You may like Glenn Beck’s politics, you may like his antics, you may like his history lessons and respect for the USA’s founding fathers. Then again, you may dislike all of this and more about Glenn Beck. Yet, one thing is certain when it comes to theology, Glenn Beck has gone from bad to worse—and if you are not certain…read on.
Whether it is the lay personages who think that “God” is “god” is “gods” is “spirit” is “energy” is “the universe” and it does not matter.
Whether it is the undiscerning and unknowledgeable Christian who has been taken in by the commandments of the Politically Correct movement.
Whether it is the Mormons who know or do not know better.
One thing is for certain: pop-culture and media criticize Glenn Beck’s politics but not his theology. They seem to discern that his theology, while Mormon, is generic and thus, just as good, bad or worthy to be dismissed and ignored as any other.
Some think that Glenn Beck either really knows what he is doing/saying or he has no clue. Yet, with the advent of his book, with Keith Ablow, titled The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life it is crystal clear that his theology is utterly un-, non- and anti-biblical. And while this was clear already, at least to discerning Christians, due to his being a Mormon; we now learn that he has concocted an universalistic new age-like syncretistic spirituality and is selling it, to Christians mind you, in the name of a generic “g,” “o,” “d” (and the question to ask him, as a Mormon, is, "Which one of yours innumerable gods?").
Brannon Howse, in Glenn Beck's New Book Reveals He Embraces New Age Theology, Is a Knowledgeable Mormon, and a Universalist, notes:
In his new book Beck and Dr. Ablow promote psychologist Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, New Age authors Robert Pirsig and James Redfied, Buddha, Buddhist teacher Sogyal Rinpoche, Gandhi, The Bible and the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas.
Sadly, Glenn is confused and all Christians should pray that he will come to salvation in the Jesus of the Bible through faith and repentance.
And that is just for starters:
On page 56 Beck says he read A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman which is the Bible of the New Age Movement.
That he merely read it is one thing (Schucman spirit channeled an entity who helped her write the book) but the issue is that he is clearly influenced by such works.
Howse has also provided a sampling of quotations from the book:
On page 79 Beck and Dr. Ablow promote transcendental meditation and Eastern Mysticism.
On 85 we read, "As you commit to unlocking and bringing forth the truth inside you, don't be afraid to pray for help. Don't be reticent to sit with yourself in silence and meditate. Connect with the miracle of spirit, of God, that has lived inside you from long before you were born."…
Of course, this “before you were born” stuff is pure Mormonism.
On page 132 Beck and Ablow proclaim, "Pray to whatever higher power you believe in…Praying that God or Nature or the Cosmos or your own internal, immeasurable reservoir of spirit allows you the courage and faith to find and then face the truth…"
In several places readers are told it really does not matter what religion or religious leader they follow. On page 157 Beck writes, "Finding what worked for me made all the difference. Finding what works for you will do the same."
On page 74 the reader is instructed "Just be sure you visit with a minister or therapist from a religion or healing discipline you actually have affinity for, or suspect you might."
On page 236, reincarnation is promoted through the writings of Robert Pirsig's book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, "…the 'spirit' of Chris or the 'ghost' of Chris, then you can say without further translation that the spirit or ghost of Chris is looking for a new body to enter."
Glenn Beck has stated that he was willing to, and this is an actual quote, “drink the Kool-Aid” of Mormonism because he wanted a family such as the stereotypical Mormon family. In other words, his conversion to Mormonism was not theologically based.
He also claims that Mormons are Christians with just a few differences (think of any, any at all, Christian doctrine and Mormonism denies it) apparently not being aware that Joseph Smith drew an inalterable line of distinction between the two faiths (or, claims that God did so) when he retold (one of about 10 versions of) his first vision (see Mormonism is an Offensive Religion).
Such statements have lead many to believe that Glenn Beck is simply ignorant of both Christian and Mormon theology. However, consider pp. 149-150:
"I questioned everything I could think to question about the faith. I went over my doubts again and again with the church bishop. I read everything there was to read on their website and every word of Mormon Doctrine…
I went to anti-Mormon literature for hints, but I found most of it to be unfair or just plain wrong. I tried every trick I could think of to find a contradiction. The problem was that I couldn't.
Mormonism seemed to explain the world and my place in it better than any other faith I had looked at."
But what about those doctrines that are traditional to Christianity, you know; biblical doctrines?:
"Latter-day Saints do not believe that your chances ever cease, even with death. They end only with the full understanding and denial of truth by your own exercise of real free will. And even then there is no 'lake of fire.'" (Page 149)
"As Keith likes to say, 'There's no original sin left in the world. Everyone's just recycling pain now.'" (Page 154.)
"There is no infant delivered evil, out of the womb. There never has been. Not even one…Charles Manson was not born evil. Ted Bundy wasn't. The BTK killer wasn't. Hitler wasn't." (Page 162)…"People are inherently good." (Page 165).
Jesus told Pontius Pilate, “I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" and “Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:37-38). Little did he know that Jesus had stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Yet, in Glenn Beck’s mis-theology “truth” is not “true” but is whatever you want it to be:
"It is never too late to embrace your truth." (Page 124)
"What is your truth whispering?" (Page 130)
"Use compassion to stay on the path to your own truth… (Page 161)
"...determination to unearth and embrace my truth." (Page 215)
"The fact that I am always attempting to honor my truth… (Page 216)
"There is only your truth." (Page 220)
"You must use courage and faith to empty the hard drive of your soul and then fill it with your truth." (Page 288)
Moreover, his theology goes from bad to worse as does his exegesis:
"The third chapter of Exodus helped me start to understand how crucial it was that my focus be on finding God not just in the seas or the cosmos, but in myself." (Page 57)
Yet, Exodus three is specifically about a God, YHVH, who is not automatically inside of us all. This is the God who had to reveal Himself to Moses. YHVH is a personal being outside of us. YHVH comes in to dwell in us when we are saved through Jesus, the Messiah:
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
This was written to believers.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1:12)
We do not have to “become” that which we already are.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me (Revelation 3:20)
This is Jesus’ invitation.
Keep in mind that as a Mormon, Glenn Beck believes that his celestial parents were gods and that he can/will become a god in his after-earthly-life:
"If God is everything and everywhere and inside everyone, then I figured He had to be inside me, too." (Page 58)
Well, that is a big IF, if there ever was one.
"Divine power is still inside you." (Page 71)
"Reach out to people to steady them and enrich them and reflect back to them the light that comes from God inside them. (Page 283)
"You won't doubt your ability to achieve what you want to achieve in this life because you won't doubt that God is not only by your side, but inside you." (Page 254)
Glenn Beck also subscribes to concepts that have gone by many names: positive thinking, Law of Attraction, name it claim it, blab it grab it, the Secret, etc.:
"You have a polestar inside you. It is connected with all the energy in the universe. When you begin to follow that star you align yourself with immeasurable, inexplicable forces that will actually help you manifest your best intentions. " (Page 79)
"The current energy that flows in your favor when you stop denying what you have lived through and how it has shaped you and how you must change is the immeasurable force that you can tap into to dramatically improve your existence." (Page 113)
"…you will elicit the same positive energy from others. When you stop pretending to be just fine and start admitting that you have struggled, just as we all have, then spiritual energy will fill you." (Page 117)
With these things in mind, you can no longer simply dismiss Glenn Beck’s un-, non- and anti-Biblical views as simply a slight variation of Christianity due to his Mormonism. Nor can you claims that he is a Christian-Mormon who simply does not know his Christian or Mormon theology.
He has now concocted and published his guide to spirituality and has done so after vast research into Christianity, Mormonism and, obviously, a vast array or miscellaneous new age, spiritualist, energy work and demonic beliefs and practices.
Consider these elucidating books:
James White, Letters to a Mormon Elder
Ron Rhodes, The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Mormon
Ron Rhodes, Mormonism: What You Need to Know: Quick Reference Guide
Ross Andreson, Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Quick Christian Guide to the Mormon Holy Book
See these links to learn more about Christianity and Mormonism.
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Comments
Mariano, this is a horribly written article. If you've written 1500 essays, its amazing that you haven't mastered the semicolon.
That said, I hate Glen Beck, too. He's crazy, and dangerous. And I'm a Latter Day Saint.
Mariano, instead of looking for the bad in others, you should look at similarities, thereby accentuating the good. Glenn Beck isn't perfect, but he is a force for good. As for Mormons, I know plenty of 'em, and they are good God fearing people. They simply have a different interpretation of the Bible than you do. It is Satan's goal to divide and conquer, and you are helping him.
Mariano, instead of looking for the bad in others, you should look at similarities, thereby accentuating the good. Glenn Beck isn't perfect, but he is a force for good. As for Mormons, I know plenty of 'em, and they are good God fearing people. They simply have a different interpretation of the Bible than you do. It is Satan's goal to divide and conquer, and you are helping him.
your approach towards mormonism is condescending and uniformed. Im not even LDS, but I know for a fact that socially, theologically, and in every other way they are christian. And more christian than most christians I might add.
As for your back-handed attack on Glenn Beck,; you clearly don't know the man! He is LDS, not new age. He may quote them because they may have said something they agree with. The fact that I read the koran and quoted it in an english essay doesn't mean I'm muslim, or even pro-muslim! But I realize, as Christ would want me to realize, that there is good in every faith, truth in every book, and joy in every heart. Sometimes its hard to find, but its there, and we MUST find it if our world is to become better and more peaceful.
You know for a fact that LDS are theologically sound? Have you asked them if there is salvation for non-LDS Christians? Unfortunately they dodn't even follow their own theology. For example, the Book of Mormon states there is only one God, he always was and will always be God. Yet one of the "Statements of faith" is the following: "As man now is God once was, and as God now is man may become"
Believing God was a man and that a human can be a God goes against even what they view as "The most correct book".
Now let's critique the religious beliefs of all the other political commentators. All in the interest of fairness and equal time, of course.
Glenn Beck is not an official spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nor does he pretend to be one. Nor, for that matter, neither am I.
By attacking Mormonism on the basis of Beck's beliefs, Mariano employs the logical fallacy of the "straw man."
Apparently he has not heard, or chooses to ignore, the call of evangelical Christian leader Richard J. Mouw to refrain from bearing false witness against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2004/11/We-Have-Sinned-Agai...
To learn what Mormons actually believe, go to the pure source. Why drink downstream from the anti-Mormon feedlot?
Try something creative, original, and "out of the box." Try actually reading "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ!"
http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng
For succint and accurate information about our faith, I also recommend:
mormon.org
Tracy Hall Jr
hthalljr'gmail'com
Sorry about the double negative. I should have written "For that matter, neither am I."
Congrats on one thing, you've come up with the poorest researched and written article of the year. On the bright side, it's only January and there's plenty of time for other senseless and slanderous dribble to be written in the upcoming months.
I think Glenn Beck uses various religious sources, some not Christ-based, to show that there is "good and truth" in most regions of the world, and in many dispensations of time.
As a world traveler, I try to see "common good" that is the basis for most religions. The Mormons believe that there is good in all religions. They say, "bring your truths with you and explore what we have, and you may find that we can improve each other."
If there is a living prophet in the Mormon church, shouldn't you be just a little curious what he is saying to this generation?
Unfortunately, Mariano seems to confine truth to only be found up until the end of 70AD. But who is the prophet that Amos says God will surely reveal his intentions to His prophet before he does anything on the earth (Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets".)
Glenn Beck does not promote himself to be a prophet, but I'm sure he believes there is a prophet on the earth today, as do I. His name is Thomas S. Monson.
Clearly, Mariano is on the pro-Jesus side of spirituality. I like that about him. Are Mormons saved? If their faith is in the person of Jesus and his accomplishments through his death and resurrection, then yes. Are they Christians? No. Christians uphold traditional Christian beliefs and hold the Bible to be their only rule for faith and practice (tho' admittedly their practice falls short). Like the gnostics of long ago Joseph Smith thought to ride on the coattails of Jesus' fame, put his own spin on it, and gather a following. He did. It worked. Beck is doing the same thing methinks. Looking to 'save' the world from the evil liberals and invoking his version of spirituality to justify his efforts. Scary stuff indeed.
It takes no talent to create a definition of Christianity with the intent to exclude a particular group. It is really all semantics anyway. You can play around with words all you want, but one thing is clear - Jesus Christ, as Savior, Redeemer and Son of God, is at the very center of Mormon theology. Period.
I also disagree with the idea of Joseph Smith "riding the coattails of Jesus' fame'. When Joseph Smith was shot to death by a mob, he left behind very few earthly possessions. Additionally, the Mormon Church is perhaps the only Christian church on earth that doesn't have a professional, paid clergy. 99.9% of the ecclesiastical leaders of the Mormon church receive no compensation.
Wow, hateful! Why attack someone's faith when that person is simply saying, we all can do better than this; now is the time!
I don't have to know much about Grinbank to understand that his hatred of Mormonism has muddled his perception of a simple call to be a better human, no matter what path we are taking.
Mother Becker,
Those of us for whom English is a second language and suffer from dyslexia-like symptoms prefer empathy to ridicule but I realize that some people do not have much more with which to work.
And I do not share your point of view in that I do not hate Glenn Beck (“Glenn” is spelled with a double “n,” by the way) or anyone at all.
Ryanwin,
Why are you looking for the bad in me? You see, you are contradicting yourself by writing to me in order to tell me that I am doing wrong.
Moreover, why should I look for similarities? It is the supposed but not real similarities between Mormonism and Christianity that have people confused about both. I can accentuating the good qualities of Mormonism (such as mentioning their great stereotypical families) while pointing out their theological errors.
Moreover, they most certainly do not “simply have a different interpretation of the Bible” but hold to un-, non- and anti-biblical doctrines. For example, believing that they can become gods is not a “different interpretation.” It is no interpretation at all.
It is fascinating to know that even though Beck is the one that believes that he can become a god and you look for the bad in me: I am the one who is personally helping satan.
Anonymous,
If Mormons are Christian why did Joseph Smith say that he asked God which church to join & God told him, "join none of them, for they were all wrong…all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt…He again forbade me to join with any of them…" (Pearl of Great Price - Joseph Smith - History - 2:18-20).
If my “approach towards mormonism is condescending & uniformed” why do you not refute anything I stated? Smith who was first to draw a permanent distinction between Mormonism & Christianity. That Mormons’ PR campaigns has made those who do not know their history/theology refer to them as Christians is another story.
Read the quotes again: he is stating that these things are true, they are true of him & you & he is prescribing them.
What makes you think that Christ would want you to realize that there is good in every faith, truth in every book, & joy in every heart? His message was 100% opposite of that, “I am the way, the truth & the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”
We should not become more peaceful by pretending that things that are not true are true & that there are similarities in substance where there are merely similarities in terminology. We should become more peaceful by recognizing our free will, the free will of others to believe as they please & our free will to discuss.
Tracy Hall,
I am afraid that your logical fallacy detector has misfired. If my premise could be written as the following syllogism:
1) Glenn Beck is a Mormon.
2) Glenn Beck holds to erroneous beliefs.
3) Therefore, Mormonism is false.
Then you may have a point but you must consider the context which was asking if and pointing out that Glenn Beck is speaking out as a Mormon-new-age guru.
I have read lots of Mormon literature and have had discussions with Mormon missionaries in my home for months at a time. It was Mormonism’s founder, Joseph Smith, who, according to your emotive terminology, “attacked” Christianity by claiming that when he asked God which church to join, God Himself told him, "that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: 'they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.' He again forbade me to join with any of them…" (Pearl of Great Price - Joseph Smith - History - 2:18-20).
If I am bearing false witness may God help me repent. But then, why were you unable to provide even one single example of my doing so?
Chad,
Those of us for whom English is a second language and suffer from dyslexia-like symptoms prefer empathy to ridicule but I realize that some people do not have much more with which to work.
If your “logic” is that something must be false if it is presented via a poorly worded argument then you are simply mistaken. Noting that you have nothing to offer in the way of refutation but merely wanted to besmirch and run; I big you farewell.
Johnnylingo62,
If it is true that “Mormons believe that there is good in all religions” why did their founder, Joseph Smith, claim that God Himself told him the following about Christian churches, "I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: 'they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.' He again forbade me to join with any of them…" (Pearl of Great Price - Joseph Smith - History - 2:18-20)
The very premise of their religion is not that “we can improve each other” but that Christianity is an abomination and that Mormonism is the restored version.
How can truth be confined up until the end of 70AD? We are learning new things all of the time. Yet, divine revelation between God and humanity as a whole has been revealed and any latter day revelation must be judged according to it.
If there is a living prophet in the Mormon church, we should heed his words; no question about it. Yet, that is a big “If.” It is big enough to distinguish between truth and heresy. The Bible is monotheistic, the Book of Mormon and other Mormon publications are monotheistic but the “living prophets” tell us that we can all become gods through their religion. Thus, they are not “living prophets” but false prophets.
Johnnylingo62,
If it is true that “Mormons believe that there is good in all religions” why did their founder, Joseph Smith, claim that God Himself told him the following about Christian churches, "I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: 'they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.' He again forbade me to join with any of them…" (Pearl of Great Price - Joseph Smith - History - 2:18-20)
The very premise of their religion is not that “we can improve each other” but that Christianity is an abomination and that Mormonism is the restored version.
How can truth be confined up until the end of 70AD? We are learning new things all of the time. Yet, divine revelation between God and humanity as a whole has been revealed and any latter day revelation must be judged according to it.
If there is a living prophet in the Mormon church, we should heed his words; no question about it. Yet, that is a big “If.” It is big enough to distinguish between truth and heresy. The Bible is monotheistic, the Book of Mormon and other Mormon publications are monotheistic but the “living prophets” tell us that we can all become gods through their religion. Thus, they are not “living prophets” but false prophets.
Crowned,
Actually, we are pretty much directly on the same wave length.
jn3792,
Joseph Smith concocted “a definition of Christianity” under the name of Mormonism and/or LDS, “with the intent to exclude a particular group” (just read Pearl of Great Price - Joseph Smith - History - 2:18-20).
Mormonism plays around with words since and they got you to think that “Jesus Christ, as Savior, Redeemer and Son of God, is at the very center of Mormon theology. Period.” Yet, go beyond the words, “Jesus,” “Christ” and “Jesus Christ” and actually look at how the Bible defines those words, that person and look at how Mormonism defines those words, that person: they are completely different in nature, mission and person. It is like saying, that anyone in the world named “Chuck Palmire” are the same person because all of their names are “Chuck Palmire.”
Also, do not forget to mention “When Joseph Smith was shot to death by a mob” he was not innocently stating, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” but rather, he was blowing people’s brains out. So, indeed, in that sense you are quite right; he was not “riding the coattails of Jesus” in any way.
Anonymous,
Please reconsider, you call me hateful and say that I am attacking but then, your comment is meant to tell me that I am wrong for telling someone else that they are wrong but if that is so then you are wrong for telling me that I am wrong and thus, you are being hateful and attacking me.
You may state “no matter what path we are taking” but Jesus disagrees with you in stating, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Excellent article, Mariano. I think it would behoove your readers to read more about this deception here: http://airo-cross.blogspot.com/2011/01/glenn-beck-universalist-and-new-a...
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