For some time now, Biola University has been promoting contemplative spirituality. Biola’s Institute for Spiritual Formation teaches contemplative prayer, and Biola has a seat on the Board of Directors with the very contemplative Spiritual Formation forum.
As is so often the case with those who follow after contemplative, emerging spirituality goes hand in hand. In the Summer 2006 edition of Biola’s magazine, Biola Connections, an article that glorifies the postmodern idea that doctrine is an overemphasized criteria for Christians is featured. The article, titled “The D-Word: Has doctrine become the new dirty word?” begins by discussing Brian McLaren’s book, A Generous Orthodoxy. For a Christian university or college to even mention McLaren’s books (which promote emerging spirituality) without a strong warning to the reader is careless and may be very damaging to many.
Nearly two years ago, we sent a copy of A Time of Departing to Biola president, Dr. Clyde Cook, with a letter explaining our concerns that Biola was promoting and encouraging contemplative spirituality. Six months later we received a letter from Dr. Cook, in which he stated that Biola was doing nothing wrong at all. He made no mention of the book we sent nor did he address the contemplative issue. Now in 2006, Biola is showing all the earmarks of heading straight into emerging spirituality, which means they could become part of a global effort to unite all people under the false pretense that we are all connected to each other and to God. It is our prayer that the professors and students at Biola will stop and take a serious look at these issues.
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