What Pentecostalism and the Occult Have in Common? British Israelism Explains It

 

John and Charles trace the origins of British Israelism, showing how pyramidology, zodiac mysticism, and speculative archaeology were blended into a theological system that reshaped ideas about race, identity, and biblical authority. The discussion explains how figures such as Charles Piazzi Smyth, John Wilson, and Charles A. L. Totten popularized the belief that the Great Pyramid and the Zodiac functioned as hidden “Bibles,” influencing later religious movements.

The conversation also examines how British Israelism migrated from the United Kingdom to the United States, where it took on a racialized framework that appealed to white supremacist ideology. By unpacking the theological claims, historical figures, and cultural consequences, the episode explains why British Israelism became a foundational influence for later cults and extremist religious systems.