Beliefs

What Do Jehovih’s Faithists Believe?

Jehovih called unto His angels in heaven, saying: Go ye down to the earth once more, to man, whom I created to inhabit the earth and enjoy it, and say ye to man: Thus saith Jehovih:

Behold, the seventh era is at hand. Thy Creator commandeth thy change from a carnivorous man of contention to an herbivorous man of peace. The four heads of the Beast (false religion) shall be put away; and war shall be no more on the earth.

Thy armies shall be disbanded. And, from this time forth, whosoever desireth not to war, thou shall not impress; for it is the commandment of thy Creator.

Neither shalt thou have any gods, nor lords, nor saviors, but only thy Creator, Jehovih! Him only shalt thou worship henceforth forever. I am sufficient unto Mine own creations.

And to as many as separate themselves from the dominion of the Beast (false religion), making these covenants unto Me, have I given the foundation of My kingdom on earth.

And all such shall be My chosen: By their covenants and by their works shall they be known henceforth on the earth as Mine, and shall be called Faithists.

But to as many as will not make these covenants, have I given the numbers of the Beast, and they shall be called Uzians, signifying destroyers. And these shall be henceforth the two kinds of people on earth, Faithists and Uzians. (Oahspe 1:15-21)

The Twelve Virtues from the Oahspe

The first virtue is to learn to find Jehovih in all things, and to love and glorify Him.

The second virtue is Cleanliness; all peoples, old and young, shall bathe once a day.

The third virtue is to eat no fish nor flesh, nor other unclean thing; for of what profit is it to bathe the outer part if one putteth filth within?

The fourth virtue is Industry. Because the Father gave man neither feathers, nor hair nor wool; let it be testimony of His commandment that man shall clothe himself. To clothe one’s self, and to provide one’s self with food; these are the enforced industry upon all people. In addition to these, to labour for the helpless; to bathe them and feed them, and house them and clothe them; these are the volunteer industries permitted by the Father that ye may prove your soul’s worthiness before Him. Without industry no people can be virtuous. (Definition of Industry in this context: To keep one’s self in constant action to a profitable result. To rise before the sun and bathe and perform the religious rites by the time the sun riseth; and to labour thereafter not severely but pleasantly until sunset, this is Industry. The industrious man findeth little time for the evil one’s influences.)

The fifth virtue is of the same kind, which is Labour. There shall be no rich amongst you; but all shall labour. As ye develop your corporeal bodies unto strength by reasonable labour, so doth the act of labour develop the spirit of man to profitable growth for its habitation in heaven. For I declare unto you a great truth, which is, that the idle and the rich, who labour not with the corporeal body, are born into heaven helpless as babes.

The sixth virtue, which is greater than all the rest, is Abnegation of one’s self. Without Abnegation no human shall have peace of soul, either on earth or in heaven. Consider what thou doest, not that it shall profit thyself, but whether it will benefit others, even as if thou wert not one of them. Without the sixth virtue no family can dwell together in peace.

The seventh virtue is Love. Consider when thou speakest whether thy words will promote love; if not, then speak not. And thou shalt have no enemies all the days of thy life. But if thou canst justly say a good thing of any man, be not silent; this is the secret to win many loves.

The eighth virtue is Discretion, especially in words. Consider well, and then speak. If all men would do this, thou wouldst be surprised at the wisdom of thy neighbours. Discretion is a regulator; without it, man is like a tangled thread.

The ninth virtue is System and Order. A weak human, with System and Order, doeth more than a strong man without them.

The tenth virtue is Observance. With Observance a human accepteth from the ancients such things as have been proven to be good, such as rites and ceremonies. Without Observance a man beginneth back even with the earliest of the ancients, and thus casteth aside his profit in the world.

The eleventh virtue is Discipline, the Discipline for the individual and the family. He who hath not Discipline is like a race-horse without a rider. A time to rise; a time to eat; a time to pray; a time to dance; a time to labour; these are good in any human; but the family that practiceth them in unison with one another hath Discipline.

The twelfth virtue is like unto it, and is Obedience. All good and great men are obedient. He that boasteth his disobedience to discipline is a fool and a madman. Greater and better is the weak man of obedience, than the strong man of defiance. For the one promoteth the harmony of the family; but the other ruptureth it.

Consider these twelve virtues; they are sufficient laws unto the whole world. Man may multiply books and laws forever, but they will not make the family, nor colony, nor state, happy, without the adoption of these twelve virtues. (Book of the Arc of Bon 11:7-20)

Faithists believe in observing the Ten Commandments of Moses and the Teachings of Joshu to the best of their ability.

The Church of Jehovih accepts the Oahspe Bible as a text revealed to Doc. John Ballou Newbrough by Jehovih’s angelic messengers. In addition, the Church of Jehovih accepts certain Judaeo-Christian sacred texts, including the Didache, all in the light of the Oahspe. We do not believe the Oahspe or any other sacred text is perfect. We believe in continuing revelation.

The Church of Jehovih is an autonomous and autocephalous religious institute that is not affiliated with any other Faithist organisation or lodges. Thus, it would not be fair to lump all Faithist groups together as sharing the same beliefs or practices. Some members are affiliated with the Worldwide Faithist Association.

Faithists believe in being fair to all peoples regardless of their ethnicity, colour, nationality, religious beliefs, gender or sexual orientation. We are opposed to all forms of hatred. While we believe in being fair to all peoples, we do not condone abortion or sexual immorality (which includes sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults). Over the years there have been some sects calling themselves “Faithists” who have caused harm to innocent ones — this is not condoned by the Church of Jehovih. We have a strict policy, that if a member causes any harm to others (sexually, mentally or financially) the member is permanently removed from the Church. It is the responsibility of members and elders to report any form of illegal activity to the secular authorities.

Additionally, outside of medical necessity, we do not condone the use of intoxicants and drugs even if such use is made legal by secular governments. Although we are fair to everyone, we are not obliged to accept every belief of other peoples and religious organisations as being true. We have the right to practise our own religion without interference from outside sources.

Faithist Community Philosophy

Do not assert any thing unless you can prove it.
Never belittle what another says.
Never take exceptions to what another says for opposition’s sake. Never take exceptions for sake of showing you cannot be led.
What can I say that will make others rejoice?
He who will argue, is he not selfish? To stand up for one’s own philosophy, is this not as selfish as to stand up for property?
To learn to know that we may be mistaken, who could act on this, and offend his neighbor?
How can there be individual or isolated ascension in heaven? Would we not desire our loved ones to go upward with us forever?
If ye cannot live in peace in a brotherhood on earth, neither shall ye find a brotherhood of peace and love in heaven.
He who labors for himself in this world, shall find few friends in heaven.
Are we not all eggs? and is not death our hatching out?
Jehovih saith, Man I created as a spirit; but I gave him a corporeal body, that he might learn corporeal things. Death I made, that man might rise in spirit, and inherit My etherean worlds in the firmament of heaven.

Our Declaration

I declare unto Thee, Jehovih, in the presence of the Faithists here assembled, that henceforth I will worship none but Thee, Thou All Highest Creator, Who art variously named by mortals, Jehovih, The Great Spirit, The Almighty, The Eternal Father, The I Am, The All Light, Eolin, Ormazd, The Architect of the Universe, Ever Present in all and yet above all, unto Whom none can attain for ever.

I declare that I will henceforth turn from evil and strive to do good, that I may come into atonement with Thee, Thou All Father, Life of all life, and Soul of all souls, Who art to the understanding of all the living even as the sun is to the light of day.

I promise to abnegate self and dwell in harmony with my brother and sister Faithists, also to respect the authority of the Chief of the Community.

I promise to put aside the uncharitable tongue, and not to perceive evil in any man, woman, or child, but only the limitations of their birth and surroundings. In Thee, O Jehovih, is my trust. Amen.