Earlier this week I was sent a story about and Anglican priestess with gnostic tendencies and for homosexual acts who was giving a conference on “centering prayer” at St. Olaf’s in Minneapolis. I didn’t post on it since I figured Archbishop Niestedt would take care of the problem. Faithful Rebel reports that this is indeed what has now happened and the class is being moved to an Episcopal church.
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Jeff, I’m glad you explained “centering” prayer. My local Catholic bookseller told me someone advised her to “stop thinking” and let her mind go blank during prayer so that God’s answer would become clear. She said she’d tried and became panicky, so I’ll let her know that she was right to give it a pass!
That poor Archbishop has his hands full. A quick prayer for his strength and work. Pater noster…
Just for snorts and giggles, what is “centering” prayer?
Mack,
Centering prayer is a fad where you are suppose to empty yourself to prepare yourself for God. It’s roots are rather heterodox as are many of its practitioners and can even become a form of self-hypnosis. Some people using this have opened themselves up to something other than God.
Thanks.
It sounds like a real risk of SELF-centering prayer — more me, me, me-ness.
God bless the Bishop for taking care of business! It is a thankless job, but there are several of them who really know what matters!
“My local Catholic bookseller told me someone advised her to “stop thinking” and let her mind go blank during prayer so that God’s answer would become clear”.
I don’t think that the bookseller’s advice was bad. After all, you can’t listen if you’re talking, even mentally. I do think there’s a difference between practicing “Be still, and know that I am God” and the practice of emptying the brain with the goal of achieving some state of nothingness. The difference is in the intention and the focus, I think.
“and the class is being moved to an Episcopal church”
Great – thanks a bunch, guys…