NEW BOOK - CONTEMPLATIVE MYSTICISM: A POWERFUL ECUMENICAL BOND
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Republished October 29, 2008 (first published August 19, 2008 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -
We are pleased to announce the publication of a new 482-page book entitled Contemplative Mysticism: A Powerful Ecumenical Bond.
Contemplative mysticism, which originated with Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox monasticism, is permeating every branch of Christianity today, including the Southern Baptist Convention.
We document the fact that Catholic mysticism leads inevitably to a broadminded ecumenical philosophy and to the adoption of heresies. For many, this path has led to interfaith dialogue, universalism, pantheism, panentheism, even goddess theology.
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK
I. What is Mysticism?
A Definition of Mysticism
The Taizè approach
II. Richard Foster: Evangelicalism’s Mystical Sparkplug
A look at the life and heresies of Richard Foster, the most influential evangelical mystic.
III. The Widespread Influence of Contemplative Mysticism
Mysticism is a powerful end-time ecumenical-interfaith glue!
Mysticism is found in all branches of the emerging church
Mysticism is spreading throughout evangelicalism
- Mennonite
- Southern Baptist Convention
- Rick Warren
- General Association of Regular Baptists
- Vineyard Fellowship
- Christian Rock Festivals
- Bill Hybels and Willow Creek
- Chuck Swindoll
- David Jeremiah
- Prairie Bible Institute
- Radio Bible Class
- Biola University
- Navigators
Mysticism is a focus of society in general
Mysticism permeates the New Age
IV. A Description of the Contemplative Practices
- Centering prayer
- Visualizing prayer
- Jesus Prayer
- Breath Prayer
- Lectio Divina
- Stations of the Cross
- The Mass
- The Labyrinth
V. A Description of Roman Catholic Monasticism
This chapter traces the history of Roman Catholic Monasticism. It looks at the “desert fathers” such as Paul of Thebes and Anthony the Great and the “church fathers” (Clement of Alexander, Origen, Jerome, Augustine, Dionysius the Areopagite). It also examines the ancient monastic rules that still govern the Catholic monastic orders.
VI. The Error of Catholic Monasticism
- Its False Gospel
- Its Rejection of the Bible as the Sole Authority
- Its Adoration of the Host of the Mass
- Its Veneration of Mary
- Its Idolatry
- Its Belief in Purgatory
- Its Rejection of Christ’s Great Commission
- Its Doctrine of Celibacy
- Its Attempt to Participate in Christ’s Atonement
- Its Search for Union with God
- Its Ascetism
- Its Practice of Mindless Meditation
- Its Moral Corruption
- Its Allegorical Interpretation of Scripture
VII. The Error of Contemplative Mysticism
Error # 1: It Downplays centrality of Bible in the Christian life
Error # 2: It is not found in the Bible
Error # 3: It ignores the Bible’s definition of faith
Error # 4: It ignores Jesus’ warning against vain repetition
Error # 5: It ignores the fact that multitudes of professing Christians are not born again
Error # 6: It exchanges the God of the Bible for a blind idol
Error # 7: It ignores the Bible’s warnings against associating with heresy and paganism
Error # 8: It does not encourage testing everything by Scripture
Error # 9: It downplays the danger of spiritual delusion
Error # 10: It produces rotten fruit
Error # 11: It is not necessary
VIII. A Biographical Catalog of Contemplative Mystics
This section looks at the lives and beliefs of 58 of the major figures in the contemplative movement. These include not only the current-day promoters but also the ancient “saints” and mystics that are being resurrected in the contemplative movement.
Angela of Foligno, Anthony the Great, Augustine, Benedict of Nursia, Bernard of Clairvaux, Ken Blanchard, Bonaventure, Brother Lawrence, Catherine of Genoa, Catherine of Siena, Larry Crabb, Anthony De Mello, Dominic, Meister Eckhart, Tilden Edwards, James Finely, Richard Foster, Matthew Fox, Frances de Sales, Francis of Assisi, Alan Griffiths, Madame Guyon, Hildegard of Bingen, Ignatius of Loyola, Willigis Jager, John of the Cross, William Johnston, Julian of Norwich, Thomas Keating, Morton Kelsey, Thomas a Kempis, Sue Monk Kidd, Peter Kreeft, John Main, Brennan Manning, Thomas Merton, J.P. Moreland, Henri Nouwen, Basil Pennington, Eugene Peterson, Karl Kahner, Thomas Ryan, William Shannon, Henri Le Saux, Philip St. Roman, David Steindl-Rast, Henry Suso, John Michael Talbot, Johann Tauler, Wayne Teasdale, Pierre Teilhard, Teresa of Avila, Teresa of Lisieux, Majorie Thompson, Phyllis Tickle, Robert Webber, Dallas Willard, John Yungblut
IX. Bibliography
X. Index
482 pages
Price $19.95
POSTAGE AND HANDLING
U.S.A.-CANADA--15% ($4.00 minimum)
FOREIGN--To be computed at the time of order
THIS BOOK CAN BE ORDERED BY PHONE, FAX, E-MAIL, OR POST. IT IS NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR ORDER VIA OUR WEB SITE.
Payment must accompany order.
RETURN POLICY: Please note that there is no refund available on the materials. Defective items may be returned for a replacement copy within 30 days of purchase.
PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US: We are a small church-based ministry. We do our very best to get the orders out quickly and efficiently, but we cannot provide the instant service that large commercial publishers offer. We, therefore, thank you beforehand for your patience and Christian grace. (If you need an order to be shipped by express post, we can usually provide this service at extra cost.)
Way of Life Literature
P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368
1-866-295-4143 (toll free - USA & Canada),
fbns@wayoflife.org (e-mail), http://www.wayoflife.org/ (web site)
Canada: Bethel Baptist Church, 4212 Campbell St. N., London, Ont. N6P 1A6
1-866-295-4143 (toll free), 519-652-2619 (voice), info@bethelbaptist.ca
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