The Core Beliefs of America's "Spiritual but Not Religious" Teachers
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The Core Beliefs of America's "Spiritual but Not Religious" Teachers
In his book Bad Religion, Ross Douthat examines the core beliefs of America's wave of "spiritual but not religious" teachers such as Deepak Chopra, James Redfield, Eckhart Tolle, Paulo Coelho, Neale Donald Walsch, Oprah Winfrey, and Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of Eat, Pray, Love). Douthat claims that their "creed" shares the following four beliefs:
1) All organized religions offer only partial glimpses of God (or Light ...
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Brint Keyes
A helpful summary.
Mark McCoy
While Rob Bell's book "Love Wins" seemed very careful not to actually set forth concrete doctrine, this commentary reminded me of what Bell's questions seemed to indicate.
Bruce Kochsmeier
Douthat describes the untruth in culture that is not only being passed off as truth, but being praised in opposition to what God has revealed in scripture. As a secular writer he is helping greatly point to the emptiness culture is embracing. He is saying "The emperor has no clothes" and he is pointing to the only covering there is, the garment of Christ's righteousness.
Gary Young
I agree with the previous comment (Nyland). Douthat is not promoting new age thinking so much as he is describing the spiritual climate of the contemporary times in which we live.He offers the description as a critique of the culture not an embrace of it. I just purchased the book to read after watching the author being interviewed.
Ian Nyland
Though I haven't read the book, I think Mr. Douthat is in disagreement with the four core beliefs listed here. He is calling for a return to "traditional Christianity", as stated in Christianity Today's review of his book. Mr. Beard, I respectfully think that you've misunderstood the thrust of the book.