I did not read the book & I doubt that many on this board have - so I located a review that I will post here:

The Celestine Prophecy
James Redfield. Warner Books, New York, NY, 240 pages.
Reviewer: Joseph P. Szimhart
Book jackets can be interesting. The one on this book is plain with a white title and author copy on a midtone blue-green field. On the front is an endorsement by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross: "A fabulous book about experiencing life"”I couldn't put it down." On the back of the jacket in orange tone we read: "You have never read a book like this before.... A book that comes along once in a lifetime to change lives forever."

When Redfield first self-published his book, before the best-selling Warner edition, it had been a word-of-mouth sensation among New Age circles: the jacket says it was read by more than 100,000. Warner then offered Redfield a deal that he did not refuse. In the early edition it was classified as a New Age book according to the bookseller I bought my copy from. When the Warner edition came in, she said it was reclassified as fiction. After reading the book, I believe "New Age fiction" describes it well enough. Recently when I was in New York, I was directed to the New Age section of a large Greenwich Village bookstore by the owner who commented that this is the section where "the books take themselves seriously." I shared the humor. The Celestine Prophecy is a book that takes itself seriously.

One thing about Redfield's "adventure," as it is subtitled, is its familiar format. It is an occult adventure story of the same genre of "true story" occult fiction made popular in the mid- to late-nineteenth century by Bulwer-Lytton (Zanoni, The Coming Race), Marie Corelli (A Romance of Two Worlds), and a host of less popular writers. Bulwer-Lytton was a Rosicrucian sympathizer who expressed the "mysteries" of his sect in Zanoni. In that book the author purports to merely rewrite a manuscript that is mysteriously left in his office.

Mysterious manuscripts have influenced popular imaginations to the extent that several new religions, cults, and belief systems have formed around such documents. The "golden tablets" allegedly translated by Mormon founder Joseph Smith, the shadowy Book of Dzyan seen only by Theosophy's Madame H.P. Blavatsky and on which she based her Secret Doctrine, the missing Mayan tablets about the alleged lost civilization of Mu by James Churchward, the bogus manuscript about the lost years of Jesus allegedly seen by Nicolas Notovitch in Ladakh, and so on.

The cult of the mysterious manuscript or prophetic revelation carries over to the twentieth century in esoteric adventures by Baird T. Spalding (Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East), Guy "Godfre Ray King" Ballard (Unveiled Mysteries), Eugene E. Whitworth (Nine Faces of Christ: Quest of the True Initiate), and more recently in books by Carlos Chastened and Lynn Andrews. The Mayan Factor by Joss Arguelles prophesied a planetary "harmonic convergence" in 1987, after loosely interpreting an ancient calender.

Redfield takes up the theme of a mysterious Manuscript. His contains the secrets of life (10 "Insights"), written in Aramaic around 600 B.C., but found in Peru. This theme, more properly called a literary device, is engaged by writers with a deep need to get what they believe is a serious personal vision across to the public through the vehicle of a magical autobiographical experience. In his story, Redfield takes us on his journey of incredible coincidences as if he is guided by some unseen hand or telepathic force to meet the right people in his vague quest to find the Manuscript. He avoids getting shot while encountering sinister forces headed by a Cardinal Sebastian who somehow controls the military and the Manuscript. I was reminded of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Redfield unabashedly panders to some New Age beliefs of his admirers:

1. The ancient wisdom or truth has been made occult (hidden) because the established orthodoxy, jealous of its power, does not want the masses to know the truth.

2. We are on the verge of a paradigm shift in human evolution. Does anyone remember the dawning of the Age of Aquarius in the late 1960s or the already mentioned Harmonic Convergence in 1987? How about the hundredth monkey idea popularized by John Keyes, Jr?

3. When enough people get it (i.e., the Insights), the human race will hit the "critical mass" level and we will all be enlightened. We will have peace on earth, the lion will lie down with lamb, and we will walk in bodies of light. The Maharishi of Transcendental Meditation has been selling a path like this for decades.

4. The Christian Church has been responsible for repressing the truth that in reality we are all "the Christ," that we are truly God if we could only transcend our ignorance, or the "brainwashing" imposed upon us by the Church, the Bible God, the popular consensus, or modern scientists.

5. When we awaken (raise our energy levels) to this inner reality or gnosis, we will have magical powers like clairvoyance, healing, invisibility, and immortality.

6. We are co-creators of the universe. We create our own reality.

7. If we get rid of "fear and doubt" we will maintain the "energy level" of our "higher self." The suggestion here is that anyone who might criticize the "teaching" (The Celestine Prophecy, in this case) is merely expressing his or her fear and doubt, therefore that person will not gain the magical powers or "Insights," or be saved.

Redfield's book jacket lied to me in several ways. I have read books like this one and it is not a prophecy. It is a didactic regurgitation of simplistic occult notions that have been expressed by more or less talented writers and fringe groups for well over a century. Redfield's style is cynical. He must take his audience for pathetic fools. His book, if nothing else, seems to describe a pyramid scheme with him at the top of his "spiritual" franchise which expects people to support whoever reveals the 10 Insights to them. From the book:

"But what about money?" I asked. "I can't believe people will voluntarily reduce their incomes."

"Oh, we won't have to," Dobson said. "The Manuscript says our incomes will remain stable because of the people who are giving us money for the insights we provide." (p. 225)

Since Redfield is the only source of revelation:

"I've been thinking," Fr. Carl continued, "that they're going to release you. You may be the only one who can look for it [the tenth Insight]." (p. 246)

Guess who gets most of the money? Guess who gets most of the adulation? If you think I am merely being cynical, read the promotion at the back of his book: $29.95 for the newsletter and $49.95 for an audiotape reading of your sun and moon sign by Redfield. So now we know that he is an astrologer. That explains a lot, to me at least, about his worldview and his milieu. Also, Redfield promises us a second book explaining the "tenth Insight." Do we have a new guru with a new religious movement here?

The popularity of Redfield's book is not, therefore, surprising. Now and then, books come out that appeal to a New Age or esoterically inclined audience, which easily numbers in the tens of millions. Among them are the folks who read and believe books by Carlos Castaneda, Shirley MacLaine, and Lynn Andrews. Some readers have been influenced by reactionary revisions of the Jesus story and Christian teaching in dictatorial tomes like A Course in Miracles or The Urantia Book. The Celestine Prophecy will go on my shelf among those just mentioned, but alas, unlike The Urantia Book, it is not large enough to serve as a doorstop.

Joseph P. Szimhart
Cult Information Specialist/Exit Counselor
Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Here is another review that I found:

The Celestine Prophecy is the title of a novel by James Redfield. The novel is seen as a spiritual guide for the New Age. One devotee describes it this way.

This book is very simply about how we get and use energy. When we get enough energy, in the right ways, we can "raise our vibration." With a higher vibration we are better able to tap into our psychic and intuitive skills, and thus are better able to discover and live our true purpose in life.

Even Redfield treats his novel as a spiritual guide and basis for a spiritual and material industry. He's started a newsletter for his followers: The Celestine Journal: Exploring Spiritual Transformation. He has a sequel, The Tenth Insight, said to be "a trip that will take you through portals into other dimensions." And a further sequel, The Secret of Shambhala; In Search of the Eleventh Insight. He also has audio tapes and CDs for sale.

Redfield starts with a notion shared by many New Age gurus: the world is emerging into a new spiritual awareness. He puts it this way:

For half a century now, a new consciousness has been entering the human world, a new awareness that can only be called transcendent, spiritual. If you find yourself reading this book, then perhaps you already sense what is happening, already feel it inside.

What is the evidence for this New Age? Vague references to vibrations and energy. For those who don't get it yet, there is vague advice to avoid the negative (you can tell good people by their eyes), stop doubting, follow your intuitions and premonitions, flow with coincidences, believe in the purposiveness of everything, join thousands of others on the quest, tune into your feelings and evolve to a higher plane.

In the novel, the meaning of life is revealed in an ancient Peruvian manuscript written in Aramaic. It predicts a massive spiritual transformation of society in the late twentieth century. We will finally grasp the secrets of the universe, the mysteries of existence, the meaning of life. The real meaning and purpose of life won't be found in religion and it won't be found in material wealth, but rather in things like auras. The manuscript is full of insights like this and these insights are the way to the transformation. How do we know this? Just look at the restlessness all around you. That's the key. The dissatisfaction and restlessness we feel is the key. We're like caterpillars ready to metamorphosize into butterflies, to burst forth together into the New Age. After all, you can't seek fulfillment if you're fulfilled! Do you think it is a coincidence that coincidences are happening more and more frequently?

...the Manuscript says the number of people who are conscious of such coincidences would begin to grow dramatically in the sixth decade of the twentieth century. He said that this growth would continue until sometime near the beginning of the following century, when we would reach a specific level of such individuals--a level I think of as a critical mass.

I'm not sure but I think he meant to say the seventh decade, not the sixth. The sixth decade of the twentieth century would be the 1950's. Nobody seems to think that the '50s were a time of restlessness. The sixties, however, has entered historical consciousness as a very restless period: the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement; marijuana and LSD, the Civil Rights Movement, assassinations of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King, the Beatles, etc. In any case, the novel has some good advice. Make love, not war. Be neither intimidator, interrogator, aloof nor pitiable. We don't need fear, humiliation, guilt or shame. Contemplate, meditate, and follow your intuitions and dreams as you go through your spiritual evolution. Fact or fiction, it doesn't matter. Truth is what you make it. Life's too short and too complicated to deal with reality. Make your own reality. Subjective validation and communal reinforcement lead to bliss.

This New Age subjectivism and relativism encourage people to believe that reality is whatever you want it to be. The line between fact and fiction gets blurry and obscured. Of course, fiction has its place in a satisfying life, but so should fact. The methods of science may not be perfect, but when it comes to getting the facts straight, they are better than any of the methods developed by New Age gurus.

& here is a third review that I came accorss:

Let us be charitable. Pilgrim's Progress was not very good as a story either. Still, for centuries people throughout the English-speaking world have been edified and entertained by that book, despite its relentless allegories, stiff characters and a plot with all the surprise and whimsy of a long ride on a freight elevator. The Celestine Prophecy is a novel also economical of artistic blandishments, yet it too has achieved an uncanny popularity. As of July 10, 1994, it had been on the New York Times bestseller list for 19 weeks and was still number 2. On computer bulletin boards, people extol its virtues and testify to how it has changed their lives. The author, a New Age writer and spiritual guide who lives in Alabama, has been making the round of radio talkshows and afternoon television programs with some success. However, when all provision has been made for differences in taste and the quite real possibility that it is I who am obtuse, I cannot escape the conclusion that there is something terribly, terribly sad about the reaction to this book, that this savorless New Age confection should have been the most popular piece of spiritual reading in the United States in the first half of 1994 [when this was written].

The framework of the book ("plot" is perhaps an exaggeration) is simple enough. It seems than an Aramaic document, written about 600 B.C., has been discovered in Peru. This work, which is composed of nine "insights," explains the reason for human conflict and outlines the future of the race. The Peruvian government, at the behest of the Catholic Church, is trying to find and suppress the document. Therefore, its keepers have divided it up for safety and translation. The protagonist is a man from the United States who goes to Peru and finds the translated insights one by one.

Well, okay. It is interesting to note that when this book first appeared, it was characterized as non-fiction. Some of its readers, I gather, still think it may be literally true. (The book, by the way, had been self-published before Warner Books so profitably adopted it.) It was reclassified as fiction, perhaps because of little slips, such as the consistent reference to the indigenous civilization of Peru as "Mayan." That and the fact the demin-and-Jeep culture in which the characters move sounds rather more like Colorado than Peru.

The first insight is that we should take significant coincidences, what Jung called "synchronous events," more seriously. The protagonist takes this advice, and so progresses from encounter to encounter with just those people he must meet to in order to find each insight and become prepared for the next. Most of the insights deal with interpersonal relationships. Thus, we learn that marriages and friendships fail because they become struggles for power in a quite literal sense. As our protagonist's spiritual capabilities increase, he can actually see the cloud of psychic energy being pulled back and forth between people engaged in an argument. This energy is necessary for health and happiness. To dominate another person is to steal his energy. The solution to this dilemma is the insight that you can draw all the power you need directly from the universe. As you draw more and more power, you develop new faculties. At the end of the process, your body becomes spiritualized and you can walk into heaven.

Perhaps one of the attractions of the book is that the author's spiritual system is held together by a kind of soft millenarianism, a three-stage model of history quite like that developed by the Abbot Joachim of Fiore in the twelfth century. Starting about the year 1000 A.D., according to the author, the Western world lived in a universe of faith, certainty and otherworldliness. This lasted about 500 years, until dissatisfaction with the way the Church applied its own ideals led to a second age, one centered on enjoying and understanding this world. Today, it seems, the world is approaching a critical mass of spiritual disaffection which will at last open people to wider realties in the New Age, the third age to come. During the coming age, people will depend less and less on science and engineering and more on their psychic abilities. Indeed, one of the insights is that, deep in the New Age, the chief item of production for which people will be paid will be more spiritual insights. (For those who cannot wait for the New Age, the book thoughtfully provides subscription information to the author's monthly newsletter, The Celestine Journal, which is no doubt full of insights.) At the end of history, the whole human race will consist of spiritual adepts who will move on to a higher plane of existence.

It is hard to see how this book does any great harm. The advice about personal relations which the book provides is not vicious (or interesting). Even its fashionable anti- Catholicism lacks sting, since the author does not know enough about Catholicism to criticize it. The cardinal who is trying to destroy the manuscript, for instance, explains his actions in part with the argument that the insights, if published, would make people less prepared for the Rapture. Perhaps more important, the world of The Celestine Prophecy is one without evil. This is true even of the cardinal, who is merely deluded. This, maybe, is the problem: if the bad is not very bad, neither is the good very good. The book's prescriptions for reducing interpersonal conflict rest on a theory that sounds more like fluid dynamics than like ethics. Our conflicts, all the trouble in human history, are the result of the fact that we have unknowingly been trying to steal spiritual "stuff" from each other, what the Chinese call "chi" force. Fortunately, however, now we know that we can get all the stuff we want at will from the universe. All conflicts and violence can now therefore cease. Well, I'm glad that's settled.

The only frightening thing about this book is what it suggests about the state of American spirituality. Hundreds of thousands apparently find it provocative, life-changing and deep. You hope that this just a case of people reacting positively to the best that they can get. After all, the book does seem to be well-meant, and a little popular eschatology can be edifying. You fear, however, that the success of books like this means that people would not recognize the real spiritual life if they ever met it.

This article originally appeared in the October 1994 issue of Fidelity magazine.

I personally know nothing about the book; but I do know that some of the ideas contained in the book if the reviewers are correct are in my opinion wrong but my best arguments come accross best only if you aggree with me that the Bible is the word of God. I will re-read these reviews & leave them here for anyone else interested -

I will take this opprotunity to state why I believe that the bible is the word of God so if & when I decide to answer these reviews (as I have no desire or means to read the actual book) hopefully any scripture references will not just be gennerally discounted.

The 1st reason that I believe that the bible is the word of God is because it makes more sence to me as a seeker of truth than any other source that I came accross. As I read everything I could get my hands on in my youth I came accross a bunch of different ideas but all religions have the same idea in common: That we can somehow save ourselves - or become acceptable in the eyes of God through our own effort. However Christianity tells me that God is soley responsible for my salvation & that nothing I do could possibly earn it. That makes sence to me because God is perfect & his standard must be the same; I am not, so how could I, by personal effort ever achive perfection?

I was taught that the mormon's for instance say that God was once a man, well that makes absoluetly no sence whatsoever; God, in order to be God would have to have always been as he is now.

Some religions say that there is more than one God; but that makes no sence whatsoever either because if there were multiple Gods then they would be some instances that they have opposing views; now in order for God to be God he can't be like man, running around making committees & deciding things by some sort of vote or something like that. The sovergnty of (the one, true) God is an idea in the bible makes sence.

The Bible is a collection of books from over probably 2000 years or more of time - however put together in its current form they all tell the same story. Whereas for instance if you were to take 60 medical journals from over 2000 years you would have a mishmosh of ideas that would totally contradict each other & be of no practical use whatsoever. No other book or religious document comes close to being able to copy what the Bible is in that respect.

Thank you Slade

Toughtfuly
Tri

Hello Tri,

A battle rages in our lives, one so intense and fierce that millions and millions Christian men and women have literally given their lives so that the prize of victory might be won. The battle isn't in Asia, United States, or even Iraq. The battle is not engaged with tanks, guns, or bombs. Terrorists do not bring the battle to us, nor does the pestilance of disease or famine. The battleground for this contest is in our mind.

Our enemy Tri is satan himself. He comes desguised in all manner of forms and he works through many types of people and in all walks of life. You have met some of them. Those who would lure you away into mysticism, sorcery, "new age" lifestyles, and even interpretive Bible study that may attempt to support one or more of the false paths to God are adversaries to Gods truth who are already defeated. Their defeat was attained on the Cross of Christ, Tri, yet the enemy continues to wage battle.

The author of the Celestine Prophesy is one of many who would lure you down the false path of deception. Judging by the popularity of the book, he has been somewhat successful at his craft. Such writers will tickle the readers ears with promises, heart rending stories and life testimonies, and beautiful images of joy, peace and contentment--things we all seek to have in our lives. The promises and logic used to attain them sound so serene and seem to draw enough popular personalities who endorse them, that many others follow.

Around 2000 years ago, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to Timothy, warning him of false teachers. This letter is poignant in that it represents the last writing of Paul before he was put to death. Here is just a portion of that letter:

2 Timothy 3:12 - 4:4

12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 4

1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.


Paul's instruction to Timothy contained prophesy, as Paul said in verse 4:3-4 that a time will come when many will not endure the doctrine of truth contained in the Bible, but will follow their own desires and lusts to follow teachers who will "tickle" their ears with fables. The time Paul spoke of is now.

When you allow the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart, mind, and life, He will fill the gnawing spiritual void within you, Tri. When you meet Jesus, you will never be the same. You will be reborn and your life will be changed forever. Only then, will you attain the peace that passes all understanding.

Nick P.

Please let me continue where I left off, as I did not have a lot of time earlier but I have a few more reasons why I believe that the Bible is the word of God & why we don't need some "new revelation".

Some religions teach that man can become God - well first of all that was the same lie that the devil told eve in the garden of eden. Also that possibility is disproved by the fact that I went over before, namely that there can only be one God. If it were possible for man to save himself; or become God for that matter then Jesus would have not have needed to come to earth at all. Also; if someone, anyone in human history became God then someone would have done it & also there would be proof that the event happened - now when Jesus ascended he did not "become God" - he already was. Now the diety of Christ is a different (& long) subject & I will touch on it, but if you want more reasons why I believe that Jesus is (part of the one, true) God, then please ask; just bear in mind that my best reasons are based on the foundation that the bible is the word of God - & that is why I am explaining my reasons for beliving that now, because if we have 2 different foundations then it makes comming to any mutual conclusions or understanding a hard thing. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 3:11 - Now nobody denies that Jesus lived & died (approx) 2000 years ago, they do however debate weather or not he rose again & also weather or not he was who he claimed to be. As to the ressurection - if he did not raise from the dead, but rather as the jews say; the disciples stole his body from the grave - why then did the eyewitnesses choose death rather than deny that Jesus was the Christ? Paul said "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." 1 Cor 15:19. I know personally that Jesus rose from the dead because he spoke to me. The bible teaches me that the dead have no effect or communication with the living - "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" Heb 9:27, "As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more." Job 7:9, "19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Lk 16:19-31 - I do however believe that demons can & will impersonate the dead in an attempt to fool you into thinking that ghosts or mediums are real. As to weather or not Jesus was what he claimed - first lets look at who & what he claimed to be. Jesus said that he was the Lord of the sabbath - Mt 12:8, Mk 2:28 & Lk 6:5. He also said that "I and my Father are one." Jn 10:30 - so in effect he called himself God. Now my favorite answer to this is a quote from a book by C.S. Lewis entitled "Mere Christianity" the quote is as follows: "Then comes the real shock. Among these Jews there suddenly turns up a man who goes about talking as if he was God. He claims to forgive sins. He says that he has always existed. He says that He is comming to judge the world at the end of time. Now let us get this clear. Among Panthiests, like the Indians, anyone might say that he was a part of God, or one with God: there would be nothing very odd about it. But this man, since he was a Jew, could not mean that kind of God. God, in their language meant the Being outside the world Who had made it and was infinitely different from anything else. And when you had grasped that, you will see that what this man said was, quite simply, the most shoking thing that has ever been uttered by human lips. One part of the claim tends to slip past us unnoticed because we have heard it so often that we no longer see what it amounts to. I mean the claim to forgive sins: any sins. Now unless the speaker is God, this is so perposterous as to be comic. we can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself. You tread on my toe and I forgive you, you steal my money and I forgive you. But what would we make of a man, himself unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave you for treading on other mens toes and stealing other mens money? Asinine fatuity is the kindest description that we should give of his conduct. Yet this is what jesus did. He told people that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concrned, the person chiefly offended in all offences. This makes sence only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. In the mouth of any speaker who is not God, these words would imply what I can only regard as a silliness and conciet unrivalled by any other charecter in history.
Yet (and this is a strange and significant thing) even his enemies when they read the Gospels, do not get the impression of silliness and conciet. Still less do unprejudiced readers. Christ says that he is "humble and meek" and we believe Him; not noticing that, if He were merely a man, humility and meekenss are the very last charecteristics we could attribute to some of his sayings.
I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God" That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunitic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonesence about His being a great human teacher. he has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." Book 2 Chapter 3 Pages 54-56 1st paperback edition 1960.

One problem I have with any "new revelation" besides the scripture that says "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Gal 1:8-9 is that all the people that came before the said "new revelation" are consigned to hell as they didn't partake in said "new revelation". Now I was taught that God is love (1 Jn 4:8) or at least that he has the attribute of love. Now if this is true he wouldn't be so cruel as to leave all the billions that lived before the "new revelation" high & dry so to speak.

Another problem with any "cult" or religion that claims that "If you don't get our "new revelation" that you can't be saved" is that too few people can get it. Either because it is not free - or it is too obscure to be recieved directly from the divine source - you have to get the correct interpretation from "this guru" or "that book". The bible teaches me that God can speak directly to me or anyone else ("But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Gal 1:11-12) & that we don't need to pay $14.95 for the experience.

God would also not be so cruel as to give each and every one if us a desire to know & worship Him without giving us the opprotunity to do so. The bible teaches that Jesus died so that the whole world (not just the lucky few who recieve the "new revelation") could be saved. The bible also teaches me that it is possible for people who don't know the name Jesus to be able to be saved (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Rom 2:13).

The bible teaches that from the beginning of human history God has been trying to talk to us - we don't need a new revelation because the message has not changed. God loves us & has a wonderful plan for our lives. And he has always had the same plan of salvation - grace.

I found that most "gurus" are just a scam to make money - God created the world & everything in it does not need our money - "I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." 50 Ps 9-12. Yes the bible talkes about tithes, but as I stated before (in another post) tithes (& all other issues of obedience) are not requiremnents to be saved; but rather they are done out of gratitude for the salvation that we have already recieved.

I was taught that 90% of modern psycology has already been taught to us in the sermon on the mount (Mt chapters 5-7). The bible teaches me that I don't need a "new revelation" as the old one is sufficient - "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 Jn 5:13, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Jn 20:30-31. Any "new revelation that contridicts the old one or does not support Jesus ("But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" Jn 15:26) is a lie.

These are as I said more of the reasons that I believe that the bible is the word of God & why I don't suscribe to any "new revelation". I will still consider answering points brought up in the reviews of the book in question later, but now I am kinda tired.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Slade,

I in no way ment to imply the book in question replaces the bible any more than any of the many books by christian authors.

Tri

PT, I am sorry I do not mean to be rude, although it seems my meaning in asking about this book seems to be miss understood

Hello Tri,

In your initial post about the book in question, you said that it put a lot of things in perspective for you and that it was enlightening to you as well.

May I ask, what has been enlightening to you about the book? What truths have you taken away from it?

Nick P.

Well it will take me a little while to answer thouse questions but here goes
what i found inlightening in this book was a completly diferent way of loving at my every thought action or inaction in a new way, which of corse is not truly a new way but is but one i did not understand to be able to enact it in my life.

The truths I found in this book are many.

1. there is something we all seek that to many is as yet unrevealed to us or we do not have the compasity to see and reignize not only as indivituals but as mankind as a whole.

What do I see to be what we are looking for to be? I see it as a couple difernt things. First God, Second Gods love, Third that reason we are all looking for in life, not only as indivituals but all humanity.

2 The reminder that everything happens for a reason, we as people, everything animit or inadamit are part of God's plan, which we can not consieve of. We mus therefor trust, accept and understand that as we can not see that plan, God will gives us the tools we need to lead us to the though, action or inaction He us to have do or not do to fallow the steps He is guiding us to.
I also see the re-exertion of the more we learn to see these guides the more of them will will see for the guidance they are.

3 There is an energy that is the foundation to everything concieveble, from teh tinniest sub attomic partical to the vastness of the comsmos. This energie is in everyone and everything that is or can be concieved of being. The fact that our eyes can not see it, our sicence can not define or messure it or that our ears can not hear it can does not negate the truth of its being.

What is this energy?

WEll we are taught that out of His love God Created everyone and everything, so as i understand it this energy is the God's love.

4 Once we come to underand what this energy actualy exsists we can learn to...
1. See this energy in all of creation
2. learn to let this energy sustain us
3. by thoughts actions or words share this sustaining nergies with others.
4. we can examin our past thoughts actions and inactions and recignize see how they may have had a negitive or positive effect with others.
5.Examin our past seeing how our enteractions affected us and who we have gron to be.
6. once we can see beyond the negetive traits that has become part of who we are we will then have a new tool by which we can see past the negative to our true selves use our true selves as a guide to examin the rest of our lives to define the guides that God has given us in hopes of seeing where thouse guides are leading us.
7. once we learn to recignize these traits in ourselves in others we can hope to see past thouse traites thus better being ale to idetifie or recignize the guidance that God is trying to give us hofuly fallow the path God is trying to lead us on.
8. we can once we have learned to applie these truths to our lives we can then use that knolage to better teach our children to intereact with others, see and fallow thouse guids presented to them by God on the path he wishes them to fallow.
I see that these truths are a repeat, in a diferent format which was for me at least better able to let me see these truths.
I belive that in learning to live by and teach our hcildren these trouths as indivituals, with enough endividuals then it is posible to bring about a true social and spirtual reform.

what these truths has helped me to see has been very profound and far reaching.

In the other post i made on this sight i mentioned that i considered myself a pagan. I finde that examining my life I have found that for all that I was rasied a Christian I did not fully understand or feel one of the basic truths that lead to understanding the others. I did not have a reference which could make real for me the actuality of the concept of the God's love. In not having that the rest of what i was taught was so much words. I can also see where one of thouse guides was God showing me his love, in my not understanding I took this love to be the love of man, atributing that love to the man who was the tool of God, I inadvertantly set that man in my heart before God. After much hurt on all sides having a erronious concept of that love, I in entrpreting the guide used that understanding to find that i did not truly love God as I had been taught i should. I then went on with my search finding the goddess, a concept i could undersand as the lessons in my childhood did teach me a better lesson by my mom than by my dad. Thus I felt myself to be pagan going on that understanding. So this new sight has enabled me to see that I do truly belive in God and now have a understanding of God's love i can now use as a guide to rethinking my past and go on to a future with a better understanding of what i do.

I hope this has answered your questions, in my opinion it has.

Thoughtfuly
Patricia

Hello Tri,

Thank you for responding to my request with such detail. It is interesting, what you say. May I ask another question? What is truth? That question may sound too philosophical, perhaps, and more geared to a college class of intellectuals. I heard a story of a college professor once boldly announced to his class that there was no such thing as absolute truth. A meek young man raised his hand, then stood up and asked the professor, "Are you sure?" This story may or may not be true, but it illustrates the failure of those who float an idea that truth is what anyone believes it to be.

Tri, would you agree with me that there can be only one truth, when it comes to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit? The energy, the "guide" you speak of can have only one absolute meaning or definition as to it's identity. If there is NO absolute truth, then everything falls apart, for one man's version of what truth is would be different than someone elses version. The end result would be an anarchy of truths, each battling for their right to be foremost in the land. In our confused world today, that is exactly the way many people think.

In John 14:6, Jesus Christ said the absolute truth of all eternity. I am sure it is familiar to you:

John 14:6

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The energy you speak of in truth, is the Holy Spirit. God, the Holy Spirit, comes to dwell in us when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior. The negative traits you speak are the sins in our life, washed away on the cross when Jesus died for our sins.

There is much to absorb for a Christian, yet Christ's love for us is so simple. Many things we do not understand, but we accept by faith, through our love for the savior Jesus Christ. Our intellect, our quest to know the truth, without faith, can lead us to authors who profess a different gospel. As we discussed earlier, though, two divergent "truths" cannot both be true. Absolute truth does exist, and it lies at the cross of Jesus, who died and rose again on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father. Jesus loves you, Tri. God exists in three persons (hard to imagine, yes, but we do through faith) God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. No one comes to the Father but through Jesus Christ.

Want a great read? Read through the book of Acts or perhaps one of the Gospels like John. Read with an open heart and ask God to reveal His Truth to you.

Thank you again for your response. I am praying for you.

Nick P.

Thank you

Tri