by M. Kurt Goedelman

Although he was born and lived a quantum leap into cyberspace with nearly five hundred years ago, Michel several web sites posting his predic- de Nostredame is considered to be tions3 have all combined to amplify one of the most esteemed visionaries his reputation as a “prophet.” of all time. His predictions are said to Despite his refreshed publicity and biographer, Erika Cheetham notes have “mystified scholars.” The oracles that “his parents are listed in 1512 as of the 16th century French physician, fame, the Christian’s awareness and response is greatly lacking. Dr. Robert being part of the new Christian com- scientist and astrologer, more com- 6 A. Morey, in his brief treatment of munity.” His family claimed their monly known as (the Jewish ancestry to be from the “tribe Latinized form of his surname), were , devoted slightly more than 4 of Issachar” (1 Chronicles 12:32) and used by during the a page to Nostradamus. Very little else, from a biblical perspective, has this purported pedigree gave Second World War as propaganda to Nostradamus his gift of prophecy. encourage the success of his military been written to evaluate this physi- campaigns. In turn, both Winston cian-turned-prophet. Yet, Cheetham emphasizes the sig- Churchill and the re- In a 1983 newsletter, PFO briefly nificance of his exposure to Judaism: sponded by publicizing other of his examined the ongoing fascination “It is important to remember the predictions which they claimed un- with the man and his predictions.5 It Jewish element of Nostradamus’ derscored Hitler’s demise. MGM Stu- is an article that has remained in childhood when trying to decipher dios produced a motion picture news- demand and one, because of its brief- the Prophecies, as he was greatly reel, Nostradamus Says So, which was ness, needs to be revisited. Moreover, influenced by occult Jewish litera- shown in movie theaters across the with the time and seasons of his ture.”7 According to many of his country during the war-torn 1940s. “end-time visions” approaching, and biographers, an appetite for astrology, More recently, Nostradamus has as we settle into the next millennium, magic and the occult was constant gained a significant resurgence of his celebrity status surely will only and a lifelong force. popularity during the last half of the gain new life and increase dramati- In his late teens, Nostradamus at- 20th century. A 1981 feature film cally. tended Montpellier, the most famous narrated by titled The THE MAKING OF A PROPHET school of medicine in , for Man Who Saw Tomorrow,1 a nationally education in philosophy and the broadcast television special in 1991 Nostradamus, the oldest of five medical arts. His career as a physician adapted from the movie and hosted sons, was born Dec. 14, 1503, in the was accented when his country be- by ,2 numerous full- town of Saint Remy in Provence, came plague-riddled in 1525. The length books and smaller booklets France. His family is claimed to have young healer went from town to town containing his prophecies and their been of Jewish descent and had been treating the sick and dispensing some interpretations, a staple in supermar- converted to Catholicism by the time of his own cures. When he first ket tabloids which have found him Nostradamus turned nine years of married early in life, tragedy struck as useful for their prophecy articles, and age. Oxford scholar and Nostradamus (continues on page 13)

4 · The Quarterly Journal July-September 1998 NOSTRADAMUS “Touching the prophecies of The title is descriptive of his prophe- (continued from page 4) Nostradamus, Théophile de cies, which are delivered in one hun- Garencières gives us an interest- dred sets of four-line verses (also his wife and two young children died ing fact, that, after the primer, it called “quatrains”) in each book. was the first book at school in in 1533. For the next decade, a de- Today’s supermarket tabloid reader which he learnt to read. It was spondent Nostradamus wandered or movie viewer is likely unaware of the custom in France then (i.e. throughout Europe. He remarried in the cumbersome and awkward ver- 1544 and by his second wife had, 1618) to initiate children by that book. They thought the crabbed biage contained in the quatrains of according to one report, four children Nostradamus. The Cyclopaedia of Bibli- (another biographer says six). and obsolete words, such as long survived in the English law, cal, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Litera- Although he enjoyed a prominent would give the scholars some ture describes: and lifelong career as a doctor, what idea of the old ; “The vaticinations of Nostrada- generates admiration for him today so that the book got republished mus which secured his fame are came for him late in life. It was not from year to year like an alma- in verse, and are written in until 1555, at age 52, that he com- nac.”9 quatrains of rough, rude, unintel- pleted and published the initial part Cheetham also adds that: ligible, and incorrigible French, of his collection of prophecies. His in tottering and halting metre, recognition as an author was enjoyed “Nostradamus is probably the with rugged, harsh, and often for only a decade as he died of only author who could claim that unmanageable rhymes, clattering dropsy in 1566. Additionally, his ac- his work has never been out of or jingling at the ends of alter- ceptance as a healer seemed more print for over four hundred nate lines. ... They remain for the tolerable than that of a soothsayer. years, apart from the Bible. The most part incapable of compre- Author Charles A. Ward observed: interest he generated is extraordi- hension, and are scarcely ren- nary. On an average about thirty “When the work made its ap- dered more perspicuous by the books, either editions of the 12 pearance, it divided the public. English version.” Prophecies, or critical apprecia- Some called the prophet a simple tions of them, have been pub- In some cases, Nostradamus added visionary, or, in coarser phrase, a lished each century since his to the complexity by confusing French fool; others accused him of death.”10 with Latin and Greek words. Remark- magic, and of being in too close ably, it is because of the arduous and treaty with the Devil to be The endurance of his revelations, difficult wording of his prophecies honest. A few held their judg- some say, was itself foretold by the that has given him an added measure visionary himself. In his epistle to ment in suspense, and would of success. Moreover, these prophetic Henry the Second, King of France, pronounce no opinion on the quatrains are quite vague and ex- Nostradamus wrote: subject. A vast number of the tremely general, which further war- grandees and of the learned, “Notwithstanding such as cannot rants a great deal of success. both at home and abroad, be restrained from the exercise of thought that he was endowed the malignancy of the evil spirit, WHAT YOU SEE with a gift supernatural; and [there is hope that] by the lapse of IS WHAT YOU GET amongst these were Henri II. and time, and after my extinction here Catherine de Medici. It remained Much of the good fortune as to the on earth, my writings will be more fulfillment of Nostradamus’ predic- to the esprits forts [i.e., strong valued than during my lifetime.”11 spirits] and the ignorant public, tions lies solely in mind of the inter- who knew nothing of him but HIS CENTURIES preter. There is no clearer example of his name, to pronounce him a OF PROPHECIES this than the prophecies now attrib- charlatan and impostor. There is uted to the assassinations of brothers Nostradamus’ illustrious legacy of one thing certain, he felt much John F. Kennedy in 1963 and Robert prophecy is said to contain over 1000 hesitation as to publishing at all; F. Kennedy in 1968. In Century I, predictions, half of which his propo- and, when he took that step at Quatrain 26, Nostradamus wrote: nents assert have already been ful- last, he addressed the book to his filled. His prophecies are said to “The great man will be struck infant son, and not to any public down in the day by a thunder- 8 know neither time nor geographic character, in the year 1555.” barriers. They claim to comprise nu- bolt. Yet by the next century most suspi- merous centuries and many dealt An evil deed, foretold by the cion seemed to have completely with his homeland of France. Others bearer of a petition. ceased. The distinction, and even embrace the world. His prophetic According to the prediction, an- compulsory reading, of his writings utterances were published under the other falls at night time. became a reality. Ward further in- name, Centuries of Prophecies, but in Conflict at Reims, London, and forms: fact have nothing to do with time. pestilence in Tuscany.”

July-September 1998 The Quarterly Journal · 13 To this quatrain, Cheetham in her are. In Century VI, Quatrain 37, the Occasionally the campaign of Nos- 1973 volume ascribes this interpreta- reader is informed: tradamus’ readers may even help to tion: form the interpretation. An illustra- “The ancient work will be accom- tion of this is from Century III, “The first three lines here may plished, Quatrain 10: apply to the assassination of the and from the roof evil ruin will two Kennedy brothers. John F. fall on to the great man. “Of blood and famine, what a Kennedy was shot down (thun- Being dead, they will accuse an great calamity, derbolt) in broad daylight at innocent of the deed, Seven times is ready to come Dallas, Texas on 22nd November the guilty one hidden in the upon the sea coast, 1963 by the psychopath, Lee Har- misty woods.” Monaco by hunger, the place vey Oswald. The other man taken captivity, According to the understanding of linked with him who is killed at The great one carried away, and this quatrain presented in the 1981 night, was his brother Robert F. shut up in a cage.” movie, it clearly speaks to the contro- Kennedy who was shot down on versy which surrounded the presi- The understanding of this predic- 5th June 1968 in the early morn- dent’s death. It is strongly suggested tion is now suggested to be the fate of ing while celebrating his victory that what Nostradamus wrote is a Princess Grace of Monaco who was in the presidential primary elec- description of Lee Harvey Oswald. killed in an automobile accident on tions at an hotel. Line 2, the fact That is, that Oswald accomplished his Sept. 13, 1982. While some are con- that the assassination had been deed from the roof, he himself being vinced, others are not so sure. Biogra- told by the bearer of a petition pher Cheetham writes: may refer to the many death killed as an “innocent” man errone- threats John F. Kennedy and his ously accused of the crime, all the “I have to admit that I am not brother received during their while the true perpetrator of really convinced by the interpre- terms in office. The troubles in Kennedy’s murder was “hidden in tation I here offer to this qua- France, England and Italy would the misty woods” which is now said train. But since the death of the refer to the world repercussions to be the infamous grassy knoll. princess I have received such a to these assassinations.”13 Before considering the way in remarkable number of letters from readers who were con- The Orson Welles-narrated movie which other Nostradamus researchers have interpreted this quatrain, it vinced of its meaning, that I concurs with Cheetham’s interpreta- include it for the readers’ inter- tion and further stresses the under- should be emphasized that accuracy of the historical facts evidently does est, if nothing else. Certainly the standing of the quatrain’s second line first line has relevance to any by claiming that the late psychic not seem to matter. For example, Oswald did not take aim “from the century. ... Princes Grace, of the Jeanne Dixon made several attempts golden movies, the golden hair to warn President Kennedy from roof,” but shot from a window on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book and golden life died in the iron making a trip to Texas prior to the cage of her crashed car. How- fateful day in November. Depository building. Furthermore, this particular interpretation is itself ever, whether she could really be Yet, it can be demonstrated that self-contradictory as the “evil ruin” described as ‘great’ I feel to be in interpretation is in the eye of the did not fall “from the roof,” but is question. Monaco, after all, is a beholder. And time can change the alleged to have been from the grassy very minor principality, and she meanings and fulfillment of these knoll. achieved nothing that could be prophecies. Consider the interpreta- honestly called of international tion given to the very same quatrain And then there’s the complication worth except for the few films 17 and published just one year before the that comes from the fact that other of she made in Hollywood.” Nostradamus’ commentators do not killing of the president: In her earlier volume, Cheetham even see this prophecy as having an remarked that “This general quatrain “The taking over of Czechoslova- Oswald-Kennedy connection. For could refer to any disaster occurring kia by Hitler, the resignation of example, Henry C. Roberts (writing to Monaco since [Nostradamus’ time]. President Benes, the dissensions prior to Kennedy’s assassination) sug- over the matter between France The last line is particularly difficult to gests the interpretation that “King translate.”18 and England, and the dire warn- Louis XVI attempted to escape from ing of the consequences of this the rebels, but was apprehended in a The declaration found on the con- betrayal, are all remarkably out- forest hiding-place.”15 And Erika cluding credits of the motion picture/ 14 lined in this prophecy.” Cheetham (after Kennedy’s assassina- television special collaborate that the Another of the prophecies said to tion) offers, “Although this is a de- interpretation is really up to the apply to the elder Kennedy’s assassi- tailed prophecy and seems likely to interpreter: nation further shows just how open to have occurred, I do not know of its “The prophecies of Nostradamus interpretation the predictions really ever having been fulfilled.”16 can be interpreted many different

14 · The Quarterly Journal July-September 1998 ways. This motion picture has pad. Their fate was sealed from predicted that in A.D. 1792, per- presented only some of them. the instant of departure. K-Th-L secution against the Catholic They are not the opinions, judg- — ThioKoL - manufacturer of the church would arise. It would be ments or interpretations of the defective rocket engine. Vowels more severe than the persecution producers of this film.” are omitted and two consonants against the Church in North Af- transposed.”22 rica. Because the Church in A ROUND PEG North Africa ceased to exist, the A revision of the translation, a IN A SQUARE HOLE continued presence of the Catho- disregard for historical details (nine lic church seems to refute Nostra- As demonstrated above, it matters instead of seven actual crew mem- domes’ prediction. 4. Astrologers little if Nostradamus’ complete four bers), and transposed consonants and were to be persecuted in A.D. lines of his narration matches the omitted vowels all work together to 1607. This never happened. 5. By facts, just as long as a word here or a make this a more plausible, fascinat- A.D. 1700, China ‘would subdue word there can be applied. One of his ing and consummated interpretation. the whole northern section’ of earliest quatrains is most often trans- With such contorting and tweaking the world.”24 lated to read: rationalizations, the predictions of “Of the human flock, nine shall Nostradamus can be assured of an Those introduced to Nostradamus be set aside, even greater success rate of fulfillment through the current swell of material Being divided in judgment and and, in fact, be made to say whatever will also be able to detect his failed counsel, the interpreter desires. Additionally, oracles. In the 1981 film on his life Their destiny shall be to be the assertion that Nostradamus had and predictions, two very significant divided, the ability “to see what others cannot and fast approaching revelations were Kappa, Theta, Lambda, dead, see” is sacrificed of its impact, as all emphasized. The first applied Century banished, scattered.”19 too often his words are only loosely VI, Quatrain 95 to : used as perimeters to realize self- “The youngest son shall be slan- Former interpretations of the above styled fulfilled prophetic utterances. verses include references to the Su- dered by a detractor, preme Court of the United States20 FAILED PROPHECY When enormous and martial and the death of three Soviet cosmo- deeds shall be done, Even with all the adjustments, fine The least part shall be doubtful nauts.21 This latter explanation is in tuning and full-blown permutations to the eldest, line with an even more up-to-date of Nostradamus’ predictions, he is And soon after they shall both be rendering and meaning of the qua- unable to escape the actuality that equal in the government.” train: there are those which have unmistak- Orson Welles explained to the film’s “From the human flock nine will ably failed. Dr. Robert Morey, who viewers that the “slandered by a be sent away, also points to the practice of fluctuat- detractor” referred to the 1969 inci- Separated from control and ad- ing details, demonstrates that even dent at Chappaquiddick, Mass., vice this exercise cannot save him from the where Mary Jo Kopechne was killed Their fate will be sealed on mark of a false prophet: in the automobile driven by Ted departure “The translator H. Roberts com- Kennedy. Kennedy, it was claimed K-Th-L make an error; the dead plicates matters by juggling facts according to the prediction, would banished.” and dates in an attempt to save then make a successful run for the And based upon this fresh transla- Nostradamus from faulty predic- presidency in 1984, thereby fulfilling tion, we are told this quatrain is a tions. But if one examines with the “equal in government” verse. prediction of the Challenger Space care the few predictions where Although Kennedy made unsuccess- Shuttle disaster in 1987. Consider the Nostradomes did give specific ful bids for the Democratic party’s following offered commentary: dates, one will find that Nostra- nomination for president, he never domes failed to predict future became “equal in government” with ”...nine will be sent away — Actu- events accurately.”23 his elder brother — unless one would ally, there were 7 crew members. regard his already-held office of a Separated from control and advice Morey then lists for his readers five Senator as such. This, however, — The ground controllers could failed prophecies of Nostradamus: clashes with the “soon after” expres- do nothing. Contact was lost “1. He predicted that by 1792 sion. It is interesting to note that the with the astronauts after the ex- Venice, Italy, would become a 1991 NBC television special, which plosion. It is said that they may great power and influence in the was an adaption of the movie, have survived for a period of world. Venice is still waiting for avoided completely any attention of time afterwards. Their fate will be this to happen. 2. The downfall this originally stressed prediction. sealed on departure — Videos of the Catholic clergy in A.D. show that flame was escaping 1609 which he predicted never Another example from the movie while the rocket was still on the materialized. 3. Nostradomes was the italicizing of a May 1988 date

July-September 1998 The Quarterly Journal · 15 for a great earthquake to occur in the “In the year 1999, and seven by such threatening words. Deu- United States. Century X, Quatrain 67 months, teronomy 13:1-3 instructs believers was used: From the sky will come the great that: King of Terror. “The earthquake shall be so great “If a prophet, or one who fore- He will bring back to life the in the month of May, tells by dreams, appears among great king of the Mongols. Saturn, Caper, Jupiter, Mercury you and announces to you a Before and after War reigns hap- in Taurus, miraculous sign or wonder, and pily.” Venus also, Cancer, Mars in if the sign or wonder of which he Zero, Some even seek to bolster Nostrada- has spoken takes place, and he Then shall hail fall bigger than mus’ oracle with a correlation to says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ an egg.” inspired Holy Writ: (gods you have not known) ‘and let us worship them,’ you must Welles informed viewers that this “A tremendous world revolution not listen to the words of that particular astrological configuration, is foretold to take place in the prophet or dreamer. The Lord said to be in the month of May, year 1999, with a complete up- your God is testing you to find would occur in 1988. Yet May 1988 heaval of existing social orders, out whether you love him with came and went with no such cataclys- preceded by worldwide wars. all your heart and with all your mic event taking place. Charlton Nostradamus shows his mystic soul.” Heston, on the more-recent television knowledge of the great secret of Even some among those who sup- version, merely circumvented the the book of revelations and port Nostradamus and his predictions false prophecy by claiming: solves for us the identity of the admit to the crucial distinction. Biog- “The San Francisco earthquake ‘Beast of the Apocalypse’ and the rapher Charles A. Ward labels him a occurred in 1989. For some, Nos- time of his arrival which John of “superficial Christian, a Pagan per- tradamus’s prediction as pro- Patmos (Rev. XIII:18) records haps at heart”29 and further acknowl- jected by Orson Welles in 1981 ‘Here is wisdom. Let him that edges: was remarkable, missing as it did hath understanding count the “Still he is clearly no prophet in by one calendar year. Others feel number of the Beast: for it is the the old and Hebrew sense of the the prediction is for a future number of a man; and his num- word — like Isaiah, Daniel, quake. That it was the interpreta- ber is 666.’ By a simple reversal David, John, — a man who tion of his prediction that was of the numbers and turning 999 neither respects his own person off.” upside down we obtain 666.”27 as regards its safety, nor the person of other men as regards Heston further noted that Nostrada- A SCRIPTURAL RESPONSE their position. You cannot say of mus’ predictions are indeed open to In addition to all of the above him: ‘Scimus quia verax es, non many interpretations. But as previ- confusion, Nostradamus’ methods of enim respicis personam hominum’ ously stated, by employing such unre- prophecy — even when most of his [i.e., ‘(you) teach the way of strained criterion there can really be researchers agree on an interpretation truth, (you) do not regard the no such thing as a false prophecy. — has a less than flawless success person of men’] (St. Matt. xxii. The pinnacle of Nostradamus’ pre- rate. These latter two factors alone 16), which is the test-touch all the dictions is no doubt his vision of the should give Christians sufficient rea- world over of a true prophet.”30 final conflict of mankind with the son to pause before considering him Christians need not be enticed by a appearance of his third and final in good faith as an authentic prophet. desire to know the future apart from antichrist (his first two are said to be His use of astrology and a divining what God’s Word tells us. Therefore Bonaparte and Adolf Hit- rod, readily acknowledged to by his they should avoid Nostradamus and ler). His interpreters are varied in patrons, are common occultic prac- his prophecies. To look outside the their dates for the start of the Third tices and scripturally condemned boundary of Scripture is to deny that World War, but all agree it would (Deuteronomy 18:10; Isaiah 47:13-14). God has provided for us all that is transpire in the early- to mid-1990s. needed for life and godliness (1 Peter Moreover, the failure of some of his Cheetham covers many bases by list- 1:3). prophetic offerings further exclude ing an eight-year period (1986-1993)25 him from any claim to be a prophet The prophecies recorded in and even beyond with dates of 1995 appointed and equipped by God Scripture have stood and will stand and 1996.26 The movie edition looked (Deuteronomy 18:21). The advocates the test of time. They are not for its beginning in 1994. of Nostradamus emphasize that his transcendental nor do they have to be While the date of the war’s com- “record for the past 400 years or so reworked or contorted. Moreover, mencement may be debated, all agree has been incredible” and “Anyone God’s Word is the benchmark for all other prophets and prophecies. that by 1999 the conflict will be well who doesn’t take Nostradamus under way based upon Century X, seriously is a fool.”28 Yet, Christians “And we have the word of the Quatrain 72: should not be disarmed or challenged prophets made more certain, and

16 · The Quarterly Journal July-September 1998 you will do well to pay attention Publishers, 1981, pp. 20-21. pg. 17, emphasis added. to it, as to a light shining in a 5. “A 20th Century Look at Nostradamus - 15. Ibid., pg. 191. dark place, until the day dawns Was He God’s Prophet During the 16th 16. The Prophecies of Nostradamus,op.cit., Century?”, PFO Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 2, pg. 262. and the morning star rises in pp. 5, 7. 17. Erika Cheetham, The Further Prophecies your hearts. Above all, you must 6. Erika Cheetham, The Prophecies of Nos- of Nostradamus - 1985 and Beyond.New understand that no prophecy of tradamus. New York: Perigee Books, 1973, York: Perigee Books, 1985, pg. 76. Scripture came about by the pg. 5. 18. The Prophecies of Nostradamus,op.cit., prophet’s own interpretation. For 7. Ibid. pg. 124. prophecy never had its origin in 8. Charles A. Ward, Oracles of Nostrada- 19. Century I, Quatrain 81. the will of man, but men spoke mus. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 20. The Complete Prophecies of Nostradamus, 1940, pg. 10. op. cit., pg. 36. from God as they were carried 9. Ibid., pg. 26. 21. The Prophecies of Nostradamus,op.cit., along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 10. The Prophecies of Nostradamus,op.cit., pg. 60. 1:19-21). pg. 13. 22. “Century 1, 81 — Space Shuttle 11. Oracles of Nostradamus, op. cit., pg. 58, Endnotes: Disaster,” from www.alumni.caltech.edu/ brackets in original, emphasis added. This ~jamcsf/spacesh.html. (Italic added to 1. The Man Who Saw Tomorrow with Orson “prophecy” is highlighted by Gus Vander- separate quatrain quotes from commen- Welles, Warner Bros., Inc., 1981. The video meer in Nostradamus and Other Amazing tary.) Experts’ Amazing Predictions For The Year version of this motion is available by 23. Horoscopes and the Christian, op. cit., pg. 2000 and Beyond. Lantana, Fla.: Micro- Warner Home Video, 1986. 20. Mags, 1998, pg. 11. 2. NBC Special, The Man Who Saw Tomor- 24. Ibid., pp. 20-21. row hosted by Charlton Heston. This 12. John McClintock and James Strong, 25. The Prophecies of Nostradamus,op.cit., program aired Wednesday, Feb. 20, 1991, Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Eccle- pp. 88-89. tape on file. siastical Literature. New York: Harper & 3. While several web sites offer research Brothers Publishers, 1894, Vol. VII, pg. 26. Ibid., pp. 73-74. and reference material on Nostradamus, 197. 27. The Complete Prophecies of Nostradamus, the most thorough is “The Prophecies of 13. The Prophecies of Nostradamus,op.cit., op. cit., pg. 336. Michel Nostradamus” web site located at: pg. 33. 28. “Nostradamus Past, Present & Future,” www.telebyte.nl/~zaphod/nostra.html. 14. Henry C. Roberts, The Complete Prophe- Sun magazine, Dec. 19, 1995, pg. 20. 4. Robert A. Morey, Horoscopes and the cies of Nostradamus. New York: Nostrada- 29. Oracles of Nostradamus, op. cit., pg. 41. Christian. Minneapolis: Bethany House mus, Inc., 1949, (Twelfth printing, 1962), 30. Ibid., pg. 39. g

SUPERSTITIOUS CHURCH the detriment of doctrine and • Dream interpretation and pro- (continued from page 1) truth. Mysticism has replaced phetic words for the 1990s by true spirituality. Companies in Vineyard prophets. • Alternative medicine and Bible of these new quirks are touted as the the West, seeing commercial Codes. end time revival and people jump on value in such optimism, are us- • So-called revival stories with the new bandwagon until they tire of ing these ideas to produce better people acting like crass fools or it or a more exciting wagon rolls in. sales personnel. Madison Avenue and the gurus could be an un- animals. We must come to grips not only stoppable, unholy alliance feed- • Instructions on how to get rid with the reality of superstition in the ing the machine of political cor- of ancestral demons and curses Church but have a plan to resist that rectness. As an expression of and do spiritual mapping. superstition. Let’s look first at: divinity, each self is a source of • And on and on, ad nauseam, ad truth.”2 infinitum. THE REALITY OF SUPERSTITION IN THE If anyone doubts that this is an age Truly it is like Athens and like the CHURCH of religious fadism, confusion and second-century age of heresy de- superstition, just visit a Christian scribed by Philip Schaff when he said Dr. Peter Jones, professor of New bookstore. There you will find: of that era, “strange medleys of Chris- Testament at Westminster Seminary tian and unchristian elements in cha- in Southern California, captures the • Hannah Hurnard — New Age otic ferment.”3 large view as he surveys how our occultist and aura reader. • Madame Guyon — a mystic Modern reformer Michael Horton churches have moved toward heretic. has written to show that there are experience-driven religion and eastern • Madeleine L’Engle — who many religious trends in the world mysticism: says the God of the Old Testa- today alerting us to the reemerging “Belief that the human is divine, ment is “a male chauvinistic heresy of Gnosticism. He lays it out and thus essentially good, helps pig.” clearly: explain the burgeoning quest for • Many of the latest psycho- “So far, we have seen an emerg- personal spiritual discovery, to babble theories. ing shape to this elusive heresy

July-September 1998 The Quarterly Journal · 17