| Spiritually
speaking, "universalism" is the idea that all religions
have equal validity. As one interfaithist recently stated, "all
spiritual paths lead up to the same mountaintop called God."
In today’s society of "toleration of
all" (including tolerating lawlessness), universality is seen
as a necessary component in the evolution of modern society and
religion. For many, the current interfaith movement has become the
new channel to advance "universalism." However, there is
nothing new about the philosophy of universalism, rather, it
has been a central tenant of the New Age movement during the past
thirty years–and of deep occultism for much longer.
Dr. Robert Muller, former United Nations Assistant
Secretary-General to three UN Secretary Generals, is a featured
speaker at many New Age events and conferences. He is one of the
most recognized individuals within New Age circles, and has
consistently used his political influence to propagate New Age
teachings. Speaking during the 1997 Global Citizenship 2000 Youth
Congress, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Muller instructed BC
youth and educators in ideology of universalism.
The truth that was given by Jesus, by
Mohammed, by these emissaries from outer space, they were really
basic truths. And they were so great that the cosmos almost
incarnated itself. This is why Jesus said, "I am the
incarnation of the divine." And the Indigenous people, they
called it "Great Spirit." So there was always this
fighting to get the message from the outer universe to give us
confidence and to tell us how to behave. This is why practically all
the religions have a great contribution to make to the mystery of
life.… The only trouble is that their followers, the disciples,
they created around these spiritual messages a religion.
Muller also told this young Canadian audience,
Behave correctly towards the
Earth.… You are not children of Canada, you are really living
units of the cosmos because the Earth is a cosmic phenomena… we
are all cosmic units. This is why religions tell you, you are
divine. We are divine energy… it is in your hands whether
evolution on this planet continues or not.
Perhaps the greatest example of universalism comes
from the world of Theosophy and Freemasonry. Theosophy, which has
now existed as an organized spiritual path for over 100 years, was
fundamentally involved in creating the modern New Age movement.
Consider the words of Annie Besant, past president of the
Theosophical Society, in her book The Universal Text Book of
Religion and Morals,
In all times, throughout human
history, man has been searching for God, and the various Religions
of the world are God’s answer to the search, made through men in
whom more of Himself was manifest than is the case in ordinary
people. These men are variously called Prophets, Rshis, Divine Men,
Sons of God, and they may be thought of as composing one great
Spiritual Brotherhood of God-inspired men, the Guardians and
Teachers of Humanity. We should think of all of Them with reverence
and admiration, whatever may be the particular religion to which we
belong, for every one of Them brought the same Divine message to the
world, taught the same fundamental spiritual truths, proclaimed the
same changeless moral law, and lived a noble and inspired life. They
put the one Message in different ways.…
If Dr. Muller’s message and the words of Annie
Besant sound, in essence, the same, it’s because they come from
the same occult school. Dr. Muller has admitted, in his writings and
in his speeches, that his philosophies are rooted in the teachings
of Theosophy and its occult path.
In the worldwide brotherhood of Freemasonry,
universalism is considered foundational to proper Masonic growth.
While "universal religion" may not be overtly taught to
the general membership of the Lodge, it is readily available to
every Mason who wishes to study the Craft more in-depth. The
following quotes are taken from two of the most respected Freemasons
of all time, Albert Pike and Manly P. Hall.
Concerning Freemasonry and religious universalism,
Albert Pike clearly stated,
It reverences all the great
reformers. It sees in Moses, the Law-giver of the Jews, in Confucius
and Zoroaster, in Jesus of Nazareth, and in the Arabian Iconoclast,
Great Teachers of Morality, and Eminent Reformers, if no more…. (Morals
and Dogma, p. 525)
Masonry, around whose altars the
Christian, the Hebrew, the Moslem, the Brahmin, the followers of
Confucius and Zoroaster, can assemble as brethren and unite in
prayer to the one God who is above all the Baalim…. (Morals
and Dogma, p. 226)
Manly P. Hall, arguably the most renowned Masonic
scholar of this past century, wrote,
The true Mason is not creed-bound. He
realizes with the divine illumination of his lodge that as a Mason
his religion must be universal: Christ, Buddha or Mohammed, the name
means little, for he recognizes only the light and not the bearer.
He worships at every shrine, bows before every altar, whether in
temple, mosque or cathedral, realizing with his truer understanding
the oneness of all spiritual truth. (The Lost Keys of Freemasonry,
p. 65)
Pike and Hall are only two of many Masonic
historians and influential leaders who ascribe to the Craft the
religion of universalism. Other spokesmen for the Lodge who teach on
the universalism of all religions within the context of Freemasonry
include,
- Henry C. Clausen
- A.E. Waite
- H. L. Haywood
- Joseph Fort Newton
- and Albert Mackey, just to name a
few. (If you are a Mason, you can access any of
these author’s materials
in your Lodge’s library.)
If universalism is true, and all religions are
equally valid, than the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ was
pointless. Think about it, if salvation could be attained in
Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, or any other "spiritual path,"
what valid reason would God have had in sending Jesus Christ, His
"only beloved Son," to die?
It is wise to consider the sobering words of Jesus
Christ, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
(Carl Teichrib is Director of Research for Hope
For The World, the organization of best-selling author Gary Kah. To
read more of Carl’s material, or to obtain contact information for
Hope For The World, go to www.garykah.org.) |
