Eckhart Tolle is a gifted author whose writing flows well and is easy to read. His book, A New Earth, aptly relays Tolle’s philosophy of religion, which is a ‘multi-religional’ smorgasbord with God as the energy-field or consciousness that belies the universe. Tolle states that everyone and everything belongs to this same consciousness, whether they realize it or not. His book is designed to aide readers in discovering the consciousness within them; or awakening to the consciousness within them. Oprah Winfrey launched Tolle into the public eye through the internet course, “A New Earth,” as part of her book club. Tolle’s message is that of spiritual teacher seeking a reduction of negativity in the world from hate, anxiety, ego, manipulation, anger, addictions, etc., through finding oneself content with “what is” and through simply being “who you are.” This, Tolle claims, is the awakening to your consciousness. Once you awaken to your consciousness, you cease to be a part of the destructive energy in this universe. You are now aiding in the progression of mankind by taking the next step in evolution through the awakening of consciousness. This is Tolle’s new heaven and new earth: one where people live in an awakened state of consciousness. Heaven is not a location but refers to the inner realm of consciousness. This is the esoteric meaning of the word, and this is also its meaning in the teachings of Jesus. “A new heaven” is the emergence of a transformed state of human consciousness, and “a new earth” is its reflection in the physical realm (page 23).
Though there are numerous problems with Tolle’s philosophy, there are three glaring issues that I will touch on in this review:
1) Tolle’s view of thought processes: Through excessive reliance on thinking, reality becomes fragmented (page 196) and Being must be felt. It can’t be thought (page 40)
2) The problem of special knowledge
3) The refuting of “either/or” logic using “either/or” logic. 1) If our thought processes are untrustworthy, aren’t Eckhart Tolle’s thought processes untrustworthy?
To an extent, Tolle adheres to a kind of deconstructionist view that all information coming to us is being processed with regard to our cultural expectations, traditions, language, and biases (page 59). In this view, since people are filtering the information from their senses through biased thought processes, they cannot actually experience or perceive reality as it is. A person merely ascribes a label to something, but does not know the thing in of itself. Tolle also utilizes a Hindu view of the illusory nature of anything outside our consciousness mixed with this deconstructionist view of reality to conclude that we must supercede all thought processes in order to know reality, or who we really are. Therefore, for Tolle, the only real “thing” in the universe is the consciousness behind all this illusion that he calls “I Am-ness,” “Being,” “Presence,” or “God.” How did Eckhart Tolle come to an understanding of his own view of reality? He used thought processes. According to Tolle’s view, how can I trust even Tolle’s thought processes if his thoughts are being processed through his cultural expectations, biases, language, labels, etc.? His own view would be susceptible to the same corruption as any other view. All views are developed through “untrustworthy” thought processes and explained through the labels of language, which, according to his view, cannot get people to what is real. To escape this problem, Tolle offers a backdoor solution which is an awakened conscious that is doing the thinking. Only an awakened conscious is going to think well. But he cannot get away from the Hinduism inherent in his view and continues to suggest that we must rise above our thought processes. The thinking mind cannot understand Presence and so will often misinterpret it (page 177). So we are left with a problem of how this knowledge came to people without being corrupted through any kind of thought. The answer is: this material came to Tolle and other pantheist spiritual teachers through their thought processes.
2) How did Eckhart Tolle gain special knowledge? In a few places in A New Earth, Tolle declares to his readers that this type of consciousness was never possible before now (page 18). He states that humankind has finally gotten to the stage of evolution in which emerging consciousness is possible. The next step in human evolution is not inevitable, but for the first time in the history of our planet, it can be a conscious choice (page 182). The arising of space consciousness is the next stage in the evolution of humanity (page 227). How can Tolle know that now is the exact right time in human history for the emergence of awakened consciousness in the universe? He cannot. How does he know that this kind of awakening was not previously possible? He does not. That knowledge would take a God-like view of the universe. A person must have the omniscient author’s view of all the universe (for all time, all places, all people) to pull themselves out of the timeline, view it from a distance, and make that judgment. But let’s suppose Tolle were to claim that this special knowledge comes from being one with the consciousness that is in all things and has always existed. My next question is: where are all the other people who have attained this knowledge? Why is Tolle special? He is not. According to his own view, he is only a part of the consciousness and anyone can achieve what he has achieved. Therefore, he cannot possibly have attained a special knowledge that no one else in the awakened state has achieved. And we cannot trust his view to be the one accurate view.
3) Tolle uses either/or logic to refute the use of either/or logic Either/or logic relies on a law of logic called the law of non-contradiction. The Law of Non-contradiction states that something cannot be “A” and not be “A” at the same time. The item or concept in question is either “A” or not “A”; it cannot be both, because that would be self-contradictory. A “both/and” logic would say that something can be “A” and not be “A” at the same time. The item or concept in question is both “A” and not “A.” Tolle rejects this “either/or” logic which stipulates that incompatible systems of thought or religion cannot both be correct. As previously mentioned, this would be using thought processes and logic which, to him, is corrupted by the ego. Instead, Tolle adopts what he wants us to think is an all-inclusive buffet-style concept of God in which you use the best parts (or what you like) of everything: history, science, and religion. However, in stating that his own way of “awakened consciousness” is the correct way, Tolle has utilized either/or logic in this way: A person is either awakened to their consciousness (Tolle’s explicit version of salvation) or they are lost in unconsciousness (Tolle’s implicit version of a “sinner”). But Tolle does not want to ascribe right and wrong or labels to thoughts. However, either/or logic does this by its very nature. So in broadening out his statement, a person either accepts Tolle’s view (the person is right) or they are part of the problem due to their unconscious state (the person is wrong). Tolle does not allow for the “both/and” logic he implicitly adheres to by stipulating that a person could both be awakened to the consciousness and not be awakened to the consciousness at the same time. Tolle uses either/or logic to refute using either/or logic, and does not even abide by his own guidelines with regard to the both/and concept of awakened consciousness. This is an important aspect of why his beliefs do not match up with reality; they are self-contradictory on several levels. Conclusion This is only a brief review of some of the problems with Tolle’s book. There are many more issues to deal with such as the relativism problem, the revisionist history included, and the cherry-picking of arguments to make a better case.
There are also numerous theological issues; such as Tolle’s concept of the Christian view of God, his exegesis of passages of Scripture, his doctrine of the nature of man, and his doctrine of Jesus. Did Eckhart Tolle get everything wrong in his book? No. In fact, he points out some good reminders for everyone regarding how we lean towards negativity and how we are living our lives in expectation of the future instead of living with contentment and fulfillment right now. But the overall problems of the book should not be overlooked. In A New Earth, Tolle may appear as the perfect “Renaissance Man,” incorporating a wide base of academic fields to buttress his views. However, it is imperative to take a deep look into whether or not his claims match up with reality, so we don’t fall prey to a false doctrine, even if it is stated as a sincerely held conviction…or stated by a knowledgeable person…or even if it is stated by a nice person. We all must look past the exterior presentation of a person into the content of their message to discern what that person is promoting as truth. In Tolle’s case, what he promotes as truth, is inconsistent with reality.
MJ Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.All book quotes taken from: Eckhart Tolle, “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose,” New York: Penguin Group Inc., 2005.
© Mary Jo Sharp 2022
‘multi-religional’ smorgasbord
This is classic!
I’m new to Tolle, but the little bit that I know of him makes me very wary. He sounds good, but what he’s peddling seems to be a conglomeration he’s pulled together from all kinds of weird and wonderful places. I thought I recognized New Age thought, pantheism, pop psychology. You’ve suggested a few more. Anyway, thank you for your brief review. Very well done. Stimulating. Well reasoned. Challenging. Helpful. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Gary!
MJ
This might sound crazy but have you looked into Helen Shucman the original author of A Course in Miracles. Ms. Shucman credits her work to the voice of Jesus who told her to write this new revelation. She was merely a scribe not the author. The Bible tells us to test the spirits against the word of God. This voice was not Jesus but a demon. Jesus will not contradict Himself. I suggest that Eckhart Tolle is channeling a spirit who is the consciousness that goes beyond human consciousnes. JZ Knight channels the spirit Ramtha and Alice Bailey channeled Djwal Kul. Check it out. They do night hide this fact. Tolle is saying basically the same thing these spirits are saying. He just seems to want to take the credit. Please fellow christians do not be fooled. The Lord said that there would come a time that even the elect might be fooled. Read the Word, pray and know your God. The people who follow these teachings end up saying that they are the I Am or god. That title belongs to one and only one. The Lord.
Mary Jo,
I really enjoyed the fact that you took the time to understand Tolle and cared to devote such an open minded blog entrée regarding his teachings. Although I cannot speak for him I would live to help you, from my personal understanding, of this important teacher’s works. First anyone out there who is truly interested in Tolle (and truly open minded to the point of not fearing truth) I strongly recommend The Power of Now. I consider it a masterpiece of spiritual self discovery. A lot of your misconceptions of Tolle will be quickly answered by reading TPON.
Anyway to answer your three important questions….here goes.
Question 1: How did Eckhart Tolle come to an understanding of his own view of reality? Tolle states in TPON that thinking is only a small part of what we perceive as consciousness. Thorough meditation and creating a clear space of “silence” within we can connect with our deeper selves and ultimately God. So to answer your first question I will quote Einstein. “The problems of the mind cannot be solved on the level of the mind.” I know you are skeptical but there have been Christian Mystics through out the ages as well as those Hindus you referred to in posing this question. This difference between the ways most “religious” people perceive their relationship with the sacred is by thinking and belief only. Tolle believes that there is a direct knowing which is possible if you are truly in tune and at peace with the world and your higher self. This is a state of consciousness seldom achieved by the majority of humans. You might think this is some spiritual psychobabble but I think that if you took time maybe it might eventually make sense if you gave it a chance.
Question 2: How did Eckhart Tolle gain special knowledge?…and more importantly within this question… Where are all the other people who have attained this knowledge? Why is Tolle special?
I guess the best way to answer this is asking you…Do you believe a person can become enlightened. Secondly I know for a fact that Tolle doesn’t consider himself special…in fact if you study Tolle and any other spiritual teacher they are as much as possible devoid of their egoic attachment so they are more plain, simple and down to earth than the average person probably. MJ, I think that you might be under the impression that being enlightened means having more than everyone else…in fact it is having less and becoming more simple (like children as Jesus put it…to help you understand). So to answer all your above questions….Tolle gained insight trough studying spiritual masers from all traditions (including Christianity) and he had a life changing experience which just jumped started a process which all of us can undergoe and in fact all of us will at the moment of our death at the latest.
Question 3.. I really can’t even state the question you are asking here. I am going to be kind and not negative because you either understand Tolle and the true nature of the ego and human consciousness or you are part of a collective consciousness held in a type of bondage. Just keep the possibility open that someday you may understand Tolle differently instead of being so critical. There really is no contradiction in Tolle’s “logic” as you say. What it is is that what Tolle describes has to be experienced directly. I am sure The Power of Now would clear up a lot of the questions you have in this last question.
I would just like to say one more thing. Others have responded to this blog with fear and distrust of Tolle. Tolle’s message is not new. The wisdom of the ages has shone thru human consciousness for eons. Many different traditions such as Christianity, Judaism and the Eastern traditions have all had important messages and messengers to mankind. It is just that Tolle brings them together coherently with out all the dogma and fear that many of the religions rely on to divide and make their brand of the truth more marketable. Good luck MJ and take care,
Ray McCarthy
BTW back to question two second part. There are millions of people who read and listen to Tolle and his books are translated into over 35 languages. There are quiet peaceful Tolle groups everywhere on all continents in a learning process to become closer to God.
http://www.eckharttolle.com
Ray,
Thank you for taking the time to address my refutation. Your thoughts are appreciated. My response is rather lengthy.
// and truly open minded to the point of not fearing truth//
I keep seeing these kind of “open-minded” and “not fearful of the truth” statements coming from not only the enlightenment of the consciousness movement, but also from atheists and agnostics; especially online. Although I would like to believe these statements are made from a sincere desire to seek truth, I also must point out that these statements sometimes commit a logical error. For instance, no one online can really know, unless they have personal experience of another person’s history, whether or not that person is closed-minded and fearful of truth. To suggest a person embodies these qualities simply because they have made a choice concerning the existence of God is certainly to commit an error in thinking.
// Thorough meditation and creating a clear space of “silence” within we can connect with our deeper selves and ultimately God.//
This is not a new concept of Tolle’s, but is a long-time spiritual discipline of the Christian faith. Christians are also to take time to clear their minds of all their thoughts and meditate in silence – just as they are – in the presence of God. You mentioned the Christian mystics, who would certainly have been champions of this practice; such as Bernard of Clairvaux.
// This difference between the ways most “religious” people perceive their relationship with the sacred is by thinking and belief only. //
This is a misunderstanding of the Christian faith. Christians do not simply perceive their relationship as just propositional knowledge, but also as an experiential knowledge of God. 2 Peter 1:16 “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” The propositional knowledge of the history of Jesus and his teachings combine with the experience of Jesus in the Christian life.
// Tolle believes that there is a direct knowing which is possible if you are truly in tune and at peace with the world and your higher self. This is a state of consciousness seldom achieved by the majority of humans.//
I also believe there is direct experience of God available to people. However, we do have rational minds. We are made with the ability to think. Our rational minds are able to check our experiences against reality; which is this life. Any doctrine of God (Tolle does believe in a certain view of God, a “doctrine,” even though he says otherwise) should be checked against the reality of this world to which we belong. Otherwise, a person is truly being asked to “blindly believe” instead of having a reasonable confidence in their trust of God as Creator; in which both propositional and experiential knowledge come together. In Tolle’s view of God, a person is asked to trust pure emotion-based experiential knowledge without the aid of reason to justify or reconcile that which is being experienced. A person must impair their rationality in order to achieve a higher level of experience. This view of a person and of God appears fraught with practical problems in day-to-day living. For one cannot simply live without the nearly constant use of their thought processes. Even to get to the point of meditation and clearing of the mind, a person must think, “I am going to meditate and clear my mind.”
// Do you believe a person can become enlightened.//
I believe a person can become enlightened in the sense that a person can discover a new understanding of something. I am extremely wary of enlightenment in the sense that a person can become completely detached from their thought processes; this sounds like comatose state or drug-induced state of mind.
//Secondly I know for a fact that Tolle doesn’t consider himself special…in fact if you study Tolle and any other spiritual teacher they are as much as possible devoid of their egoic attachment so they are more plain, simple and down to earth than the average person probably. MJ, I think that you might be under the impression that being enlightened means having more than everyone else…in fact it is having less and becoming more simple (like children as Jesus put it…to help you understand).//
The “special” I am referring to is only the logical fallacy of special knowledge. This fallacy is also known as The Enlightened One’s Fallacy. It is the reverse of the Historian’s Fallacy. The fallacy presumes special knowledge or ideology is present in the current age that didn’t exist before. Tolle commits this fallacy: page 18 of A New Earth, “A large-scale openness of spirituality outside of religious structures is an entirely new development. In the past, this would have been inconceivable, especially in the West, the most mind-dominated of all cultures, where the Christian church had a virtual franchise on spirituality,” and on page 21, “A widespread flowering of human consciousness did not happen because it was not yet imperative.” How did Tolle obtain the knowledge that an awakening to the consciousness was never possible before now? How can he know the entire history of all mankind’s thoughts and consciousness? He cannot. Plus, his view is very close to that of long-standing Buddhist and Hindu beliefs; beliefs that were practiced before Christianity, which voids his statement from page 18. Notice, he states that his view would have been “inconceivable” in the past, but attempts to qualify the statement with “especially in the West.” This ignores that the West had already come into contact with the East where Tolle’s “inconceivable” ideas were already present. It is especially important to note here that Tolle is mainly dealing with Christianity as a “religious structure” throughout his book. He should address how non-Western religious adherents, such as Buddhists, have traditionally viewed their ‘religion’ as well.
Tolle may be a nice and humble man; even a giving and self-sacrificing man. Yet, this does not make his view match with reality.
//I am going to be kind and not negative because you either understand Tolle and the true nature of the ego and human consciousness or you are part of a collective consciousness held in a type of bondage.//
Yes, this is Tolle’s view in which he utilizes Western logic while telling his readers not to utilize Western logic (see quote above about the mind-dominated Western culture). A person either understands the true nature of the ego or you are a part of the collective consciousness held in a type of bondage. These people who are in bondage, according to Tolle, are the perpetuators of evil. But I still have problems with his view of the ego as the controller of evil in this world. For one, he says does not believe in good or bad; and I think he contradicts himself on this matter. On page 110 in A New Earth, Tolle quotes Shakespeare as saying, “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” However, Tolle believes his view of God or enlightenment to our consciousness is “good,” correct? Or he at least views it as “right” in opposition to not becoming enlightened, which is “wrong” because it causes the problems in this world. From page 160, “There is only one perpetuator of evil on the planet: human unconsciousness. That realization is true forgiveness.” See, Tolle really does believe in a right way and a wrong way. But how can right and wrong be determined apart from thinking? And so I am back to “how did Tolle gain this special knowledge” of right and wrong ways of being if he did not utilize his own thought processes which he has declared as corrupt: from page 261, “You can then make a conscious choice to be present rather than to indulge in useless thinking,” and page 69, “Only through awareness – not through thinking – can you differentiate between fact and opinion.”
// Others have responded to this blog with fear and distrust of Tolle.//
This is a generalization. One person somewhere in cyberspace cannot possibly know for sure whether or not these people “fear” Tolle. It is just as reasonable that these people have come to a different conclusion on reality. Distrust can be a good or bad thing. If Tolle is inevitably erred in this view, distrust would be the appropriate response. If Tolle is correct in his view, then distrust would go away with a reasonable confidence in Tolle’s teaching as true. All the above statement does is to apply labels to people in order to discredit their argument against Tolle; versus actually evidencing the truthfulness of Tolle’s view.
//Tolle’s message is not new.//
Yes, I agree with you here, but Tolle presents his view as “inconceivable” before now.
//Many different traditions such as Christianity, Judaism and the Eastern……It is just that Tolle brings them together coherently with out all the dogma and fear that many of the religions rely on to divide and make their brand of the truth more marketable.//
This is another generalization. How is it possible to say all Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc., have purposefully promoted pure dogma and fear in order to divide and market their “truth”? It is not possible to accurately portray all persons who have adhered to the doctrines of these religions as dogmatic and fear-mongering. Please remember who all you are including in that statement: some of the most selfless people of all history – Mother Teresa and Ghandi are the two big names that come immediately to mind; but there are countless others, as well.
Also, Tolle equates the whole of Christianity with the Inquisition, the Crusaders, etc. but fails to recognize the Christians who opposed these atrocious activities – according to their Christian doctrinal views – at the time that these atrocities were occurring. See page 69 of A New Earth.
Tolle reiterates many times the letting go of the egoic self and letting go of the promotion of one’s beliefs over others (especially with regard to right and wrong religious truths). Yet, he has quite a selective, disdainful view of Christianity for a person who has so much to say about not setting yourself or your beliefs above others. This is another reason why I view Tolle as full of contradictions; not as a bad person, but as a person whose views do not match with reality.
Thank you,
MJ
Hi Mary Jo,
Thank you for posting your review of this book. I had a review of my own on the back burner for these five months myself, and finding your post lit a fire under me to finally finish and post on my blog.
I have linked to this post from my entry. If you have time, I’d appreciate any constructive criticism you have. 🙂
Blessings,
*Letitia*
I think my response would be that for one, Eckhart Tolle is not the first person to endorse this message, he's just the first endorsed by Oprah. He's near the bottom of the list of contemporary authors and speakers I've come across endorsing a similar a message. Probably because I don't watch Oprah. I've read The Power of Now and am currently reading A New Earth and what he says, to me, is solid. He uses his own words to describe a very universal idea.
I think "R" responded to your original points well enough but I'd like to offer my own input from the little I've read of the discussion.
First of all I agree, there's no way to tell if someone is open minded or not simple based on their position on God. When Tolle argues that logic is in the mind and we should see beyond the mind, beyond logic, he's translating higher understanding into words. I can say this confidently because I've experienced higher understanding before. The French have a saying that roughly translates to "Translators are traitors." When using words, you are conveying ideas that exist beyond words, you are translating knowledge into symbols of that knowledge, and therefore they are lies, a betrayal of truth. I spend most of time, as I'm sure everyone does, living life through a filter of my mind. When I get glimpses of life beyond my mind, a direct relationship with my consciousness, I see the limitation the mind offers. As Tolle says, you cannot think yourself into awakening. Unfortunately he's writing a book, therefore he must translate his understanding into word, then you must translate those words into your own understanding. Therefor, two different liars have had their way with his ideas before they ever find their way into your consciousness.
From the rest of the discussion I gather you have a position on Christianity. You have your own position on God, This does not make you closed minded, but I would argue that you don't need to have a position on anything. Positions are developed in defense of the content of your mind. You have beliefs, and you must defend these beliefs, so you develop a position against other people. For example, Atheists and Christians are deeply entrenching each other in their biases by constantly belittling and attacking each other If you were to give up your position, you give up the power you held to all the people that think they're right. This is incredibly threatening to the ego, that lives only on what it thinks is right and wrong.
This doesn't mean you have to give up being Christian, it only means you should realize Christian is just a word that you ascribe yourself to, and does not define who you are. It's just a word, a betrayal of your true self.
It may appear that Tolle says your rational mind and your ego are bad things that must be abandoned, but this is not the case, you must simply see beyond the rational mind to see… I can't think of a proper word. To see. The rational mind is a tool, but society today is possessed by it. Use it, don't let it use you.
And your response, as well as your terms like smorgasbord and buffet-style, imply you believe an open-ended outlook on life somehow belittles Christianity, that Christianity cannot be true if other ideas also serve a purpose. You said we should check doctrine against reality, well I agree, I believe doctrines are sign posts for guiding our way through reality. When you are presented with multiple signs, do you choose to only look at one of them? Adhering to Christianity over other ideas is no different from choosing only to read yellow signs when you come upon them.
Mary-Jo-
Yes Tole is expressing from a God- like knowledge of the universe ,and all prophets tell us we too are capable of accessing this kind of "Jesus withing our hearts".
Although Tolle is smart and a good writer, his insights do not feel like they were patched together from pure analysis or weaving together ideas from external sources. Rather they appear to arise with ease and confidence from one who has personally experienced truth -as a state -not "figured it out".
If more of us were able to keep the positive aspects, and genuinely drop the unhelpful filters we have personally constructed from our religious culture – and truly connect with source,whatever name we have for it, we would go beyond just our ideas and just our religions.
We would have the insights Tolle is having -and these would connect so well with Jesus, with Buddha, with Tolle and all the others that there would be no need for such arguments, cynicism and skepticism.
This is not easy -by the entries in this blog we can see the baggage we all carry -just like those who crucified Jesus.
The work isn't over yet, and we all have much work to do in our prayer and in our lives -this is deep-it's not just saying the words -it is going beyond them to a place where Heaven emanates from and it will require humility more than "confidence" to achieve this.
Not having experienced this – it is hard to get Tole's meaning, but it only takes a glimpse to get started on a direct personal path ,and can be achieved in any religious practice. Or even without one, but a truly spiritual practice -of learning to know one's Consciousness -the same Consciousness that pervades all things.
So, no, Tolle did not achieve this by his own "thinking" as you seem to have assumed -and neither would you understand it by that method.
IF this seems vague, and open to anybody making up anything from a "feeling" they have had – all the more reason to dig deeper and find the Truth that so many have found. The words of these people, from Moses to Guru Nanek to Krishnamurti are the source of all that we are trying to "understand" with our thinking mind. None of these prophets, including Jesus – have suggested we take the "thinking" route to get to God, Heaven, Peace, and that "home" we all long for.
Please consider Tolle's admonishing as a way in to your Christianity, rather than seek ways to "prove" him "wrong".
By all means it is fair to question, but if you want to test him – try his method, of getting into the Now -silently and purely, by meditation or whatever means you can relate to. Try going beyond your sober, thinking mind and seek your source -then you can assess his message, for – that IS his message -and not his alone.
Nothing Tolle suggests is negative, destructive, nor takes away from anyone's practise ,except the practice of getting caught up in one's own ego and losing awareness of what is truly happening in this very moment.
This is where we will find what we are looking for, by whatever name we give it.
Thanks everyone for all your reply. Thus for, leaves us with alot of hunt to do.. well happy hunting. "Let us test all Spirits."
Unfortunately, a message that escapes the bounds of Logic cannot truly be understood using Logic. MJ, as an apologist, you rely on Logic to explain the world, the Bible, and God. But many of us have found that God is actually outside of this logical sphere. I found that logic and language only got me so far, and then actually hindered the "truth".
Some "get" Tolle's message and some don't. It cannot be explained or argued. The beauty of Tolle, as well as Maharishi, Nisargardatta, etc. is that it's all about experience, not faith or convincing. It's a truth that is found in personal experience, through self-inquiry – not through study.
S Wooley: "But many of us have found that God is actually outside of this logical sphere."
Then why did God give us logic and lay out His instructions to His creation in a logical manner (The Written Word). Also, why send Jesus if 'truth' as you define it is unknowable via logic and language?
You say that some 'get' Tolle's message and some don't. You go on to say that it cannot be explained or argued. Well, you posted an argument in this very blog. You have also attempted to explain it with language and logic. So, I don't see a consistency in your post. You use the very things you deny. Does anyone else see the problem with this?
Your last paragraph describes the 'beauty of Tolle and others.' You contrast Experience with Faith/Convincing. You'll need to logically argue this because it makes no sense to this reader.
Last thing: Define "self-inquiry." If self-inquiry is not possible through study, but IS found in personal experience, then personal experience and study are not compatible? I find that I study best THROUGH personal experience. Words have meaning. Logic is unavoidable. There is nothing nebulous that only a minority of people 'get.' God has clearly communicated with His creation because He wants His creation to know Him.
Roger Sharp
Confident Christianity Apologetics
Robert Rowley,
Your post has been removed due to the use of the swear word,"b______t",
four times. I try to leave up all comments by readers, but I do not leave posts with swearing in them. I will repost your comment without the swearing.
As to your points:
"These types of critiques" – What type of critiques? Analytical?
"Build your defensive walls" – You mean to say you think I am hiding behind defensive walls by hosting a public blog to share my beliefs?
"Paul was the greatest b______ter of all time" – Would you provide some evidence for that remark? Or is this just your opinion?
So, from you are saying, the only truthful critique of anything is to say "I don't know" while continuing with a rationale investigation? Explain that.
I did an analysis of the logic used by Tolle. I'm not claiming that I am in possession of all knowledge.
Please find your post below as originally posted, minus the swear words.
Thanks,
MJ
Robert Rowley said…
The argument made in the Tolle
critiquie not only applies to
to Tolle but to Chritian Apologetics themselves.. Whats
good for the goose is good for the gander…Talk about the kettle black….
These types of critique is typical
of holding on to the ole piled on belief and dogoma for generations of the greatest b______t stories of all time. The belief and Domgma Truths are not known nor can be proven, so hold on these stories and build your defensive walls and protect the greatest b______t stories of all time..
Paul was the greatest b______ter
of all time and biggest control
freak of all time.. If thats what
you want to invest in welcome to
the world of illsion… For God
sakes does anyone have any understanding of History, theology(and not divinty), Linguistics, Mythhology, Metaphors,under the
scrutny of pier review…Can't anybody just say I don't know and
continue to investigate through
some type of rationale process.
to a b______t, story and
Originally posted: 2/8/10 6:39 PM
Reposted by MJ
I don't think Tolle said that thoughts are untrustworthy. He said, "Through excessive reliance on thinking, reality becomes fragmented ". I think when you understand that the filter that you see reality through is the constructs you have created in your mind and not reality, you will see the truth about what Tolle says.
Tolle's approach to Christianity is about a thousand times more effective than orthodox Christianity. The us and them mentality that orthodox Christianity spreads 'You burn in hell if you don't believe like we do' is just another construct of the ego/false identity.
Bruce,
Thanks for your comments.
//I think when you understand that the filter that you see reality through is the constructs you have created in your mind and not reality, you will see the truth about what Tolle says.//
How does this view escape its own critique? This is a self-refuting statement.
//The us and them mentality of Orthodox Christianity//
Like in Luke 6:27, where Jesus says, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you"? An orthodox Christian believes in praying for and loving even those who do them wrong, let alone those who just have differing religious views.
Your comments on Christianity generated some thoughts I had on Tolle. I believe these ideas came from the "us and them mentality" comment. Christians believe that they do have the right concept of God, but so does Tolle. That is why Tolle is inviting us to consider his view on God as the true one. So now, I am faced with two different views about God and need to evaluate each view. So here are my thoughts:
Tolle's view of God is an impersonal being (or substance) that does not have personal will or volition. God just exists, and that is the only truth we can know about "it." If this transcendent being has no volition, it cannot will good or evil or anything, per se, for mankind. It can have no intention or purpose with a lack of volition. This lack of volition also has implications on the reality of mankind’s existence. In this world, we do see evil, pain, and suffering as a true problem for mankind. But in Tolle's understanding of the world, nothing in this life is real; which implies that our suffering, pain, and injustice in this life are also not real. These things bear no cosmic weight and have no ultimate meaning. Tolle attempts to provide an explanation (the pain body and the ego), but the problem remains that our suffering and pain are not real because the only real thing is that which is the formless beyond all forms. Tolle's view fails to provide a substantial solution to real problems. Although I have found that those who follow his views are usually very kind people, even that kindness, according to Tolle's view, would also be an illusion in the transcendent reality. Whereas, according to Luke 6:35, real kindness brings about real consequences for the followers of Christ: "But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil."
Perhaps you can help provide an answer for how the problem of evil can be answered through belief in an impersonal transcendent being. (I understand that the word "belief" is not encompassed in Eckhart Tolle's ideology, but it was the clearest term for this conversation.)
Thanks again,
MJ
YouTube video a friend sent to me dealing directly with Tolle and Winfrey……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zjhn_z5pHg
Roger
No Believe is True.
Believe is just something you hold to be true.
You don't have believe, believe have you.
I think the believe that the bible is the book from God is a major attachment for the believers
Please allow Mr. Tolle to enlighten humanity and create a new system that will work. The present system created and promoted by religion, philosophy and other forms of ideologies has completely failed don't you see it??? Besides Mr. Tolle has brought nothing new, it is the same old human wisdom that has been un-fortunately used for thousands by the authorities, I mentioned above to manipulate and control humanity. TIME HAS COME FOR HUMANITY TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THEMSELVES AND ABOUT LIFE, SO WHOEVER IS OPPOSING MR. TOLLE'S TEACHINGS IS WASTING HIS/HER TIME BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A TIME THAT EDUCATION HAS SHAPED OUR MINDS DIFFERENTLY!!!!!!