Sorting Through the Chaff

 Over the past week, I have been listening to an amazing young lady named Melissa Dougherty.  She is an apologist, and one area she is researching extensively is the whole idea of what is called New Thought influences in Christianity.  She authored a book, Happy Lies, that I will be receiving this week as it is on order.  Looking at this material made me think, and there are a couple of observations about Melissa that I wanted to note. 

The one thing that strikes me about her video content is that she is very charitable - she is not going into this stuff with guns a-blazing, and she shows a remarkable sensitivity to people who are ensnared in some of the things she talks about.  This is a good thing as far as apologetics goes, because we should never view people who are into cultic or heretical beliefs as necessarily "the enemy," but rather we should see them as human beings who are victims of something they are not even aware of, and therefore it takes a level of compassion to reach out to them.  Melissa does that well, and I was very impressed with her. 

Another thing I noted about Melissa's work is that she really does her homework.  She doesn't do casual readings of things and then comment on them - rather, she explores all the nooks and crannies of the topic and presents an exhaustive overview of it.  That shows integrity as well, as Melissa does her due diligence in trying to give a comprehensive panorama of the topic, and I can appreciate that.  She is working on a Master's degree at this point, but with that type of research, she will honestly take to a dissertation like a duck to water.  

The one thing that is fascinating about Melissa's work is that she makes an important distinction between New Age and New Thought.  This is actually something that is important, because one is essentially a Christian heresy, while the other is sort of a heresy of Eastern religious traditions - even Hindus don't have a lot to do with New Agers, in all honesty.  While, as Melissa points out, there is some overlap between them, they are still distinct.  And, New Thought is a lot more insidious.  You can look at her videos on YouTube for more on that, because I don't want to steal her proverbial thunder, but I had an experience dealing with a New Thought group and I wanted to talk about it. 

Back when we lived in Florida, Barbara worked at her company with a young lady named Suzie.  Suzie was a sweet girl, but she was a bit, well, out there.  In 2010, she got married to her longtime fiance, and we were invited to the wedding.  The wedding was held at what is called a Unity church in Dunedin, FL, and Unity represents what is probably the largest and most visible New Thought group on the planet.  Upon arriving at this place, the first thing we noticed were a group of Buddhist monks milling about next door - I already knew something about Unity, and I knew it was a heretical group, but to be honest I was about to get a first-hand look at how bizarre it was.  The inside of the "sanctuary" was almost completely bare, except for a few rows of uncomfortable seats around about.  And, I got this weird spiritual vibe from the place - it was a bit creepy.  Then there was the minister, a woman named "Pastor Leddie."  Oh my goodness - she was a rare one!  She was acting something like a hippie flower child, and even looked like one, and when she officiated our friend's ceremony the words she spoke were like "universal harmony," "the brotherhood of the Christ spirit," and all sorts of wacky stuff.  Being a fairly traditional Catholic who was raised in a fairly conservative Pentecostal tradition, this Unity stuff was just out there for me.  But as a gentleman, I was respectful although on the way home Barbara and I were like "what in hell just happened??"  This "Pastor Leddie" in particular got a new nickname from me - Reverend Rainbow, because she sounded like a cross between Leo from That 70s Show and a big purple dinosaur named Barney.  It was an unforgettable experience for sure, and also perhaps one of the craziest weddings I have ever been to.  I was so thankful for Mass that Sunday, and hearing sound teaching again - I needed a palate cleansing for my soul in all honesty.

From my experience, let me just share a few things of my own.  If you ever have the experience of visiting a group like that, there are two things to remember.  First, pray up before you go, because you are entering the proverbial "belly of the beast," and if you are not prepared for it, the deception can be subtle but deadly.  Secondly, don't go into a place like that thinking you have the call of an evangelist to "straighten them out."  You are in their territory, and although it may not be that pleasant for you, try to act civil.  If you can do that, then you have the true message of Mark 16 - you are compelled to drink the deadly thing, but it shall not harm you.  Supernatural grace is what does that, so remember that also.  

Unity, in particular, can be quite insidious with its message, as even people in orthodox Christian groups can get sucked in by its publications such as The Daily Word.  I recall this old Italian lady I knew at a parish we attended, and she thought that The Daily Word was gospel truth.  And, despite the fact some of us told her to stay away from that, she got defensive about it.  Finally, you just have to surrender people like that to God, because if they are not ready to hear the truth, they will not be receptive to it.  It always amazes me at how many Catholics are duped by not only stuff like this, but also preachers like Joel Osteen.  I had an acquaintance I know who claimed to be a "traditional Catholic" but he idolized Joel Osteen - when I attempted to tell him that Joel Osteen was heretical, he blocked me on social media.  Again, if they refuse to hear, give them to God.  As Melissa has pointed out in many of her videos, there are some of these esoteric New Thought things that have crept into Christian churches, and often you don't know it's there until an astute person who can discern them points them out.  That is why the work that Melissa and others do is so vital, and I would love to see some good Catholic apologists rise up who would tackle those issues, as New Thought garbage is totally opposed to Catholic teaching and no faithful Catholic should have anything to do with it. 

Given I have a class to teach shortly, that is my word of the day.  Thanks again for joining me, and will see you next time.