Friday 19 February 2010

Spirituality : Christian mysticism

Global oneness (Experiencefestival.com), which aims to embrace all religions under the umbrella "mysticism", has divided mysticism into the following subcategories
Mysticism - Hindu mystics
Mysticism - Chinese mystics
Mysticism - Christian mystics
Mysticism - Islamic mystics
Mysticism - Jewish mystics
Mysticism - Other mystics
The site also elaborates on the role of the occult in mysticism.

PS: Although Traditional Islamic practices can not be reconciled directly with mysticism, the Islamic Mysticism movement is aimed at bringing about a greater alignment.

More about Cabbala (Jewish Mysticism)
The Wikipedia describes the Cabbala as follows: “Cabbala (Hebrew: ÷ÇáÈÌìÈäý, lit. "receiving") is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the mystical aspect of Judaism. It is a set of esoteric teachings that is meant to explain the relationship between an infinite, eternal and essentially unknowable Creator with the finite and mortal universe of His creation. In solving this paradox, Cabbala seeks to define the nature of the universe and the human being, the nature and purpose of existence, and various other ontological questions. It also presents methods to aid understanding of these concepts and to thereby attain spiritual realization. Cabbala originally developed entirely within the milieu of Jewish thought and constantly uses classical Jewish sources to explain and demonstrate its esoteric teachings. These teachings are thus held by cabalistics to define the inner meaning of both the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and traditional rabbinic literature, as well as to explain the significance of Jewish religious observances. “
The following description of the Cabbala is taken from the research done in the site “The Mystic Cabbala” : http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/occult/kabbalah.htm

"Cabbala teaches that God’s blessings flow to the world through the Tree of Life when there is ethical behavior among humans; evil actions disrupt the union of the sefirot [see also sephria] and empower demonic activity. God and humankind are interdependent.... Thus, we are 'co-creators with God Itself.'  "According to Cabbala, a person must metaphorically and spiritually ascend the 10 points of the Tree of Life to reunite with the Divine. As one increases his or her spiritual capabilities, one increases the capacity to contain more of the Light pouring down through these 10 emanations, and so draws nearer to the Creator....  Thus, the Tree of Life both symbolizes the Divine Being, and offers the way back for humans to be reunited with the source from whence he came. ] "Cabbala.......... is not about worship or belief, but rather 'becomes a direct path of communion between the individual and the Divine.' The Tree of Life and the sefirot have been used in New Age and occult teachings, and aligned with occult tools such as the Tarot. Indeed, the Cabbala has been a basis for Western occult teaching for several centuries, though it should be noted that many Cabalistic and traditional Cabalistic rabbis do not sanction such activity.

The Cabbala is Gnostic and has been the basis for Western occult teachings for several centuries! “Cabbala which can be spelled with a K, C or Q -- is an ancient form of Jewish mysticism, which was formalized at the end of the 12th Century. Having turned Biblical truth and history into occult myths and suggestions, it has evolved through the centuries -- blending with Gnosticism, theosophy and other occult mysteries -- usually behind closed doors and in secret societies”.

The Cabbala is linked with Tarot reading and the occult and is NOT Christian!
Taken from website: Cabbala Exposed!
"Cabbala is straight from hell!  The Freemason occult is based upon occult mysticism (a bunch of hodge-podge) from the Zohar.  Cabbala is a branch of Jewish mysticism, which is thought to have originated in the 13th century.  Its teachings come from an ancient 23-volume book called the Zohar, which offers interpretations of the inner meaning of the Torah.  Traditionally, its practices were reserved for a select number of Jewish scholars who already had an advanced understanding of Jewish law, but for the past 500 years it has been followed more widely.  Cabbala WILL take you away from Jesus Christ.  Jesus was NO follower of the Cabbala!  John 14:2 clearly reveals that Jesus said what He meant, and meant what He said.  Jesus wasn't into mysticism, "...if it were not so, I would have told you."  The Word of God is straightforward.  The FACT that occult groups worldwide cherish the Cabbala should speak volumes to anyone who may consider it a holy book, it is NOT! Cabbala promises many things to help out your life, by taking away grief, pain, misery, worries, and much more.  On the contrary, the Word of God promises us persecution if we live godly in Christ..."

"Cabalism should be suspect for drawing attention to ones own "spirituality" rather than drawing attention to and glorifying Jesus Christ (God Almighty).  As Isaiah 64:6 declares, "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."  Cabalistic mysticism is the basis for Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, the Illuminati, Knights Templar, and many other occult organizations.  Their holy book is the Zohar.  "Spell oils and incense blends produced according to Cabbala" is the advertisement on this witchcraft website. .."

For more about the Cabbala refer to Kingdom of the Cults, rev. and updated ed. - Edited By: Ravi Zacharias By: Walter Martin - Christianbook.com

More about Christian mysticism
As on 14 Sept 2009 Wikipedia includes under the category “Christian” mysticism both prophets and biblical teachers promoting true Christianity (such as AW Tozer) as well as those who are involved in the occult and promotes a false gospel (Such as E Swedenborg and Jakob Lorber). There seems to be no discernment between what is truly from God and what is of the occult. As long as somebody claims to be “spiritual” or seems to be “spiritual” and calls themselves “Christian”, they seem to be boxed in the same category. Even the Apostle Paul is clarified as a Christian mystics along with false prophets such as Jakob Lorber, who proclaims completely different gospels. The message of the apostle Paul is often twisted by Gnostics to fit in with their perspective, but with no consideration to the holistic message of the bible nor the holistic message of Paul.
Some Christian mysticism, as is associated with the Quakers, encourages believers to become passive in will, as to yield their will to the Holy Spirit.


More about Other mysticism
The New Emerging Church
See how the “New Emerging Church” is now taking hands with the Islamic faith on the report as included in the link http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=107816
Leaders of the "emergent church" movement within evangelical Christianity are "observing" the Muslim month of Ramadan, writes author [Joel Richardson.]
 
"This year, a group of "Emergent Christians," led by one of the United States' most influential pastors, Brian McLaren have announced they will actually be 'observing' the Muslim holy month, along with a Muslim 'partner,'" writes Joel..."Ramadan is the month that Muslims thank Allah, their god, for revealing the Quran to Muhammad, their prophet. On McLaren's personal blog, he recently announced his intentions: 'We, as Christians, humbly seek to join Muslims in this observance of Ramadan as a God-honoring expression of peace, fellowship, and neighborliness.'"
Richardson questions whether such an "observance" is actually tantamount to an endorsement of Islam.

He points out: "Every year, during the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, the Muslim world celebrates a month long fast known as Ramadan. The timing of the fast in the month of Sha'aban is specifically intended to commemorate the month in which the Quran was 'sent down' or 'revealed' to Muhammad. During Ramadan, Muslims will abstain from smoking or drinking, from sex or sexual thoughts and eating during the daylight hours. Muslims also believe that good deeds done during Ramadan will be doubly credited before Allah."
 Richardson adds that McLaren is not fasting for the salvation of his Muslim friends.

"Instead he is seeking through the practice of this Islamic ritual to promote 'the common good, together with people of other faith traditions,'" he writes.


Oprah Winfrey's church
It could also be classified as “mysticism”, as illustrated by the following videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MpkYzvnCRM


Oprah's new series "The new earth" seems perfectly aligned with the New world order, and the project of Global Oneness Commitment.

Mark 12:24 “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?”

What men turn to is more important than what they turn from, even if that to which they turn is only a higher moral truth; but to turn to Christ is far more important than to turn to higher moral truth: it is to turn the face towards Him in whom is all moral truth; it is to turn to Him in whom is not only the virtue which corresponds to the known vice from which the penitent wishes to flee, but all virtue; it is to turn the face to all holiness, all purity, all grace. It was this repentance which the apostles preached after Pentecost. ... Roland Allen, Pentecost and the World ...A.W. Tozer
Other groups that operates within Darkness
The proclaims another gospel to the biblical Gospel of the apostle Paul and operate from under the law of sin and death, not the law of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2):

Jehovah's witnesses
Christian Science
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons)
Buddhism
Bahai Faith
Unitarian Universalism
Scientology
The Unification Church
Islam
Rosicrucianism
Swedenborgianism

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