What is the Faithism or Oahspe Bible about?

Historical Context

The work commonly referred to as the Oahspe Bible first appeared in the late 19th century. Published in 1882 by John Ballou Newbrough, it was produced under circumstances he described as “automatic writing” or “channeling.” This approach, often linked with spiritualism, purportedly allowed Newbrough to record messages from what were said to be angelic or higher beings. The text aims to convey a collection of teachings on cosmology, morality, and the nature of deity that reflect an eclectic spiritual worldview.

The term “Faithism” is sometimes applied to the beliefs derived from Oahspe’s content. Its adherents maintain that this collection of revealed doctrines introduces a universal spiritual perspective intended to unify various religious traditions under one banner of understanding.

Origins and Authorship

John Ballou Newbrough worked as a dentist in New York. According to his own testimony, he became interested in spiritualist practices and eventually engaged in sessions of what he termed “automatic writing,” believing his hands were guided by entities identifying themselves as angelic. This process, he claimed, produced the Oahspe text in the course of roughly one year. While Oahspe is referred to as a “Bible,” it did not arise from any recognized ancient manuscript tradition and does not align itself with the historical or textual transmission processes well-documented for the canonical Scriptures.

Structural Themes and Narrative

Oahspe includes a variety of sections described as histories, prophecies, and instructions supposedly imparted by supernatural beings. These sections bear some resemblance to biblical forms, such as a creation narrative and moral teachings, but they present a cosmology and ontology quite different from what is found in the canonical Scriptures. Oahspe’s text envisions a universe populated by numerous spiritual hierarchies and emphasizes progression through eternal realms. This portrayal stands apart from longstanding Judeo-Christian teachings that portray one eternal Creator distinct from the creation.

Core Teachings and Beliefs

1. Multiplicity of Deities and Angels: Oahspe proposes a layered multiverse where many spiritual powers and presences interact with humanity. By contrast, canonical Scripture consistently affirms one God (Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One!”).

2. Universal Spiritual Brotherhood: While it draws upon moral themes of kindness and harmony, Oahspe treats religious differences as manifestations of a universal quest for light, rather than viewing the redemption of humanity in terms of a single, historical event such as the physical resurrection.

3. Evolutionary Spiritual Progress: The text suggests that all souls ascend through various realms and planes after death. Traditional Scriptural teaching, however, speaks of resurrection unto eternal life or judgment (cf. Daniel 12:2: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake—some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.”).

Comparison with the Canonical Scriptures

The biblical canon as recognized through millennia of careful transmission and textual analysis (e.g., the critical work of the Masoretic Text for the Hebrew Bible and numerous Greek manuscript families for the New Testament) provides a coherent narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Original-language manuscripts of these texts have been widely scrutinized and serve as the foundation for modern translations and scholarship.

Oahspe, by contrast, does not trace to any ancient historical manuscript tradition. Rather, it hinges on a single individual’s reported spiritual experiences. Passages in Scripture caution against alternative messages that claim divine origin but diverge from core teachings of redemption (Galatians 1:8: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!”).

Controversies and Challenges

1. Canonical Authority: While some view Oahspe as a compelling spiritual document, it carries no lineage of authoritative acceptance by ancient communities of faith. Scripture, on the other hand, has been recognized and canonized within communities that critically preserved, copied, and translated it, corroborating its text and message across languages, nations, and centuries.

2. Nature of Revelation: Oahspe’s reliance on “automatic writing” places it in the realm of spiritualist and esoteric traditions. The biblical text upholds direct revelation from the One who created and sustains all (2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”). Such revelation is grounded in historical contexts, eyewitness accounts, and a cohesive narrative of salvation.

3. Concept of Salvation: Oahspe does not emphasize a once-for-all atonement or a bodily resurrection as the conclusive solution to the problem of sin and death. Canonical Scripture highlights this, portraying the resurrection as central (Luke 24:6–7: “He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day be raised again.’”).

4. Varied Reception: Many scholars and theologians of different backgrounds have discussed Oahspe. Some read it as a curiosity of 19th-century spiritualist movements, while others participate in gatherings that practice Faithism as introduced in Oahspe. However, these practices exist outside the stream of historic Christian doctrinal consensus.

Archaeological and Historical Considerations

Canonical Scriptures have been supported by extensive archaeological finds, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered in the mid-20th century) that confirm the long history and consistent transmission of the biblical text. By contrast, Oahspe’s content does not link in any verifiable way to ancient cultures, languages, or archaeological discoveries. It presents itself as a revelation for a different era, but lacks external, corroborative evidence to bolster its claims of divine origin or historical veracity.

Key Takeaway

The Oahspe Bible, arising out of 19th-century spiritualism, should be understood as distinct in nature, origin, and authority from the canonical Scriptures. It proposes a cosmic framework and aspirational moral guidance but stands apart from the well-attested manuscripts, historical confirmations, and foundational doctrines known throughout centuries of recognized Scripture. While Oahspe and its associated movement, Faithism, offer their own unique religious viewpoint, the direct link to channeling and the significant departure from traditionally recognized scriptural truths highlight its place outside the orthodox biblical canon.