BEWARE NEW AGE SYMBOLISM

My readers will recall that Basil Evans recently returned from China and he kindly wrote an interesting article for us about his experiences there. On his return he has re-done his series on Cults and False religions. Readers were very interested in his first articles, so I am pleased to present the new series. which should run uninterrupted for some time. Basil tells me he has done 15 so far. I shall publish these as time permits. Many thanks Basil!

Gibber! Gibber!

Chugley

CULTS & FALSE RELIGIONS

Number 3 Eastern Religions –

I heard a very well known TV evangelist with perhaps the largest single
church in the USA being interviewed and asked will Religious Jews and
Muslims get to heaven? His answer was “Well, God knows, after all we
do worship the same God”

The correct answer is NO. Jesus said He is the only way.

The next group of religions definitely do not accept Jesus except as a guru or a wise example of living the right way so with them there is no question that their followers cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. No matter how good a life they may lead there is no salvation outside of Jesus.

There is a belief called universalism that says eventually all created beings will be saved. This is based on the desire to be “nice.” If God is a god of love how could He condemn anyone to eternal punishment. After a cleansing period God will restore all things to eternal perfection. The problem with this belief is that it contradicts what the Bible says, In Matthew 25::46 Jesus talks of eternal punishment and eternal life. The same word, eternal, is used for life and punishment so if our salvation will never end so will eternal punishment.

In Eastern religions however the belief is that eventually everyone will cease to exist after maybe countless reincarnations. They will become one with Brahman or the universal spirit.
Eastern religions only started to affect Western culture in the 1800s but received a boost with youth from the Beatles who pushed Hinduism in many of their songs such as “My sweet Lord”. The Hari Krishna movement started in 1965 and spread rapidly.

Buddhism’s growth in the West, starting in the mid-19th century, was spurred by immigration, globalization, the decline of Christianity, and increased Western interest, leading to the development of mainstream Western Buddhism by the 20th century.

Now Hindu and Buddhist temples’ are quite common throughout Australia. And Buddhism particularly very actively spreads the “Peace” movemen

Also New Age shops are found everywhere with interest in supernatural pushed by the fancy trappings of incense and statuary of gods and angels, taro cards etc. The media have also pushed astrology daily horoscope readings and star signs.

The major eastern religions hold a belief in reincarnation, especially Hinduism and Buddhism. They hold in common a doctrine of karma, the law of cause and effect, which states that what one does in this present life will have its effect in the next life. In Hinduism the process of birth and rebirth—i.e., transmigration of souls—is endless until one achieves moksha, or liberation (literally “release”) from that process. Moksha is achieved when one realizes that the eternal core of the individual (atman) and the Absolute reality (brahman) are one. The end of Hinduism is being absorbed into the universal godhead.
In Buddhism the concept of rebirth, often understood as reincarnation, is a core principle, suggesting that consciousness, not a fixed self or soul, continues after death and is reborn into a new form of existence, determined by karma. The ultimate goal of Buddhism, across most traditions, is to achieve Nirvana, which is a state of liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth (samsara). In other words to cease to exist. 

BIOGRAPHY

Basil De Lacy Evans has had a rich and successful life. Born in Sydney, Australia in 1933. He attended Canterbury Boys High School, Scots College and Sydney University, where he graduated with a degree in Pharmacy. He obtained further qualifications in International Business and management from the USA and Australia.

Basil’s commercial career included time as Assistant Chief Pharmacist at Royal Alexandra Hospital Sydney in 1958 to being Planning Manager for the international division of a major multinational pharmaceutical company based in New Jersey USA. There were many highly responsible appointments in between including running a marketing division employing 120 staff in Sydney.  Locations included Australia,  Indonesia,  New Zealand and Hong Kong.

He retired from the multination group in 1988 to start his own Medical Regulatory Affairs consultancy which is now still operating owned and  managed by one of his daughters.

Basil’s Christian walk has included serving as Deacon, Youth Leader and adult Bible teacher in Sydney Petersham AOG from 1956 – 1967. Attending Livingstone NJ  AOG USA from 1967-1970. Founder and Pastor of Dural Christian Assembly, 1990-2004