The claim is being made that pyramidology is "a spiritistic religion," and, assuming this to be true, therefore it is claimed that Charles Taze Russell was a spiritist. Some refer to "pyramidology" as though it means, "pyramid worship" or "pyramid idolatry" and claim that Russell worshiped the pyramids. Those who make these claims evidently have little idea as to what true Biblical study of God's Witness in Egypt is about, and are apparently confusing such Biblical study with practices of witchcraft, pagan or heathen occultism, "pyramid power," transcendentalism, alleged occultic freemasonry, etc., that are often associated with the term "pyramidology." Indeed, most definitions given in the dictionary appear to ignore the Biblical study of God's Witness in Egypt as being "pyramidology."
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| The Great Pyramid Circa 1893 - Public Domain Image |
As best we can determine, Charles Taze Russell never used the term "pyramidology." It appears that he never spoke of the Biblical study God's Witness in Egypt as being "pyramidology." Etymologically, the word pyramidology itself simply means "pyramid-study", or "study of a pyramid." It does not mean "pyramid worship." True Biblical study of God's Witness in Egypt definitely has nothing to do with such practices of spiritism, heathen occultism, demonism, etc. The term "pyramidology", as it has been applied to the Biblical study of God's Witness Egypt, is not the same as "pyramidology" as applied to the various spiritistic occult applications. Here is one definition given to pyramidology as applied to the Biblical study of God's Witness in Egypt:
Pyramidology is the science that deals with the Great Pyramid's scientific demonstration of Biblical truth, true Christianity and the Divine plan respecting humanity on this planet.
Rutherford, Adam. Pyramidology I, page 11.
One should be able to see that the above definition has nothing to do with spiritism, occultism, etc. It was strictly defined in corroborative terms of the Bible as well as of science, and all in harmony with the Bible.
Although we have not found any place that Charles Taze Russell ever used any form of the word pyramidology, in view of what he wrote about the Great Pyramid, one could indeed say that Russell was a pyramidologist, according to the Biblically-applied definition of the word, but not in accord with the common definition many often like to give to the word, which would seem to indicate belief or practices related to heathen or pagan occultism.
We wish to emphasize that the Biblically applied meaning has been almost totally displaced by the more common usages of the term "pyramidology" as related to certain forms of spiritistic powers and what is often described as demonic occultism. Russell was not a "pyramidologist" according to such meanings given to that word.
The claim is made that the books on pyramidology "are usually located in the 'Occult' section of any library or bookstore." We actually doubt that one will actually find any books in the "Occult" section related to Biblical pyramidology -- except perhaps in may a few small bookstores where the owner(s) or managers may not know the difference. Indeed, it is difficult to find any books on Biblical pyramidology in any bookstore at all. One may come across some books on the study of God's Witness in some of the used book stores, and they may, without having knowing the difference, place such books in the "occult" section of their books. Usually, however, one will have to order books regarding the Biblical study of God's Witness in Egypt. One may indeed see books on "Pyramid Power," Spiritism, etc., in the "Occult" section of the popular books stores, but this is not the kind of study that Russell did regarding the Great Pyramid. Additionally, some bookstores have books under one section called "Religion/Occult," thus combining occultism with any kind of religious books. Amazon.com appears to place many books on Biblical Pyramidology under several classifications, including "History" as well as "Religion and Spirituality." It does not matter, however, what classification any book supplier may give to such works; it does not change the facts that such a Biblical study of God's Witness in Egypt as Russell presented is not, of itself, presenting a belief in, or advocating the practice of, any kind of paganistic religious beliefs and practices. We will say, however, that there are also some authors who borrow some of the Biblical studies and mix them with forms of spiritism, paganism, etc. Many do the same with the Bible itself. Their misuse does not mean, however, that the Bible actually supports such misuse; likewise with the study of Biblical God's Witness in Egypt as done by Russell and others who do not condone the heathen or pagan beliefs and practices.
The claim is made that Joseph Rutherford "admitted" that it was Satan who put it in Russell's mind "to figure out God's purposes by studying the Pyramid of Gizeh." We have not been able to substantiate that Rutherford actually stated this. If he did, then it is just another of his misrepresentations of Russell, since Russell never sought "to figure out God's purposes by studying the Pyramid of Giza." Russell sought to "figure out" God's purposes by the Bible, not the Great Pyramid, as his writings demonstrate. Russell viewed the Great Pyramid as corroborative of God's plan as revealed in the Bible; he did not view the Great Pyramid as the source of learning about that plan.
We are told that Russell was embalmed and then that he "was placed in a grave that is now marked with a huge tombstone in the form of a pyramid." A few years after Russell died, Rutherford did indeed have a pyramid monument constructed in the center of the Watch Tower's plot of Rosemont Cemetery. Although this monument is near Russell's grave, Russell's grave itself is not "marked with a huge tombstone in the form of a pyramid." The pyramid monument is not a "tombstone" at all. Although Rutherford claimed that Russell had wanted such a monument built, even in the claims made it shows that Brother Russell was not the one who originated the idea of building such a monument.
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Evidently related to the Great Pyramid, we are told that "Russell also believed in astrology and the horoscope." No proof is given for such a false statement, although reference is made to articles Russell supposedly wrote on the Zodiac. We suspect that the author may be confusing the Zodiac itself with an astrological horoscope. In reality, however, Russell did not believe in astrology or any astrological horoscope. Russell associated astrology with spiritism, which he condemned. As to the Zodiac, Russell did quote the Biblical reference in Job 38:31-33 in an article in 1892, and again in 1915. ("God's Works and Word." Watch Tower, April 1, 1892, page 110; "The Source of True Promotion." Watch Tower, June 15, 1915, page 185) In neither article do we find anything that presents any idea that Russell believed in astrology or in any astrological horoscope. We find also that the Photo Drama of Creation refers to the "Zodiacal" signs. (page 1) Again, however, we find nothing that gives any idea that Russell believed in astrology or in astrological horoscopes.
We are told that "Not the Bible, but Russell's belief in pyramidology are the basis for his date setting." We have similar statements many times in forums and on some websites. Some go so far as to falsely claim that Russell obtained the date 1914 from the Great Pyramid. This false statement would be very laughable, except that many seriously take this falsehood to be the truth. In reality, the dates were originally obtained from a study of the Bible, not from the study of the Great Pyramid. Anyone familiar with Russell's "The Time Is At Hand" and "Thy Kingdom Come" would know that the basis of the dates is the Bible, and that the measurements of the Great Pyramid only corroborate the dates. It was after these dates were known from study of the scriptures, that a study of the Great Pyramid revealed the same dates. Measurements of the Great Pyramid simply corroborate the dates.
We are told that "Not the Bible, but Russell's belief in pyramidology are the basis for his date setting." We have similar statements many times in forums and on some websites. Some go so far as to falsely claim that Russell obtained the date 1914 from the Great Pyramid. This false statement would be very laughable, except that many seriously take this falsehood to be the truth. In reality, the dates were originally obtained from a study of the Bible, not from the study of the Great Pyramid. Anyone familiar with Russell's "The Time Is At Hand" and "Thy Kingdom Come" would know that the basis of the dates is the Bible, and that the measurements of the Great Pyramid only corroborate the dates. It was after these dates were known from study of the scriptures, that a study of the Great Pyramid revealed the same dates. Measurements of the Great Pyramid simply corroborate the dates.
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