May I Puke for You?

I am serious! I was walking through Wal-Mart last week and saw Eckhart Tolle's latest, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. This is the book that is creating quite a stir - check out a previous post for some background. I stared at the thing on the display rack and then decided, "How can I NOT buy this, in light of Proverbs 18:13?"

Solomon declares: He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him (Prov. 18:13). There is lots of criticism flying around associated with this book and Oprah's self-appointment as an evangelist for its message. The criticism may well be justified. But for me to pile on without having obtained a clear first-hand report of what he is teaching would be foolish and shameful.

When we violate the Prov. 18:13 principle, it bugs the stew out of those proposing alternatives to Jesus. They catch our invective and ask, "Well, have you read it?" When we say, "No," it DOESN'T MATTER whether our criticisms are valid, or whether our logic is sound, or whether we are even RIGHT! All the other is hearing is a prime example of speaking out of ignorance. Our criticisms may be valid, but our credibility just went out the window.

So I made my purchase and will not give an answer until I have heard what the man has to say. That being said, I am also willing to wade in on your behalf. What I have read so far lets me know that this offer is no small thing! (I am already feeling a little woozy.)  When I post the results here at light-work, I will attempt to pull together first hand evidence from the book that allows you to hear what Mr. Tolle has to say. THEN, you can give an answer based on what the author actually says.

Comments

[Jeff]

That's something I'm frustrated with too. I know I'm unorthodox, but I also think God has put me into a place to be unorthodox. And I also know that methods I may employ to reach those who don't know Jesus yet shouldn't be applied across the board. But it's when I discuss my methods, like taking in certain elements of pop culture or media to be able to understand it first hand and use it as a tool to witness, and I'm told that I shouldn't do that because of the content. That they won't hear that I'm doing it specifically to understand the content really is frustrating and it's hard for me to not think of that person as a fool, even if it is a brother or sister. I'm trying to be more patient, more gracious...it's just hard.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing what the book says.

[ms]

Yes, please read this for me. After years of Joseph Campbell, Bill Moyers, Shirley MacLaine, Betty Eadie, and M. Scott Peck, I am ready for someone else to let their brain explode trying to understand all the circles people draw around God, trying to see how close they can get to Him without seeing Him.

[lkd]

Thank you. I am not interested in spending time reading the book, but I would like to be informed when I talk with others about it.