Comments on: An Old Religion Revisited: A Response to Eckhart Tolle http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/ life :: theology :: church :: ministry :: missions :: worship Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:40:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rob Ayers http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10344 Rob Ayers Fri, 30 May 2008 00:32:41 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10344 My this is an old post to comment on. Every once in a while I will look at the stats though and find that a lot of people read and look at it. That is gratifying to know. Estelle: Personal testimonies are great! I tell a lot of people about Couton's Steak house. The mayor even has written an article claiming he felt better about his numerous surgeries after having a ribeye at Coulton's. Now, what can be truthfully said about that steakhouse? The mayor probably liked steak in the first place - his favorite meal I am sure tasted better after hospital food. But does everybody like steak? Probably not. I noticed that you did not engage me in the facts I reiterated, merely desiring to share your feelings with me. That's okay - I have feelings too. But it says nothing about the truthfulness of Oprah, Tolle, and Taylor, or if what they are sharing is TRUTH. Like every truth claim, it must be verified, not by feelings, but by reasonableness. Does it fit the facts obtained by our senses and reason? Is it true that the world we see really does not exist? On what basis do you believe this (for this is what Tolle believes)? Or is it merely a subjective feelng, like my good friend the mayor who believes steak is good for everybody? The TRUTH claims of Christianity is described universally for all people, not just for Christians. It is with this you must wrestle. A lot of times TRUTH is not popular, or nice. It just is - as He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life - No one comes to the Father except through me." If you are relying upon the "peace within" you will not find the peace you seek - trouble will always erupt.That is why I rely on the Prince of Peace to bring me peace, rather than me, myself, and I. I noticed that you did not "thank God" for the help of Tolle, Oprah, and Taylor - which makes you a very honest person. Brett, Since Tolle comes from a truly Eastern position, using only Christian terms in order to contextualize his message I would disagree with you. I am not the only one who holds my position in that this link will lead you to a very great article on the subject <a href="http://prolepticlife.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/eckhart-tolle-a-new-earth-and-an-old-idea/" rel="nofollow">http://prolepticlife.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/eckhart-tolle-a-new-earth-and-an-old-idea/</a> But there is merely a thimbles full of difference between the two. Maybe some day I will look into Olsteen's works. Thank you Selah for your great input. Rob My this is an old post to comment on. Every once in a while I will look at the stats though and find that a lot of people read and look at it. That is gratifying to know.

Estelle:

Personal testimonies are great! I tell a lot of people about Couton’s Steak house. The mayor even has written an article claiming he felt better about his numerous surgeries after having a ribeye at Coulton’s. Now, what can be truthfully said about that steakhouse? The mayor probably liked steak in the first place – his favorite meal I am sure tasted better after hospital food. But does everybody like steak? Probably not.

I noticed that you did not engage me in the facts I reiterated, merely desiring to share your feelings with me. That’s okay – I have feelings too. But it says nothing about the truthfulness of Oprah, Tolle, and Taylor, or if what they are sharing is TRUTH. Like every truth claim, it must be verified, not by feelings, but by reasonableness. Does it fit the facts obtained by our senses and reason? Is it true that the world we see really does not exist? On what basis do you believe this (for this is what Tolle believes)? Or is it merely a subjective feelng, like my good friend the mayor who believes steak is good for everybody? The TRUTH claims of Christianity is described universally for all people, not just for Christians. It is with this you must wrestle. A lot of times TRUTH is not popular, or nice. It just is – as He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life – No one comes to the Father except through me.” If you are relying upon the “peace within” you will not find the peace you seek – trouble will always erupt.That is why I rely on the Prince of Peace to bring me peace, rather than me, myself, and I. I noticed that you did not “thank God” for the help of Tolle, Oprah, and Taylor – which makes you a very honest person.

Brett,

Since Tolle comes from a truly Eastern position, using only Christian terms in order to contextualize his message I would disagree with you. I am not the only one who holds my position in that this link will lead you to a very great article on the subject http://prolepticlife.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/eckhart-tolle-a-new-earth-and-an-old-idea/ But there is merely a thimbles full of difference between the two. Maybe some day I will look into Olsteen’s works.

Thank you Selah for your great input.

Rob

]]> By: Brett http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10343 Brett Thu, 29 May 2008 16:05:20 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10343 Rob, Well I would disagree with you in the fact that his book is more Gnosticism than Hinduism. Although you could make a good argument that Gnostic Christiantiy has influences from Hinduism. I am always fearful of anything "spiritual" Oprah endorses having heard her speak against Christianity. I think if you want to be controversial you need to do a book review of one of Joel Olsteen's latest creations of pop psychology mixed with new age self help and a bible verse thrown in here or there. What Christian audiences let slip past them never ceases to amaze me. I was sitting in a Christian book store waiting on my wife and they had a children's video on. The lesson for the day was "God helps those who help themselves." My jaw dropped! How did Ben Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanac" make it into biblical teaching. Rob,

Well I would disagree with you in the fact that his book is more Gnosticism than Hinduism. Although you could make a good argument that Gnostic Christiantiy has influences from Hinduism. I am always fearful of anything “spiritual” Oprah endorses having heard her speak against Christianity.

I think if you want to be controversial you need to do a book review of one of Joel Olsteen’s latest creations of pop psychology mixed with new age self help and a bible verse thrown in here or there.

What Christian audiences let slip past them never ceases to amaze me. I was sitting in a Christian book store waiting on my wife and they had a children’s video on. The lesson for the day was “God helps those who help themselves.” My jaw dropped! How did Ben Franklin’s “Poor Richard’s Almanac” make it into biblical teaching.

]]> By: SelahV http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10342 SelahV Thu, 29 May 2008 14:03:02 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10342 "My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt HIS name together." Psalm 34:2,3. I'm glad I got turned on to the Word of God. In this book is all I need to live a peace-filled, joy-filled life. selahV “My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt HIS name together.” Psalm 34:2,3.

I’m glad I got turned on to the Word of God. In this book is all I need to live a peace-filled, joy-filled life. selahV

]]> By: Estelle http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10341 Estelle Thu, 29 May 2008 08:17:44 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10341 I am so greatful to Eckhart Tolle and Oprah for turning me onto Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her beautiful book ""My Stroke of Insight"". Her story is amazing and her gift to all of us is a book purchase away I'm happy to say. Dr Taylor was a Harvard brain scientist when she had a stroke at age 37. What was amazing was that her left brain was shut down by the stroke - where language and thinking occur - but her right brain was fully functioning. She experienced bliss and nirvana and the way she writes about it (or talks about it in her now famous TED talk) is incredible. What I took away from Dr. Taylor's book above all, and why I recommend it so highly, is that you don't have to have a stroke or take drugs to find the deep inner peace that she talks about. Her book explains how. ""I want what she's having"", and thanks to this wonderful book, I can! Thank you Dr. Taylor, and thank you Eckhart and Oprah. I am so greatful to Eckhart Tolle and Oprah for turning me onto Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her beautiful book “”My Stroke of Insight”". Her story is amazing and her gift to all of us is a book purchase away I’m happy to say.

Dr Taylor was a Harvard brain scientist when she had a stroke at age 37. What was amazing was that her left brain was shut down by the stroke – where language and thinking occur – but her right brain was fully functioning. She experienced bliss and nirvana and the way she writes about it (or talks about it in her now famous TED talk) is incredible.

What I took away from Dr. Taylor’s book above all, and why I recommend it so highly, is that you don’t have to have a stroke or take drugs to find the deep inner peace that she talks about. Her book explains how. “”I want what she’s having”", and thanks to this wonderful book, I can! Thank you Dr. Taylor, and thank you Eckhart and Oprah.

]]> By: The Fearful Teacher » Archives » What is Your Faith In? http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10340 The Fearful Teacher » Archives » What is Your Faith In? Fri, 16 May 2008 14:51:28 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10340 [...] 3. The religious believe that having faith - any faith - will make one worthy of God’s blessings, including heaven. Religious works are considered “moral” in that the end result is to please God or the gods. In fact, there are some who claim that having faith in anything is deemed worthy of the One God who goes by many names (Allah, Krishna, Jehovah, Buddah, etc.). Yet this is merely a misunderstanding of what faith is. Faith is the rope that a climber throws down the mountainside to scale it. He selects what the rope is tied to with great care, for that anchor will have to hold his weight and not slide as he goes up and down the mountainside. Not anything will do - only what is “true” will protect that climber in his journey. Faith is only as good as what it is anchored to. “Truth” is what makes “faith” matter, not what is “false.” All the religious are doing anyway is “believing” in something and working around that belief, hoping that what they do in their belief will be good enough. There are some who literally believe that they are a god themselves, so their act of religious works (meditation, denial, or right belief) will connect them with the “god within” leading to cosmic consciousness and transcendence (see my article at SBCImpact! for an example of this belief system). [...] [...] 3. The religious believe that having faith – any faith – will make one worthy of God’s blessings, including heaven. Religious works are considered “moral” in that the end result is to please God or the gods. In fact, there are some who claim that having faith in anything is deemed worthy of the One God who goes by many names (Allah, Krishna, Jehovah, Buddah, etc.). Yet this is merely a misunderstanding of what faith is. Faith is the rope that a climber throws down the mountainside to scale it. He selects what the rope is tied to with great care, for that anchor will have to hold his weight and not slide as he goes up and down the mountainside. Not anything will do – only what is “true” will protect that climber in his journey. Faith is only as good as what it is anchored to. “Truth” is what makes “faith” matter, not what is “false.” All the religious are doing anyway is “believing” in something and working around that belief, hoping that what they do in their belief will be good enough. There are some who literally believe that they are a god themselves, so their act of religious works (meditation, denial, or right belief) will connect them with the “god within” leading to cosmic consciousness and transcendence (see my article at SBCImpact! for an example of this belief system). [...]

]]> By: What is Your Faith In? « The Fearful Teacher http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10339 What is Your Faith In? « The Fearful Teacher Thu, 08 May 2008 19:51:55 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10339 [...] 3. The religious believe that having faith - any faith - will make one worthy of God’s blessings, including heaven. Religious works are considered “moral” in that the end result is to please God or the gods. In fact, there are some who claim that having faith in anything is deemed worthy of the One God who goes by many names (Allah, Krishna, Jehovah, Buddah, etc.). Yet this is merely a misunderstanding of what faith is. Faith is the rope that a climber throws down the mountainside to scale it. He selects what the rope is tied to with great care, for that anchor will have to hold his weight and not slide as he goes up and down the mountainside. Not anything will do - only what is “true” will protect that climber in his journey. Faith is only as good as what it is anchored to. “Truth” is what makes “faith” matter, not what is “false.” All the religious are doing anyway is “believing” in something and working around that belief, hoping that what they do in their belief will be good enough. There are some who literally believe that they are a god themselves, so their act of religious works (meditation, denial, or right belief) will connect them with the “god within” leading to cosmic consciousness and transcendence (see my article at SBCImpact! for an example of this belief system). [...] [...] 3. The religious believe that having faith – any faith – will make one worthy of God’s blessings, including heaven. Religious works are considered “moral” in that the end result is to please God or the gods. In fact, there are some who claim that having faith in anything is deemed worthy of the One God who goes by many names (Allah, Krishna, Jehovah, Buddah, etc.). Yet this is merely a misunderstanding of what faith is. Faith is the rope that a climber throws down the mountainside to scale it. He selects what the rope is tied to with great care, for that anchor will have to hold his weight and not slide as he goes up and down the mountainside. Not anything will do – only what is “true” will protect that climber in his journey. Faith is only as good as what it is anchored to. “Truth” is what makes “faith” matter, not what is “false.” All the religious are doing anyway is “believing” in something and working around that belief, hoping that what they do in their belief will be good enough. There are some who literally believe that they are a god themselves, so their act of religious works (meditation, denial, or right belief) will connect them with the “god within” leading to cosmic consciousness and transcendence (see my article at SBCImpact! for an example of this belief system). [...]

]]> By: Rob Ayers http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10338 Rob Ayers Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:35:07 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10338 Thank you Les, Selah. I am somewhat discouraged by the response to this post. I am guessing if I had posted something controversial that would fan the flames of the current Baptist battle, I would have received a rapid and rabid response. How I pray for the day that we would be more interested in taking the battle to the enemy rather than one another. God is the deliverer and the redeemer, and I will trust in him. Rob Thank you Les, Selah. I am somewhat discouraged by the response to this post. I am guessing if I had posted something controversial that would fan the flames of the current Baptist battle, I would have received a rapid and rabid response. How I pray for the day that we would be more interested in taking the battle to the enemy rather than one another. God is the deliverer and the redeemer, and I will trust in him.

Rob

]]> By: SelahV http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10337 SelahV Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:46:32 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10337 Rob, and the scariest part is how Oprah is spearheading the charge for this man to do what he is doing. Isn't it great that our Lord knew this was going to happen and has provided we Christians Himself to stand against the wiles of satanic influence? Victory in Jesus...praise God, praise God we have nothing to fear. I shall pray for you as you are met with the demons of hell when you challenge this work in the public arena my brother. selahV Rob, and the scariest part is how Oprah is spearheading the charge for this man to do what he is doing. Isn’t it great that our Lord knew this was going to happen and has provided we Christians Himself to stand against the wiles of satanic influence? Victory in Jesus…praise God, praise God we have nothing to fear. I shall pray for you as you are met with the demons of hell when you challenge this work in the public arena my brother. selahV

]]> By: Les Puryear http://sbcimpact.org/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10336 Les Puryear Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:14:49 +0000 http://www.sbcimpact.net/2008/04/11/an-old-religion-revisited-a-response-to-eckhart-tolle/#comment-10336 Rob, Wow! Let me say it again. Wow! Your scholarship in this area is very impressive. Thank you for addressing the "nuts and bolts" of this book and subsequent movement by Oprah Winfrey. This is very scary stuff. Rob,

Wow! Let me say it again. Wow! Your scholarship in this area is very impressive. Thank you for addressing the “nuts and bolts” of this book and subsequent movement by Oprah Winfrey. This is very scary stuff.

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