CFF2 1209.1

5. NEW THOUGHT STRESSES “DIVINITY OF MAN.”

New Thought holds that the universe is spiritual, man is a spiritual being, and good is universal and everlasting. The group recognizes PHINEAS P. QUIMBY ⁶⁰ (d. 1866) as their founder, and in many ways New Thought is closely akin to Christian Science. Its adherents teach the “Divinity of Man” and his “infinite possibilities” through the power of “creative thinking” and the voice of the “Indwelling Presence.” The constitution of the International New Thought Alliance, adopted in 1916, states the purpose of the Alliance to be: CFF2 1209.2

“‘To teach the infinitude of the Supreme One, the Divinity of Man and his Infinite possibilities through the creative power of constructive thinking and obedience to the voice of the Indwelling Presence, which is our source of Inspiration, Power, Health, and Prosperity.’” ⁶¹ CFF2 1210.1

The concept of being-“as gods” is a constantly recurring thought in these kindred groups. CFF2 1210.2

As stated, the New Thought movement sprang from the work of Phineas P. Quimby, who practiced mental and spiritual healing, and allegedly “healed” Mary Baker Eddy. As Quimby created no organization, many splinter groups developed under such names as Divine Science, ⁶² Unity (noted later), Practical Christianity, Liveable Christianity, Home of truth, Church of the Higher Life, et cetera. In 1908 the name National New Thought Alliance ⁶³was adopted, and in 1914 it became the International New Thought Alliance.” It is one of the milder adaptations of Eastern thought on Western soil. CFF2 1210.3