THOMAS MERTON

Contemplative prayer was a procedure founded by monks during the 3^rd century. While claimed to be a method to help a person become a better Christian, contemplative prayer is identical to practices used by Buddhists and other Eastern religions. Who revived this practice and called it Christian?

………………………………………………………………………………

Thomas Merton was a world renowned Trappist monk and author who lived at the Abbey of Gethsemani near Bradstown, Kentucky from 1941 until he died in 1968. While a Catholic, he was more influenced by other religions than he was the Bible and Christianity.

Ray Yungen, in his book Time of Departing, documents Merton’s interest in the “wisdom of all religions.” Yungen cites William Shannon’s The Silent Lamp: The Thomas Merton Story in which Merton was once quoted as stating:

I believe that by openness to Buddhism, to Hinduism and to these great Asian mystical traditions, we stand a wonderful chance of learning more about the potentiality of our own Christian traditions. [1]

Now, you do not have to be a Bible scholar to see the error in Merton’s theology. Buddhists believe that evolution is god. Hindus believe that anything and everything is god and that even man can be God. What benefit would Christianity have by embracing Hinduism and Buddhism? Jesus said there is a narrow way that leads eternal life, and He was that narrow way. What would give a Catholic monk the right to say that Christianity can be revised to embrace pagan heretical teachings that send people to hell?

Further, Merton once said, “I see no contradiction between Buddhism and Christianity… I intend to become as good a Buddhist as I can.” [2

Now, let me remind you that Thomas Merton has been credited with rediscovering contemplative prayer. If he wanted to become a “good Buddhist and he saw no contradiction between Buddhism and Christianity, shouldn’t that be a clue for those who believe contemplative prayer is a modern day hotline to God? What was Merton’s definition of Christianity? It certainly was not a biblical one.

Perhaps, now, you can see where the church is headed. When the blind lead the blind there is no other choice. If Christians are willing to follow the teachings of Thomas Merton, then they will be further led away from the Scriptures. The narrow path will become wider and wider. According to Jesus this wide path is crowed with many who have been deceived and on their way to hell.

In the future you can expect many will fall for methods that introduce experiences in the name of Jesus that introduce the unsuspecting to “another Jesus”. Centering oneself to become more in tune, repeating single words over and over, breathing exercises in order to become more spiritually in tune, will be more and more popular. Those who attempt to warn the church of the dangers of contemplative prayer are singled out as divisive and negative.

This current trend reminds me of what prophets like Jeremiah faced when the children of Israel were warned that they had turned away from God and were embracing the pagan gods of the surrounding nations. Jeremiah pleaded with them to turn their back on the gods and get back to God - or face the consequences. What would Jeremiah say if he were here today?

I am Roger Oakland. This has been a biblical perspective to help understand the times. 

2473