I started with Eckhart Tolle and eventually it led me back to Catholicism. What I learned from him helped me to see the depth I was missing from Christianity and eventually to unlock a world of richness I never could have possibly imagined

Hey everyone who's just watching this now: as someone who went from being atheist, then went to the New Age, listened to Tolle and other gurus, looked into astrology and Tarot, talked to mediums, Christianity has offered the most compelling view of love, self sacrifice, and forgiveness. Not to mention, those other things opened my life up to some very dark influences that are still plaguing me to this day. Do yourselves a favor and dive into more of Bishop Barrons videos about who God is, who Jesus is, the lives of the saints, what the church and the people who attend it ARE, and what exactly they've been reborn into. Its more than what you read on the headlines, and its more then what the Bishop can share in a 4 and a half minute video. In the church I've found a trove of beauty, and meaning, and purpose. You want enlightenment? The church has got it. You want selflessness? The church has got it. You want Love, joy, community? The church has got it, and they've had it for thousands of years.

@thecarlitosshow7687

4 жыл бұрын

Same brother in Christ

@artsymansy7624

3 жыл бұрын

Used to hate the Church out of plain ignorance. Turns out I was dead wrong! The very arrogance of me undermining an institution that has stood the test of time. I am more Catholic now than ever before. Still being overwhelmed by the beauty, wisdom and transformation that the teaching magisterium has lead me to a much deeper and meaningful relationship with Christ.

@AlejandroGarcia-ek3uy

3 жыл бұрын

Brandon Mather, I converted to the Catholic church after being atheist, then into Hindu philosophy but finally I realized how inconsistent those Oriental philosophies are. I prayed to God to show me the Truth, and He led me to Christ and his Mystical Body the Church.

@equilibrium4193

3 жыл бұрын

Why not live life without religions or any doctrine?

@mcspankey4810

3 жыл бұрын

@@equilibrium4193 why not live life without Christ?(the Logos, the Word of God, Truth incarnate ) because a life without Christ is no life at all

Thanks Father. I was educated in a Catholic school and begrudgingly attended mass every Sunday. I have to say it had no effect on me good or bad. I had no interest in continuing this path when I became responsible for my own life. I have read Tolle,s books, they had a Strong impact on me. Through those books I became interested in the words of Jesus. I didn't get the impression that Tolle was coming down on any religion. Most of his quotes from scriptures are used positively to emphasize his point.

@alise1424

3 жыл бұрын

Same as me, the only reason I started reading Bible was after reading Tolles books, he turns people to God, not way

@jadmehannacoaching

Жыл бұрын

@@alise1424 exactly but all priest are in scarcity mode, and try to undermine everyone

I watched the Eckhart Tolle series with Oprah when they came out and they spoke to me. I read his book and found some "aha" moments. I fell away from my Catholic Faith struggling with the teachings on gays and also the abuse of children. I read more enlightenment books and they made a lot of sense. But ......last year God spoke to my heart again. I met people who are full of Faith and found the power of forgiveness. Not the power of their own forgiveness but the power of Someone else's forgiveness of them toward them. I met people who were physically healed by faith. I met God and my faith again like I had not since I was a 16 yr old girl. I wish this seed of faith for everyone and now I pray for it every day. The enlightenment never enlightened me like the Holy Spirit has and I wish that for everyone.

@DavidMatias79

8 жыл бұрын

Amen sister. I also came back to The Faith by way of various new age philosophies and self help type stuff. Ultimately I believe The Holy Spirit was patiently drawing me back home. Thanks be to God for His Grace and Mercy

@Lonem

7 жыл бұрын

When I read comments like this I feel like christianity is like the couch of spiritual believes.. Its not about comforting good warm feelings. Enlightenment is just the harsh recognition that the I doesn't exist. Its nothing magical or mystical But it doesnt sound like you've ever been enlightened and you don't seem to have the capacity to get there either.

@MrMolecularscientist

7 жыл бұрын

Holy Spirit huh??..... what a crock. Let me guess, you saw heaven too.

@kaosantix4841

7 жыл бұрын

Karen Beasley Enlightenment doesn't simply happen by reading books. Reading books of enlightenment can bring you some solace, but not the solution. But hey, whatever works for you will do..

@leahwitchypoo6085

5 жыл бұрын

I've had an experience with the holy spirit. It was only once but it was the most profound experience of my life. It's like hearing the truth within and believing it with every cell of your body. There is no doubt that what has been revealed is the truth

@hatton314 Oh spare me the condescension. I love how you Eckhart disciples are always bragging how detached and non-judgmental you are--just before you pass judgement.

@tpstrat14

4 жыл бұрын

What hypocrisy. You strike first, then when self defense is employed, you pretend like that’s the same as your attack. You passed judgment on ALL religions except your own, basically saying that they just don’t quite get it. It’s an inherently ignorant and insulting way of thinking. Then when the people you attacked stand up for themselves, you naturally think that you are being attacked. Which you most certainly are. If a bear attacks me, I will attack back in defense. But I will not instigate. Remember, you are the one who put this ignorant, hateful, insulting video up. So you can expect to be insulted back

@ellia3213

3 жыл бұрын

@@tpstrat14 this is so accurate !

@666TNB But that's not what he said about the lillies! He said that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. His point was that God is provident over the whole of his creation. Jesus was not a Buddhist!

@atavi7322

4 жыл бұрын

Jesus was not a Christian either, considering that Christianity didn’t exist at the time. Christianity of today is much more than just what Jesus did or taught

I think Eckhart might well respond, 'I have no complaints. Thank you very much'.

@thecarlitosshow7687

4 жыл бұрын

Only to avoid scrutiny

@Peso18_

3 жыл бұрын

@@thecarlitosshow7687Nah brother because he knows that his beliefs is attached to his ego and engaging with it will cause another unconscious reaction

@itszoe2913

3 жыл бұрын

Unrelated but Jesus loves you Have an amazing day

But he doesn't see God as more than a person. He sees him as impersonal. Catholic theology does indeed see God as personal and more than personal. And friend, if you think Catholic theology wants to "define" God, I'd recommend that you take a good long look at Augustine and Aquinas. The former said that if you understand something, it isn't God; and the latter said that God cannot be fit into any genus, even the genus of being.

@charmaineflora

6 жыл бұрын

Bishop Robert Barron he sees God as more than a person too. he said in the power of now- that Being(God as we call it) is something that is essentially you but still inconceivably GREATER than you.

@crct2004

6 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, I was unable to find God until I started listening to Eckhart. He may not define God as a He, but he has definitely taught me that God is within me through his translations of the words of Jesus and that is highly personal, though the grammar on that is probably incorrect. Also, I think the reason many people reject Christianity is because of the "One true religion" stuff. I can't believe in an exclusive God and love how Eckhart incorporates the teachings of many faiths and practices because, one, they all are rooted in love and God is love, and two, I think God comes to different people in different ways and it is absolutely an egocentric claim that my understanding is the one right understanding. This is why there is such an uproar about religion, because it creates conflict where it was supposed to create unity.

@CaminoAir

6 жыл бұрын

With respect I don't think from your comment that you understand what Tolle is saying. The second part of your comment is exactly what Tolle is saying. Tolle states that mental belief patterns (and projecting those onto reality) lead to human reactivity against other humans, other creatures and our environment. This is very true in my experience of humanity and there is insufficient self-awareness and insight in most people to address this and choose a different way of being in this world. Jesus' message ultimately was that we hold the Kingdom of Heaven within us (as do all creatures and things) and that means we have to be still and know God. We find God by looking within ourselves (not by thinking or feeling or doing, but by being aware and letting God take care of the rest). Tolle never claimed to be perfect, to have the perfect communication about the truth, but simply to be someone who is asked to speak (to use crude language) towards the truth.

@MyDigitaLifes

6 жыл бұрын

No, Eckhart Tolle never claimed that he was right or wrong, that's far from his way of teaching, and he have more respect and a deeper knowledge on Christ than a lot of known religious peoples have. His teaching can only be experienced. A belief can be doubted. We are never sure that a belief is 100% true as long as we have even the smallest uncertainty about it. Violence is part of Catholicism story. I don't know where violence could be found in Ekart's teaching. I don't even know why this need to talk about it. When it come to pure awareness, there is no confusion.

@DemitheDaredevil

2 жыл бұрын

Then why do you insist God is some dualistic personified thing if it can never be defined?

I read both books from Eckert Tolle and I don't recall him critisizing the Catholic faith ever. On the contrary he quotes Jesus as much as anyone I've ever heard...

@kentyiluminada7676

4 жыл бұрын

Andreas748 he does quote Jesus you’re right, but that doesn’t mean anything, he quotes him as an “enlightened “ being , he picks quotes here and there from the Bible ( so he picks part of the truth, Eckhart Tolle doesn’t say it directly but he feels he’s just like Jesus and believes we could all be like Jesus, that right there should be an eye opening. Btw I have read two of his books and have used many of his techniques and teachings to stay present , know that I’am not my thoughts etc. I believe he’s very wise, BUT , that’s only part of the truth.

@Hpencer

4 жыл бұрын

@@Abr022575 do you have the link for that? because i heard eckhart say in a video today that he lost his Christian beliefs 5 years ago after he realized most of the bible stories weren't true. he never has said that Jesus was anything other than just a man. he also said there were books with some good proof that Jesus never existed and he said it doesn't matter if Jesus existed or not. so i would be surprised to know that ekhart would say that Jesus was the Son of God. if he did say that, that doesn't seem to correlate with other things he has said.

That's his business. I'm just pointing out the difference for the sake of those who might confuse his Gnosis for Christianity. And I have a strong feeling that you're confusing "belief" in the Christian sense with superstition or credulity. Authentic faith is a kind of experience, and it is not below reason as much as above it.

I also find it odd how Father Barron criticizes Tolle for seeing God as something MORE than a person. Tolle describes God as God describes Himself in the bible - I AM that I AM, that which can not be described. Yet Catholicim continues to try to define the undefinable, the unknowable. I feel Father Barron hasnt fully understood some or much of Tolle's book.

@Grateful2Life

2 жыл бұрын

He cannot understand as long as he does not give up the identity of a Catholic priest! His very identity is at stake here!

@illyrian9976

2 жыл бұрын

Bishop Barron is the last person to say that God is merely a person

No, Eckhart Tolle never claimed that he was right or wrong, that's far from his way of being. His teaching can only be experienced. A belief can be doubted. We are never sure that a belief is 100% true as long as we have even the smallest uncertainty about it. But when it come to pure awareness, there is no place for confusion. We all have pure knowledge about what we truly are

@bodolax Not through ideas alone. But I reject the view that religion has to involve the surrender of reason, for that opens to door to all forms of fundamentalism.

@jackie00754

3 жыл бұрын

You are correct Bishop Robert Barron. Well this is just my opinion, but I believe that eckart Tolle is the devil in disguise. He teaches that, the kingdom of heaven is within you, and you can connect to it by enhancing your awareness to the stillness of the universe, surrendering to it, and letting it take control over you. This is not Christianity, this is down right Kundalini Yoga, also know as black magic. He teaches that, through this process of awareness and surrendering to the universe , we humans can be like God. Which is exactly what the serpent told eve in the garden of Eden. Eckart Tolle has a developed a huge fan base over years, as he preaches Love, equality etc. But a lot of people do not know the deictful nature of the devil.

@thurmonmichelle9452

2 жыл бұрын

@@jackie00754 what do you make of Luke 17:20 and John 10:34? Thank you 🙏

Here is the subtle thing: All of Tolle's ideas are only there to be used temporarily and then dropped. What are they to be used for? To move beyond thought. To move beyond a sense of identity which is made partly out of "I believe this and that." And why would we want to do that? Well, in my experience when I do that I feel peace, joy, love in ways I never imagined. And the people who listen to Tolle go by instinct: They *feel* they *sense* that he has gone beyond thought, and expresses love.

What Eckhart Tolle talks about is about being a better you. He doesn't speak about faith in a negative way. you can take his philosophy and implement it into your life regardless of your faith. the argument about religion saying my way is right and the only way saddens me. a Hindu teacher said One God with many paths to find him.

Well, atheism annoys me because I think it's wrong. When people come forward and aggressively maintain that the very foundation of Christianity is a superstitious illusion, I feel the need to fight back!

@hawaiiusa6147

4 жыл бұрын

So Christianity isn't aggressive? What about the ridiculous concept of hell? That's an aggressive way of trying to get people to believe in religious nonsense.

4 жыл бұрын

@@hawaiiusa6147 Or, Hell might be real. In which case it would be a greater evil not to mention it.

@hawaiiusa6147

4 жыл бұрын

@ There is no evidence of a "hell" or "heaven". Like everything else about religion, it's just the imaginings of people who aren't smart or sane enough to learn science, so they just make things up and people who are even dumber and lack the ability to think for themselves lap it up.

@Why1236

3 жыл бұрын

Mr Outside I may not be Christian but we have all learnt enough now to know that most science is bollocks made up by the government to keep us ignorant

@hawaiiusa6147

3 жыл бұрын

@@Why1236 Or maybe, you are too stupid to understand science. Food for thought...

@ActiveMerkaba Do you give up on politics because politicians routinely fight with each other? Do you give up on art because art critics regularly disagree? Do you give up on baseball because Yankee fans fight with Red Sox fans? Come on.

From a Christian point of view, we should expect that other religions with have truths in them, because those religions were created by humans, who although did not know the full revelation of God, were still children of God. By virtue of being children of God, various groups of people throughout all of history can ascent to truth, but because we are fallen, humans are also prone to fall into various errors. This is why God's revelation was needed. When studying comparative religion, one finds that Christianity is not one among many different religions/philosophies, rather it is the fulfillment of various religions and philosophies.

@theninjainblack1237

8 жыл бұрын

+Blake Denenny You can see this effect also in various laws and moralities across the world. While a man can have only one wife in one culture, and four wives in the next, there is no culture where a man can have any woman he wants.

How am I discounting it? I'm simply quarrelling with the assertion that the Golden Rule is the whole of religion. Jesus did indeed tell us to love our neighbor, but he grounded that command in a more fundamental one: to love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind. And the God that Jesus spoke of is not an abstraction but a person, indeed a person who so loved the world that he sent his only Son. These "ingrained beliefs" are the essence of Christianity!

@urgencepc4563

3 жыл бұрын

The Golden Rule... those who have the Gold make the rules, right? :)

@equilibrium4193

3 жыл бұрын

"God is a person". You have A LOT to learn.

@urgencepc4563

3 жыл бұрын

@@equilibrium4193 Good lord I missed that! Holy cowballs! This guy is a Bishop!

@urgencepc4563

3 жыл бұрын

Their very book says that God is no respecter of persons... idiot! A PERSON is a MASK, it's a PERSONA, like in the Roman time... you put a PERSONA to go into the PUBLIC.

@urgencepc4563

3 жыл бұрын

Bishop my ass. More like a Fool.

Part three: I have tried to change in the past. I have seen what I was lacking and I forced myself into being more loving, compassionate, accepting, etc. It never worked. In fact, it fed the obstacle and made it bigger and made me a hypocrite. Based on my own experience, although I am not completely free of sin (obstacles to letting love, God work through me) I think that the right way is to see and accept that whatever sin I have, it is there. Don't run away from it, don't push it down.

Part five: This, I accept is my own belief system and it may be flawed or the easy way out but it works for me and it makes me a better person at the core. And for that I am truly greatful to all spiritual teachers of the past. And I believe (although I'm not sure if it's blasphemy) that once sin is completely out, we do become as Jesus was (a pure channel through which God does His work), a son of Man and God. The only choice we have in life is to seek truth or want to be right. Much love

@bitphr3ak I don't know, friend, but it sounds like your sense of self is pretty tied to an ideology as well! I always find that psychologizing about one's opponent isn't very productive. Tell me where you think my argument is wrong.

@tjboats7 God is certainly someone, but that doesn't mean that he can appear on TV! To say that God is a person is to say that he is endowed with intellect, will, freedom, and purpose. But God is a spirit, who transcends matter.

Eckhart Tolle does not claim to be right. He does not believe what he says, he feels it.

@6kaliba9

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah and he is proclaiming his ideas based on a subjective feeling. That's just wrong

@gr33nthony

4 жыл бұрын

He hears it

@kentyiluminada7676

4 жыл бұрын

Oliver Ivesic i Can say the same thing about the existence of God and the Holy Spirit, as a matter of fact I am saying it and I have had spiritual/supernatural experiences, that’s how I know is a great deception even though a lot of his teachings are true. I think you should probably go to the root of his main believe of the creation, where we come from and where we’re going when we die and then go from there, we need to use our God given reason, we are unique for a reason unlike other species, not just because.

@thecarlitosshow7687

4 жыл бұрын

That is exactly right!

@billsang1 And I'm sure you'll be delighted to share this exquisitely subtle point that I've missed.

Eckhart tolle has led me to you, Father Barron, and you have led me to God. I struggle then to see Tolle as anything other than a holy person on a mission of truth. Please advise.

@BishopBarron

7 жыл бұрын

He's not wrong about everything! As Paul said, "test everything; retain what is good."

@NickOeffinger

7 жыл бұрын

Bishop Robert Barron thanks for the reply !

@saintejeannedarc9460

5 жыл бұрын

Eckhart Tolle is not a holy person. He may be well meaning, but he's a deceived person, so buyer beware. I hope you did a diligent search of the scripture, the NT is a great start, from John into the rest of the bible. There you will see a lot of contradictions to Tolle's teaching. There is absolute truth and this is why God left us his word, instructions and holy standard in the bible. These new age people are driftless and leave people unmoored. I hope you have some sense of this by now. God bless.

Truth is beyond words, I only hear you when your silent

The........truth.......is........accentuated......by......the......silence. Thus the nugget of wisdom, "Observe the stillness between your words."

I bought into the Ekhart Tolle religion...then I realized he was just another person who knew about Jesus, but didn’t know Jesus

@micfiend409 Then why are you using words?!

Tolle helped start me on the path that led me back to the Church. It definitely helps to see your ego and step back from it. The Church teaches the same thing in a different way.

This reminds me of the Eastern Orthodox distinction between Gods Energies and Essence, which if I am correct states that we know God through his Energies, but cannot know God in his Essence, even in Heaven. I find this is what Tolle emphasizes, and if I am correct, Fr. Richard Rohr.

@solarmaulnest6235

6 жыл бұрын

Orthodox consider Tolle heretic, he's a pantheist

I would be interested in what you have to say about Tolle's teaching on consciousness beyond the mind, and the agony of constant thought. This reminds me somewhat of the contrast between Apophatic and Kataphatic Theology.

@kentyiluminada7676

4 жыл бұрын

I believe he’s right about that, it’s like the spiritual battle between mind, flesh/ and spirit, consciousness, good and evil, We have to die , as ourselves to live. Our ego , but we’re not just conscious we have a spirit.

What happened to the first part of this video?????

@benabaxter I only point this out becaue for me, I have found this connection within and converse with God all the time. I'm noone special, we ALL have this divine connection. Man is struggling because we've been taught that God isn't part of us. This of course because the churches needed to establish themselves as toll booths between us and God in order to fullfill their own agendas. The Gospels of Thomas are very clear about not needing church or religion and that God is in and all around us.

John 3:3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

@hatton314 Hey, I said a lot of nice things about Tolle as well. But I think he's wrong in some significant ways. I appreciate that you found him life-transforming, but that doesn't mean I can't criticize him. I think it would be better if we dropped the autobiographical reflections and got down to arguments.

I am that I am That wich can NOT be described . So no more words are needed here ☝💫

Part two: In my humble opinion, I believe one should be first true to one self. If I don't have the love Jesus wants me to have in my heart for myself and my fellow man it it better to see and accept the fact fully. Then (this again is my personal experience and the new age theory that backs it up) change happens by itself. There is no effort. By seeing the obstacle to love and accepting it, it dissolves by itself. That is the miracle.

The deepest teaching can only come through a direct realization. This realization is a Grace bestowed on those whom are ready to receive it by The Father, whom in absolute terms is your higher self (the true self of all beings). Eckhart has had this realization, preachers and teachers operate from intellect, so they do not, and cannot understand it. Intellect can only take you so far, as the intellect cannot know it’s source. Though this source/Infinite intelligence, does know human intellect, as it is a limited fragment of the unlimited. Like a wave cannot know the ocean, as it appears to be separate from it. It is surrounded by endless amounts of “other” waves... Though the The absolute truth is, the waves are nothing more then the ocean expressing itself in outward form. The absolute truth is too heavy for the intellect to bear. Gospel of Thomas Saying 13 13 Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to something and tell me what I am like." Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a just messenger." Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher." Thomas said to him, "Teacher, my mouth is utterly unable to say what you are like." Jesus said, "I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring that I have tended." And he took him, and withdrew, and spoke three sayings to him. When Thomas came back to his friends they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?" Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the sayings he spoke to me, you will pick up rocks and stone me, and fire will come from the rocks and devour you."

Reason is the gate which leads us to our true identity. Once we get to that identity, it's discarded. But before reaching there, it is indispensable.

Father Bishop Barron, I love your videos and resonate so well with lot of things you say. I am contemplating few things, Hope you can help me with it. 1) I am looking to follow Christ from Hinduism (not because something is wrong with my old faith by I lot of things resonate with my personality about Christianity but I am unable to reconcile the fact that Jesus is the only way to truth and every non believer goes to hell. I am unable to reconcile with it. I come from a place that let each person choose as decide what resonates and brings peace to him and that will lead him to truth. What are your thoughts? 2) In Christianity, my heart resonates so dearly with Catholicism especially the silence in adoration, the life of saints, the rosary etc... compared to being a protestant. I feel they should follow their way of life and I should feel free to follow catholicism and let everyone seek what resonates with them instead of trying to poke holes at others belief systems/practices. Again, what are your thoughts? Your help will be great as I am at a critical point in my faith.

@kentyiluminada7676

4 жыл бұрын

Srikanth Ganesan God bless you!, the thing is we have to use our reasoning and follow the Bible and what it says, or even if we don’t just follow the Bible but first acknowledge God existence and then go from there by using our reason, then go back to the Bible and it all make sense it’s like a puzzle 🧩 it all goes together, first you have to believe in your heart and become aware that JESUS Christ resurrected, therefore HE is Lord, HE came to this world to show us the way, and HE is the way , there’s no other way because he’s God that came as a man and save us from our sins, it happened, it’s recorded in history, it’s not that people haven’t heard this and testimonies throughout history, it says in the Bible that every part of the world from all the corners of the universe will hear about this truth, the gospel, so from there we have to keep our minds open use our reasonings to open our eyes. I personally don’t believe that every other person that belongs to other religion and haven’t heard the gospels or don’t know who Jesus was go to hell, a lot of innocent people’s lives get cut off short and were probably raised with different beliefs, God is merciful and He does call those that are chosen and HE knows that are going to open their heart to HIm, he calls on everyone, but he gave us free will.

@josephmaryganesan1657

3 жыл бұрын

@@kentyiluminada7676 God has a sense of humor. I posted this comment 2 years ago and now I am a baptized Catholic. Thank you Sister! :)

@eduardovalentin9416

2 жыл бұрын

@@josephmaryganesan1657 wow! Out of curiosity have you retained any of your Hindu piety?

@srikanthganesan7603

2 жыл бұрын

@@eduardovalentin9416 Not even a trace of it. I am 100 pct, non heretic Catholic. I pray that by the grace of God, I remain that way till the end and unto eternity. All Thanks to my Most Beloved Mother Mary, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Ave Maria!

@eduardovalentin9416

2 жыл бұрын

@@srikanthganesan7603 I was only asking because I know aarti is offered by some Indian Catholics to Christ or our Lady which I think is pretty cool.

I agree that Tolle, much like everyone else, has their opinion and personal experience on what the truth is. What I really like about the 'new age' gurus is the idea that, yes, this is my version of truth but, if you don't believe me, you're not going to hell for eternity. This is my biggest turn off with the church. Underneath all the talk about love and salvation, the undercurrent is one of fear and guilt. And I, for one, cannot love someone I fear. Much love

@jessicablack6473

4 жыл бұрын

You oversimplified Catholic teaching. God does not send anyone to hell, we send ourselves to hell, look at the way we live our lives, if you do not see that there is something wrong with us, human beings, then you have a massive lack of awareness. I would like to offer a "parable" lol, if the health authority say to a smoker you need to quit smoking otherwise he will die. Should the smoker fear the health authority or the cigarettes? It really is that simple and so ridiculous that people can't see it. God is not the party pooper, we are the party poopers.

@alexzracer2008 Well, you're fighting back! Why can't I?

@atavi7322

4 жыл бұрын

Bishop Robert Barron is this Old Testament Christianity? Tooth for a tooth, eye for an eye? ;)

@millier9658

4 жыл бұрын

Atavi it’s more of an intellectual battle. I love reading the comments and I am so glad that He is ‘fighting back’.

Perfect!!!!☘️🙌☘️

catholic here. tolle helped me the most, deepened my relationship with god/life. helped me in everyway. and jesus is my n1 guy, and the holy trinity makes understood correctly totally sense. but christianity or rather the church often seemed superficial to me, often fear making.

Eckhart Tolle leads to a higher consciousness, and to live life and love unconditonally without any pain. Ego causes pain. He is just a self-help teacher that many people need these days for a quick fix. Basically the TRUTH needs to become more obvious or people will live with pain. I mean who wouldnt want more energy brain energy? But Barron is right. There is more than to just "Truth," and it all leads toward religion. That is where we can find that the life we live does actually matter, unlike most atheist that are straying away.

@doggy255

8 жыл бұрын

+OptiCam1 What religion are you? If you are Christian, couldn't the term "self-help teacher" apply to your priests? That's very closed minded of you. A trait common to religion, it seems.

@doggy255

8 жыл бұрын

+OptiCam1 so salvation isn't self help? what is it then?

@doggy255

8 жыл бұрын

let me ask you a question, because I've heard it answered both ways from people proclaiming to be Christians. After this life, is heaven and hell, wherever we go, eternal?

@doggy255

8 жыл бұрын

+OptiCam1 is that your way of dodging the question!? doesn't that go against what the bible teaches!!!!?

@arete7884

5 жыл бұрын

Religion is just mental wanking fairy tale , you see the irony?

To communicate and silence is another form of communication

I love how we Will be living with God without nothing needing more than Him.😇😇😇

Hi Father Barron. I enjoy your videos a lot - there's a quality and thoughtfulness there. And I can see you really enjoy the conceptual side as well as the spiritual side of things. Me too. When you say "what we want is salvation, which is a whole transformation of the self in Christ". Can you elaborate there? I think *that* is precisely the common point of contact with Tolle's teachings. That's the whole deal. The question is then: HOW? And, what are the obstructions? There you may differ.

Part four: It is there and that is the truth. There is sin (obstacle to love) in me right now. Seeing without beating yourself for failing and accepting it for what it is, it will be dissolved (I think through the grace of God). When sins are dissolved we become as Jesus was and as he wanted us to be not because we worked to be like him but because we accepted ourselves and looked within without judging and condemning. The light of God dissolves sin and slowly guides us home. Not guilt, not fear

Hi Bishop Sir - I just wondered if there is anything that Mr Tolle says holds any weight for you to relate to in yourself or others you see around and in the towns villages and communities where you live?

The point Eckhart Tolle made about there being only one truth, and all thoughts are merely pointers to it, just like the Buddhist phrase about the truth is the moon and the finger pointing to is not, I think is completely missed by this man. The thought, there is only one truth itself is not truth, because the one truth doesn’t exist as thought it exists as consciousness. Which is literally NOT thought.

@wordonfirevideo what?

Eckhart delivers a much more direct aproach to understanding the dysfunctions of the mind. As one who sees the value in all ancient teachings, I don't think the problem is as much about Jesus being false or wrong. It's that we are told we are going to hell for not accepting Christ as the ONLy way to Heaven. I've had many Christians tell me Mother Teresa, The Dali Lama and many others are going to hell. Religous people do more to turn people away from God through fear than anyone.

@aaronbutler2459

Жыл бұрын

Very true.

@paolospt

10 ай бұрын

You both got it wrong! Watch more videos of Fr. Barron and get better informed...unless you have wisdom hided in your pockets😊

Fr Barron you are a very learned man and that is your greatest obstacle. You will not know God through your mind and ideas. Much love

@gr33nthony

4 жыл бұрын

Huh?

Thank you for your response, Robert. I know that the personification of the Divine is a key characteristic of most of the major "flavours" of institutionalised Christianity, but would disagree with the assertion that it is the "essence" of Christianity per se. Like Jesus' parables, the concept of actual personal godhead and a literal father/son relationship are allegorical ways of describing that which is not able to be directly and literally conveyed. The "essence" transcends such symbolism.

Jesus laid out commands for us. He told us to believe in Him and to follow His commands.

With all due respect Bishop I don't think you read the entire book. He speaks of the truth being the present moment because that is all there is and that is all there ever will be. I am a catholic since birth and while reading this book I never felt at any point that he was criticizing or judging my religion. He did mention that religions in general can tend to focus more on the enforcement of doctrine rather focusing on becoming one with god. You don't become one with god by adhering "religiously" to a set of doctrines, you become one with god by allowing god to come into your life and that can only be done in the present m

Where is Part 1, please? This video says Part 2.

Also, I get your point about (paraphrase): "Well Tolle is expressing what he thinks is true too, is he not? And everyone who thinks they are right about something thinks others are wrong." So it would seem: " If I am right then you must be wrong ... " so it would seem. It would seem Tolle is explaining ideas which we can believe or not believe. (cont'd) And indeed, if we turn those into beliefs, then it is just like another Religion.

why do we need to analyze and word o tize this to death. just treat each other with kindness, honesty, compassion and love...need we go beyond that? is there anything else to fuss about? if we just could take responsibility for that in our own lives...we'd wouldn't nearly have as much violence in the world. can you even argue with that? the word play and the if this is a then therefore this means b...it's all pointless isn't it?

I can only wonder where all those gurus come from. Enlightenment seems so profound a word but when put in practice, amounts to practical psychological advices. Seemingly helpful like dissociating ego from other realms of consienceness. Like Terrence Mckenna said: drugs can do that instantly. My “thoughts” on religion are still maintaining Christianity as the fundamental way of reasoning and belief. I’m somewhat convinced that most gurus that claim enlightment have managed to delude themselves. Most of their talks are platitudes but they seem peaceful and kind. But the guru business is thriving and the demand is endless.

It's called INTUITION.

What Tolle is understanding as the Presence that is in all of us and everywhere is the Holy Spirit. Based on what he says, he believes that we are all one being (God). No matter how enlightened we are, we can't 'see' God or Jesus, but we become aware of what we have here on Earth. He calls God "being" and being- ourselves and all of us at the same time. The truth is, we are all one in the body of Christ which is the Holy Spirit. That's where he gets the understanding that we are all in one, he is mistaken in the notion that we are God though. I understand why he believes this though, he isn't wrong in his Knowing at all, just his explanation of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as it's impossible to describe the Truth in words.

@mandalorian4620

5 жыл бұрын

But how can you explain that he and people who are present like him are filled with the holy spirit while many christians are not. A lot of christians dont even know if they have the holy spirit or not.

@J.13333

2 жыл бұрын

@@mandalorian4620 i think that tolle would tell you that their minds are too cluttered to notice.

Sure. But you should never say that God is less than personal. You should say that he is more than our puny word "person" could ever convey. His personhood mockes our attempts to describe it adequately. But that is a world away from saying that he is a vague force, something less than personal.

I love Eckhart and I like Barron. I do not see any issues here.

@benabaxter Everyone certainly has the right to believe what feels right to them and I certain don't mean to challenge your personal truth, I' ve found SEVERAL referances in the Bible to God being within. “Do you not know that you too are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” - 1 Corinthians 3:16 Is just one of many. The Bible also refers to the Still, small voice with reference to Divine consciousness speaking to us from within. That parable is about calming the mind to hear it.

@bodolax Thanks for sharing.

About "truth claims" - this time I will cite someone else: "Father Barron, Eckhart Tolle makes it very clear in his book that if what he is saying does not resonant with an individual then that’s okay. In no way is he saying “I’m right and if you don’t believe me, you are wrong”. Totally the opposite, which is why me, as a Catholic, can finally breathe and feel like I’m not be forced to believe absolutely in any one religion or dogma. It actually makes me feel better about being Catholic."

@artisticallyinclinedbadmon

5 жыл бұрын

The teachings i heard of Eckhart actually made me understand the bible a lot better, or look at it from another, i personally think more christian perspective. So i understand exactly what you are saying.

Correct!

God forgets his own true nature and looks for God. God worships God, God meditates on God and God is trying to find God. It is God who questions and it's God who answers. From the beginning, all agree God was by himself. Look within, the Kingdom of God is there.

@motomambo I agree! WTF?! The Guru can't bear contradiction! The emperor has no clothes!

@wordonfirevideo I can say this for certain because after studying the inner mysteries for some time I went to a relative who's Chatholic Monk and after he was convinced I knew what I was talking about, he admitted that in fact, they do study the inner mysteries but hold it from the public because the church believes people aren't ready. What's interesting is that Eckhart and many others are dead on with what we talked about that day. He then congratulated me for understanding the big picture.

At 3:30, he says that Eckhart Tolle is making truth claims, and that’s why he wrote a book. That’s not true at all. In the Power of Now, Eckhart says that there is no need to leave your religion, and that Eckhart’s teaching will help you to go deeper into your Faith. Eckhart only points out to the fact that religion, when taken as a belief, instead of as an experience, leads and has led to violence.

@ryanjordan3043

5 жыл бұрын

For the religious person, experience is judged and guided by belief-- there's no point in trying to separate the two unless you're looking to "do violence" to whatever you're attempting to call 'religion'. The trick is coming to genuine belief in what is objectively True and being able to defend it graciously and winsomely, which Bp. Barron does marvelously.

@federicoramirez8175

4 жыл бұрын

Ryan Jordan of course there is a point in separating beliefs from experience. When you have real experience you don’t have to believe because you know and there is no need to judge experience.

@josephpchajek2685

11 ай бұрын

No, his truth claim is that there is no truth, which is a logical fallacy in and of itself. It's one of many truth, theosophical and religious claims that Tolle makes. Whether he wants admit or not is another question.

@federicoramirez8175

11 ай бұрын

Eckhart Tolle claims there is no truth?? Never seen that anywhere in his books or videos.

@josephpchajek2685

11 ай бұрын

@@federicoramirez8175 "Ep. 135 - Truth: Relative or absolute? (Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth)"

Just my two sense, I listened to Tolle's boook "A new earth", and I find that he was informing us that ultimate reality transcends the physical world of measurable form, and the mental world of conceptual form. This controversy reminds me of C.S. Lewis comparing religion to soup. But he speaks of thick soups as being the mystical, mysterious religion of experience and intimacy and the thin the intellectual religions of ethics, metaphysics and philosophy. It seems like Tolle went on the "Thick soup" side. But I do agree that many of the "Thin soup" take on religion has created disastrous philosophy in trying to project morals and intellectual understanding as ultimate truth, or trying to make God fit these ideals

@judaemic

10 жыл бұрын

I find that many clergy in the Eastern Churches have addressed the problem with the rationalistic theology of Reformation theology being too legalistic, and trying to create a theology that fits a judicial system of rules and penalties. From what I understand, the Eastern Churches leave matters of faith alone, and accept them as mysteries. But I have found that Tolle is right about getting attached to philosophies, our own concepts of God, morals or the letter of the law. Since I have found that anything in the world of form can be a spiritually unhealthy idol. I recall Tolle mentioning the problem of Moral relativism, and how its existence is the result of people deifying morality, and substituting it for God. And how deifying morality has had disastrous outcomes. Which I can attest to. No matter how compassionate ones morals are(aka, Modern American Liberalism) or orthodox as ones morals are (Aka, conservatism), as soon as one substitutes morals for God, and makes them the ultimate truth, there is always disastrous results. But I do agree that the Moral Relativist falls on the other side into saying morals are unimportant.

@judaemic

10 жыл бұрын

judaemic I forgot to mention, moral relativism has also had disastrous effects too. I think much of the impersonal God is also centered around many having tried to define God, and reducing a personal God with power to human traits, such as the big brother of George Orwells book, the Pagan king God who you dont want to anger, or the "Might makes right" idea of God conceptualized in Calvinism.

@judaemic

10 жыл бұрын

judaemic This will be my last post, but I have found that many have a difficult time with the whole idea of immanence and transcendence, due to thinking of God in material terms, which seems to be another appeal for pantheism. Since many are equating these concepts of far and near being matters of distance, vs something beyond material understanding. But I do think that it fits better in spiritual terms, as the transcendence preserves the "awe" and mystery, while immanence preserves a sense of closeness with God, contrary to some dead universe with no divinity, or as the Eastern Church calls it, Gods energies

@LeetStrats

9 жыл бұрын

These moral laws are suppose to help shape the person so that they can reach the TRUTH easier. Pray and follow the 10 commandments, give, love others. How can there be anything wrong with that?

@wordonfirevideo To point to the truth, knowing at the same time that they are not truth themselves.

Father: Couldn't God Almighty make a TV appearance if He found it necessary? He has revealed Himself in theophany of various sorts in the past, and I would lay odds that He could do it again if it suited Him (Hebrews 1:1-2f). Is it so much that God CAN'T appear on TV, or that He most likely won't? What say you?

@6kaliba9

5 жыл бұрын

Isn't that great? Apparently god sees no necessity to appear to us again, because actually we are doing just fine in its eyes

@harbonigga

5 жыл бұрын

It's because God isn't a person, these religious folk tried to conceptualize something that is beyond comprehension. One love.

“One day John, the brother of James (these are the sons of Zebedee), was going up to the Temple.1 A Pharisee by the name of Arimanios came up to him and challenged him, asking: “Where is the teacher you used to follow?”2 John replied, “He has gone back to the place from which he came.”3 The Pharisee said, “That Nazarene misled you (plural), told you lies, closed your hearts and turned you away from your ancestral traditions.” - Secret Book of John Sound familiar???? The Pharisees had no idea that they were on the wrong side of history. They beloved their thoughts, intellect. The truth is beyond the mind

Another good video Bishop. I think Tolle is another rubbishy new ager good for Oprah. They come in hundreds thesedays, two for a penny.

@harbonigga

5 жыл бұрын

Silva Terese Sounds like something Jesus would say

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬ Believe on Jesus and be saved.

Truth is so Noble that if God were beside it, I could hold to the truth and let go of God .@Meister Eckhart. ]

This video reminded me of when I first started discussing Catholicism with a priest. He had me read "Fides et Ratio". Not an easy read, but it was a good place for us to start a discussion. Yeah.. I know... my comments don't tend to stick to the topic of the video. You'll get used to it. :)

Have you read Meister Eckhart?

Of the things Barron said most I can agree with or cannot object. Except his interpretation of Eckhart stating a truth and by default implying that everyone else who doesn't agree with him is wrong... I never heard or read Eckhart saying something to this effect and this sounds like an interpretation of Barron. Also Barron contradicts himself here by making an "either or assumption" something he declared in the beginning Protestants do and his own Catholic religious convention is not about but looks for similarities. It makes me wonder how Barron reconciles this with his "if Iam right you must be wrong" critique of Eckhart. It just doesnt fit. Sorry Barron but you cant touch Eckharts teachings.

This guy is articulate and well spoken but his comment is basically useless. Tolle is proposing his own "truth", so what? He is speaking his truth from personal experience, not just from a mental approach like most of these commentators. As far as we know Tolle and nobody in his name, has ever be violent in expressing his views. The day we can say the same thing from any church/religion for an extended period of time maybe we will listen more attentively to what they have to say.

Tolle is simply saying that belief systems (religions) are based on thought, and that said thoughts are then equated with truth. The basis of the enlightenment he says we should all achieve is, that we are by essence NOT our thoughts, thus any truths based on thoughts are not real truth. According to Tolle's book, God is not what Christians believe, or what Buddhists believe or what Hindus or what Jews believe. God is not thought, and thus not subject to belief (or lack thereof). God is the formless essence of human beings and all things, and we can find that essence by "awakening", which is recognizing the awareness that is our true being, prior to any thoughts or beliefs. Beliefs imply right and wrong (eg, Christians think/believe Jesus was divine and Jews think/believe not so much), which is what leads to inter-religious friction and conflict. In a Tollian World, there would be no separate religions, no myriad of belief systems, just a world consisting of 100% awakened people, not trying to maintain their Egos by proving themselves right and others wrong, not clinging to thoughts/beliefs, but just basking in the joy of Being, Awareness and Acceptance without judgment or exclusion of anyone or anything. You are a Catholic priest, so obviously for you to embrace this concept would mean you'd have to renounce the divinity of Christ, so I can understand your opposition. I was raised a Catholic (and we are raising our daughter that way) but honestly this book shakes the very core of my beliefs.. In a sense it's freeing, since rather than believing in a distant, divine God separate from human beings, who knows our destinies and will ultimately judge us, Tolle implies that God is actually the very essence of our Being, so we can know God simply by looking within ourselves, without the need to participate in formalized religious practices. To me, that seems a more accessible God, a more immediate relationship that is extremely comforting.

@doggy255

8 жыл бұрын

great explanation! I've been struggling lately and this has brightened my day a bit

@pejkaangelova6849

8 жыл бұрын

Beautifully said. Thank you.

@jetc4332

7 жыл бұрын

By your explanation it seems like what Tolle believes is very similar to what Buddhists believe...

@kaosantix4841

7 жыл бұрын

epf1961 Jesus also said that the "Kingdom of God is within men" which is what even Eckhart means. There are a lot of distortions because Jesus spoke with a certain perspective that wasn't in people's experience, very few understood where he was coming from. So, obviously people interpreted it in the way they understood it to be.

@jetc4332

7 жыл бұрын

"Enlightenment" or "awakening" as understood in Eastern religions is not a Christian doctrine. Jesus said: "Without me you can do nothing"

@wordonfirevideo Jesus wasn't a buddhist or wasn't he part of any religion, he teached us the beauty and essence of life, labeling him buddhist or not buddhist just misses the essence of his teachings. And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, truth is found in the lilies not in the human mind, observe it, touch it, feel it, that will bring you to the timeless truth which is vaster than any conceptual thinking.

Excellent video.

(irishgirl428, mikeadkins[dot]com/article/father-barron-on-eckhart-tolles-a-new-earth-awakening-to-your-lifes-purpose-part-2/ ). I think her comment is worth looking at. The second thing: I haven't noticed if Tolle was attacking catholics.

Is Tolle's book a distillate, or is it pointing to the source of Christianity ? Christianity started as a very humble small movement around one holy man's teachings. Is Tolle right and the church 'wrong' or Visa versa ? No, but Tolle seems to be able to do ,what the church has lost. To point with very direct language to core of Jesus teachings. Meanwhile those who claim to be Jesus direct descendants have this core teaching smothered under layers and layers of theology and cultural dogma. Also the focus of Christianity has shifted from Jesus teachings, to his death & resurrection.

@BishopBarron

6 жыл бұрын

Spirtual Anarchist But Christianity is not primarily about Jesus' teachings. It's about him, especially his death and resurrection. Look at the ancient Creeds. They say nothing about the Lord's teaching.

@josephpchajek2685

11 ай бұрын

@@BishopBarronUmm, Jesus is known as the Word, his teachings are fundamental to Christianity, the creeds don't disagree. I can't believe you just said what you did.

Some people don't understand that the Church has the Holy Spirit that guides Her to all truth, as Christ promised to his apostles. Buddhism and the different Hindu schools of thought are very different from what Christ taught; they often trivialize the teachings of Christ and try to accommodate Him within their own framework, which is not honest, and that is very new-age.

Is God someone or something. What I read is that God is not a man (Hos 11:9). God is Spirit (Joh 4:24), God is also Love...these are more like something than someone. If God was someone then why does he not come to us and show him. Surely He could spare a minute and show him on TV. It is because we are told that God is someone that so many people moves away from God as it does not show a loving God.

Stopped at 0:55. I don’t have patience for fanatics that want to tell you that their team is better than all the others. It really is like someone saying “Football is crap, but my football team really is better than yours.” No, the game itself is greater than the different teams playing it, by definition. The only way you can possibly come to this conclusion of “my religion is better than yours” is if you’re still stuck in an archaic, tribal mindset. Humanity is moving past that. Move with us

@nachomontiel6254

3 жыл бұрын

Notice that you too are proclaiming your own "team" is better than the others, therefore you end up being fundamentalistic by your own definition You are saying that your understanding of religion is better than others: more evolved, less archaic or tribal. So you end up behaving in what you consider a "fanatical" manner Are there no good or evil? are there no better or worse? Your point is you cant say a worldview is exclusively the best, yet , while having said that, you proclaim that your own worldview is the best, and other exclusivistic worldviews are just fundamentalism. (I dont say this to destroy you or anything, take care)

@tpstrat14

3 жыл бұрын

​@@nachomontiel6254 OK let me try to steel man your argument: You're saying you have two options: you can go it alone and pretend you have all the answers, or you can seek out the one true religion. Because if there is one true religion, it would quite obviously be worth seeking out. So yea, I simply don't accept the premise that there is one true religion. Why would there be? No moral, philosophical, or scientific need for that presumption has ever been demonstrated. So I reject the search before it even begins. It doesn't mean that I know anything more than you. It just means I don't claim to know more than I can. There are certainly millions of religious or spiritual claims that I haven't even heard that I would reject if I did hear them. Are those claims that I have yet to even consider also a portion of my supposed knowledge bank of what the truth is? Of course not, I assume. It is only my rejection of YOUR religious claim that makes you think that I'm claiming to have knowledge. And of course underneath all this is probably some conviction about the 500 witnesses and other supposed concrete, historical, (possibly scientific) evidence for Jesus' resurrection? Or do you do your faith the honor of calling it faith?

@wordonfirevideo Oh, the Irony

I concur - Just read both books as well. If we find peace from the readings its more meaningful than winning a logical argument.

Each religion is traveling on the same mountain. They have different ways of getting to the end goal, and they have different vocabulary to express it. In the end each practitioner awakens to their spiritual path, and how they can best fulfill it. It does not matter what religion you are, just that you are sincere on your walk. God does not care what religion you are. What God cares about is your moral character and how far you are on your path towards reaching Union with God. God has many names. Ultimately this being is nameless and cannot fully be expressed by finite reasoning. It is through direct mystical revelation, which one experiences God. This experience cannot be fully expressed by words alone. you must experience God to understand God. No text or literature can express what God is. one can only point you towards the way of God. From that point you must develop inner awareness and the ability to experience God. Throughout history of various people have experienced God. This includes Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, and many others. As they had Union with God, you can too. Many falsely worship these Mystics as God or the only messenger of God. In reality they are just giving their experience of what it is like to experience God. Their message is dogmatize. It becomes a game of exclusion and the creation of division. Religions have formes from there pursuit. In reality many of these people we're just following their Divine calling.

@ryanjordan3043

5 жыл бұрын

A bunch of nice sounding words, which equally disrespects and distorts the teachings of nearly all of those you mention. Jesus Himself claims that He is God and frequently acted in such ways as to claim the divine prerogative, then proved it by being raised from the dead, and witnessed by hundreds of men and women as an historical claim. It might seem "unenlightened" to you, but this is an inherently exclusive claim. Either it is true, and Jesus Christ is God and His words are true when He claims to be the Door, and those who go around Him to be thieves and robbers... or else you call Him a liar or a maniac. You decide which direction the evidence points...

@KevZen2000

5 жыл бұрын

@@ryanjordan3043 1. Jesus had public and private teachings. The Gnostic Gospels reveal the deepest teachings of Jesus. Most in Christendom, follow the public teachings, which give a limited explanation. They ignore symbolism, as literalism. 2. Historically, Jesus was a mystic. He was Gnostic. To truly understand the message of Jesus, you must follow Gnosticism. 3. Jesus was the 'son' of God. We are all sons and daughters of God.

@KevZen2000

5 жыл бұрын

@@ryanjordan3043 4. Actually Jesus was intune with the truth. He was a reflection of God, as many people in history. 5. Jesus was not a maniac, or deluded. What most people who profess to follow Jesus, is not what Jesus taught. 6. God has no religion, nor wrote or inspired religious text as most know. The wisdom of God is innate to all beings.

@josephpchajek2685

11 ай бұрын

@@KevZen2000The church had to spend a lot of time making bulls and declaration much of what the Gnostics said as heretical, because it was. Now here you are trying to revive it and deny the power of Jesus and the holy spirit. Stop it!

@wordonfirevideo Eckhart's teachings are just pointers, they just aim to the truth, so the contain on them is not the thruth itself, is not to be conceptualized, once you analize it you miss it, hence is not an ideology, an ideology is something created by the human mind, truth can't be found withing the mind. You just become and observer, which is to say using all your senses fully, living only in the present moment.

As you've said, Tolles' work seems to be right on with regards to the workings of the human dysfunction but you can't accept that he makes God impersonal. The inner teachings ay that God is the manifest and the unmanifest, negative and possitive. God is all of it. God is personal in that God resides within you, and yet is impersonal in that God is part of everyone and everthing else too. When we dumb something as immense as "GOD" down to a word and defend the word, we lose the point.

@wordonfirevideo God, to me is much more than Politics. Art I believe is an extension of God and sorry, I 'm not a baseball fan LOL. I'm not implying that I give up on my fellow brothers and sisters. Every major religion has inner and outer teachings. This is nothing new, but unfortunately, the inner teachings hold the keys to understanding the outer teachings and because they've been held from the mainstream people for so long, text like the Bible are largely misunderstood.