I'm going to cut and past from an earlier post in just a second. With a new comment added that I learned from italagold earlier, which prompted me to say.....can we agree to disagree?
We all have different perspectives and situations and experiences that bring us to where we are today. Can we agree with that?
It's not that we don't understand the book. We do understand it, it is the way that the studies work to pull people from their religion ever so slightly that is bothersome. When they talk about the concepts in this book, they are referring to God. We do not all worship the same God. So you first need to consider your God and your religion before following ET's teachings.
I want to clarify a point that I feel is important. When looking at a religion, you must consider the basic framework someone is using. Different religions worship different Gods. Christians believe that there is one God. The Christian God is not the same God that the Muslims worship, or the Buddhist or Hindu. Our God came to the earth in the form of Jesus to live on earth and die on earth. By dying on the cross for us, as long as we believe in him, we will live in heaven. Trusting in Him and believing that he is the only way we feel that we can be forgiven for our sins and receive eternal life. This is the basic Christian view. If you do not believe this, it is offensive to you. Thus, the basis for different religions everyone thinks they are right. I believe that my beliefs are correct. Just as a Muslim believes their following Mohammad is correct. There is not point in arguing with us, because we will go round and round. But, as a Christian when I say that I believe Jesus is the only way- that means I am not accepting of another view point, because I truely believe Jesus is the only way. We are all ok to have our view. But I am not going to change my thinking for another. I wouldn't expect you to change your view without lots of talk and self examination.
Here is the issue: This book and all of the New Age teachings they are the first steps to pulling away from your religion, without realizing it.
I'd like to first give you some background:
This book and the "New Age" thinking is not new. I'd like to first explain what I mean by New Age. Most of this is recycled most recently from 20 years ago, it's just been updated and marketed in a new way. It's been around the world in various forms for thousands of years. All of the books Oprah uses--The Secret, The New Earth, A Course in Miracles are listed in the bookstores under New Age Religion, but it's not actually a religion. A quick web search describes the New Age Movement a being in a class by itself not listed under a religion, but it's pretty close. Unlike most formal religions, it has no holy text, central organization, membership, formal clergy, geographic center, dogma, creed, etc. The New Age is in fact a free-flowing spiritual movement; a network of believers and practitioners who share somewhat similar beliefs and practices. New Age thinking takes the best of each of the religions....and pulls it together, not focusing on one text or one way of thinking.
It is difficult to argue with many of the points of New Age thinking because some of them are derived from Christianity. Love one another, care for the earth, not worrying about tommorrow (being in the moment). It's good stuff, you can't argue with that. It makes it comfortable for alot of people because a lot of the beliefs are familiar.
The Secret, A Course in Miracles and A New Earth are all skimming the bests of many religions, therefore it connects with may different religions. Never before have this many people been exposed to this way of thinking. It's an opportunity for people to take a good hard look at themselves, where they are in life and what they are doing by the way they interact. It is wonderful that people are examining their religion and belief system so closely. The problem that we have is that this reaching so many people who haven't taken the time to connect to their own religion and they will be swayed to move to this area, which seems to fit them better. They've stepped away from their religion, which is their choice and their right. But they need to recognize that they are making a change. Tea plain, is different than tea with honey.
Now, here is where gets messy for everyone and why Christians are upset. Remember, we follow Christ. We follow the Bible and we believe that there will be a second coming of Jesus Christ.
The Bible has so many predictions which have all come true. There are still predictions still "pending." One of them being that Christ will return to earth to take his followers. Another prediction is that there will be a mass falling away from Christianity as we approach the end times. It even says that many of the Christians who move or fall away from Christianity won't EVEN REALIZE they are falling away from God.
Now let's think for a minute, if you are Satan, what's the best way to get someone off track? Do it gradually so they don't even know they are off. Some of that could possibly apply here. Because some of the teachings in ET's book are pulling Christians away very gradually. The Bible also mentions that the deceivers will speak in riddles...using a lot of play on words. Think for yourself about what a riddle is. ...you've got to stop and really think it through to get it. If you don't have the background knowlege you need (ie, strong faith, belief system) you can miss the point of the riddle and not even know it.
Let's use the following example:
Consider Oprah and her friend Elizabeth's explanation of how this does not interfere with religion. This is taken from the Oprah website: Oprah says books like A New Earth help readers connect to their spirits, souls, consciousness...or whatever you want to call it. Elizabeth says they also help answer questions like, "Who am I?" and "What's my purpose?"......I think they called it a "sweetener." A religion is what it is, it doesn't need anything added to it or changed. Trying to add to a religion or trying to make slight adjustments is the first step to pulling away from your faith. If your heart is not guarded, it's easy to by into that simplistic explanation. If you buy into that one, it'll make it easier to buy into to the next which might be a little further a way....next thing you know, you've taken 5 babysteps instead of one big step. You may never have considered the BIG step to begin with, but somehow the babysteps made it easier.
Here is another example:
As a christian, if I choose not to worry about tommorrow and focus on the day, the time I am in the now, I am doing what God wants, to be in the moment. So it's the same as what ET teaches? Being in the moment? Not exactly. Letting go of my ego, that's good right as a Christian? Yes, because I seek God's will to work in my life. God's will. My daily prayers are for God to work in my life as HE wants, I am giving up my ego, I am listening for the quiet still voice, the gentle stirring that guides my spirit to do God's will. How similar is that to the lessons that you are learning?
It is such a fine line, a gray area, we choose to stay clear because we don't want to be tempted to pull away.
Everyone is in a different place on their journey with their religion. Christians who study, pray and are more actively involved in their religion are more firm in their steps. Christians who rarely attend church, or attend a church and don't feel they are being feed, are more likely to be swayed. Oprah is promoting this.....is this her place? is she overstepping her responsibility? She too is being decieved and doesn't even realize it.
A lot of people claim the Christians are hypocritical. We are just human. We want to do the right thing, but we all have SIN in our nature, only God can free us from our sin. I can't free myself, I can't live perfectly. We've all seen people who state they are Christians say one thing and do another.....it makes Christianity look bad....but isn't it like that with so many other groups of people? It's like that with everything in life. We are not perfect.
I hope this helps.
