Self-made Religions and Porn for Kids


This past week, USA Today released an article that clearly
substantiates the message that Lighthouse Trails has been trying
to say for years. If anyone doubts the validity of our
warnings, this USA Today article proves that we have not
exaggerated or misinterpreted the scale and depth of the
increasing threat to traditional Christianity.  

The article, titled “More
US Christians mix in ‘Eastern,’ New Age beliefs,” states
that “Elements of Eastern faiths and New Age thinking have
been widely adopted by 65% of U.S. Adults, including many
who call themselves Protestants and Catholics.”

Much of this change can be
laid at the feet of the mysticism that has presented itself
under the banner of contemplative or centering prayer via the
spiritual formation movement. What this has done is broken down
the barriers that have previously existed. Some might argue that
the article is talking about New Age practices, not
the Christian mystical tradition, which contemplative
advocates say is orthodox and loyal to the Gospel. But as
Anglican mystic Richard Kirby stated so precisely: “[T]he
meditation of advanced occultists is identical with the prayer
of advanced mystics: it is no accident that both traditions use
the same word for the highest reaches of their respective
activities: contemplation” (p. 7 The Mission of Mysticism).

The implications of
this are that we indeed are living in a time of departing,
of which II Thessalonians 2 speaks. There is no turning
back. This is a reality that we will be living with from now
on. And it is the responsibility of biblical believers
everywhere to be fully equipped in knowing how to counter
this reality so that friends, loved ones, pastors,
professors, and co-workers etc. can be warned. 
This new spirituality
completely opposes the Gospel that we embrace and love and
that is the only way of salvation. As the world moves more
into this mystical model, it is vital that those who
comprehend what is taking place have the boldness and
courage to speak the truth and defend the faith.
Now we beseech you,
brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon
shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor
by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of
Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means:
for that day shall not come, except there come a falling
away first. II Thessalonians 2: 1-3

“More U.S. Christians mix in ‘Eastern,’ New Age
beliefs”

By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY

Going to church this Sunday?
Look around. The chances are that one in five of the people
there find “spiritual energy” in mountains or trees, and one in
six believe in the “evil eye,” that certain people can cast
curses with a look – beliefs your Christian pastor doesn’t
preach.

In a Catholic church?
Chances are that one in five members believe in reincarnation in
a way never taught in catechism class – that you’ll be reborn in
this world again and again.

Elements of Eastern faiths
and New Age thinking have been widely adopted by 65% of U.S.
adults, including many who call themselves Protestants and
Catholics, according to a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion &
Public Life released Wednesday. 

Syncretism – mashing up
contradictory beliefs like Catholic rocker

Madonna‘s devotion to a Kabbalah-light version of Jewish
mysticism – appears on the rise. 

And, according to the
survey’s other major finding, devotion to one clear faith is
fading. 

Click here to continue reading.

“Americans
carve out their own religions“
(Washington Times)

 LTRP Note: The following
article by the Washington Times is based on the survey done
by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which is also
the basis of the USA Today article we are carrying this
week. Perspectives from two different secular media sources.

By Eric Gorski ASSOCIATED
PRESS

When it comes to religion,
many Americans like the mix-and-match, build-your-own approach.

Large numbers attend
services of traditions other than their own and blend
Christianity with Eastern and New Age beliefs, a survey finds.

The report, released
Wednesday from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, also
shows tremendous growth over the past three decades in the
number of Americans who say they have had a religious or
mystical experience.

Though the United States
is an overwhelmingly Christian country, significant minorities
say they hold beliefs of the sort found at Buddhist temples or
New Age bookstores. Twenty-four percent of those surveyed
overall and 22 percent of Christians say they believe in
reincarnation, the idea that people will be reborn in this world
again and again.

As for the significant
numbers who visit more than one place of worship, it’s not just
an occasional visit while on vacation or for special events such
as weddings and funerals.

One-third of Americans say
they regularly or occasionally attend religious services at more
than one place. One-quarter say they sometimes attend services
of a faith different from their own.

Click here to continue reading.

How Can Porn be ‘Safe” for
Kids?
by Linda Harvey, Mission America

Jaw-Dropping GLSEN Book
Recommendations

Several prominent blogs
reported this week that Obama’s “Safe Schools” czar/appointee,
Kevin Jennings, was at the helm of the group GLSEN as it
recommended books that are beyond graphic for school children.
These
selections are X-rated homosexual pornography, folks. GLSEN
thinks it can get away with this by putting a mild disclaimer on
its site-parents should review these selections, etc.-but that’s
no excuse. This group positions itself as an expert on “safety”
for kids. And GLSEN knows most parents never visit their site.
GLSEN regularly bypasses parental involvement in everything they
do, going directly to interact with kids even at the grade
school level.

We’d like to direct
readers to the in-depth report Mission America did back in 2002
about the totally inappropriate books that almost all remain on
the GLSEN list.

To review the original
Mission America coverage of GLSEN’s pornographic books, go

HERE.

Source page:

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletter20091214.htm


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