Two letters written to Lighthouse Trails recently (similar to many others we receive): I just looked at your list of colleges and seminaries that are joining with the Emergent church movement. I am shocked and horrified. Moody Bible, Taylor University (my children attended Taylor in the 1990s) and so many more that at one time … [Read more…]
On October 21st, someone from the Media Relations department at Biola University contacted Lighthouse Trails because of articles we have posted about Biola’s promotion of contemplative spirituality. The person, who asked not to be identified in our articles, said that statements Lighthouse Trails has made are libelous. Upon asking for examples of libelous statements, none … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: Lighthouse Trails received the following letter this week from a student at Biola University (one we have been in contact with for some time). The student has asked to remain anonymous. Biola has been the subject of several Lighthouse Trails articles because of their promotion of contemplative spirituality. This letter is just … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: The following is a letter we received about Ambrose University in Canada. More proof that contemplative spirituality is sweeping across North American’s Christian colleges, seminaries, and universities and overtaking the hearts, minds, and souls of countless young (and older) people. Because of this letter and our research on the school that followed, we … [Read more…]
Popular and prolific Christian figure, Lee Strobel, has made a case for an “early church father,” Ignatius of Antioch (not Loyola). Strobel, author of nearly 20 books, is currently a member of Saddleback Church. He was a teaching pastor at Willow Creek for many years, then joined the teaching staff at Saddleback Church in 2000. … [Read more…]
According to a press release from Liberty University (the largest evangelical university in the world), Jonathan Falwell has been named Vice-Chancellor for spiritual affairs at Liberty. His brother Jerry Falwell, Jr. is the current Chancellor at the school. Jonathan Falwell will be providing counsel and recommendations “on matters related to the doctrinal integrity of the … [Read more…]
According to a statement on Moody Bible Institute’s website, the school is looking for a new president. Michael Easley resigned from the position in May 2008. The statement reads, in part: The Board of Trustees is committed to this task and excited about finding the person we believe God has already chosen to be our … [Read more…]
Bethel University in St. Paul, MN has elected a new president. James (Jay) Barnes III has been chosen to fill the spot. Bethel University has been a proponent of contemplative spirituality for some time. The new president may follow suit as he states in his “Faith Journey” profile on the university site, “My Catholic friends … [Read more…]
LTRP Note: Lighthouse Trails is posting this section of “An Evangelical Manifesto” with a link to the document itself, not as an endorsement but rather for research purposes. An Introduction “An Evangelical Manifesto is an open declaration of who Evangelicals are and what they stand for. It has been drafted and published by a representative … [Read more…]
Is the William Carey Institute in Canada promoting contemplative spirituality? It appears the answer is yes. The Institute, located in Vancouver, BC, offers “creative learning experiences that equip church congregations and individual Christians in their ministry, personal development, and spiritual formation.” 1 The Institute’s Centre for Spiritual Formation is providing various contemplative experiences, including lectio … [Read more…]
Lighthouse Trails Research has provided extensive information on Christian colleges that are promoting contemplative and emerging spiritualities. Many parents we have spoken with have either pulled their young college students from those schools or at the very least warned their children of the dangers. But parents also need to find out where their students are … [Read more…]
In November 2004, Lighthouse Trails Research issued its first alert to Christian colleges that are promoting contemplative spirituality. The four colleges listed in that alert were San Fransisco Theological Seminary, Biola University, Bethel University, and Lincoln Christian College and Seminary. Since then, several other alerts have been issued. What has become all too painfully … [Read more…]
On March 4th, Mount Vernon Nazarene University will bring Walter Brueggemann (Professor Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary) to speak as part of their year long Lecture/Artist series. (1) Brueggemann is a proponent of contemplative/emergent spirituality as are other speakers that have been brought to MVNU in the past. Two weeks ago, the university invited Shane … [Read more…]
As was reported in two previous stories (February 2007, August 2007), Liberty University has been incorporating contemplative/emerging authors into their classrooms and college life. Nearly a year after our first report, Liberty shows no signs of taking a stand against this anti-biblical belief system. Students attending Liberty will be required to read the following books … [Read more…]
On February 11th, Cedarville University will be hosting an evening (link removed by Cedarville) with emerging church activist Shane Claiborne. The evening is titled after Claiborne’s book, The Irresistible Revolution. Lighthouse Trails spoke with John Purple (Cedarville’s Dean for Student Life), who said the event was open to both students and the public. Lighthouse Trails … [Read more…]
Leaders at Moody Bible Institute have adamantly insisted they do not promote or endorse contemplative spirituality. And in spite of repeated promotion of contemplatives, such as Larry Crabb, Dallas Willard, Keri Wyatt Kent, and Richard Foster, they have publicly stated they are against contemplative. Lighthouse Trails offered on more than one occasion to send faculty … [Read more…]
Palm Beach Atlantic University is a Christian college in Florida. Their “Guiding Principles” statement says: Founded under the providence of God with the conviction that there is a need for a university in this community that will expand the minds, develop the moral character and enrich the spiritual lives of all the people who may … [Read more…]
In August 2007, Lighthouse Trails wrote a College Alert about Alberta, Canada’s Prairie Bible Institute. The article documented numerous scenarios at Prairie that show the college is being influenced by contemplative spirituality. However, in the most recent issue of Servant (Prairie’s magazine), Prairie president Jon Ohlhauser discussed Lighthouse Trails’ article (not mentioning LT directly).1 Ohlhauser … [Read more…]
“Belmont seeks broader identity” Baptists say school has left religious roots By COLBY SLEDGE Staff Writer At Belmont University, the new religion is change. Enrollment is the highest ever. As soon as one residence hall is completed, another goes up. Students and faculty call President Bob Fisher “Bob the Builder,” for his drive toward the … [Read more…]
“Our aim is to call students to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, and our approach to reaching this goal is increasingly unique in the educational landscape.” (Briercrest Mission Statement) Briercrest College and Seminary in Saskatchewan, Canada is a Christian institution that claims to provide “Bible based education enabling Christ-like integrity in life, thought, … [Read more…]
Lighthouse Trails has been contacted by the family of a young Christian woman who was enrolled at Moody Bible Institute, where she hoped to obtain her nearly-reached degree. This week the young woman learned that the college (and at least one of the classes she was registered for) was promoting contemplative spirituality. Upon learning this, … [Read more…]
Prairie Bible Institute, a renown Bible college in Alberta, Canada, is showing strong signs that it is going in a contemplative direction. A concerned parent contacted Lighthouse Trails and told us about a Servant (the college magazine ministry) article that quoted New Age/goddess worshipper Sue Monk Kidd. Unfortunately, this is not the only indication that … [Read more…]
PARENTAL WARNING: The following news story is an example of how contemplative spirituality in the Christian colleges is changing the lives of Christian kids. It has become epidemic. If your child is attending a Christian college, please make sure they understand about the dangers of mysticism and contemplative spirituality (i.e., spiritual formation). Adding discipline to … [Read more…]
As contemplative spirituality and emerging church mentality is racing into most Christian colleges and seminaries, perhaps we should take a glimpse at what a truly contemplative/emerging college looks like. Andover Newton Theological School may be just such an example. Started in 1807, it is the oldest graduate school of theology in the United States. It’s … [Read more…]
Trinity Western University (TWU) of British Columbia, Canada, has joined up with the contemplative/emerging ministry of 24-7 prayer. The founder of 24-7 prayer is Pete Geis (of the UK), author of Red Moon Rising. In October, we reported on this situation in an article titled, “Red Moon Rising: An Army for God with a ‘Violent … [Read more…]
July 2008 Update: Lighthouse Trails has been in contact with Patrick Henry, and the school no longer has spiritual formation groups. Their new president has stated that the school will not be going in that direction. In addition, they are not using contemplative and/or emerging books in their classes. Thus we have removed them from … [Read more…]
In June of this year, we reported that several Christian colleges and seminaries now have Spiritual Formation programs. One of those we listed was Cedarville University of Ohio. The Spiritual Formation course, titled BEGE 1720 is taught by Dr. Richard Blumenstock, and while the course outline lists no use of contemplative authors, Cedarville’s 64-page Student … [Read more…]
“As part of the Ben H. Williams Distinguished Speaker Series, the Hankamer School of Business has invited best-selling author Ken Blanchard to speak at a noon luncheon Monday. “Blanchard’s published works include Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time and The One Minute Manager, which has sold more … [Read more…]
Pretty soon, it is back to school, and thousands of teens and young adults will be flooding the doors of Christian colleges and seminaries. For nearly five years now, we have been researching Christian colleges and seminaries, have spoken to countless professors and several presidents and have found that most of these higher education … [Read more…]
According to the Articles of Faith at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, the university believes the Bible is the “inspired, the only infallible, authoritative word of God” and that Jesus Christ is God. But their Bachelor of Science Degree with Major in Youth Ministries may send out a conflicting message. According to the … [Read more…]