My faith has been shaken! - Help!

[Eireann]

This guy practices neuro linguistic programming. It is a psychological practice which has as yet not been scientifically verified. I am currently reading about it. I can’t find any Catholic sites that have mentioned this practice to find out what people think of it but I have read it has links with the New Age era.

AP Quinn

Well beam me up Scotty ! didn’t you read the Bible ? do you believe a Man called Jesus was born in Bethlehem, went on a mission to preach the Gospel for 3 years, healed the blind, dumb speak, cured the lame, raised the dead to life and more importantly preached the good news, and forgave sins ?

Is the Holy land an illusion, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jordan get him to explain these illusions away too, like the Sea of Galilee is just a bucket of water sitting outside my back door.

I’ll bet he can make some believe they don’t exist either, your just a figment of your imagination, or the Holy Land doesn’t exist either, when we know it does.

I’ll bet he’s making a fine living out of all this stuff…

Exodus 7:6
And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded: so did they. 7 And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharao. 8 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 9 When Pharao shall say to you, Shew signs: thou shalt say to Aaron: Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharao, and it shall be turned into a serpent. 10 So Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharao, and did as the Lord had commanded. And Aaron took the rod before Pharao, and his servants, and it was turned into a serpent.

11 And Pharao called the wise men and the magicians: and they also by Egyptian enchantments and certain secrets did in like manner. 12 And they every one cast down their rods, and they were turned into serpents: but Aaron’s rod devoured their rods.

 

[Jedinovice]

I’m going to wade in here for once.

Rest assured, there is not need to worry and I think I know how to calm things.

Firstly, bear in mind that the UK is pretty much as atheistic as you can get without formally banning religion (though, alas, I think it’s on it’s way. The National Secular Society has low membership but is shaping public thinking big time!) Brits foundational intellectual premise is that religion is an illusion. Conscious or not Darren Brown is going to be affected by a media and educational climate that blow torches religious faith. Thus, his interpretation of the nature of religious belief is going to be made in the line with a climate and culture that (unless one is very well educated in apologetics and has a strong faith) assumes religion = delusion. It is no accident that Richard Dawkins and the God delusion’ hail from the UK.

Secondly, Brown’s ideology is actually a great reducer. Anything and EVERYTHING is suggestion ultimately. Nothing is real. Our sense of morality = suggestion. Our sense of love for spouses, family, children friends, it’s all suggestion. Our desire to watch the TV = suggestion. Everything becomes a form of suggestion unless Brown is willing to state that some things are real. But, on what basis? Ultimately, whether he realises it or not, his ideology reduces to Nhilism. Brits are AWFUL for not thinking their philosophy through and, thus, he’s probably completely unaware of the implications of his thinking or his foundational principles. (The most dangerous ideology is the one that is unacknowledged.) The UK has lost all power of philosophy and (proper) critical thinking. As one as one doesn’t believe in a God with a moral code it doesn’t matter what you believe and no need to examine it.

Thirdly, just because someone can be influenced does not mean there is not a reality to counter. This shows up Brown’s (unconscious) assumption. He assumes religious belief = suggestion (again, that typical British ‘assume no God as FACT and then reason’) but does not consider the imperical evidence and logical arguments for God. This is countered by good knowledge of the arguments for God.

Bear in mind that in the UK religious belief is hammered home as being irrational every day on every TV channel and every school. (I don’t watch British TV anymore, even ‘Dr Who’ which I used to love but is no a vehicle for social engineering.) If you live in the UK your faith is going to be assaulted. It’s almost Soviet here now.

 

[Jedinovice]

The solution is twofold:

1. Assume that those that tell you there is no God, faith is irrational, etc, etc, know nothing about the arguments for God, have never questioned their own premises and are, in fact, the brain washed ones. Trust me, I’ve scratched the surface on this one and once you get past the boiler plate ‘what about’ objectons to religious belief, the average Brit has not even the intellectual tools to begin to grasp theology, let alone refute it. I spend time explaining how one reasons to people! Every explanation of everything in the UK ASSUMES atheism and then explantions of events and evidence relating to religious belief are all made in line with this working premise (which can’t ever be questioned!) They are brainwashed - you ain’t! (I’ve spent ages deprogramming Brits so they begin to understand religion. It’s tough but I’ve got new respect from atheists as a result.)
2. Read!! The case for God is cumulative. There is a mass of data and argument that makes a compelling case for God. There is no way a power of ‘suggestion’ refutes the moral argument for God or the gathering data refuting materialistic Darwinism. Only if you assume atheism and assume religious faith = irrationality does the suggestion argument have any strength. (Of course, that applies to 90% of the population of the UK…) You must read ‘Mere Christianity’ by C.S. Lewis. That alone will help you. Then read ‘The Abolition of Man.’ Read EVERYTHING by C.S. Lewis! Drop into the Design Institute website for Intelligent design reading. The ID theorists (who are NOT creationists!!!) have a much stronger case than the media allows us to here. Also read up on Near Death Experiences. While you can’t draw a theology from such experiences, I found much there inspirational. I recommend the book ‘My descent into hell’ by Howard Storm. His story really refocused my moral life! Collectively, your faith will be strengthened. I also wrote a book refuting Dawkins TV program ‘The root of all Evil’ which I have found (to my surprise!) a great tool for driving past the objections of atheists and starting real discussion. I can email it to you if you like - it’s free for distribution!

In the UK you are assaulted from every side. You have to have strong Christian community (the Mass alone will not cut it!) and you’ve got to be well educated in apologetics even if you do not use it for direct evangelism. It’s tough here, really tough.

But Brown does not know that which he critiques, I assure you. Suggestion videos only show influence - even powerful influence, but it’s not an argument. I even know a bit about his techniques. He’s not as powerful as first appears. ‘Mere Christianity’ will steady you. It’s an easy read and I’ve given it to (now ex-)atheists.

God bless!