Eckhart Tolle

[FireDragon76]

Years ago I read The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I was a non-churchgoer at the time. I really found the book very helpful. But most Christians I've encountered have dismissed his philosophy as New Age and "un-biblical", without seriously challenging it beyond appeals to biblical interpretations of their particular churches. Recently I came across some thoughts by Richard Rohr and Andrew Ryder that seemed to be engaging with Tolle's thought as Christians in a positive way:

Eckhart Tolle TV | Eckhart's Spirituality Compared To Christian Tradition http://www.theway.org.uk/ryder.pdf

 

[Colter]

Good read thanks

 

[FireDragon76]

Good read thanks

I think the thing about Tolle that bothers many conservative Christians really, is that he's offering an unmediated spiritual experience. This threatens their power over people. And yet, I think the idea that God's presence can be unmediated is attested to in the New Testament. Ditto for the claims he's a pantheist- its not like the Christian tradition denies the immanence of God, its just not an idea that fits well with the clericalism common both to Catholics and Protestants. So invariably we get the idol of the tribal God to worship, rather than an authentic spiritual experience.

That there are so many religious leaders that take issues with his teachings shows what's broken spiritually in the established Christian religion. Jesus had something to say about those sorts of leaders. He called them "the blind leading the blind".

 

[Colter]

I think the thing about Tolle that bothers many conservative Christians really, is that he's offering an unmediated spiritual experience. This threatens their power over people. And yet, I think the idea that God's presence can be unmediated is attested to in the New Testament. Ditto for the claims he's a pantheist- its not like the Christian tradition denies the immanence of God, its just not an idea that fits well with the clericalism common both to Catholics and Protestants. So invariably we get the idol of the tribal God to worship, rather than an authentic spiritual experience.

That there are so many religious leaders that take issues with his teachings shows what's broken spiritually in the established Christian religion. Jesus had something to say about those sorts of leaders. He called them "the blind leading the blind".

We, the world, the Christian religion, other religions, are all in a turbulent age of transition, the old fear based superstitious component of religion are no longer holding people. Religion itself may not understand why or that they will need to reform, or even what it is that they need to reform.

I've read Tolle, his central tenant of living intensely in the moment and critical thinking is fine, its not a threat to the original gospel of Jesus. But as a solitary practice devoid of submission of the will to God, he becomes an orphan, a teacher of a Godless philosophy of life, an exalted humanism. The tragedy is that if he would go but on step closer and acknowledge and embrace the pure spirit of the God within, then his meditative techniques would lead to real consciousness of salvation. "Be you perfect even as------> your Father in heaven is perfect." Tolle is all about self introspection as an end in itself, the religion of Jesus was about self forgetfulness, love and service to others, a dedication to doing the will of the Father as the central focus of life.

Christianity fears believers being drawn away by seductive teachings, however it fails to understand why it is loosing it's own appeal.

 

[FireDragon76]

But as a solitary practice devoid of submission of the will to God, he becomes an orphan, a teacher of a Godless philosophy of life, an exalted humanism.

A belief in a personal God just isn't critical to his spirituality. That's not to say he denies the existence of God, of course not. But I'm guessing he sees the personal God as a stepping stone to deeper realizations. Of course its a solitary practice, but again, he's mostly trying to reach people turned off by organized religion, authority, and hierarchy.

Tolle is all about self introspection as an end in itself, the religion of Jesus was about self forgetfulness, love and service to others, a dedication to doing the will of the Father as the central focus of life.

I think its more like Paul on Mars Hill. He taps into something many people find elusive, any sense of sacredness, and he finds a way to get in touch with that. That's a huge step.

Westerners are so used to just accepting the guilt narrative (probably owing to the teaching on Original Sin), its hard to think of any other kind of spirituality that isn't based around it, so I think even people like Rohr hesitate. The emphasis on love and service, that's something that Richard Rohr also emphasized as a perceived weakness with Tolle's teachings. But I think it's a potentially misguided concern. I really don't think people can be commanded or guilted into "loving your neighbor as yourself". On the other hand, teaching people to be happy and content without having to indulge what Tolle calls "the pain body" is hugely significant, and it echoes a teaching I've heard from some Buddhist teachers, when happiness is available for little or nothing, people just don't pursue lesser goods and cause suffering for others. A world where people don't go around hurting others carelessly is essential to love, indeed, Paul says this is the whole of Torah.

I've heard it said before by some liberal Christians, Buddhists are just more comfortable in their own skin. In my experience, being comfortable in your own skin is essential to being the kind of person that can genuinely love.

 

[Eudaimonist]

But as a solitary practice devoid of submission of the will to God, he becomes an orphan, a teacher of a Godless philosophy of life, an exalted humanism.

Seriously, that's your deal breaker?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Colter]

Seriously, that's your deal breaker?


eudaimonia,

Mark

Tolle's ideas are useful for those who seek God within but ultimately a dead end if one stops short of finding the true God. Atheist could surely benefit from the now practice for now.