Posted by: truthtold | April 3, 2008

How Dangerous Is Oprah’s, Eckhart Tolle?

 

Hebrews 11

By Faith

 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.

You may have recently heard of this guy named Eckhart Tolle, by watching the Oprah Winfrey Show. Tolle  according to his Biography was a man considered by most including himself as a recluse or hermit, that was until he began to write a book entitled “The Power of Now.”

He considers his self to be a contemporary spiritual teacher, however he has never been in the Ministry nor does he give Biblical sound teaching.

Prior to his writing “The power of Now” he considered suicide, this was something I found Most Alarming knowing he is speaking and teaching his ways to now Millions of people via his two books, his newest ” “A New Earth” and delivering his dangerous ideas and mindsets to Millions of people on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Tolle’s belief is that of a State of Consciousness, which is how he feels people can gain happiness.

Tolles describes how attachment to the ego creates the dysfunction that leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness.

Should we be concerned about what Eckhart Tolle is teaching, YES, because he is giving the Mindset that all you really need in Life is a State of Consciousness to be Happy!

Yet as stated earlier this man considered committing suicide, according to Scriptures (The Holy Bible) that is a Sin.

Again according to Eckhart Tolle there is no such thing as Sin!

After reading from his book, “A New Earth”  I was deeply alarmed at how his books as well as “The Secret” could have Great Spiritual Ramifications, leading souls not to the Kingdom of God, but to the fiery pits of hell.

When asked by Oprah Winfrey what he thought about Death, he simply stated he hadn’t thought about it?

As  a Christian I was shocked when  I heard Oprah Winfrey denying Jesus Christ and yet she says she is a Christian?

As a Christian I am also alarmed at how many people will pick up a book, written by someone who has lived in utter darkness and considering suicide to then claim he has the answers to happiness.

Eckhart Tolle is a very dangerous man in the mindset that he is truly leading people in a direction where they can be spiritually lost, his appearances on Oprah have made him even more dangerous and together they are teaching many including Christians how to live outside of the Holy Bibles Teachings, and many are following them into the darkness of hell.

As a Christian when I wonder about something I seek out the Holy Bible, I read what the Lord has commanded us to do by following His Ten Commandments, all of the answers to our questions are found in the scriptures.

Jesus Christ Warned us that they will come in sheep’s clothing, another-words someone whom we feel we can trust, someone who with time has created an Empire of followers, believers and non-believers alike are truly being mislead.

Matthew 7: 14-16 

14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

 15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Jude 1:3-5 (New International Version)

The sin and doom of Godless men
 3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4For certain men whose condemnation was written about[a] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. 5Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord[b] delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.Is it any wonder WHY the young people of today who are living in “The Now” never give any thought about the actions they make. To say Eckhart Tolle is not a dangerous man on a mission, with his new age teachings cannot be denied.If you are a Oprah fan who has accepted this mans writings, please read the Holy Bible before going any further, for Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life everlasting.

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Responses

thanks for your write up. I find it interesting and helpful. I have written a book on a discovery that relates to Tolle’s book, but it has a bent that is more consistent with my Christian faith. Feel free to email me if you’d like to know more. I’m sure the exchange of ideas would be very helpful considering your comments to the above. I recognize the value of getting rid of ego, so i appreciated that aspect, but beyond that, i found his book not well written.

By: christopher dunn on April 3, 2008
at 11:06 pm

Suicide is only a sin if you commit it. Tolle was clinically depressed, considered suicide in his pain, but did not follow through. This is commendable rather than something to be targeted with criticism and labeled as a sin. Tolle is only writing about being more present in the moment which will only deepen someones religious experience and commitment, including that of Christians.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and … For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? … Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” [Matthew 5].

By: CSP on April 4, 2008
at 1:06 pm

I would disagree with your statement. Our bodies are a “Temple” of the Holy Spirit. If Eckhart Tolle considered suicide, then Yes he did Sin, Regardless of the fact he didn’t actually go through with it. There are Millions of people in this world that suffer from depression and severe medical condition, some Life threatening. In their daily anguish they live with their conditions, something I would know quite a bit about.
I also disagree with Tolles Book, the very idea that we are to live in the “Now”…What about the Past, where precious moments are stored…I still recall the day I gave birth to my children who are now out of college…That was a priceless moment, one I would not wish to forget. Or how about the “Future” there is great Hope in the future through the Life and Death as well as the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Every day I live with a Life and Death Medical Condition, it is my Hope that one day I will live in a Paradise with my Savior and will no longer have any more pain.
If I were to live in the “Now” without the precious memories of the past, or a Hope for a Future I would be pretty desperate indeed.
As far as your statement of targeting Tolle, I do feel that whether he suffers from deression or whatever that he needs to be an example for others who deal with Pain and Loss.
There is no medication to treat my condition, like there is for Depression, so Yes I do feel that Eckhart Tolle sinned in his thoughts.
Do I hate him, of course not..Because of my own Health Issues I understand very well that each day comes with it’s own issues, however Eckhart Tolle has a World Wide audiance, is he leading them to the Lord or deceiving them?

By: truthtold on April 6, 2008
at 4:00 am

If you read and listen to Tolle he is not agreeing with or supporting the idea of suicide. As a matter of fact he would agree with you that “In their daily anguish they live with their conditions” one should not try to escape the illness or condition, but let it “be” in the present. If we fight it … we engage the ego and our self-will. He also does not, if you listen and read carefully, dismiss the past and future. One can acknowledge the past, enjoy its memories and plan for the future, but all while living in the eternal, present, Now. It’s a question of identification. It is very easy to “identify” oneself with what one has experienced in the past, but this is only a memory impulse of the mind. The living reality can only be in the Now in which both memories and future plans are occurring. Nothing else actually exists except the present moment, so if we identify with past or future we are living in a virtual reality. God and Christ are with us Now and not in the virtual reality of past or future. Tolle is trying to illustrate the trappings of the world and mind and open them to the reality and truth of that which is etched in the heart and soul. This inner soul truth will open the door to God and Christ.

By: CSP on April 6, 2008
at 12:36 pm

The point is, Tolle says things that are cleverly disguised as good teachings, but when you get to the heart of the message, he’s saying “there is no need to go elsewhere for the truth.” - which is something that I don’t think anybody but my savior should be saying!

BTW, that quote is taken directly from:
http://www.oprah.com/obc_classic/webcast/begin/anewearth_religion.jsp

And these teachings are all about this concept of “enlightenment”. But how can you be enlightened when you don’t even recognize your own sin and the need for a savior in your life? Without recognizing sin, then you wouldn’t feel the need to recognize God’s sacrifice to save us from it. And that is the whole point of the new testament!

If you are a Christian, how could you possibly be a follower of Tolle’s teachings as well?

By: Aki on April 8, 2008
at 5:45 pm

I think the confusion and conflict that many Christians are having with Tolle has to do with an over interpretation of what he is saying. Tolle is really only dealing with the ego and mind and how its strength, structure, and content can unconsciously stand in the way of our faith. I don’t think Tolle would disagree with me that the ego = self-will. It is this “our will” vs. “his will” that I think is one of the central pillars of the Christian faith and Tolle provides a very comprehensive explanation of the workings of the ego. He even goes so far as to use the Biblical story of Adam and Eve eating of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as an illustration of the creation and development of the ego and self-will. The “Fall” as Tolle himself has said. Very Christian examples and terminology.

By: CSP on April 8, 2008
at 7:31 pm

Tolle does not say there is no such thing as Sin.

In fact, in the first two chapters of A New Earth he points out that the concept of Sin is recognized in all major religions . . . and redefines it as the “collective insanity of man.” (i.e. the tendency for man to choose behavior that makes the world a worse place to live in through envy, pride, anger, etc.)

What Tolle is most concerned with is how Christianity has warped the gentle, humble message of Jesus.

As a Christian, I have to agree with him.

As a Christian what I worry about is that Tolle’s teachings do not define the absolute authority of God.

He does teach an acceptance of whatever happens to us, though — for Christians, God’s will. That’s a close as it comes.

By: pastilla on April 15, 2008
at 3:37 am

The problem with Eckhart Tolles book is that he is misleading Millions in beleiving in “his Theory!”

For instance do you recall how Christ became Angered when the people entered His Fathers House of Prayer and began selling things?

Christ overturned the tables!

It’s called Righteous Anger.

As a Christian, I too feel that Eckhart Tolles Book is written in a way that those who do not know the Word or the Scriptures will beleive everything Tolle says!

Through out Scripture, the word Discipline is Used, the Lord disciplines the ones He loves.

Just as a parent would need to dicipline a child, so that child learns what is right and what is wrong.

Hence the scripture verse that reads, Train up a child in the way they are to go and when they are old they will not turn from it.

Tolles False Teachings are something you and everyone who is reading his material should be concerned with, he speaks that it’s not through Faith, but through Feelings!

That would be a lie, according to the Entire 11th Chapter of Hebrews, which speaks of ONLY Faith.

He skips around, one moment it’s about flowers that begin to Blossom, apparently that was Eckhart Tolles AWAKENING?

I have a very serious problem with the Whole Oprah and Tolle teachings, they are NOT God, they preach non-sense, “now girls and boys, close your eyes and EMPTY your mind, take in a deep breath”, come on, who are we kidding?

The dumbing Down process is exactly what satan wants, and it’s exactly what Oprah and her new found Cult Movement are trying to create.

While I am on the topic, Oprah claims to be a Christian, but I can assure you from the Word of God, she would be considered a Antichrist, for in front of Millions she Denied Jesus, “What About Jesus” she asked!

Immediately she Denied the Father in Heaven as well, so she cannot be considered a Christian as she has Denied them. Please check out the Book of John.

I think it is tragic that someone who has been given so much from the Lord could reject Him and what He did on that Cross for All of Salvation.

I really do hope and pray that she turns her Life around and see the errors of her ways, According to the Scriptures and repent, then she will have to try to bring back as many as Humanly possible who may have been on the fence with their Faith in Christ. She will now need to set the record straight, and admit her wrong doing.

By: truthtold on April 15, 2008
at 5:07 am

John 10:1-21

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

“But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

“Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

“All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

“But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

“The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

“As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Oprah nor Tolle are willing to lay down their lives for any of you. No matter how much Oprah gives “The Big Give” it’ll never amount to the gift God The Father gave as a ransom for your evil, wicked, sinful, and tainted spirited self. - That’s not judging either - it’s called “the fruit you bear”

By: Hezsoworthy on April 17, 2008
at 7:09 pm

Amen and Amen… There is No “Other Way” outside of Jesus Christ!

For Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life everlasting.

1 Timothy 1:2-4 (New International Version)

2To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.

By: truthtold on April 17, 2008
at 7:21 pm

This comment has been edited by Truth Be Told Staff

Dear John,
This blog is meant strictly to spread what we know to others, it’s not meant to offend or disrespect anyone or their opinions. We would appreciate if our guests gave that same respect to us and our readers. We ask that you please refrain from using profanity or making offensive statements towards others. These actions will not be tolerated.
Thank you,
The Truth Be Told Staff

By: john shelley on April 19, 2008
at 2:38 am

Do you think Jesus was a Christian?

By: Squeek on April 19, 2008
at 8:10 pm

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, so no, He was not a Christian, that term is left to describe His disciples and followers. Jesus doesn’t define people by a “religion,” He will only care about whether they acknowledge that He is the Son of God.

By: truthtold on April 19, 2008
at 8:46 pm

Eckhart’s message is one of the possible paths to Truth. How can that be dangerous?

By: Matt on April 24, 2008
at 1:03 am

I would disagree with your statement, there is ONLY One way to the Truth and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Way, The Truth and The Life Everlasting.
No one comes to the Father but through the Son, which is Jesus Christ.
Eckhart Tolles path, is wide to destruction, and leads many to the Paths of Hell, please read the Gospel. How can ANYONE who leads others down the wrong path be considered Good?
Eckhart Tolle has mislead Oprah Winfrey and Oprah Winfrey is decieving Millions more, that to me is a real sin and shame…

By: truthtold on April 24, 2008
at 2:27 am

I find it interesting how you will only post the comments that are supportive of the Christian way. If someone writes something that challenges your beliefs you eliminate it from your web site. If you are so strong in your beliefs then nothing should steer you off of your path of truth. Why are you so threatened by comments that support a different path?

Eve

By: Eve Simone on April 24, 2008
at 5:04 am

Dear Eve,

With all due respect I am careful about many of the replies that come in, as we have put up in our “About Us” anything that causes a distraction or is vulgar we will not put up.
I do feel many here would have been greatly offended if we had allowed, “All” of the the posts up.
With that said, when I created this Blog it was for the welfare of those who who concerned about the events taking place here in the United States and across the World.
We have well over 120 posts and continue to grow each day.
There are several that maintain this Blog, besides myself, so if they feel ‘Any Comment” is out of line, they are free to remove it.
My personal Faith is strong and I thank the good Lord for it, I am not threatened as you may feel by any one person in any way, shape form or another.
However, when it comes to Spiritual Life and Death that is something I do know something about, as I have gone through that twice in my Life.
I have died and come back to this Life on Earth and from that I can assure you that instead of having an attitude where I could easily just do “Nothing!” I cannot….
I know there is a Heaven and a Hell and as a Christian, I must share what I know to be the “Truth!”
Not something that has come from someones imagination.
As a published Author, I would never share ideas in my stories, to others that could harm their Spiritual Walk, or hinder them in finding their way.
I can share with you Eve, that Jesus Christ is the “Only Way” to Heaven, this I would know to be “Fact!”
Lastly, what a shame it would be to one day, go before the Throne of Jesus and see the Souls of Millions Lost, because it would have been easier to just shut my Laptop off and think about my own selfish pleasures….
I couldn’t do that, and Yes many will disagree, but that’s ok with me, as long as I do what I feel I can.
If you are at peace where you are in your beliefs, then that is up to you, for me I would not wish to see even ONE person lost, not even one..
Thank You Eve, for your reply and may you have a truly Wonderful Weekend ahead.
TBT

By: truthtold on April 24, 2008
at 5:53 am

This guy cracks me up… All he really is is a incompetant, ignorant man… sadly he’s not a Christian.. not even close… ignorance… there’s no difference. Jesus would be so disheartened with how people like ekhart tolle and oprah are disgracing his perfect name…

hypocrites

By: Carole on April 26, 2008
at 4:15 am

Dear Carole,

I think it is so tragic that so many have been taken in by his teachings. He is appealing to those who have no clue on how dangerous he is and that is pretty sad.
You have to keep people such as Eckhart and Oprah in your prayers, as well as those who claim to follow such teachings.
I wouldn’t go as far as calling someone a hypocrite.
Have an safe weekend.
TBT

By: truthtold on April 26, 2008
at 4:59 am

In reading A New Earth, and watching the videos with Oprah, I have not seen any evidence of being asked to follow or be “taken in” by Eckhart Tolle. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Anyone who feels their beliefs are threatened perhaps should step back and ponder why. There is no need to change. Be comfortable with who you are and accept others as they choose to be.

By: Sharsie on April 26, 2008
at 7:19 am

Dear Sharsie,

I too have read “A New Earth,” and feel completely different about Eckhart Tolles approach it is not as innocent as you want others to believe. The fact is I grew up with strong Christian Prinicipals, with my family being in the Ministry. So I do understand how Spiritually Dangerous such books are to those who may be ignorant to the “Real Spiritual Dangers!”
Eckhart Tolles hidden past is also something that every potential reader should consider prior to reading. Eckhart Tolles books are actually writtten much like those of the Hindu Religion or even that of the Buddist. To “Empty” ones mind into that thought process is a Spiritual Suicide. So as soon as these people begin reading Eckharts books, they do in fact “Change.” There is so much ignorance as to those Spiritual Dangers, that as a Christian I find it difficult to say his material is good, when I knowingly know it is not.
Eckharts books can certainly be a stumbling block for those searching for the Lord Jesus Christ, and for Christians it can take on the “Lukewarm” Faith, something that is visable when watching Oprah, who at one time cried when she saw the Reverend Billy Graham come to her show…Now even the loss of her twenty year old relationship carried no great Loss, when she waved Good Bye to that part of her past.
To say Tolles Books or the Videos with Oprah are not redirecting peoples spiritual direction, couldn’t be any further from the truth.
Question: You have a family member that you have always loved, and you see this family member pick up something that could seriously do him harm, do you say something, or do you speak out warning him or her of the “Real Harm” it can cause? As a Christian, it is a responsibilty to alert people when they could be heading into something Spiritually Dangerous, regardless of how strong their Faith is, if they begin to live differently because of the Mindset that they have attained, by reading material, then I think it’s important to say something.
The Holy Bible is the only book with Divine Inspiration, it gives the Truth and does Not deceive people, but brings them Closer to God.
Why hasn’t Oprah Winfrey shared that Book with her so called Book Club?

By: truthtold on April 26, 2008
at 6:58 pm

I am amazed that any Christian could think Tolle’s teachings do not conflict with Christianity! Tolle redefines sin and basically equates it with ego, and then proceeds to tell us we are not really who we think we are - we are not our ego but are really formless “Being.” He says that when Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” it means that we are all the Truth. Tolle blatantly declares that “you (the reader) are truth.” This is all in his book, “A New Earth.”

Tolle misinterprets almost every quote of Jesus that he references. Tolle has a Buddhist/New Age worldview, one I am quite familiar with having had that worldview for many years before trusting Christ. Tolle believes that we are basically good and all we need is an awakening and an awareness of who we really are — a part of “Being.” His “Being” is like the Buddha nature of Buddhism or the “One” of New Age.

Tolle attacks belief in “dogma” and this is a New Age code word for Christianity or the Bible. He clearly is against the belief that Jesus is the Redeemer who shed his blood for sin because Tolle does not believe man needs a redeemer. All we need is awareness of who we really are. This is the core message of all New Age writers - Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra, James Redfield, and dozens more.

Tolle believes we can create our “new heaven” and “new earth” by becoming aware. Everything in the book is totall opposed to the Bible.

Oprah is a New Thought Christian (which is not really a Christian but they believe they are). She admits influence by Eric Butterfield, a Unity minister. She believes what Tolle is writing and teaching — we were never separated from God and we only need to realize this truth to have our “awakening.”

By: Marcia on April 30, 2008
at 12:04 am

Dear truthtold: I really loved the article, and read thru the responses. I am a Christian, and decided to sign up for the classes offered by Oprah, using the Eckhart Tolle book “A New Earth”. I found out about the classes when my teacher, of my ladies Bible study, consisting of “12″ women, who had picked “Revelation” as their topic, heard about the them. I was not prepared, for the depth of deception and un-biblical ideas, taught at each class, as Oprah had appeared on her road trip show, attending a church, and said she was a Christian. This is the part that distrubs me the most, about the book and those who believe it. The amount of mis-information, concerning verses, and doctrines found in Scripture. And the claims of being a “true”, or “real”, “Christian”, is one I find most alarming, when these claims cannot co-exist with what the Bible teaches. One of the top devotees on Oprah.com, in her book discussions blog, is revered as a “Christian” and constantly adds this on his posts and makes this claim, daily to everyone and then adds that Eckhart Tolle, is the way to find the real truth. This is quoted back to anyone challenging the books teachings. The truth is, this is a “group-think”, cult, or new age relgion, filled with false teachings and a declaration, from the author, that the earth will be ruined and continue in wars, unless all people, agree with their collective counsiousness, to think certain thoughts, which will create the new planet. Eckhart Tolle also claims to be able to find space between thoughts , which is where the real truth comes from. These voids, or spaces, are offered as proof, he is more divine and more aware than any Christian. He claims this false idea, which stops any discussion or critical thinking, because, what can anyone say, to someone who claims they are at a higher level, more divine, and finding the truth in spaces between thoughts? Unless you have the discernment to see the truth, found only in Scripture, and read it, you will be decieved, and insist, upon this books theorys. The book and it’s ideas will ultimatly be proved, false. As the earth will not be rescued and made new until Jesus Christ returns, to begin that process. I thank you for your time and effort in offering this timely article.

By: memama on June 26, 2008
at 5:45 pm

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