Judging an organisation or event by its fruits and/or roots alone can lead one into a false conclusion. Bad roots can produce good fruit - ie: the Masonic Hospitals.
Given that our visit to Hillsong was in May 2005, I can't recall the Landmark terminology spoken by the pastor but at the time we definately noted it. The reason for its existence and the Pastor's exposure to a shared philosophy with Landmark is the question. There certainly seemed to be a direct link given the purity of the content preached. This link may be from the top or through individuals of the church taking the Landmark Forum. In Sydney which has an estimate of 5,000 Forum graduates per year, it is not unlikely that members of the church have done the Forum given that they come from the same socio-economic group that Landmark targets. A Catholic Church equi-distant from where I live and where Hillsong is located has had the misfortune of all its lay leaders being Landmark Forum Graduates so Hillsong would not necessarily be immune to Landmark infiltration.
However from my investigations so far which are shown below, there is already an indirect link through a shared philosophy and by association:
1. The attached link describes a connection in philosophy with Prosperity Gospel/Positive Confession/Postitive Mental Attitude and the New Age Movement's Human Potential Movement of which Landmark is a major player:- [
www.rapidnet.com]
2. The attached link is the "creed" of Hillsong - note the 3rd last statement stating its belief in Prosperity, consistant with the above link :- [
www2.hillsong.com] Navigating through the Hillsong site will further illustrate the belief and proclaimation of the Prosperity Gospel.
3. A former Paster of Hillsong, Pat Mesiti, (now a paster of Christian City Church (AoG) in Brookvale, Sydney, is on the motivational speaking circuit addressing audiences of MLM members. Promoters who sponsor him also sponsor Robert Kiyosaki & Blair Singer of Scientology and Money & You LGAT fame though the associated link seems to be through Multi Level Marketing:- [
www.asiamlm.com]
[
www.mlmaustralia.com.au]
[
secure1.ilisys.com.au]
4. Pat Mesiti's website is a little different to your average pastor's presentation :- [
mesiti.com] Dated 21 Feb 2006, the page shows: "UPCOMING EVENTS!
Pat's Wealth Creation Seminar
Tuesday Feb 21
7 30pm - 9pm
Hillsong Auditorium (HUB)
For tickets please click here[/color:15e9a820b9]
...Even though Mesiti was sacked from Hillsong as a Pastor for commiting Adultry back in 2002 :- Sydney Morning Herald: [
www.smh.com.au]
5. Finally, (or for now), the following link makes interesting reading as the writer refers to thought reform techniques used by Hillsong:- [
www.chaser.com.au]
Hmmm...
(I still like there music though...)
Oz