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Thursday, September 29, 2005

Leonard Sweet & Willis Harman: "Spiritual Sciences"

Willis W. Harman is quoted favorably in neoevangelical Leonard I. Sweet's online book, Quantum Spirituality: A Postmodern Apologetic:

"New Lights must catch the waves of a spiritual Gulf Stream taking them into unknown regions of what Nobel laureate/philosopher/London School of Economics professor Karl Popper and electrical engineer/Stanford University professor Willis W. Harman call the 'Spiritual Sciences.'"6 ( p. 218)

Here Sweet introduces the concept of the "Spiritual Sciences." He would have Christians believe that this is a necessary part of the journey to enlightenment, to becoming "New Lights." Willis Harman describes his concept of "spiritual sciences" in an interview with Jeffrey Mishlove, Ph.D.:

"Then there's a fourth level, which I would call the spiritual sciences, and we don't have very good representations of that yet, although some of the Tibetan Buddhist psychological work certainly would qualify as part of that. There are certain things in the Gnostic tradition of Christianity that would, and transpersonal psychology." TWM, SCIENCE AND RELIGION with WILLIS HARMAN, Ph.D. [Emphasis added] [http://twm.co.nz/harm_scirel.htm]

A more in-depth definition of "spiritual sciences" can be found at ASTROMIND - Cognitive Research and Development, a mind development and research lab. This definition clearly demonstrates the occult nature of this so-called "science." [http://www.astromind.com/articles/sciences.html]

"Spiritual Sciences

"Spiritual science focuses on integrating and unifying the substance of reality. It teaches the importance of action, feeling, awareness, collective observation, active detachment and the scientific practice to create more freedom, existence and being. It produces true visionaries through the skillful utilization of creativity, intuition, initiative and intent. Mastery of this discipline leads to great vision and spiritual illumination. The following is a list of various traditions within the field of spiritual science.

"Agni Yoga.
Alistair Crowley.
Arhatic Yoga.
Asparsha Yoga.Astanga Yoga.
Bhakti Yoga.
Carlos Castaneda.
The Sorcerer's Way.
D.E.Harding.
The Headless Way.
est.
G.I.Gurdjieff.
The Fourth Way.
Gnosis.Hatha Yoga.
Hindu Yoga.
Integral Yoga.
Jnana Yoga.
Karma Yoga.
Kriya Yoga.
Kripalu Yoga.
Kundalini Yoga.
Lambika Yoga.
Laya Yoga.
Mantra Yoga.
Metaphysics.
Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism.
Power Yoga.
Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO).
Osho.
Raja Yoga.
Sahaja Yoga.
Sankirtan Yoga.
Shamanism.
Shiva Yoga.
Siddha Yoga.
Sri Adi Da Avatar.
Free Daism.
Surat Shabd Yoga or Nada Yoga.
Taoism.
Tantra.
Taraka Yoga.
Theravadan Buddhism.
Tibetan Buddhism.
Yantra Yoga.
Yoni Tantra.
Zen Buddhism."

The Truth:

Leonard Sweet's introduction to "Spiritual Sciences" does not lead Christian believers into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ but leads into the same esoteric state as yoga. Believers in Christ are not called to catch the waves of a spiritual movement but rather we are exhorted to grow up "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4:13-15)

Stay tuned!