William Irvine started the religion that would become known as "The Truth" among its members. It was the one true way, continuous from before time; it was The Word that Jesus Christ had come to fulfill - and would enforce at the end of time. (It's a complicated story.*)
In 1897 the Scottish Irvine began preaching in Northern Ireland in the format that would evolve into "The Truth." A tent-preacher, he was an evangelist in the protestant tradition of the day, attempting to bring people the literal teachings of the Holy Bible.
Before long, he declared that this was the only way that could save people. It's not an uncommon religious idea. But Irvine's thoughts continued to expand. He apparently suffered from an evolving delusional sickness. He had some kind of apocalyptic vision concerning the year 1914. His ideas started to become less popular with his followers.
When he went to Jerusalem in 1918, Irvine he was persuaded of his own grand importance. He was fond of the Book of Revelation, the wildest part of the Bible. He believed it literally and believed that it referred to him personally.
His previous supporters didn't want to talk to him, and they didn't want to talk about him. Irvine became persona non grata, and at some point a taboo subject. The church's oral history lost William Irvine.
Without its founder, the story developed its own explanation — that there was no founder. None human, anyhow.
Until more information became available, members of "The Truth" believed it was the only true religion. Maybe some do still — but contrary evidence is well-demonstrated in the early 21st century.
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* The role of Jesus in Christian theology is complicated with explanations that do not tell a real story.
It is possible that Jesus did not exist at all, and indeed there exist no contemporaneous records that he did.
The possibility that the story of Jesus is fictional may represent the simplest explanation of the phenomena surrounding his legend.
↑ Return to "complicated story"...
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