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Douglas has shown the way by advancing policies medieval theologian, Douglas saw the universe as
which can make the Word flesh. an integrated unity centered in its creation, and
centered in its Creator and subject to His Law.
Releasing reality
In a 1933 address, The Pursuit of Truth, Douglas
Large numbers of people who call themselves stressed that his primary concern was with rightness
Christians — followers of Christ — support policies in all things, that there was running through the
which increasingly crush the individual’s freedom. universe something called a “canon”, and that
The ultimate in blasphemy is the profession of “genuine success only accompanies a consistent
“Christian-Marxism” and support for the World State attempt to discover and conform to this canon in no
—an International Caesar. matter what sphere our activities lie.”
Many of those describing themselves as Social
Crediters and Douglas supporters have perverted Money is a man-made symbol
by describing Douglas as a “money reformer” and While it is true that the world-wide Social Credit
a “great idealist”. It was the famous Movement which came into existence
Jewish writer, Dr. Oscar Levy, who played the major role in publicizing
observed that the ideal is the enemy how financial credit is created and
of the real. Idealism is a manifestation destroyed by the banking system,
of man’s false pride, and suggests long before Douglas appeared on the
that man can be his own God. public scene, a number of authorities
Douglas’s approach was that had explained to select audiences
of proper respect and humility, how money was created in the form
as expressed in his comment that of financial or bank credit.
“the rules of the universe transcend And, of course, those who
human thinking,” and that if man operated the credit-creating system
desired the greatest satisfaction over the centuries were well aware of
in human affairs, he should the enormous power they exercised
painstakingly attempt to discover — so long as people generally
what those truths are, and then obey believed that banks only loaned out
them. Douglas was primarily a man money first deposited with them, and
concerned with discovering truth, Clifford Hugh Douglas were generally ignorant about the
reality. realities of a money system.
In another comment, he said that Social Credit Irrespective of what form it takes, money is but
provided “a glimpse of reality.” Douglas modestly a man-made symbol of no value unless real wealth
claimed that Social Credit provided only a “glimpse” is created. Just so long as sufficient people can
of reality. A fuller understanding of reality requires a be mesmerized into believing that, for example, a
constant search for truth. In one of those profound credit symbol is more important than a pound of
statements which can be pondered upon indefinitely butter, they are at the mercy of those who create
with increasing benefit, Douglas said Social Crediters and control the symbols. The shadow is more
were seeking “to release reality.” important than the substance!
“I know from my own technical knowledge,” Subsequently every effort was made to
said Douglas, “that there is no production problem suppress, or misrepresent and pervert, what
in the world at all; that there is no single thing Douglas was proposing. The hostile reaction
which, if you will put your money down on the of an unholy alliance of International Bankers,
table, you cannot get.” Marxists and various other groups, including those
do-gooders who earnestly claim to know what is
Man must follow God’s Law best for the individual, brought into clear relief
One of the most revealing word pictures we have the fact that it was the philosophical challenge of
of Douglas the man and his philosophy comes from Social Credit which was seen as the major threat
Mr. L. D. Byme: by all representatives of the will-to-power.
“Notwithstanding a mental stature unusual in Douglas, the physical man, died in 1952. But
any society, Douglas’s outstanding characteristic the truths he revealed now belong to eternity. They
was a profound humility — a humility which was are essential for the regeneration of civilisation,
reflected in his writings and in his life... Where others irrespective of how long that regeneration takes.
viewed the world in terms of mankind’s struggles Those who have grasped those truths have the
and achievements, and society as the creature responsibility of carrying the knowledge of them
of man’s brain and behaviour, with the realism of forward into the future. v
the engineer and the penetrating spirituality of a Eric Butler
www.michaeljournal.org MICHAEL May/June/July 2024 19