Faked source citations

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DCHindley
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Faked source citations

Post by DCHindley »

Over at Roger Pearse's website,
http://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/2014 ... ent-857791
he linked to the following statement from an article entitled "The Forged Origins of the New Testament" by Tony Bushby.
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/bibli ... zar_40.htm

The source of this article is "March 2007 Extracted from Nexus Magazine Volume 14, Number 4 (June - July 2007) from Nexus Magazine Website [https://www.nexusmagazine.com/]." That site provides a blurb as follows:
Tony Bushby, an Australian, became a businessman and entrepreneur early in his adult life. He established a magazine-publishing business and spent 20 years researching, writing and publishing his own magazines, primarily for the Australian and New Zealand markets.

With strong spiritual beliefs and an interest in metaphysical subjects, Tony has developed long relationships with many associations and societies throughout the world that have assisted his research by making their archives available.
So anyways, the site states:
Constantine saw in this confused system of fragmented dogmas the opportunity to create a new and combined State religion, neutral in concept, and to protect it by law. When he conquered the East in 324 he sent his Spanish religious adviser, Osius of Córdoba, to Alexandria with letters to several bishops exhorting them to make peace among themselves. The mission failed and Constantine, probably at the suggestion of Osius, then issued a decree commanding all presbyters and their subordinates "be mounted on asses, mules and horses belonging to the public, and travel to the city of Nicaea" in the Roman province of Bithynia in Asia Minor.

They were instructed to bring with them the testimonies they orated to the rabble, "bound in leather" for protection during the long journey, and surrender them to Constantine upon arrival in Nicaea (The Catholic Dictionary, Addis and Arnold, 1917, "Council of Nicaea" entry [probably bogus]).

Their writings totaled, "in all, two thousand two hundred and thirty-one scrolls and legendary tales of gods and saviors, together with a record of the doctrines orated by them"

(Life of Constantine, op. cit., vol. ii, p. 73; N&PNF, op. cit., vol. i, p. 518).
Roger notes that the citation from N&PNF is completely bogus. However, I did find out where "Bushby" got all this.
Law Notes, Volume 11, E. Thompson Company, 1908

[July 1907]

STORIES FROM THE LAW REPORTS: THE LIABILITY OF A FALSE PROPHET.
Ellis vs Newbrough, 6 N. Mex. 181, 27 Pac. Rep. 490

... is the founder of a new religious sect liable in damages for seducing a member of an old communion from the faith of his fathers and inducing him to join a community composed of the new sectarians? This question was answered in the negative in Ellis v. Newbrough... In that case the defendants, the leaders of the "Faithists," who had established a religious Utopia in New Mexico which they called the First Church of the Tae in the Land of Shalam, induced the plaintiff to abandon his home in far-off Georgia and cast his lot with the faithful seekers after the Life Everlasting. The plaintiff, according to his complaint, was persuaded by the false and fraudulent representations of the defendant to become a member of the community, whereupon he did to the new faith "consecrate his life, his labor, and all his worldly effects and prospects, together with those of his two children, placing all good faith und confidence in said community."

The plaintiff, after living in the community for more than two years, reached the conclusion that he had been led to follow faIse gods, and that he had been greatly damaged thereby, whereupon he brought his action, alleging that "he has sustained great damage in loss of time and labor and opportunity, and in the education of his children, and that he has suffered great anguish of mind in consequence of the dishonor and humiliation brought upon himself and his children by reason of his connection with said defendants in said community, to the damage of the plaintiff in the sum of $10,000."

... The court, however much it may have been distressed at seeing the plaintiff in such sad case, held that the law could afford him no remedy.

From a hasty examination of the religious writings used to convert the plaintiff it is difficult to determine which to admire the more — the imagination of the author or the credulity of the convert. The principal writing was entitled as follows: "Oahspe: A New Bible in the words of Jehovih and his Angel Embassadors. A sacred history of the dominions of the higher and lower heavens on the earth for the past twenty-four thousand years, together with a synopsis of the cosmogony of the universe; the creation of planets; the creation of man; the unseen worlds; the labor and glory of gods and goddesses in the ethereal heavens. With the new commandments of Jehovih to man of the present day. With revelations from the second resurrection, formed in words in the thirty-third year of the Kosmon era." A neat, illuminative, and modest title that. The book was written in an admirable spirit, too, as was shown by the declaration in the preface that "it blows nobodys horn; it makes no leader."

The Oahspe contained a very interesting account of the circumstances attending its origin. This account was summarized by the court an follows: "That once upon a time the world was ruled by a triune composed of Brahma and Buddha and one Looeamong; that the devil, entering into the presence of Looeamong, tempted him by showing the great power of Buddha and Brahma, and induced him (Looeamong) to take upon himself The name Kriste, so that it came to pass that the followers of Kristie were called Kristeyans; that Looeamong or Kriste, through his commanding general, Gabriel, captured the opposing gods, together with their entire command of 7,600,000 angels, and cast them into hell, where there were already more than 10,000,000 who were in chaos and madness. This Kriste afterward assembled a number of his men to adopt a Code. At this meeting it in said there were produced 2,231 books and legendary tales of gods and saviors and great men, etc. This council was in session four years and seven months, and at the end of that time there had been selected and combined much that was good and great, and worded so as to be well remembered of mortals."

This statement, condensed though it is, shows that the book threw some valuable sidelights upon sacred history. After having agreed upon a Bible — or "adopted a platform,” as the court somewhat irreverently says — the council proceeded to the election of a god. The contest for this honorable position seems to have been a free-for-all one, the contestants including, in addition to "Kriste," heathen and Brahmin deities, to say nothing of others whose religious affiliations we are unable to classify. On the first ballot there were thirty-seven candidates, among them being such well-known divinities as Vulcan, Jupiter, and .Minerva. It seems that the convention was deadlocked for quite a while. “The record tells us that at the end of seven days' balloting 'the number of gods was reduced to twenty-seven.' And so the convention or council remained in session 'for one year and five months, the balloting lasted, and at the end of that time the ballot rested nearly equal on five gods, namely, Jove, Kriste, Mars, Crite, and Siva,' and thus the balloting stood for seven weeks. At this point Hataus, who was the chief spokesman for Kriste, proposed to leave the matter of a selection to the angels. The convention, worn out with speech-making and balloting, readily accepted this plan. Kriste, who, under his former name of Looeamong, still retained command of the angels (for he had prudently declined to surrender one position until he had been elected to the other), together with his hosts, gave a sign in fire of a cross smeared with blood, whereupon be was declared elected [as presiding god], and on motion his selection was made unanimous." J.C.M. [pp 67-69]
http://books.google.com/books?id=VQQvAA ... 22&f=false
Really?

DCH
andrewcriddle
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Re: Faked source citations

Post by andrewcriddle »

Oahspe is online.

Andrew Criddle

Edited to Add

What we have in the OP may be from Thaumat-Oahspe which is apparently a different work.
In order to trace the connection between Looeamong,
who forgot his allegiance to Jehovih by declaring himself
to be "KlilSTE," or '^A^ll Knowledge," it will be
necessary to give more extended quotations from Oahspe.
"The Lord said : Now, therefore, Looeamong was from
this time forth a false God in heaven and on earth."
(Oah., p. 711, V. 4.) In furtherance of his ends, the
aggrandisement of his heavenly and earthly kingdoms: —
''Looeamong inspired Hatuas (Constantine), the mortal
emperor, to call together a Council of wise men from all
the kingdoms of Arabin'ya (Arabia), Heleste (Greece),
Par'si'a (Persia), and Uropa (Europe), to select from all
the religious doctrines in the world that which was the
wisest and best, that it might be established by kings,
emperors, and governors, by the SWORD and SPEAR,
so there should never more be but one religion." This
refers to the celebrated Council of Nice, convened bv
Constantine in A.D. 325. The narrative proceeds thus; —
"And in course of time, there assembled a Council of 1,786
learned men from all the regions named, and they placed
themselves under the rules and presence of Hatuas. And
he selected from them 144 speakers. As for the others,
they were divided into groups of twelves, besides a goodly
number being appointed scribes and translators. But many,
having the appearance of Jews, were rejected altogether."
It is important to take special notice of this last incidental
passage, because the priests of Rome who were at this
Council, were elaborating a Three-God system of religion,
while Jews would surely be their opponent in this.
"Now, the Council had brought with them, in all, 2,231
books and legendary tales of Gods and Saviours and great
men, together with records of the doctrines taught by
them. Ilatuas, being under the inspiration of Looeamong,
through Gabriel, alias Thoth, thus spake : — Search ye
these books, and whatsoever is good in them, that retain ;
but whatsoever is evil, that cast away. What i.< good in
one book, unite ye with what is good in another book.
And whatsoever is thus brought together shall be called,
THE BOOK OF BOOKS. And it shall be the doctrine
of my people, which I will recommend unto all nations,
that there shall be no more war for religion's sake.' Here
is the account, as given from the heavens, of the formation
of the canon of Scripture by the Council of Nice. Is it
any wonder that, with such instructions, a mass of writ-
ings from all the countries named should have been twisted
and pressed and dove-tailed into each other, in such a
manner as to favour the theological ideas of the framers
of theological Christianity. "For four years and seven
months the Council thus deliberated, and selected from
the 2,231 books and legendary tales. And, at the end
of that time, there had been selected and combined much
that was good and great, and worded, so as to be well
remembered by mortals. As yet, no God had been selected
by the Council, and .so they balloted, in order to determine
that matter.'' This brought some 37 Gods into prominence,
and amongst the number was "Kriste" ; 22 others received
a few votes. "In seven days thereafter, another ballot
was taken, and the number of Gods was reduced to 27.
In seven days thereafter, another ballot was taken, and
the number of Gods reduced to 21. Thus was the number
reduced each ballot, but slower and slower. Six days in
the week were allotted to discuss the merits and demerits
of the Gods. But many weeks elapsed toward the last,
when the number was not reduced. For one year and
five months the balloting lasted, and at that time the
ballot rested nearly equal on five Gods, namely, Jove,
Kriste, Mars, Crite, and Siva. And here the ballot
changed not for yet seven times more, which was seven
weeks." Here was an impass, and Constantine solved the
difficulty thus: — "Hatuas spake before the Council, say-
ing: Ours is a labour for all the nations of the earth, and
for all time. I know the angels of heaven are with us
in this matter. We have found five Gods, good and
acceptable before the world. What say the Council, that
the angels give us a sign ? For we all do know the angels'
signs of these Gods. The Council said: — Well said thou
wisest of men ! Such a God shall be ours, now and for-
ever. And immediately, there and then, LOOEAMONG
AND HIS ANGELS GAVE A SIGN IN FIRE, OF A
CROSS SMEARED WITH BLOOD, AND IT RESTED
ON A BULL'S HORNS, even as a cloud of fire on a cloud
of fire! Whereupon KRISTE was declared GOD AND
LORD OF ALL TLIE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And the Council agreed thereto, unanimously, and more-
over, to reject all the other Gods."
More Additions

This is the original passage from Oahspe
26. Looeamong inspired Hatuas, the mortal emperor, to call together a council of wise men from all the kingdoms of Arabin'ya, Heleste, Parsi'e and Uropa, to select from all the religious doctrines in the world, that which was the wisest and best, that it might be established by kings, emperors and governors by the sword and spear, so there should never more be but one religion.

27. And, in course of time, there assembled a council of seventeen hundred and eighty-six learned men from all the regions named, and they placed themselves under the rules and presence of Hatuas. And he selected from them one hundred and forty-four speakers.

28. As for the others, they were divided into groups of twelves, besides a goodly number being appointed scribes and translators. But many, having the appearance of Jews, were rejected altogether.

29. Now, the council had brought with them, in all, two thousand two hundred and thirty-one books and legendary tales of Gods and Saviors and great men, together with a record of the doctrines taught by them.

30. Hatuas, being under the inspiration of Looeamong, through Gabriel, alias Thoth, thus spake:

31. Search ye these books, and whatsoever is good in them, that retain; but, whatsoever is evil, that cast away. What is good in one book, unite ye with that which is good in another book. And whatsoever is thus brought together shall be called, THE BOOK OF p. 714 BOOKS. And it shall be the doctrine of my people, which I will recommend unto all nations, that there shall be no more war for religions' sake.

32. Thoth (Gabriel) and his angel hosts formed a circle around about the mortal council, a thousand angels deep on every side, and extending upward densely for a long way, and thence, by a line of light, extending to Looeamong's throne, in Hapsendi, his heavenly kingdom.

33. By day and by night, Thoth and his hosts watched over the mortal council, over-shadowing their every thought and word.

34. For four years and seven months the council thus deliberated, and selected from the two thousand two hundred and thirty-one books and legendary tales.

35. And, at the end of that time, there had been selected and combined much that was good and great, and worded so as to be well-remembered by mortals.

36. As yet, no God had been selected by the council, and so they balloted, in order to determine that matter. And the first ballot gave prominence to the following Gods: Jove, Jupiter, Salenus, Baal, Thor, Gade, Apollo, Juno, Aries, Taurus, Minerva, Rhets, Mithra, Theo, Fragapatti, Atys, Durga, Indra, Neptune, Vulcan, Kriste, Agni, Croesus, Pelides, Huit, Hermes, Thulis, Thammus, Eguptus, Iao, Aph, Saturn, Gitchens, Minos, Maximo, Hecla and Phernes.

37. Besides these, there were twenty-two other Gods and Goddesses, that received a small number of votes each.

38. In seven days thereafter, another ballot was taken, and the number of Gods was reduced to twenty-seven.

39. In seven days thereafter, another ballot was taken, and the number of Gods was reduced to twenty-one.

40. Thus was the number reduced each ballot, but slower and slower. Six days in the week were allotted to discuss the merits and de'merits of the Gods. But many weeks elapsed towards the last, when the number was not reduced.

41. For one year and five months the balloting lasted, and at that time the ballot rested nearly equally on five Gods, namely: Jove, Kriste, Mars, Crite and Siva. And here the ballot changed not for yet seven time more, which was seven weeks.

42. Hatuas spake before the council, saying: Ours is a labor for all the nations of the earth, and for all time. I know the angels of heaven are with us in this matter. We have found five Gods, good and acceptable before the world. What say the council, that the angels give us a sign? For we all do know the angels' signs of these Gods.

43. The council said: Well said, thou wisest of men! Such a God shall be ours, now and forever.

44. And immediately, there and then, LOOEAMONG AND HIS ANGELS GAVE A SIGN IN FIRE, OF A CROSS SMEARED WITH BLOOD, AND IT RESTED ON A BULL'S HORNS, even as a cloud of fire on a cloud of fire!

45. Whereupon Kriste was declared GOD AND LORD OF ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.

46. And the council agreed thereto, unanimously, and, moreover, to reject all the other Gods.
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DCHindley
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Re: Faked source citations

Post by DCHindley »

andrewcriddle wrote:Oahspe is online.

Andrew Criddle

Edited to Add

What we have in the OP may be from Thaumat-Oahspe which is apparently a different work.
The THAUMAT - OAHSPE is a sort of introduction to the book of Oahspe. The latter was delivered via automatic writing from Jehovih through the medium of J. B. Newbrough, a dentist working in NYC. The former work was also dictated by the same automatic writing process through a medium who wished to remain anonymous, channeling the spirit of a man who had died 16 years prior.

All of it stems from the book Oahspe, which contains numerous sub sections, or books. The part that deals with Constantine and the "council of Nice" is in the book of Eskra about page 962 of the original 1882 edition:
http://www.angelfire.com/realm3/oahsped ... OAHSPE.pdf

There were later editions, sometimes with additional revelations, published in 1892 and 1912, and sometimes differently formatted to make it somewhat more comprehensible. If the story related seems bizarre, just remember that this book was written after Joseph Smith published his Book of Mormon, delivered on metal plates in "reformed Egyptian Hieroglyphics" which he could read by peering through "peep stones." If anyone has ever actually read the Book of Mormon, as I once did years ago, will recognize the intricate maze of books told from all sorts of points of view and describing different places in time, presented sometime diachronically and sometimes synchronically.

Oahspe was published in reaction to the BoM, for the BoM also complains that the Christians boasted "A Bible! A Bible! We have a Bible!" Oahaspe says Constantine's Bible was no more than wool pulled over the eyes, but it also condemns everyone who claims absolute truth.

All I can say is that in the USA of the 19th century there were some folks with incredibly active imaginations, and others who were incredibly gullible to believe it all.

DCH
Roger Pearse
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Re: Faked source citations

Post by Roger Pearse »

Thank you for looking into this. Bushby's material seems clearly based upon this stuff; did he really rewrite it himself, do you suppose?
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DCHindley
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Re: Faked source citations

Post by DCHindley »

Roger Pearse wrote:Thank you for looking into this. Bushby's material seems clearly based upon this stuff; did he really rewrite it himself, do you suppose?
I am puzzled by the guy. This isn't the first time I've crossed one of his "publications." He clearly was using the book of Oahspe as a source, but pretends to have found these things in NPNF or in The Jewish Dictionary. There are not two NPNF volumes for Eusebius and/or his Life of Constantine (both HE and Life of Constantine are in vol 1 of the second series), and there is no article on "Council of Nicaea" in the Jewish Dictionary). Also, if you took the man literally, he was saying Constantine demanded that the bishops leather bind scrolls!

Another work from about the same period, describes the council much more fairly with regard to known sources, but you can see where the idea of pomp and silly debate may have been fostered: Dean Dudley, History of the First Council of Nice: A World's Christian Convention, AD 325, with a Life of Constantine (1886).

Anyone familiar with the farce that passes for politics in the US House or Representatives and Senate will find the following account amusing:
In the discussion of the Creed, there were curious scenes, according to some writers. One reports that St. Nicholas, the red-faced bishop of Myra, whom we sometimes call "Santa Clause," got so enraged at Arius, that he slapped him on the jaw. And when a song was repeated out of [Arius'] Thalia, the bishops kept their eyes fast shut and stopped their ears. When the Arian Creed, signed by 18 bishops was produced, the other 100 bishops tore it in pieces and ejected Arius from the council.
The difference, of course, is that in the US Congress, they would also have called Constantine an illegal immigrant and then try to impeach him as an enemy of mankind.

DCH
Adam
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Re: Faked source citations

Post by Adam »

About 1970 someone anonymously sent me Oahspe. Was it originally a joke, I suppose, as if the atheist Tom Paine or perhaps some Deist who rejects belief in a personal God ever intervening in human affairs was proclaiming a divine revelation that God does not reveal Himself to humans? So paradoxical that it could not have been serious, I would say.

Oh, over on Debating Christianity where LC and Duvduv have settled, Pete claims that he never taught that Christianity originated in the 4th
Century--he differs from Tony Bushby and is open to an earlier origin for the canonical writings. It is the Gnostic writings that his thesis teaches are 4th Century as satires on the newly established religion.
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