Links to Topics:
Introduction
Humble Beginnings
Introduction To The Occult
The Association for Research and Enlightenment
Introduction
How could a person who was reared in a Christian home and who read the Bible cover to cover regularly end up believing in reincarnation, being a witch doctor, a false prophet and being a sprit medium? The answer is, the man did not evaluate things on the basis of the Bible he read but instead followed the wisdom from beneath mentioned in James 3:15-18. Read about the life of Apostate Edgar Cayce & be warned.
Edgar Cayce (pronounced KC), dubbed the “Sleeping Prophet” by author Jess Stearn, gave life readings to thousands of people during his 67 years.
Under the influence of a self-induced hypnotic trance, Cayce could diagnose illnesses and prescribe proper medical treatments for ailing individuals.
During a trance he would often use long medical terms which were normally used only by physicians. Upon awakening, he could hardly pronounce the words much less understand their meanings.
Humble Beginnings
Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) was born and reared in the small community of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He quit school after eight years to work on the family farm. Eventually Cayce took up photography as his trade.
Growing up in a Christian-principled home had a positive effect on young Cayce. At an early age he got into the habit of reading his Bible from cover to cover each year.
In addition to being a devout member of the local Disciples of Christ Church, Cayce faithfully taught Sunday School and held to all the basic tenets of orthodox Christianity. He even entertained the thought of becoming a minister, but his lack of education and finances forced him to turn in another direction.
Introduction To The Occult
Edgar Cayce’s first spiritistic encounter occurred when he was only a toddler. He often spoke of “invisible playmates” who would visit him, (Thomas Sugrue, There Is A River, p. 37).
He also claimed to have a visitation from a “shining lady” who said he could have anything he desired. He responded that he would like to help people, especially children (Ibid, p. 23).
On one occasion, when he was having trouble studying his school lessons, this “shining lady” told him to lay his head on the textbook and rest. He obeyed and quickly fell asleep. After a few minutes he returned to consciousness and knew the entire content of the volume, (Ibid, p. 19).
At the age of 20, Cayce mysteriously lost his voice. He consulted several doctors, took numerous prescriptions and finally resorted to home remedies. Nothing worked.
A travelling hypnotist attempted to cure the malady, but failed.
A friend, Al Layne, suggested that Edgar undertake an effort of self-hypnosis, whereby he could diagnose his own illness and prescribe a cure. The experiment was successful! (Ibid, pp. 121-122)
Cayce lost his voice on several other occasions. Each time he would slip into a trace and get a “reading” on himself and cure the problem.
Layne was ecstatic. He encouraged his friend to go into business as a trance medium.
Convinced that he could help others with so-called incurable ailments, Cayce began scheduling several readings per day. Believing that he was rendering a “Christian” service, he refused to accept payment.
Edgar Cayce’s fame spread. In the October 9, 1910 issue of the New York Times the headlined declared, Illiterate Man Becomes a Doctor When Hypnotized. Strange Power Shown By Edgar Cayce Puzzles Physicians.
The article pricked the interest of its readers and within weeks thousands of letters poured into Hopkinsville from people seeking medical help.
Cayce tried to rationalize his psychic abilities by affirming that they actually came from God. Deep within his heart of hearts Cayce may have suspected otherwise.
At one point he pondered, “Could this be the Devil’s power in disguise using me as an innocent tool to destroy others?” (Ibid, p. 23)
His wife begged him to abandon his occult activities. On several occasions he did stop, but each time he suddenly lost his voice. The only remedy was to slip back into a trance.
For twenty years the “sleeping prophet” offered help to those in need. The use of his extra-sensory powers would soon be altered.
Mr. Art Lammers, a wealthy printer and student of metaphysics, approached Cayce for a reading. Lammers was not concerned about health, however; he wanted to know about the future. He wanted a life reading!
Lammers drilled the unconscious medium about the end of the world, creation, the lost continent of Atlantis, the path of salvation and a host of other religious-type subjects, (Ibid, p. 234).
Cayce responded. He proclaimed the world to be a pantheistic manifestation of God, announced that reincarnation was the secret of ultimate reconciliation of man to God and that Jesus became the first perfected man by being reincarnated some thirty times.
Despite the unscriptural nature of the information, Edgar Cayce accepted the discourse as truth.
Others sought Life readings. Some wanted to make contact with the spirits of soldiers who had been killed during World War I. The spirits manifested themselves through Cayce’s vocal cords. They brought messages of hope and assurance that Heaven awaits all mankind.
The spirits universally rejected all the major doctrines of Biblical Christianity. Unfortunately, Cayce accepted the spirits’ messages as true.
In his lifetime, Edgar Cayce gave over 14,000 readings. Of these 5,000 dealt with religious matters.
The Association for Research and Enlightenment
In 1931, the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) was founded by Cayce to be a depository for his readings. Each reading was categorized and filed for future reference.
With headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the A.R.E. operates a 50,000 volume library of metaphysics, houses an extensive research center for parapsychology and is building a $1.5 million holistic health center. Lectures are offered on a daily basis at the Atlantis University. Visitors are welcome. The A.R.E. employs 160 people and operates on a $5 million annual budget.
The A.R.E. keeps the memory and “ministry” of Edgar Cayce alive.
At the close of 1944, Edgar Cayce became severely ill. On New Year’s Day he predicted he would be miraculously healed of his sickness. Three days later he was dead.
The tragic story of Edgar Cayce, the “sleeping prophet” is another fulfillment of I Timothy 4:1: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
(Reprinted from Streett’s The Cult Invasion notebook with permission. The parenthetical sources have been added and refer to a pro-Cayce biography entitled There Is A River by Thomas Sugrue.)