What to do with new age book

[benidict]

First off …Catholics are Christians (we have been since the name was coined in Antioch…(but I know what you meant)

It may be that they do…but that does not per se make it safe or good…(though perhaps a scholar may have good reason to study on it)

Nor a practice I would think the Church recommends…

This may be helpful from a CA apologist forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=374917&highlight=Kabbalah

Interesting. I was studying this before my conversion, and After my conversion, this was a carry over. I found out my priest studied it also. It is not a practice that the Church recomends, but it is not forbidden also. My priest in my home parish and I have studied it together. There is alot of mis information about this area of study.

 

[Bookcat]

Interesting. I was studying this before my conversion, and After my conversion, this was a carry over. I found out my priest studied it also. It is not a practice that the Church recomends, but it is not forbidden also. My priest in my home parish and I have studied it together. There is alot of mis information about this area of study.

Certainly if it is dangerous to ones Faith is is not to be studied…

I do not know enough to say precisely what could be “forbidden” or not here (at least from an academic point of view).

(certainly I would stay completely away from the “occult interpretations” noted in the article there above)

another link:

ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=475774&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=2010&Author=&Keyword=Kabbalah&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=5&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=

and

ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=453470&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=2010&Author=&Keyword=Kabbalah&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=6&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=

 

[Bookcat]

I personally think that using Buddhist meditative practices as a base for Catholic meditation would help virtually all Catholics. Meditation has been proven to make people happier which in turn makes people act more like Jesus. In all honesty, the act of meditation is reasonably non denominational depending on how you do it. You could easily meditate on Jesus’ love while using different Buddhist meditation practices as a base. You can’t argue that meditating on Jesus’ love and compassion could be dangerous or evil, right?

The Church has given a very good instruction on this question.

ewtn.com/library/curia/cdfmed.htm

 

[Bookcat]

You are looking at Buddhism through the lens of a Catholic. Buddhism doesn’t breed scrupulosity IMO because the religion doesn’t focus on “sin” like Christianity. It isn’t really a Buddhist practice to dwell on your shortcomings which is something that seems to be common place within Catholicism. Doing bad things is completely different within Eastern religions.

Christianity (in its Catholic sense) does not focus on sin. We focus on Christ the Risen Lord who gives us true life. He is whom we follow…

Yes I do not want to sin…one can give an example from family life (by analogy): just as I do not want to hurt my wife…I do not want to separate myself from Christ by mortal sin…just like I do not what to gravely harm my marriage…’

But that does not make avoiding hurt or grave harm to my wife my focus…and of course we seek to “Follow Christ” to live in love…to live in virtue to become more like him as his disciples…to be more and more what we are…Christians.

(now of course some Christians can become disordered in their approach to the moral life…just as some marriage can become disordered in their approach…the husband walking on egg shells around his wife due to his misplaced concerns…but such is not the way things are to be…but are rather off the mark)

As for Buddhists…and Christians…a short note since we are really taking this thread to where it does not want to go…

Buddhists in a sense can be said to be seeking to move towards a depersonalized nirvana…we Christians move toward a full personal existence with God.

 

[jimjack]

Christianity (in its Catholic sense) does not focus on sin. We focus on Christ the Risen Lord who gives us true life. He is whom we follow…

Yes I do not want to sin…one can give an example from family life (by analogy): just as I do not want to hurt my wife…I do not want to separate myself from Christ by mortal sin…just like I do not what to gravely harm my marriage…’

But that does not make avoiding hurt or grave harm to my wife my focus…and of course we seek to “Follow Christ” to live in love…to live in virtue to become more like him as his disciples…to be more and more what we are…Christians.

(now of course some Christians can become disordered in their approach to the moral life…just as some marriage can become disordered in their approach…the husband walking on egg shells around his wife due to his misplaced concerns…but such is not the way things are to be…but are rather off the mark)

As for Buddhists…and Christians…a short note since we are really taking this thread to where it does not want to go…

With all due respect…

Buddhists in a sense can be said to move towards a depersonalized nirvana…we Christians move toward a full personal existence.

Theravada buddhism is more depersonalized nirvana. The Dalai Lama’s newest book focuses on how compassion towards others and helping the community is a key to happiness. Definitely not depersonalized.

 

[Bookcat]

Theravada buddhism is more depersonalized nirvana. The Dalai Lama’s newest book focuses on how compassion towards others and helping the community is a key to happiness. Definitely not depersonalized.

Well there are various strands of Buddhism …I imagine if you took him all the way…in the end would he not seek that same…outside of good things in this “lifetime”?

Oh…and I recall him actually telling westerners to not seek after Buddhism…

 

[Bookcat]

peterkreeft.com/topics-more/religions_buddhism.htm

 

[Little_One0307]

**I personally think that using Buddhist meditative practices as a base for Catholic meditation would help virtually all Catholics. **Universal Categorical statements are not good. I can think of many Catholics who would be harmed by using methods or practices outside of their Catholic Faith. Meditation has been proven to make people happier which in turn makes people act more like Jesus. In all honesty, the act of meditation is reasonably non denominational depending on how you do it. You could easily meditate on Jesus’ love while using different Buddhist meditation practices as a base. You can’t argue that meditating on Jesus’ love and compassion could be dangerous or evil, right?

No I cannot argue that meditating on Jesus’ love and compassion could be dangerous or evil, you are right.

There are methods inside the Catholic Tradition that are conducive to meditation, and I have no problem with these. Meditation is common as you say to all denominations, but as I am a Roman Catholic, I choose and adhere to by the grace of God, the methods and practices that have been accepted by the Holy Fathers and the Magesterium of the Church. I choose not to go outside the Church.

My belief is if you are a Buddhist, then fine use their techniques. If you are a Church of Christ, use theirs. But when in Rome do as the Romans do. I do not think that the Church accepts Eastern mediatation practices [meaning Oriental, and not the accepted Eastern Orthodox].

Mixing other practices with Catholicism has a tendency to water down one’s Catholic Faith, I have seen it. It happens in liberal religious Communities, liberal parishes, and so forth. I have seen both sides of the spectrum, I will take the Traditions and Magesterium of the Church everytime.

Thanks for responding. God Bless.

Little One0307

 

[mangy_dog]

I have a new age book that was given to me years ago. What should I do to get rid of it? Is wrong to give the book away or trade it? Is that leading someone to a near occasion of sin? Or should I just pitch it in the trash?

I would treat it like an evil object: burn it; bury it; sprinkle holy water over it. And forget about it.

That’s my mangy dog solution.