Topic: Contemplative Prayer

June 27, 2007

From a Reader on Contemplative Prayer

Dear CS:I've read several of your entries on Contemplative Prayer and mysticism and would like to thank you for posting these concerns. I, too, as a former astrologer and New Ager now in full time ministry, have the same concerns... ... more

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May 22, 2007

The Prayers of the Believer

An excerpt from "Being Human" which discusses the influences of platonic thinking on the church:In the mystical tradition, not surprisingly, prayer using words becomes a means to achieve a state of passionlessness. This verbal prayer is said to be only... ... more

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Is Contemplative Prayer Christian Prayer?

The origin of contemplative prayer and its spread from catholic mystics into protestant circles was recently discussed in a revealing article published by a number of media outlets (click here):While contemplative prayer has been taught over centuries by Catholic mystics... ... more

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March 03, 2007

The Rise of Contemplative Prayer

Roman Catholics have led the upsurge in the popularity of contemplative prayer, a mystical method of prayer thought to bring one closer to God. However, the practice is now becoming more common among protestants:While contemplative prayer has been taught over... ... more

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January 14, 2007

Contemplative Prayer Heads CT's Webpage

I was surprised to find breath prayer and deep listening marketed on Christianity Today's homepage:Read a short passage of Scripture slowly, noticing which word seems to jump off the page. Spend a few moments in silence. Do this several times,... ... more

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August 28, 2006

Emptying your mind with meaningless repetition

Contemplative and centering prayer were part of recent services at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Members sat quietly, having chosen a sacred word to repeat until the reached a "peaceful state". One of the organizers explained, "You begin by gently introducing... ... more

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June 13, 2006

Telling Quotes

I meditated for hours on words, images, and sounds. I reached the point of being able to achieve alpha brain patterns. —Mike Perschon, freelance writer for Youth Specialties T]he first step in faith is to stop thinking about God at... ... more

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June 12, 2006

Vain Repetitions, Vain Repetitions, Vain Repetitions, Vain Repetitions

Brian Flynne writes:The technique involves repeating a word or phrase over and over until reaching what is called "the silence." Sometimes, instead of a word or phrase, the breath is focused upon, thus the name breath prayers. The goal? Reaching... ... more

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June 10, 2006

Contemplative Prayer and the Evangelical Church

By Ray Yungen There is a practice that is becoming more and more popular within the evangelical church. It is called contemplative prayer or centering prayer. Youth organizations and seminaries are particularly drawn to this, thus impacting the Christian youth... ... more

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June 09, 2006

Rick Warren and Breath Prayers

By Rick Warren Breath Prayers - God wants us to connect with Him on a moment-by-moment basis. When we pray once a week or even once a day, we fail to take advantage of everything God has for us! Breath... ... more

Posted at 08:53 PM

Contemplative Prayer

From CenteringPrayer.com:Contemplative Prayer is a prayer of silence, an experience of God’s presence as the ground in which our being is rooted, the Source from whom our life emerges at every moment. For the Church's first sixteen centuries Contemplative Prayer... ... more

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Centering Prayer

According to www.contemplativeoutreach.org, "Centering Prayer is drawn from ancient prayer practices of the Christian contemplative heritage, notably the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert, Lectio Divina, (praying the scriptures), The Cloud of Unknowing, St. John of the Cross and St.... ... more

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June 07, 2006

Contemplative Prayer Necessary ...

Slice of Laodicea gives an update on the Be Still DVD controversy:The underlying theme of the Be Still DVD is that we cannot truly know God or be intimate with Him without contemplative prayer and the state of silence that... ... more

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June 03, 2006

Contemplative Prayer

It's a code word ... When Christians contemplate God's Word or are meditating on it, the mind is still engaged and the individual is still thinking. Popular movements such as contemplative prayer, centering prayer or breath prayers are different. These... ... more

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May 27, 2006

Contemplative Prayer

Tim Challies writes a book review on A Time of Departing including the following:Contemplative prayer has been practiced by professed Christians since the early days of the church. Once a practice known only to a few Catholic mystics, today it... ... more

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