Recently, with the explosion of the film The Secret, we posted an article about Secret teacher Jack Canfield (the creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series). In the article, “Understanding the Spirituality of Jack Canfield,” Canfield is quoted as saying:
Every religion I’ve looked at has some technology … I’ve studied all of them and found what works for me and I’ve tried to make it available to others. What works for me is a combination of disciplines: I do yoga, tai chi which is a Chinese martial art and three kinds of meditation-vipasana, transcendental and mantra (sound) meditation. If you have to pick a yoga for me, I lean towards bhakii in the sense of devotion, adoration, singing, feeling love and joy exist in my heart.”-Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, from “Choosing to Be Happy
While it is clear that Chicken Soup for the Soul has targeted the Christian market (with several Chicken Soup for the Christian books), it is unsettling to see a major Christian publisher (NavPress) take it a step further and publish Chicken Soup for the Soul Bible(2004). The “Bible” is published through Pinion Press, an imprint of NavPress. In a phone call to NavPress, we were told that the book is currently out of stock and is being considered for possibly non-reprint as sales of the book have dropped. Incidentally, Pinion Press has also published Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen.
The Chicken Soup for the Soul Bible is not the first time NavPress has shown affinity with contemplative spirituality or eastern mysticism. They are also the producers of PrayKids, a magazine that encourages kids to practice contemplative prayer.1 In addition, NavPress is the publisher for several contemplative and/or emerging church authors, including Brennan Manning, Dan Allender, Larry Crabb, Bruce Demarest , Tony Jones, Eugene Peterson, Dallas Willard, and Gary Thomas. NavPress is the publisher for the popular The Message Bible by Eugene Peterson.
It doesn’t look like NavPress is going to halt their promotion of contemplative spirituality any time soon. New Releases include Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice by Dallas Willard, The Complete Book of Discipleship by Bill Hull, Inside Out (updated edition) by Larry Crabb,The Great Pursuit by Eugene Peterson, Divine Intervention: Encountering God Through the Ancient Practice of Lectio Divina by Tony Jones, and another version of The Message.
For more information on NavPress, click here.
