SPIRITUALITY, OLD LIE
April 17, 2010
Given the genius of modern cinematography and unmatched access to cutting-edge technology, deceptive spirituality packs a wallop never before possible. This was demonstrated by the 20th Century Fox production, Avatar, which out-grossed even Hollywood’s blockbuster of all time, the Titanic.
Briefly, Avatar (roughly meaning incarnation) is a futuristic, body-snatching saga in which enlightened humanoids, animals and vegetation experience spiritual “bonding” or “connecting.” Mystically-minded enthusiasts with utopian fantasies promote what clearly is science fiction to the presumably more reputable rank of “science.”
Seduction of the “Sciences”
In general, science is systematized knowledge. Because many perceive knowledge to be sexy, cults of esoteric knowledge are hugely popular today—e.g., neo-Gnosticism, knowledge of transcendence arrived at intuitively. Literally, agnosticism is to be without said gnosis (knowledge).
• The Noetic Sciences
The word “noetic” has no precise English equivalent; however, it refers to "inner knowing," a kind of intuitive consciousness. To the illumined Freemason, for example, rediscovering “the Lost Word” is to possess knowledge of the divine self, or Christ-state. Moreover, it is to wield “the key of the phenomena of nature,” the concept for which is classic witchcraft. Those persuaded that exclusive, esoteric knowledge, exceptional talents and aptitude guarantee their right to rule over less illumined counterparts serve as custodians of a divine cosmic plan.
• Science of the Whole: Philosophy
Psychology Professor Jean Twenge has coined the term “iGeneration”—“i” as in iPod, yes, but also “I” as in “me, me, ME.” Speaking of which, in “the science of the whole,” better known as philosophy, solipsism maintains that “the self” is the only thing known to exist; everything else merely reflects one’s own consciousness.
Neo-pantheists discover this “self” through renewed relationship with the planet. No doubt Avatar is the latest, greatest poster child for Cosmic Humanism. Upon passing, a character played by Sigourney Weaver joins the “Divine Her” (goddess Mother-Earth) and, in the process, convincingly testifies that Gaia truly is “real.”
Prominent educator, globalist and occultist Dr. Robert Muller apparently agrees. He defines that self as “the earth having become conscious of herself.” This being the case, modern man is charged with moral responsibility to embrace a heightened ecological consciousness enforced by draconian laws designed to preserve biodiversity.
In April of 1986, Professor Rudolph Krejci first coined the term “Panetics” which offers a new, broadly endorsed approach to research, policy making, analysis and management. Its fundamental principles were first advanced by Ralph G. H. Siu.
Yet another synthesis of East-meets-West, Panetics is an evolving, panethical search for ways to reduce human suffering and victimization through governments, institutions, social groups and the professions. Meaning "to suffer" in the ancient language of Buddha, the dukkha is a quantitative unit used by Siu to measure suffering.
In Avatar, a paraplegic war veteran, Marine Corporal Jack Sully, gets a fresh start as an avatar in a distant world. He finds Pandora inhabited by the Na'vi whose alien inhabitants and arcane culture beguile him. In the face of military action spurred by corporate greed, Sully “gets religion”; once this blue-hued avatar goes Green, Sully’s empowered to save Pandora from suffering and victimization much the same way that eco-warriors of Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and their ilk commit to putting Earth First! (parent organization from which ELF evolved).
The Seduction of “Possibilities”
Best known as father of progressive education, John Dewey was a Marxist Fabian-Socialist whose obsession with inquiry learning toppled the overpowering Protestant character of the early public schools. After Dewey’s death, an esteemed social engineer and futurist, also a transformational Marxist, Dr. Benjamin Bloom introduced mastery learning. Bloom’s famed taxonomy of educational objectives are at the heart of today’s educational restructuring efforts.
Whereas the former, an avowed atheist, epitomized secular humanism, the latter leaned more toward humanism’s cosmic counterpart. To Bloom, the purpose of education is “to change the thoughts, feelings and actions of students.” Simply put, good teachers are ones who destroy fixed beliefs. Indeed, Bloom regarded moral relativism as the highest possible cognitive goal.
In but a few decades, America’s public education system has morphed from no spirituality (Dewey) to new spirituality. Enter, Dr. Robert Carkhuff. What is now dubbed “dysfunctional” traditional math gives way to “constructivist learning,” requiring students—not to solve a problem with the correct answer—but rather to use their “team voices” to “think about mathematics” and how it makes them feel. In The Possibilities Mind (HRD Press 2000), Carkhuff identifies “god” as “the possibilities mind” that co-processes with us to illuminate his mysteries.
Dr. Carkhuff poses a similarly troublesome new science of possibilities. His utopian brave new world of infinite possibilities is achieved by the Links Project that demeans facts and fixed beliefs as “cumbersome anchors” that “block the dialectic process,” otherwise known as “group think.” Carkhuff’s school of the future is a place where children and adults together “follow their bliss”—reminiscent, perhaps, of Paradise Pandora?
The Seduction of Spiritual Experience
Seeking ever deeper revelation, mystics are drawn to tangible, supernatural experiences that become ends in and of themselves and thereby take the place of God.
Tens of thousands of copies have been circulated of a video tutorial created by Marsha Wenig of Michigan City, Indiana. Techniques within her Yoga Kids video and adult certification program (to teach yoga to children) have captivated young moms everywhere. Many rush to their local bookstores to snatch up Yoga Baby and I Can’t Believe It’s Yoga for Kids.
The term “yoga” means “union with Brahma,” allegedly the divine spirit of the universe. Virtually all standard yoga texts link psychic powers and other occult abilities with yoga practice. In giving way to one’s true divine nature, the goal for hardcore mystics is occult enlightenment accomplished by controlling vital energy in the act of breathing. Meditative practices associated with yoga feature mental passivity and mantra meditation, both of which attract spiritually-minded Christians who tend to be long on experience, but short on doctrine.
• The Indigo (Chrystal) Child Phenomenon
Today, many children are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Labels as these imply imperfection. It’s no wonder that parents readily fork over big bucks when told, to the contrary, that the bluish hue of their child’s aura signals mental superiority, coupled with psychic ability. Not some defect.
Indigos are said to be highly evolved, uniquely gifted youngsters whose mission is to teach their elders and, thus, ensure planetary transformation into a golden era of peace and brotherhood. Ascending to “Christhood” through multiple, upward mobility reincarnations is no more clearly evident than in the phenomenon of the Indigo (or Crystal) Child. Because they’re so “advanced” and alert to “better ways” of doing things, Indigo Kids aren’t inclined to obey, wait in line, or participate in ritually-oriented systems.
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Today’s new spirituality is downright seductive. Forget the apostle Paul’s lament, “wretched man that I am!” Instead, neo-pantheists claim the bluish hue of mental superiority and “inner knowing.” In exercising “the possibilities mind” of God Himself, highly evolved adepts self-qualify as custodians over humanity’s spiritual progress. They free captives of “cumbersome anchors” imposed by biblical mandate and Western civilization. In so doing, however, these fall into an insidious trap of “strong delusion.”
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