Letters

Dear CHRISTIS,

What surprised me most when reading David Icke’s book was the coherency of his argument. Icke’s philosophy is a mixture of New Age ideas and Druid-style spiritualism.

Icke claims that the earth has an “energy system”, with energy centres connected with ley (energy) lines. Druids recognised the significance of these lines and built stone circles to mark important intersections. There are seven major energy centres, one of which is “The Needles” rocks near Icke’s home on the Isle of Wight.

Icke’s ideas of vibration and frequency are particularly interesting; his idea that we can only experience events on our own frequency. The power of sound also, which explains the destruction of Jericho (as mentioned in the article) and the building of Stonehenge.

Comments on the current state of the world are also of interest. Icke claims that destructive (male) energies are dominating the creative (female) energies. Recent natural disasters are attributed to man’s ill-treatment of the earth. These together with signs such as corn-circles are warnings to mankind from the “earth-spirit” to clean up its act to avoid the severe consequences soon to occur. Icke has predicted a major earthquake, the epicentre of which will be north-west Britain, and more alarmingly, an axis shift of the earth which will bring about a redistribution of the earth’s oceans.

Icke’s mission was bestowed upon him when he attended a session with a spiritual healer in Brighton for treatment for the arthritis pains which cut short his footballing career. The healer made contact with a Chinaman who had been dead for eight hundred years who said Icke “is a healer who is here to heal the earth”.

Taken on its own, Icke’s philosophy is remarkably coherent and any interviewer comes away convinced with (if nothing else) Icke’s sincerity. So what are the pitfalls?

Icke claims that the Bible was altered several hundred years after Christ’s birth, and all references to karma and reincarnation were erased or altered. This cannot be true, since the Dead Sea Scrolls date from before the time of Christ. The earliest fragment of the New Testament dates from around 120 A.D. and a complete copy dates from 325 A.D..

Icke’s attitude to disabled people also conflicts in a fairly major way with Biblical teachings. Icke claims, “People don’t suffer from mental and physical handicaps by chance. Their souls give themselves disabled bodies on purpose to develop a part of their character and experience”. This was his reasoning behind his desertion of the mentally handicapped charity he was formerly a key figure in.

The only kind of “worship” Icke advocates is to relax totally and imagine the “Earth-spirit” being “cleansed”.

I don’t believe Icke can claim to be the Son of God for the simple fact that he is not sinless. Also, Jesus did not become the Son of God, He always has been; from before He was born on earth, through His physical existence and after His crucifixion. The most David Icke can claim to be then, is a prophet. History is littered with people who have predicted events which were never to happen. Jesus Himself said, “Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming, “I am the Christ” and deceive many”. (Matthew 25 v.4–5)

Unfortunately, green issues are frequently placed in the same box as dodgy New Age spirituality. Cases like this can only drive the wedge further between Christianity and ecology. I find this very sad as The Church has an awfully long way to go in facing up to the importance of environmental issues.

Richard Thompson

Dear CHRISTIS,

This letter was prompted by Chris Smith’s recent article: “Is Christianity Hinduistic?”. The contents of this letter will show that we believe it is not, nor ever can be.

We begin by refuting Chris’s view of a merging of cultures; rather, cultures are certainly coming into increasing proximity and all Christians would do well to be aware of this.

Concerning the Trinity of God, Chris believes that Hinduism and Christianity are concerned with the same God. This, however, is not the case. Although Hinduism has been made to parallel Christianity in this way, Brahman can never be equated with the one true God.

Chris takes from somewhere, and it would of interest to know exactly where, the idea that writings on reincarnation were omitted from the Bible. The Bible is God’s word-and God does not contradict Himself. Whatever these early writings were, they were obviously omitted due to their inconsistency with the rest of Scripture. With reference to Revelation 22:18–21, as Christians, we must accept that the Bible is God’s revelation and is so in its present form.

By saying “…poetic stories to enrich the learning of Jews in Old Testament times…”, Chris is effectively saying that parts of the Bible are out of date and irrelevant to our world today. The Bible is as relevant now as it ever has been-God’s word cannot date. To what purpose would learning “poetic stories” have been? Poetic stories implies an absence of explanatory use.

We would also question the point at which Chris can say that legend ends and Biblical truth begins. Surely by discounting parts of the Old Testament he is discounting God’s truth?

There seems to exist a considerable degree of confusion in Chris’s mind between Brahman and God. So much so that he seems unable to distinguish between worship of one or the other. As a Christian, one cannot worship Brahman-Exodus 20:3 “Worship no god but Me” in the Ten Commandments. In order to discover the character of God, it is necessary to consult the Bible, ie Old Testament actions as well as Jesus’s words , not via ‘interpretations’ provided by other religions based on alternative gods.

Our concept of God the father actually comes from God! See John 12:45, John 14:9–11. A look at Romans 8:15 shows that God invites us to call Him “Abba” as a sign of the personal relationship that a Christian has with Him.

In addition, if Christ did not die on a cross as Chris states, then all twelve disciples lied, Christ was not crucified and ultimately the Christian faith is a farce. Could Chris explain the link he makes between the four seasons and converting pagans please?

Christianity is a faith for the whole world, Matthew 28:16–20. You do not dilute Christianity to make it acceptable, but preach the Gospel of Christ crucified. We are called to be different, set apart for God, 2 Corinthians 6:17.

There is a very great difference between culture and religion: by culture, Britain is materialistic, Christianity teaches against such materialism.

Chris would do well to read the Song of Songs in questioning the Bible’s teaching on “religious erotica” and things of a “sensual nature”. God’s ‘blueprint’ is for every part of our lives, including our sensual desires and needs, e.g. Leviticus 18, Ephesians 5:31–32 and 1 Corinthians 6 and 7.

Unity only results from a shared set of fundamental principles. The fundamentals of Christianity are found in the Bible not through a blurring of Christian belief. Respect for others and their religions is unquestionable, but a Christian must “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15. This does not imply taking on board their ‘hope’:

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? what agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said :’I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people’.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 — 7:1.

Sarah Smith
Helen Simmons