Eckhart Tolle is a fine spiritual teacher.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

She wouldn't be where she is if she lacked common sense. I can understand, though, how someone who was threatened by her would label her "easy to ignore."
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

If Oprah didn't believe them, she wouldn't be promoting them.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

There is nothing disturbing about the spiritual recommendations Oprah makes.
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

QuotelilsisPlease help me understand this. Any honest input is appreciated! My brother, who was a very successful member of the medical community, recently lost everything due to a drug addiction. He is now in a rehab center. His counselor at the rehab center got him involved in her "church". The conselor told my brother, who is at probably the most vulnerable time in h
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteTruthtestyTo the Forum: Can you recall a single time "The Colonel" submitted to you? To Thiemites just the idea seems absurd. That by itself is evidence. Truthtesty They play his old lesson tapes on our local radio station on Sunday mornings. I could never, never, never submit my consciousness to a totalitarian like him, with all due respect.
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuotelivinXsacrificeQuotelunaciI've been reading this forum for a while now and finally had the nerve (I 'spose) to post a question. My sophomore year of college I was involved with a group called Campus Crusade for Christ. It reminded me of the ICoC in a few ways in that they did not want you to be friends with anyone that wasn't in their religion or within the group itself.
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteRhonyThank you Mikko. I will continue to follow my heart, and as I do so I plan to give every religious community I am in every chance. I do not want to judge too harshly. Thank you for the words of wisdom that are helping me to get there. The situation with the children came to as positive a resolution as was possible in the very difficultd situation. One of the girls is now calling
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteRhonyThank you to everyone who responded. I need time to think about each response and digest it. I will read at least one of the books recommended - can't remember the name right now but will go back to the forum and get it and read it. Actually, most of this belief has been presented to me from a Course in Miracles class and not so much by the pastor at this point. It's h
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteRhonyHi. I recently began to attend a Unity Church. I can understand and believe a lot of what they think about positive thought. Positive thought is what brought me from some terrible situations I was born to to the life I always dreamed of - dreaming of this life I made is that positive thinking. So, when I found this church and heard everyone saying positive thought, I was like "
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteKastlefeerForgive my typo, this message board has no edit feature ... Just describe ME as an anti-thiest from here on out. Whatever you are, you seem like a nice and sincere person, and I enjoy my exchanges with you.
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteRhonyKastlefeer (hope I spelled that right) - thank you. That sounds like an interesting book and I may check it out. I like that the description recognizes that most people do think positively. That's a unique approach as many of the other books that have been recommended to me focus on the fact that people think negatively and should think positively. Thus, I think the uniqueness
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteFishbulbHi Rhony, Sounds like you have your head on straight and can think for yourself in spite of your church surroundings. I'd say go ahead and keep going if you like the people, keep thinking straight like you are, and you may eventually decide against going there anymore because you're on a different mental wavelength than they are. Or, you might stay on. Either way, kee
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteKastlefeerWhat kind of quality control is there on defining 'positive', 'negative', and the 'best' for everyone. I'm not sure what kind of empiricism you will ever find in a church, on oprah, or on talk radio for that matter. I understand or would assume most of us are painfully curious, are seeking anwers etc. A lot of people bank on that, pt barnum
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteRhonyHi. I recently began to attend a Unity Church. I can understand and believe a lot of what they think about positive thought. Positive thought is what brought me from some terrible situations I was born to to the life I always dreamed of - dreaming of this life I made is that positive thinking. So, when I found this church and heard everyone saying positive thought, I was like "
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteKastlefeerIf the mind treatment is not suggested to replace medical treatment, then why bother? If it's suggested to have some effect wouldn't the church goer find their belief in it displacing their desire to get medical treatment? You obviously don't understand the dynamics of prayer. Spiritual Mind Treatment is a form of prayer. The prayer would include the medical practi
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteKastlefeerOh yeah, and note in those passages it's all about if you only just believe hard enough and purely your problems will vanish you will be perfection. Or at least i do believe that is what is implied. If you were made to believe that I think you will be meeting with disaster as life is not that simple, nor does one's mind leverage anything beyond what your physical limbs ca
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteKastlefeerIn a society that grants 'religion' a free pass, common liberty and then held above the average citizen in a tax free status I find the notion that it's buyer beware providing for the average citizen to be a cavalier attitude. As you see the slow decay on the wall between church and state, or rather the rapid toppeling of that wall in the case of the US where in Cinc
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteTruthtestyTo Mikko, Here's what Dr. Wall had to say about Thieme's use of the label "corrected translation" From Dr. Wall's dissertation QuoteExegesis. Thieme defines exegesis as "the analysis of each verse within its context, emphasizing grammar, syntax and etymology of words from the original language" of Scripture.27 Utilizing his thorough training
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteTruthtestyTo Mikko, No, he did not. My advice to you, if you are interested in Thieme, is to read Lewis Sperry Chafer instead. Also, you should read the testimonials from this website. Truthtesty So what is the "corrected translation," and who wrote it?
Forum: Destructive Churches

Did Thieme invent the "corrected translation" he sometimes refers to? A radio station where I live plays his lessons, and I have heard him often read from what he calls the "corrected translation" of the Bible.
Forum: Destructive Churches

QuoteThe AnticultBasically every point being made by "Mikko" is contrary to the facts about Unity. For instance, Unity is based on the writings of the Fillmore's, which are the very definition of Magical Thinking, if not outright deception, fraud, and nonsense. The Fillmore's were business people out to make serious money, and appear to have fabricated their personal "he
Forum: Destructive Churches

Every time I read a post in which someone claims to have been "hurt" by Religious Science, Unity, or a similar group, I find myself thinking, "Let's place the blame where it belongs." Spiritual Mind Treatment, for example, is simply a method of prayer. That's all it is. It's not taught as magical thinking, and it's not intended to be a substitute for per
Forum: Destructive Churches

I must say that reading these posts makes me wonder if any of those proclaiming Unity a "destructive church" ever actually attended a Unity Church. Proclaiming the teachings of Unity "magical thinking" belies a complete and profound misunderstanding of the teachings of the Unity School of Christianity. I've been to many Unity Churches, and the greatest mistake they
Forum: Destructive Churches