Trevecca Nazarene University Continues To Promote Mystical Silence Instead of Biblical Prayer

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By Manny Silva of Concerned Nazarenes

“I am deepening in the mystical forms of prayer.” (Dan Boone)

Thanks to the undiscerning “leadership” of President Dan Boone, Trevecca Nazarene students will have the opportunity to go on a mystical ride. Once again, it time for the “Spiritual Formation” retreat at the Gethsemani monastery in Kentucky, spiritual home to the famed Roman Catholic mystic, universalist, and Buddhist sympathizer Thomas Merton. (https://www.trevecca.edu/community-life/faith-service/spiritual-formation-retreat) Merton, who is dead, is a rising star amongst many undiscerning, confused or deceived Nazarene pastors of today. Along with his spiritual brother, Henri Nouwen, and other modern day proponents such as Richard Foster, they have risen to a prominence equaling and perhaps surpassing that old out of style book called the Bible.

Contemplative prayer uses the same meditative exercises used in Eastern religions and New Age cults. Practicing the silence has absolutely no basis in scripture, yet Dan Boone has deceived many students at Trevecca by sending them on yearly retreats alongside Roman Catholic nuns and monks. Dr. Boone also promotes the use of prayer labyrinths, and has had one there for years at Trevecca. After I exposed this more fully, he made excuses about it, and later re-named the labyrinth and called it something else.

Practicing the silence is simply another form of contemplative mysticism (or contemplative spirituality), which is often excused for by Boone and others by abusing the meaning of Psalm 46:10. Dr. Boone once said on his profile page at Nazarene Theological Seminary, “…I am deepening in the mystical forms of prayer.” (It is no longer there). Well, this is exactly where the Church of the Nazarene is going, and even more boldly than nine years ago when I first saw this coming. Click here to continue reading.

Related Articles From the Past:

2013 – A Plea to the General Assembly 2013: Death of the Church of the Nazarene or Repentance?

2013 – Conflicting Reports: Nazarene Superintendent Says Nazarene Church Not Emergent versus Olivet Nazarene University Welcomes Emergent Mystic

2010 – Buddhist/Universalist Sympathizer Woos Nazarene Students at NNU

2009 – Trevecca Nazarene University Promoting Contemplative Spirituality in No Small Way

2008 – Nazarene Universities Welcome Brian McLaren

2007 – Nazarene Superintendent Praises “A Time of Departing” – But Denomination’s Schools Sinking into Contemplative