Faithism is a religious movement centered around the Oahspe Bible, a book published in 1882 by an American dentist named John Ballou Newbrough. The Oahspe Bible claims to contain new revelations from angelic beings about humanity’s spiritual history and destiny.
The central tenet of Faithism is belief in an all-powerful creator deity called Ormazd or Jehovih. According to the Oahspe Bible, Ormazd periodically sends angelic emissaries called Gods and Lords to establish new world religions and guide humanity’s spiritual evolution. Faithists believe that Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad and other religious founders derived their authority and teachings from the same God.
However, Faithists see all historical faiths, including established religions like Christianity and Islam, as temporary steps in humanity’s progression toward a universal religion foretold in the Oahspe Bible. Faithism considers itself this culmination of mankind’s spiritual journey. It aims to synthesize the truths of the world’s religions into one comprehensive faith under Ormazd.
The Oahspe Bible has several distinguishing characteristics setting it apart from other sacred texts:
- It claims to rectify perceived mistakes and omissions in existing religious texts.
- It incorporates new revelations dictated to Newbrough by angelic authorities.
- It proposes a radically different account of spiritual history, unrelated to any established faith.
- It prescribes Faithism as the ultimate religion humans must adopt.
Some key Oahspe Bible teachings include:
- Cosmology: There are ethereal worlds beyond the physical, inhabited by advanced angelic beings tasked with guiding planets like Earth.
- Spiritual Hierarchy: Ormazd appoints Gods and Lords to oversee cosmic regions and deliver new revelations as needed.
- Reincarnation: The soul is immortal and goes through many incarnations in order to learn and advance.
- Angelic Intervention: Angels have guided humanity by inspiring prophets and establishing religions suited to different eras.
- Eschatology: History moves in cyclic “arcs” leading to a prophesied kosmon era of universal peace and enlightenment.
Faithists have few formal rituals, believing spiritual growth comes through living a virtuous life in harmony with others. Their moral principles are summarized in the Oahspe Bible’s “Faithist’s Prayer,” which pledges service to Ormazd, love for all people, and the pursuit of knowledge, especially spiritual truth. Faithists emphasize learning, reflection, and welfare work over rites.
Faithist congregations are inclusive, egalitarian and pacifist. Faithism has no official clergy and accords women equal status. It condemns war, nationalism, and intolerance. Dietary and lifestyle restrictions are minimal. Faithists believe righteous living and helping others are paramount.
While sharing some similarities with Spiritualism, Theosophy and New Thought, Faithism offers a unique theology. It has had limited appeal outside of America but claims up to 50,000 adherents worldwide. Few materials exist elucidating Faithist doctrine aside from the massive Oahspe Bible itself.
In summary, Faithism centers on revelations in the 19th century Oahspe Bible, commanding adherence to a new faith called Oahspeism meant to supersede existing religions. It envisages a peaceful utopian future under angelic oversight, elevating spiritual growth, egalitarian ethics and good works as the purpose of human life. Faithism awaits wider recognition as the fulfillment of humanity’s age-old search for absolute truth.
The Origins and History of the Oahspe Bible
The Oahspe Bible originated through a dentist in New York named John Ballou Newbrough. Born in 1828, Newbrough practiced dentistry but developed an interest in mystical philosophies like Spiritualism, Theosophy and Swedenborgianism.
According to Newbrough, angelic entities contacted him in 1879 through automatic writing and dictated the Oahspe Bible over a two-year period. Newbrough claimed no authorship, stating he merely recorded the words spoken to him by angelic “messengers.”
The resulting manuscript was published in 1882 and named Oahspe, a term meaning “Earth, Sky and Spirit” in the invented language used by Newbrough’s spiritual informants. Oahspe’s initial subscribers included leading Spiritualists and Theosophists who considered it a significant new revelation.
However, organized religions rejected the Oahspe Bible’s claim to supersede their faiths. Newbrough founded a small spiritual group called the Oahspe Society to promote his work but died in 1891 after years of rebuffs from Christian and scientific institutions. Other Oahspe societies carried the movement forward.
Faithism spread primarily through study groups who believed Oahspe’s “new Bible” presaged a major change in human society. However, Faithism remained on the fringe and Oahspe failed to gain recognition as a canonical scripture. The secretive Oahspe Society disbanded in 1911.
In the 1920s, a British spiritualist named John S. Manners revived Oahspe through his esoteric group called the Children of the Light. Manners published commentaries on Oahspe emphasizing its prophecies of an impending new era.
From the 1930s onward, other fringe American spiritual groups like the Essenes of Kosmon kept Oahspe alive. Faithism won converts among independent seekers but remained marginal. It possesses no centralized organization or leadership today.
Yet Oahspe’s legacy persists as a bible seeking to harmonize the world’s faiths, backed by claims of channeled revelations from angelic realms. Despite its failure to gain wider traction so far, Faithists await recognition of Oahspe’s profound truths heralding a spiritual new dawn for humankind.
Key Teachings in the Oahspe Bible
Oahspe encompasses over 900 pages of densely written teachings aimed at correcting and completing all prior religions. Some core Oahspe doctrines include:
1. Cosmology
Oahspe lays out an elaborate angelic cosmology, with ethereal realms beyond the physical populated by advanced spirits tasked with governing the mortal spheres. These include:
- Etherea – The highest heavenly region surrounding the universe.
- Atmospherea – Where spirits first dwell after death, bordering the physical world.
- Ji’ay – Another spirit realm where souls are prepared for reincarnation.
- Corpor – The lowest spirit region near planets where evil influences concentrate.
Oahspe’s unseen realms provide the backdrop for angelic interventions into human affairs to uplift society spiritually.
2. Spiritual Hierarchy
According to Oahspe, the supreme being Ormazd appoints deified spirits as Gods and Lords to control celestial regions and establish new religions on mortal worlds:
- Gods – Highest angels ruling over large sections of the cosmos.
- Lords – Angels subservient to Gods who administer single planets.
When humanity needs spiritual rejuvenation, Ormazd sends a God with a specific revelation for that era. Faith, Buddha, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and other reformers all derived their authority from Gods whose teachings were limited to certain regions and times.
Oahspe claims the current period requires a new universal revelation transcending cultures – Faithism.
3. Reincarnation
Oahspe teaches the soul lives through successive earthly lifetimes to improve itself before ascending to ethereal realms. The cycle of rebirth in corporeal bodies enables spirits to overcome animalism and attain knowledge.
The experiences and talents gained over many lives gradually lead the virtuous soul closer to oneness with the Creator. Reincarnation continues until the soul perfects its wisdom, power and love.
4. Angelic Intervention
According to Oahspe, humanity’s development relies heavily on inspiration from ethereal beings:
- Angels give prophets revelations suited for their regions.
- Spirits also provide inventions, philosophies and revelations.
- Evil spirits spread false doctrines and deceptions.
All humanity’s progression from savagery to modern civilization resulted from angelic manipulation, both benevolent and sinister. However, Oahspe claims the present era requires direct angelic rule to complete the race’s spiritual journey.
5. Eschatology
Oahspe divides history into “cycles” or “arcs” corresponding to revelations from specific Gods. It prophesies a final kosmon era beginning in 1848 CE:
- Previous arcs advanced isolated regions under Looeamong, Thoth, Thor, Apollo, and prior Gods.
- The current kosmon arc will establish a global spiritual democracy under angelic inspiration.
- After an apocalyptic transition, kosmon will usher in 1500 years of peace, enlightenment and unity.
Faithists view Oahspe itself as the sacred text inaugurating this new universal age under humanity’s final God, Jehovih.
These are some of the central concepts revealed through Oahspe. Adherents consider its teachings the culmination of all prior revelations, suited for modern times and essential for charting humanity’s advancement.
Critical Analysis of Oahspe’s Claims and Teachings
The Oahspe Bible’s assertions raise many questions. Some key issues surrounding its legitimacy include:
1. Origins
Oahspe provides little evidence besides Newbrough’s testimony that angelic beings revealed its contents. Spiritualism and psychic channeling were in vogue in the late 1800s, but their veracity remains disputed.
Most scientists dismiss the possibility of humans transmitting messages from spirits or extraterrestrials through automatic writing. Oahspe’s supernatural claims require faith to accept.
2. Historicity
Oahspe’s radically revised history lacks evidence and contradicts most scholarly understanding of humanity’s origins and spiritual development. Academics do not recognize the events or spiritual hierarchies presented in Oahspe.
Its narratives read as mythological allegory with little historical, archaeological or anthropological basis. They appear derived from occultism and Spiritualism rather than empiricism.
3. Scientific accuracy
Oahspe espouses now outdated 19th century astronomy and geology. For example:
- It depicts the universe as comparatively small and Earth-centric.
- It claims the stars are ethereal worlds active in human affairs.
- It makes no reference to galaxies, relativity, genetics and other key discoveries.
Overall, Oahspe lacks scientific rigor and makes many claims incompatible with modern science.
4. Harmony of religions
While seeking to harmonize faiths, Oahspe denigrates most established religions. It does not expound their beliefs sympathetically but condemns them as inferior steps toward Oahspeism.
The new revelations supersede rather than integrate previous scriptures. Oahspe is more critical than conciliatory regarding other faiths.
Overall, academics considers the Oahspe Bible a fringe text lacking evidence of supernatural origins or historical accuracy. But Faithists revere its spiritual insights regardless.
The Legacy and Current Status of the Oahspe Bible
Since its marginal start in 1882, Oahspe has influenced a small following who revere its teachings:
- Faithist groups supporting Oahspe have waxed and waned, but a subculture continues studying it today.
- Fringe religious movements like Universal Industrial Church of America have incorporated Oahspe teachings.
- It remains influential among American metaphysical and UFO communities.
- Oahspe’s themes echo in New Age channeled books like Seth Speaks.
Yet Oahspe never achieved recognition as a revealed text on par with major scriptures. Reasons include:
- Its archaic language and esoteric style limit accessibility.
- It lacked apostles to promote it beyond Spiritualist circles.
- Followers have lacked the dedication and organization to spread the faith.
- Centered on America, it has less appeal overseas.
Today, skeptics vastly outnumber Faithists. But Oahspe remains influential among niche communities expecting a new faith to emerge. It sustains a small yet devoted following envisioning a spiritually transformed future.
In the internet age, Oahspe may reach new audiences. But it continues to inhabit the spiritual and conspiratorial fringes lacking mainstream credibility. Most people remain unaware of Newbrough’s bible and its prophecies.
Yet with growing disenchantment with traditional religion and rising spiritual eclecticism, Oahspe’s vision retains relevance. Faithists await wider recognition of its revelations heralding a new era and global faith – whether this materializes or not.