ETERNITY in their HEARTS

(Reflections of the above-captioned book by Don Richardson)

Review by Byron LeBeau

This book was an absolute revelation to me about just how awesome the Father of all & everything is!  He actually planted the seeds for all cultures so that - as backward as some would seem to outsiders - were given the knowledge of the one supreme creator of all long long before came the "white brother" to complete their education of the redemption of all men by Jesus Christ.

Richardson quietly but clearly goes through the documented evidence that proves this conclusion: THAT MONOTHEISM INDEED PRECEDED POLYTHEISM, THE LATER BEING THE MYTH PERPETRATED BY IGNORANT AND ARROGANT "SCHOLARS" WHO WISHED THIS TO BE ENSCONCED AS THE TRUTH - BUT IT WASN'T.

The author starts his story with the suggested data from many cultures to submit as evidence of this belief in monotheism among the "backward tribes;" this is important to the story because later on in the book we learn about the false thesis that was presented (and accepted) by most scholarly anthropologists: In chapter four called, 'Scholars with Strange Theories,' one, Edward B. Tylor theorized in a two-volume work called "Primitive Culture: Researches into the Development of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Art and Custom,' that reflected - in essence - that "Ancient savages" (118) saw the natural world in terms of spiritism (animism) that formed the first religion.  From this (according to Tylor) came polytheism which metamorphosed into an aristocratic 'monarch', so that any monotheism was born from its polytheistic roots (119.) Most of the rest of the book disputes this theory as being nothing but rubbish, although its effects have lasted to the present day.

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE 'ANCIENT SAVAGES'

The author firstly points to the insight of Pachacuti (34-35) who came to understand that 'Viracocha' (the Inca god) really was the God of all Creation - and not merely a sun god. [If you review your bible, Abraham came to the same insight that the real God of all and everything was not reflected by statues of wood and stone, which led to having a communication from THE I AM GOD HIMSELF, that started the eventual 'Abrahamic Covenant,' which according to this present author, would not be completed until all men were taught the truth about God's only Son, who was sent to redeem all men and reconcile all men back to the Father, after the Son ransomed Himself for our sake by offering Himself as the ultimate blood sacrifice.]

If it were just one culture that Richardson found this phenomenon, then it would simply be an oddity, but he found it in culture after culture in all sorts of aspects among the various tribes in Africa, Asia and China.  When you read this book, you will be absolutely amazed at these aspects. 

FOR INSTANCE, in Ethiopia, Jesus Christ was equal to the Son of Magana (their one supreme God (48-50.) The Mbaka people of Central Africa had one supreme God called 'Koro" and they knew also of Koro's Son who was sent into the world to do something wonderful for all mankind, but they but they forgot (over time) yet did know somehow that a 'white brother' would come to restore this knowledge. They also had "rituals of passage" and blood sacrifices and baptismal immersions that paralleled the Judeo-Christian tradition (50-51.)

MORE STARTLING EVIDENCE

Chapter two tells of the Karen people of Burma: Their monotheism spoke to an 'incompleteness' which would be completed by "white foreigners" and the name of their supreme God was Y'wa (75.)  More startling, this 'white foreigner' was to come across the sea from the west on "white wings" (sails) with their "white book" (76.) [This specific tale was documented by Alonzo Bunker in a book called, "Soo Thah, A Tale of the Karens."]

But this was not the only tribe that spoke to the completeness coming from their white brothers with the white book from the west.   Richardson relates the unbelievable story of William Marcus Young - a white missionary with a white book and while preaching to the natives of Burma about the TEN COMMANDMENTS, he was told by the "Lahu men' who lived in the mountains that they have been waiting for such a man to come  and break the bonds of the evil spirits  as a messager of 'Gui'Sha' (their one and only supreme God (87.)  [The author then reports that Young and his fellow missionaries baptized on average about 2000 people per year from 1904 to 1936, and one year 4500.] Thus William Marcus Young put the lie to the false thesis of Edward M. Tylor, but the human secularists refused to accept this phenomenon, despite research done on this to the contrary. {{To me, this phenomenon is not too dissimilar to the Young Earth Creationists showing the falsity of Evolutionism theory, still being trumpeted by Dr. Richard Dawkins, et al; likewise, Joe Jordan and Guy Malone showing the 'unwanted evidence' regarding who is really behind the facade of the UFO & ALIEN ABDUCTION PHENOMENON - i.e., The Fallen Angels & demons vs. ETs from galaxies far far away!}}

Allow me to give just one more example, that hopefully dramatizes the point that our one true God (the author of the Hebrew Bible from beginning to end,) and who promised to Abraham that all men would be welcome into a bond with Him as were the Jews, (which Don Richardson cites in many places the truth of,) and so set this seed of monotheism among the many cultures of the world - despite what ignorant scholars have said to the contrary in their lust to perpetrate the FALSITY OF EVOLUTION upon mankind.

This example is very specific: It revolves around the AMAZING PONY and will be cited in full from pages 91 & 92 of Rcihardson's book:

     'It was during the initial stage of the Lahu response to the gospel that Pu Chan, God's advocate among the headhunting Wa people, saddled the little pony and told his disciples to follow it in search of a "white brother bearing the book of Siyeh, the True God."

     'The pony led those amazed disciples over approximately two hundred miles of mountainous trails and down into the city of Kengtung.  Then it turned into the gate of a mission compound and headed straight for a well.

     'The pony stopped beside the well.  Pu Chan's disciples looked in all directions, but could see no trace of either a white brother or a book.

    'Nelda Widlund, daughter of Vincent Young and granddaughter of William Marcus Young, told me in person what happened next.  For she was raised on that very mission compound, and drank often from that very well.  The details which follow from a treasured memory of the entire Young clan: The Wa tribesmen heard sounds in the well.  They looked inside it and saw no water, but only two clear blue eyes looking up at them out of a friendly, bearded white face.

     "Hello, strangers!"  The voice- speaking in the Shan language - echoed out of the well. "May I help you?"  William Marcus Young climbed out of the well, which was not yet in use (he was still in the process of digging it).  As he brushed the dust from his hands and faced them, the Wa messengers asked, "Have you brought a book of God? "Young nodded.  The Wa men, overcome with emotion, fell at his feet and blurted out the message from Pu Chan.  Then they added: This pony is saddled especially for you.  Our people are all waiting. Fetch the book! We must be on our way!" [There is more background on this story within the first link after the review.]

Young explained to them that he could not come since he was ministering to the Lahu Christians, but arrangements were eventually made so that the Wa men could bring their tribes people to this area which led to the baptism of another 10,000 Wa converts, who in turn spread the gospel still further in eastern Burma and southwestern China!

This is just part of the phenomenon that happened in just one of the cultures that God had pre-ordained to be receptive to the coming of the "white brother" with the "white book!" Similar things happened in other cultures throughout these countries, including the Lisu, the Kachin, the Mizo, the Naga, the Gedeo, the Santal, the Inca and thousands of others who were waiting (161.) Later in the book (186) Richardson cites Paul & Barnabas who declared: "We now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth'" (ACTS 13:46-47.)

This, in my opinion, was an amazing book that actually demonstarted God's full plan for the peoples of the Earth - His Earth which He created  - and eventually to have a relationship with all who accepted Him & His Son - who Himself would complete the blood sacrifice once asked of Abraham to sacrifice his only son, (Isaac) and when he agreed to do so, God stopped him since God (our Father) had a more perfect plan for mankind. Having the peoples of other cultures ready to receive the final completion of that plan of redemption reflects the heart of this book!

If you read the book from cover to cover, you will discover that you do not have to go to far off lands, learning other languages, fearing for the safety of your head and the worry that your body will be eaten by half-crazed "backward" people. NO! What you learn is that you can be a missionary right hear - and discuss the gospel with people who may not be  Christian yet, but by being perhaps half American and half Chinese or Japanese or African or from the islands of the Caribbean - from somewhere inside of them - they too are awaiting the completion of what they were seeded with a long time ago that has somehow been forgotten in the annals of time and distance.  [Richardson found through his research that even the Chinese have a signature of the Gospel's truth embedded within their own ideographs as in the word "righteous" which, in effect, reflected the concept: I under the lamb am righteous; since the Japanese use virtually the same writing system, this may be a point of connection between the message of Jesus Christ and their heretofore beliefs (Cf. pages 112-113.)

I would rate having the knowledge contained within this book as a powerful tool that could be used for the good of your fellow man, which Jesus so fervantly wishes us to do for the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God!

You may find some interesting information about these things by going to the link:

http://net-burst.net/hot/miracle.htm

Another web page that deals directly with Richardson's book can be found at:

"REFLECTIONS OF A HINDU SAINT" found at:

http://inspectorblebeau.pbworks.com/REFLECTIONS-OF-A-HINDU-SAINT