Resources on Spiritual Formation and related topics
Resources on Spiritual Formation and related topics
"If you don't know what they believe,
then how will you know where they are trying to lead you?"
DFT
A "Christian" website explained that their theology professor instructed them to "tame the 'Monkey Mind'". What is that? Is that a Biblical practice?
Mindfulness: Taming the Monkey Mind (CANA)
A former New Age practitioner explains non-biblical practices
Out of Your Mind: Meditation and Visualization (CANA)
Meditation - Negative Effects (guarding his flock)
Research on Meditation Effects (cheetah house.org)
https://www.cheetahhouse.org/bibliography
1. MINDFULNESS - The Limits of Mindfulness, Psychology Today, August 2021
The author concludes the article with: “Britton’s (2019) review article provides an important reminder that we must not dispense with critical thinking when practicing mindfulness or researching its effects. In my own clinical work, and my work training students who want to use mindfulness personally and in their psychotherapy practice, I now integrate this knowledge into my introductory lessons. It is only when we have a more complete view of mindfulness—the good, bad, and perhaps ugly—that we can also be more confident in when and how to practice, teach, or recommend it.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blo
1. DEBATE: The inevitable decline of mindfulness, Miguel Farias, First published: 02 October 2022
https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/camh.12600
g/lifespan-perspectives/202108/the-limits-mindfulness
Chant enables mystical states
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7828722/
The Mindfulness Conspiracy
Has the science of mindfulness lost its mind?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5353526/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/mindfulness-can-be-harmful-researchers-say-5186740
DFT: Another publication presenting Briton’s research. New comment from Briton regarding under-reported nature of harmful effects: "People don't want to tell you that they were harmed by your treatment. They'd rather lie," Britton says. "And the therapist doesn't want to hear it. The researcher doesn't want to hear it. Pretty much no one wants to talk about it." That silence, she adds, can have real-life consequences, such as perpetuating harm, and leaving individuals confused on how or where to get treatment. Briton’s study was published in May 2021 in Clinical Psychological Science. Notes that duration is a risk factor for "unpleasant" meditation experiences has been previously reported in people who go on retreats, where meditation is done 12 to 15 hours a day.
Prayer in the Spiritual Formation arena differs from that which most modern Christians are familiar with. * How is it different? * Why the change? * When was it first introduced? * Why the resurgence? * Who is promoting it? * What are the core beliefs of its promoters? * Why should I be concerned about their core beliefs? * What is a breath prayer? What is centering prayer? What is contemplative prayer?
Benedictine option vs Scripture Alone
Breath Prayer - Is it Biblical? (LHT)
Bilblical vs Contemplative Prayer
The Origin of Contemplative/Centering Prayer
Unbiblical Teachings on Prayer and Experiencing God
Contemplative Prayer - Is it Really Prayer? (Pt 1-CANA)
Does Contemplative prayer connect one to God?
Examining Contemplative Prayer (Douglas Groothuis and Sarah Geis)
Contemplatives say that if it's not "positive" it's not God's voice. Is that valid? Richard Foster describes meditating to converse with and see Christ, and leave your physical body.
Who Goes There? - Discerning God's Voice (DeBruyn)
Personal Words from God - - Can We Become False Prophets Unto Ourselves? (CIC)
Spiritual Formation introduces new terminology, that is important to define, as it is slipped into sermons undetected, by the uninformed. New Age terms have slipped into modern Bible Translations.
Spiritual Formation promoters lure their followers with the promise of "hearing God speak to them", if they enter The Presence, Solitude, or use specific techniques for Bible Reading, called Divine Reading or Lectio Divina.
* Are they really hearing God's Voice? * How do they know? * Are there any dangers in these practices?
The Terminology Trap of Spiritual Formation (apprising ministries)
What Links Breath Prayers, "Practicing the Presence" and Yoga? (standupfortruth)
Why Evangelicals Are Returning to Rome (cicministry)
The Bible and Lection Divina: A Helpful Tool or a Dangerous Practice? (The Masters Seminary Blog)
Scriptures which are frequently mis-used or taken out of their original context to promote Spiritual Formation Practices.
Ps 46:10 - Entering the "Silence"? (CANA)
Ps 46:10 - Does it teach Centering/Contemplative Prayer? (Silva)
2 Peter 1:4 - Participating in the "divine nature"
Ps 62:1 - is this verse teaching supporting the 'silence' of contemplative prayer?
Mysticism is a much-used, but poorly understood term
If the great Apostle Paul was not into "Spiritual Formation" as it is being promoted today, why should we be following its practices?
Was the Apostle Paul a Mystic?
Contemporary Christian Divination - The False Claims and Practices of Christian Mystics
The Enneagram has be advertised as "Christian". Resources here will evaluate those claims, uncover its origin, and describe spiritual practices used in its implementation.
The Enneagram GPS: The Gnostic Path to Self - Christian Answers for the New Age (CANA)
The Enneagram and a Heretic's Christ - Dr Doug Groothuis (Video)
Enneagram - Pagan Mysticism Promoted as Christian Growth (cicministry.org)
(See the Audio section also)
* How do we detect harmful Spiritual Formation teachings, when those who rave about the practices make them sound so beneficial? * Aren't things like solitude with God a good thing? * How do I break down the arguments of those who promote Spiritual Formation? * Where will following the practices lead me, over time?
Coming soon - example lessons and the Biblical response
An evangelical viewpoint
From a former New Age practitioner; succinct and a variety of topics
Christian Answers For The New Age
Multiple Resources; A leader in the movement to expose Spiritual Formation
Excellent Bible Exegesis; articles and audio
Many Enneagram Resources
See the downloadable Reading List pdf for an extensive listing
Excellent in-depth research on The Practices of SF
A Time of Departing, Ray Yungen, Lighthouse Trails Publishing
The Emerging Church, SF and evaluation of related teachers, Ch 6 is powerful
Faith Undone, Roger Oakland, Lighthouse Trails Publishing
Includes a good historical context of the SF movement
Out of Formation, Dr. Gary E. Gilly, EP Books
Former New Ager
Running Against The Wind, Brian Flynn, Lighthouse Trails Publishing
In-depth and thoroughly referenced. Describes the revised from of Gnosticism that is permeating modern Christianity
Crept In Unawares - Mysticism, Heath Henning, Truthwatchers Publications
The author did his doctoral research on the Enneagram. See an interview with the author in the video below for excellent answers to popular viewpoints of Enneagram proponents.
The New Age Trojan Horse - What Christians should know about Yoga and the Enneagram, Christopher Berg, Ph. D.