This is a general overview and cannot replace more detailed articles on the CANA site on Yoga, Meditation, and Energy Healing. For articles on Yoga, Meditation, and Contemplative topics, please […]
This blog, “Richard Rohr’s Muddy Waters: Learning Rohr’s Language,” by Marcia Montenegro, is hosted on the site of Midwest Christian Outreach, published June 2, 2022
What do Reiki, Grounding/Earthing, sound baths, zyto scanners, acupuncture, the human “energy field,” the frequency of linen, Therapeutic Touch, the Schuman Resonance, Tapping (and more) have in common? They are all based on New Age and/or Eastern concepts of an invisible, unquantifiable energy that emits supposed vibrations and frequencies. This is spirituality, not healing and not science.
Tradition and Wisdom This is from the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation website: “Shalem is grounded in Christian contemplative spirituality and, at the same time, draws on the wisdom […]
What can we say to the claims made by Contemplative proponents? Are their arguments sound and biblical?
Comer’s theme in this book is that Christians must pursue the “practices of Jesus,” or the “Way of Jesus,” which are the spiritual disciplines. However, there is no evidence that the spiritual disciplines as taught by Comer and others are taught in Scripture, nor are meditation and prayer modeled in Scripture anything like what is taught by Contemplatives.
The author is a former practitioner of Hindu, Tibetan Buddhist, and Zen meditation for 14 years Mindfulness is Ubiquitous There is no way to avoid the incessant promotions of […]
The idea is that who you think you are is not actually who you are, but is a construct. This supposedly opens the way for one to be free and construct a “new you.” But this is a classic cult technique also found in New Age and other esoteric teachings. Keep in mind that Erhard, the founder of Landmark (originally est), had been involved in Scientology, one of the most quintessential cults in existence and masters at mind manipulation, as well as being influenced by Zen Buddhism.
Ezekiel had a “severe alteration of consciousness” when he had his vision in Ezekiel 8. This explains, according to Mackie, the alleged different views of reality Ezekiel and other biblical characters had, and their other “states of consciousness” (starting around 49 min.). This did not need to be spelled out to anyone when the Bible was written, claims Mackie, because they all “took it for granted.” I do not think there is evidence for this in the text; furthermore, I think that seeking such states as well as the belief in “different levels of reality” is contra God and the Bible. A forthcoming article will address this issue and attempt to explain why this is not compatible with Scripture.
Our reality, claims Mackie, is constructed from our experiences (starting around 50 min.) in which we develop “coping mechanisms” and so “what we experience as reality is a result of these shields we build up for years and years.” Whereas we take our dreams as fantasy and what happens during the day as reality, the biblical authors have “the opposite view,” asserts Mackie.
I have known that many New Age-friendly programs fly under the radar in the schools by coming through as part of SEL (Social Emotional Learning). This allows practices like Mindfulness […]