In the first of four lectures on Antichrist, St. John Henry Cardinal Newman described what he saw as a burgeoning movement of apostasy among Christian nations—perhaps a harbinger of the Great Apostasy. In its various features, he saw the agenda of Antichrist at work. Despite the fact that Newman delivered these lectures while still an Anglican, he nonetheless approved of their republication after he became Catholic. We can therefore conclude he believed them to be consonant with the faith of the Church.
His words are particularly chilling today given the fact that so many Christians—including many Catholics—fully agree with, or at least do not object to this agenda. Indeed, they even consider a great deal of it to be part of the supposed “heritage” of western civilization (which has long since ceased to be called “Christian civilization,” or “Christendom”).
But perhaps even more disturbing is Newman’s description of how Christians will be seduced into complying with, indeed advancing this Antichrist agenda.
For example, much of what he describes is considered an essential part of modern (especially American) “conservatism,” which has distilled a great deal of politics down to one issue: money, the form of a “better economy,” reduced taxes, etc. This, Newman said, is, and will be used (among other things) as a cover to institute Antichrist’s agenda among the nations, and will culminate with the arrival of Antichrist himself.
We share these words because Newman is, in fact, decrying the spread of liberalism, and suggests that its metastasis is a harbinger of Antichrist. The liberalism he condemns is not “left wing,” but has in fact been adopted in one form or another by virtually all political parties in formerly Christian countries (including the United States)—even the so-called “conservative” variety. What is this “liberalism”? Definitions abound. But Newman’s words will make many of its features apparent.
We believe the best definition of liberalism comes from our friend Dr. Alan Fimister, an atheist convert to the Catholic Faith. Liberalism, he says, is the movement to eliminate divine revelation as a principle of public policy and law.
This definition fully accords with Newman’s words, which thereby bring into sharp relief the reality of just how far our civilization has fallen from its Christian roots—so far, in fact, that a great number of Christians are convinced that many of its Antichristic features are in fact part of their “conservative” and “Christian” inheritance.
The extent to which this civilizational fall is either a type of, or perhaps the Great Apostasy that precedes the advent of Antichrist, is a major part of this mini-series—The Foolishness of God: The End Times.
With that in mind, we now share what St. John Henry Newman had to say about this Antichrist agenda:
Is the enemy of Christ, and His Church, to arise out of a certain special falling away from God? And is there no reason to fear that some such Apostasy is gradually preparing, gathering, hastening on in this very day?
For is there not at this very time a special effort made almost all over the world, that is, every here and there, more or less in sight or out of sight, in this or that place, but most visibly or formidably in its most civilized and powerful parts, an effort to do without Religion?
Is there not an opinion avowed and growing, that a nation has nothing to do with Religion; that it is merely a matter for each man’s own conscience?—which is all one with saying that we may let the Truth fail from the earth without trying to continue it in and on after our time.
Is there not a vigorous and united movement in all countries to cast down the Church of Christ from power and place?
Is there not a feverish and ever-busy endeavor to get rid of the necessity of Religion in public transactions? For example, an attempt to get rid of oaths, under a pretense that they are too sacred for affairs of common life, instead of providing that they be taken more reverently and more suitably?
An attempt to educate without Religion?—that is, by putting all forms of Religion together, which comes to the same thing?
An attempt to enforce temperance, and the virtues which flow from it, without Religion, by means of Societies which are built on mere principles of utility?
An attempt to make expedience, and not truth, the end and the rule of measures of State and the enactments of Law?
An attempt to make numbers, and not the Truth, the ground of maintaining, or not maintaining, this or that creed, as if we had any reason whatever in Scripture for thinking that the many will be in the right, and the few in the wrong?
An attempt to deprive the Bible of its one meaning to the exclusion of all other, to make people think that it may have an hundred meanings all equally good, or, in other words, that it has no meaning at all, is a dead letter, and may be put aside?
An attempt to supersede Religion altogether, as far as it is external or objective, as far as it is displayed in ordinances, or can be expressed by written words—to confine it to our inward feelings, and thus, considering how variable, how evanescent our feelings are, an attempt, in fact, to destroy Religion?
Surely, there is at this day a confederacy of evil, marshalling its hosts from all parts of the world, organizing itself, taking its measures, enclosing the Church of Christ as in a net, and preparing the way for a general Apostasy from it. Whether this very Apostasy is to give birth to Antichrist, or whether he is still to be delayed, as he has already been delayed so long, we cannot know; but at any rate this Apostasy, and all its tokens and instruments, are of the Evil One, and savor of death. Far be it from any of us to be of those simple ones who are taken in that snare which is circling around us! Far be it from us to be seduced with the fair promises in which Satan is sure to hide his poison!
Do you think he is so unskillful in his craft as to ask you openly and plainly to join him in his warfare against the Truth? No; he offers you baits to tempt you.
He promises you civil liberty; he promises you equality; he promises you trade and wealth; he promises you a remission of taxes; he promises you reform. This is the way in which he conceals from you the kind of work to which he is putting you; he tempts you to rail against your rulers and superiors; he does so himself, and induces you to imitate him; or he promises you illumination—he offers you knowledge, science, philosophy, enlargement of mind. He scoffs at times gone by; he scoffs at every institution which reveres them. He prompts you what to say, and then listens to you, and praises you, and encourages you. He bids you mount aloft. He shows you how to become as gods. Then he laughs and jokes with you, and gets intimate with you; he takes your hand, and gets his fingers between yours, and grasps them, and then you are his.
Shall we Christians allow ourselves to have lot or part in this matter? Shall we, even with our little finger, help on the Mystery of Iniquity, which is travailing for birth, and convulsing the earth with its pangs? “O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united” (Gen. 49:6). “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate” (2 Cor. 6:14)…lest you be workers together with God’s enemies, and be opening the way for the Man of Sin, the son of perdition.
