[T]he first step in faith is to stop thinking about God at the time of prayer... Choose a single, sacred word...repeat the sacred word inwardly, slowly, and often.
Brennan Manning, Signature of Jesus, pp.212, 218. Cited by Brian Flynn in Running Against the Wind, p.171
And here I thought the whole idea of prayer IS to be thinking about God!
Question: Since when is repeating a word over and over a "prayer"? Perhaps Mr. Manning should read Matthew 6:7: "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (NIV). Or, perhaps the KJV is more pointed: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."
Brennan Manning teaches much New Age ideology and should be avoided at all costs.
Of course he should be avoided; he and the whole contemplative prayer crowd! What heretics! Oh, and what is a "sacred word" to these people? It can only be ME, MYSELF, or I. Pick one.
ReplyDelete"Canada"
Could he possibly be "confusing" prayer with mantra? Methinks so. Sounds more than a little New Age to me.
ReplyDelete(Sadly) This old catholic mystical wizard has been quoted from; and highly recommended (including Mannings Ragamuffin miss-oracle The Ragamuffin Gospel) Right up on my local conservative baptist Sunday morning worship platform. This mystic Manning is no one to follow. Or to teach about praying! As He is not teaching anything Jesus The Christ taught or recommended as a way to pray. That so many people can be fooled into mystic mcmesses is just 1 reason Brennan Manning should be on the "Warning Will Robinson! Warning!" list to flee from reading. Add on getting him OUT of your church "library" shelves also.
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