The Christian Reenactors Network presents:
A Letter to the Editor for "Editorials and Opinions" at
Barbara Lane, author of Echoes from the Battlefield, is to be commended for her dedication to her field of specialization, pursuit of her doctoral studies, and her intention to contribute a portion of Echoes royalties to the APCWS. Also, it is encouraging see that some of your readers were concerned enough with spiritual matters to respond to the letter written by U.S.C.C. Chaplain Mike Garbus concerning regression and ghosts (September 1998, Vol. XXIV, no.8). Having read recent opinions on the book Echoes, I felt compelled to write what I hope may be the final letter on this evidently controversial issue. One need not be obsessed with the spiritual realm to see its paramount importance. May many more reenactors consider spiritual topics as relevant to everyday life. Rather than attack Chaplain Mike Garbus who, I believe, is doing a valuable and historically valid service to Civil War reenacting, we should support his efforts and admire his commitment to his mission. From his (edited?) letter, he believes the Bible very much in accordance with historic, orthodox Christian views on this subject. But there is more to the Echoes issue.
I participated in the Gettysburg 135th anniversary event as a reenactor. I heard the regression lecture. I carefully read Echoes, noting its publisher A.R.E. Press. Anyone familiar with “sleeping prophet” Edgar Cayce, the deceased metaphysical seer of the first part of the 20th century, will recognize the integration of his views in this book. Frankly, I am concerned that my hobby, my passion, is now the target of eastern occultism. For you see, the essence of “regression” is reincarnation and “the law of karma”. These concepts are totally and completely incompatible with orthodox Christian theology. Isn’t it interesting that this book contains not a single bibliographical reference to any orthodox Christian theological work, yet it implies to have an understanding of the afterlife. Such writing is essentially based on logical syllogism and uses “circular reasoning”. In other words, it proposes reincarnation as its plausible thesis (or presuppositional fact) then sets out to support it with parapsychological explanations. Then it gathers a host of supportive metaphysical experts and writings to reinforce its findings.
In the area of Bible interpretation, theologians have a saying: “A text without a context is a pretext”. This may effectively describe Echoes. The text of this book purports to explore past lives through “regression” experiences. The context of this regression is a foundational belief in reincarnation and “karma” which, interestingly, are never really explained in substance but are assumed to exist. The pretext, one might perceive, could be to gain converts to this occultic pseudo-science. I fear that many reenactors may become enamored by its mystical fascinations. One of reincarnation’s appeals is in its denial of personal accountability to a supreme being, substituting in its place a system of cyclical karmic self-improvement through the accumulation of spiritual credits and debits in the supernatural realm. Its ultimate goal is “oneness with the universe”, this being the “Ultimate Reality”. The technical term for this belief is “monism” (all-is-oneness) rather than the Judeo- Christian concept of “monotheism” (a single Supreme Being who possesses personality characteristics and divine attributes). This is a serious matter for those who consider themselves Christians.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion of course. I believe that, if researched with intellectual honesty, objectivity, and careful attention to biblical integrity, the foundational precepts promoted in Echoes will be easily recognized as singularly opposed to the Christian faith and contradictory of the Bible’s fundamental teachings. Does this invalidate the “regression” experiences? Not necessarily. But it raises serious question as to the source(s) of the recorded phenomena. If the Bible is believed at face value, only two sources of spiritual power are observed. One of these sources is God, the Creator, Sustainer, Provider, and Judge of mankind. These attributes, alone, invalidate God as the source of such regression phenomena. Therefore, unless from natural psychological processes, the regression experiences must be from paranormal sources other than God. Among several theories offered by Barbara Lane, she states plainly that “Possession is another method of gaining past-life information. It is the possession of the living person by a dead entity...I feel that it is possible that some reenactors may have attached entities” (page 29). Indeed, they may have attached entities. Could it be that these “dead” entities are quite alive and from the demonic realm? Could it be also these are the same “entities” which manifest themselves occasionally as “ghosts”?
I have no doubt that some will take issue with my comments and think me a narrow-minded, obsessed, fundamentalist, Bible-thumper. Not all reenactors are Christians, and some readers may not have any beliefs in God or the supernatural at all. Again, they are welcome to have an opinion, belief, or lack thereof. After all, the Civil War was fought over freedom issues for both north and south. But, let’s remember that the Civil War News is not a theological journal.
Finally, (and quite possibly most importantly) one might seriously question just why the organizers of the Gettysburg 135th anniversary event felt compelled to include the “regression” seminar in the midst of historically-based activities. Reincarnation and regression have no basis in Civil War history presentations as do the U.S. Christian Commission, U.S. Sanitary Commission, Temperence Union, etc. I’m concerned that the regressionists have used the platform of a national reenactment to secure scientific and spiritual credibility. I would encourage the organizers of these events in the future to leave such New Age-related presentations to the commercial districts. They have a right to hold and promote their views, but please don’t do it on my registration fee or the spectator’s ticket. Confederate camp prayer meetings and U.S.C.C. services are fine, since they were a part of the war’s history.
Any readers interested in further information on reincarnation, karma, and the historic Christian faith, may want to explore the additional resources at the Christian Reenactor’s Network newsletter website:
http://homepages.infoseek.com/~crnetwork/guidon_echoes.htm
Stuart R. Zaharek, for the Christian Reenactor's Network
crnetwork@juno.com
Forward
to "Echoes: An Overview"
