There are a handful of “denominations” or sects within Faithism – a word used of almost any group that uses the Oahspe as their central Bible.

Some of these groups that are still active include the following:

1. Essene Faithists (also called Jehovih’s Faithists; they follow the ancient Essene religion in a modern world, using the Hebrew/Aramaic Jewish scriptures – Old/New Testaments with the Oahspe and additional messages angelic beings or su’is referred to as continuing revelation)

2. Eloist Faithists (they produced the very nice 2016 Eloist Edition of the Oahspe)

3. Mormon Faithists (they typically still reside within the walls of various Mormon/Latter-day Saint denominations, use the Book of Mormon and the Oahspe together. They sometimes call each other “closeted Faithists”)

4. Christian Faithists (they use the Jewish and Christian Old and New Testaments along with the Oahspe. These are from among Christianity’s denominations, including some mainstream, including Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox. They each vary on their commitment to Christian ideals.)

5. Kardecist/Spiritist and “Xavier” Faithists (they are Karedecist or Spiritist, but their beliefs are shaped through the teachings of the Oahspe Bible. Popular in South America where there are many orthodox Kardecists. “Kardecism” shares many similarities with traditional Faithists, but there are some differences. Kardecism originated in France in the 1800’s.)

6. Various other types by many different names (too many to list… some have come and gone over time. Some have acted in the worst manner, bringing harm to others, including toward children. Clearly such “Faithists” can not be said to follow the Oahspe Bible.)

Some groups have only a handful of members while others are very active with hundreds or more in different locations in the world.

While there are many who are called “Faithists” who use the Oahspe as their Bible, or primary religious text, not all hold to the same beliefs or practices. There are some who hold to “New Age” beliefs, others with “free” beliefs (advocating abortion, drug abuse, violence, racism and so on), while others hold to very traditional, orthodox Oahspean beliefs as they were held during the time of John Ballou Newbrough who passed beyond the veil in 1891.

Sadly, as I mentioned, there are some groups who call themselves Faithists who actually promote beliefs that are in opposition to the teachings of the Oahspe Bible. I have seen a couple of teachers telling congregations that one race was better than another, and that Jehovih only loves one race from among humanity. I do not agree with such a teaching, and it can not be found in Jehovih’s words. Black, red, yellow, white, etc. are all common in Jehovih’s eyes.

What the Oahspe Bible does teach is that all humanity has an opportunity to walk in the light of Jehovih with the aide of His angelic beings which He sends to earth on a regular basis. Jehovih speaks through these angelic beings and through the Oahspe as one diligently reads it and studies it. The Oahspe is not biased against people of any particular ethnicity, colour, nationality, religious belief, gender or sexual orientation.

The Oahspe is a revealed spiritual text that can bring harmony to all those groups of people who can be obedient to Jehovih’s Voice. It does not matter what colour you are, if you are a man or woman, from China or America, or what your ethnicity is. If you are obedient to Jehovih’s Voice (His Will and Purpose for your life), you will be guided by His angels.

We should make an effort to return to the original, authentic beliefs and practices revealed in the Oahspe Bible, without putting too much emphasis on differences, unless those differences (beliefs and practices) are contrary to the Oahspe. Anyone can use the Oahspe, but to be a Faithist one must be willing to listen to their Creator’s Voice and to be obedient to it. Through His angels He provided the Oahspe to serve as our Bible. We must have respect for each other, but we can not tolerate when others who bring chaos into our lives or into the lives of others. We can not claim that one race is better than another, or that ones gender is below that of another. Verbal and physical abuse against others because of their physical or spiritual differences, or because they are heterosexual or homosexual, is never acceptable.

It is my hope that the Oahspe Study Bible group on MeWe will help facilitate the formation of a proper group of “non-denominational Faithists” which hold to these traditional ideals, with appropriate respect to each person’s religious (current or former) background.

(M.T., Jan 22, 2020)