This article had two parts. The first part addresses the idea about the Bible being like a finger pointing to the sunset, which is similar to […]
This article has two parts. The first examines some of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers; the second part looks at the book by John Climacus, The Divine Ladder. […]
This article gives an overview of the background and teachings of the Contemplative movement, also known as Contemplative Spirituality, the Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, and mysticism.
The Ignatian Prayer of Examen is spreading through churches like a virus. Is the Examen a good practice? See whether there is a sound biblical basis for it.
What this adds up to is mysticism, and a mystical view is a natural result of contemplative practices that apparently have captivated Mackie. Mysticism is not a matter of transcending logic or thought; it is actually contra logic and thought. This is why all contemplative teachings downgrade the mind . It is always found in esoteric teachings that there is something profound beyond words and reason that one can experience – a hidden or secret experience and/or wisdom. This is exactly how I thought for over 20 years.
Mackie is planting not only the idea that gaining perception of “another reality” or a “super reality” is positive, but he is offering the means for it through the contemplative practices, which will alter perceptions over time.
The practice of Lectio Divina, or “sacred reading,” is a monastic practice that officially started in the 6th century and developed in the Middle Ages into a process of four […]
Are Christians aware of what John Mark Comer teaches in this book? If not, they need to be. Despite Comer’s avowal of not being an Open Theist, the god in this book is closer to Open Theism than to the true God of Scripture. Beware is the word for this book.
Dallas Willard (1935-2013) was a highly regarded pastor, professor, and Christian philosopher. His main influence has been on what I call Contemplative Spirituality. He partnered with Quaker Richard Foster […]
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.
These are people, practices, Bibles/Bible apps, and language related to Contemplative teachings listed here due to the increasing influence of the Contemplative Movement. Problems with this movement are multiple and […]