CULTS CRITIQUE by Betty Bruechert
T H E O S O P H Y
T wo w o m e n are responsible for in troducing and developing the cult of Theosophy in this country: Rus sian-born Helena Petrovna Blavat- sky (1831-1891) and the English di vorcee, Annie Besant (1847-1933). In 1873, Madame Blavatsky, aided by Colonel Olcott, founded the Theo- sophical Society in New York and published The Theosophist, neither of which met with much success. So in 1878 Madame Blavatsky jour neyed to India and sat at the feet of the Hindu and Buddhist mystics un til she absorbed their teachings to the full. She claimed communication with the Great White Brotherhood of Tibet but this was proven fraudu lent by the Society for Psychical Re search. When she returned to the U.S., she was hailed a true mystic. Her three books, The Secret Doc trine, Isis Unveiled and Key to Phi losophy are regarded as textbooks of the cult. At her death in 1891, her followers numbered around 100,- 000. Her most notable convert was Annie Besant, who formerly had been connected with various Social ist organizations in England which sometimes brought her into conflict with the law. In 1899, Mrs. Besant gave up her political life to lecture on Mrs. Blavatsky and Theosophy and, being an aggressive woman, and a forceful speaker, greatly advanced the cult in this country. Theosophy actually is but a West ern form of Hinduism, teaching pan theism and reincarnation, without any belief in a personal God. A stock quotation of the sect is: “All that is is God and God is all that is.” Mrs. Besant incorporated her own ac count of the life of Jesus into the creed: that He existed at least 100 years before the commonly accepted date; that He was reared and trained by the Essenes; that He became Christ but temporarily at His bap tism; that after the crucifixion He returned to teach His disciples East ern mysticism fifty years. Theoso- phists believe in a seven-fold body. One’s redemption consists in migrat ing from one body to another until perfection is attained. Suffering is always the result of sins in former lives and salvation is nirvana, cessa tion of one’s existence. In Theosophy there is no Heaven, no hope, no hap piness—only darkness and despair.
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There is an urgent need, around the world, for future Christian leaders with a broad general professional education. The Institute offers a unique and specialized training program,* combining ■two years of liberal arts study at an accredited college ■with the Institute's historic three-year Bible-centered curriculum (with more hours of Bible) Graduates of the Moody degree program rank with those of leading colleges and universities, having not only a comprehensive Bible education but three years of practical experience in communicating the gospel. B.S. Degree in Missionary Technology— 30 hours o f general education plus the present four-year program in m issionary radio and aviation. B.S. Degree in Missionary Nursing— Granted to students completing a major in the Department of M issions and having an R.N. *ln addition to the five-year degree program, the Institute still offers the historic three-year diploma program. FREE FOLDER for high school students . . . A guide in planning courses of study meeting MBI's degree requirements w ill be of special interest to teen-agers and their parents. W rite for your copy today!
Academic requirements for the MBI Degree Program . . . B.A. Degree— 60 hours of general education or liberal arts, plus 93 hours of specialized Institute training.
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