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> trac ki n g s p i r i t u a l t r e n d s i n t h e 2 1s t ce n t u r y
V O L U M E 1 8 : 4 2 ( 1,1 7 8 ) / N O V E M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

In this issue:
A  RCHAEOLOGY - an update on its

support for the Bible

N  EW AGE MOVEMENT - Thomas Moore, about to return to prominence W  ORD-FAITH MOVEMENT - going

from bad to worse in the media

Y  OUNG, SARAH - profile and overview of the Jesus Calling controversy

Publisher: Apologia www.apologia.org Contact: ar.feedback(at)apologia.org Post Office Box 7112 Pueblo, CO 81007 Phone: (719) 225-3467 Editor: Rich Poll Contributing Editor: Paul Carden
Copyright 2013 by Apologia. All rights reserved. Apologia (the biblical Greek word for defense) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the proclamation and defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Apologias mission is to equip the body of Christ for spiritual discernment by providing timely, accurate religious research information within the field of Christian apologetics and to advance apologetics in Christian missions. Apologia Report surveys widely to identify the most valuable resources for its readers as they encounter competing worldviews. Since 1997, AR has been published roughly 44 times each year via e-mail. The archiving of Apologia Report (in whole or in part) is permitted for the private use of its subscribers alone. This data file is the sole property of Apologia. It may not be used without the permission of Apologia for resale or the enhancement of any other product. In citations, please give the following source credit: Copyright 2013, Apologia (apologia.org)

ARCHAEOLOGY Recent Archaeological Discoveries that Lend Credence to the Historicity of the Scriptures by Michael A Grisanti, professor of Old Testament at The Masters College In this paper I hope to consider a few examples of intersections between the Bible and archaeological excavations. My primary intended audience is the evangelical world. This paper has a clear apologetic function. It offers a different take on the intersection of the Bible and archaeology than one often hears in academic and popular settings. ... Out of all the areas that could have received attention, I have narrowed my focus on two chronological periods: the Conquest of Canaan and the United Monarchy. ... With regard to the Conquest of Canaan, the paper considers the recent discussion of an Egyptian pedestal with three name rings on it as well as the destruction of Jerico and the location and destruction of Ai. After surveying the heated debate concerning the United Monarchy with a focus on David and Solomon, the paper considers key archaeological discoveries found at Jerusalem, Khirbet Qeiyafa, and the copper mines in southern Jordan. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 56:3 - 2013, pp475-497.4 NEW AGE MOVEMENT Have you been under the impression that Thomas Moore was fading into the background? Due in January, A Religion of Ones Own: A Guide to Creating a Personal Spirituality in a Secular World1 gives spiritual, but not religious a big push toward experimental experience with the supernatural. Penguin Putnam, Moores publisher, describes the author this way: a monk for twelve years, a musician, a university professor, and a psychotherapist, [Moore] writes regularly for Psychology Today, The Huffington Post, Spirituality & Health, and Resurgence Magazine. He lectures widely on holistic medicine, spirituality, psychotherapy, and the arts. Moore has been awarded numerous honors, including the Humanitarian Award from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and an

honorary doctorate from Lesley University. Describing this new book, the publisher tells us that Moore has touched a chord with millions of readers yearning to integrate spirituality into their everyday lives. In A Religion of Ones Own, Moore expands on the topics he first explored shortly after leaving the monastery. He recounts the benefits of contemplative living that he learned during his twelve years as a monk but also the more original and imaginative spirituality that he later developed and embraced in his secular life. Here, he shares stories of others who are creating their own path: a former football player now on a spiritual quest with the Pueblo Indians, a friend who makes a meditative practice of floral arrangements, and a well-known classical pianist whose audiences sometimes describe having a mystical experience while listening to her performances. Moore weaves their experiences with the wisdom of philosophers, writers, and artists who have rejected materialism and infused their secular lives with transcendence. Library Journal (Nov 13, #2) adds: Moores Care of the Soul2 was the inescapable spiritual reading of the early 1990s, poised for classic status. This latest volume continues the labor Moore has undertaken in the intervening years; like the rest of his writing, it attempts to synthesize the insights of religion and psychology. Here his mission is to encourage readers to cultivate their own spirituality in a way that honors their creativity and sexuality. VERDICT Moore has been criticized for a kind of hasty or superficial approach to complex topics, but his counsel is consistently sensible and affirming. This book should appeal to many of the unchurched, as well as the faithful across traditions.5 WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT Why the Prosperity Gospel Is Such a Big Hit With Reality TV Show Producers by Jennifer LeClaire reports that a slew of new Christian reality TV shows are in the works. Some essentially mock Christians while others just let Christians mock themselves. Preachers of L.A. is one of the latter and has
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WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT (continued)

sparked so much controversy and probably high ratings and advertising revenue that a copycat is already emerging, called Thicker Than Water. The new show seemingly hopes to blend Preachers of L.A. and Duck Dynasty with a jazzy twist. LeClaire proceeds to describe Thickers programming. And she supports this evil doctrine of greed. Im not against prosperity nice cars and houses. I believe God wants us to prosper. But I dont believe He wants us to make a spectacle of ourselves in the process or advertise God as a big sugar daddy in the sky just waiting for someone bold enough to approach His throne of grace to ask for the big cars, diamond rings and grand pianos. Likewise, I dont believe God wants us to gloat about our prosperity or propagate a prosperity-centered gospel on cable television that gives people wrong ideas about Christianity. They call it reality TV, but its not reality. Its a gross exaggeration and even an abuse of the gospel message concerning prosperity. Tragically, yet predictably, LeClaire fails to spell out just what the true gospel message concerning prosperity is supposed to be. A systemic lack of corrective teaching inevitably fuels viral avarice. Charisma, Sep 25 13, <www.ow.ly/qUzXu> YOUNG, SARAH Sarah Young Still Hears Jesus Calling by Melissa Steffan this profile begins by noting that sales of Youngs bestseller Jesus Calling3 didnt crack 60,000 when it was first published in 2004. Since then sales have nearly doubled annually, with overall copies sold approaching 10 million handily outperforming Fifty Shades of Grey (sometimes derided as mommy porn). Steffan explains that Young bases her works on listening prayer, a theological practice in which a person aims to hear messages directly from God. ... Young became a Christian as an adult after studying at Francis Schaeffers LAbri in Switzerland, where she says she first experienced the presence of Sweet Jesus. At that point, she already had earned a bachelors degree in philosophy from Wellesley College and a masters degree at Tufts University. Following her conversion, she earned a degree from St. Louiss Covenant Theological Seminary, where she met her husband, Steve. Together they worked as Presbyterian Church in America missionaries in Japan for eight years, during which Young gave birth to two children. In 1991, after Young com-

APOLOGIAreport
pleted a counseling degree from Georgia State University (and shortly after she began journaling), the Youngs moved to Australia to work with Japanese immigrants. ... She battled two co-infections of Lyme disease (including a seven-year misdiagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome) and mild to severe vertigo.... living in one room in our home in Perth for about 20 hours a day. Not anymore. This spring, the Youngs moved from Perth back to Nashville Youngs hometown partially to seek medical treatment. ... But even though she plans to stay busy as a doting grandmother and praying author she currently is writing another yearlong devotional in the same format as Jesus Calling the health setbacks continue. ... Christians throughout the centuries have accepted the idea that God speaks to them, but the specific discipline of listening prayer hasnt been an evangelical strong suit. If book sales are any indication, though, Jesus Calling has reignited a fire for the practice as well as debate over the dangers of it. ... Of course, we dont have audible conversation, [Young] says. Its a quiet and personal time of praying, Bible reading, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But if its that simple, why is Youngs take on listening prayer in Jesus Calling, especially the books claim to contain the actual words of Jesus, ruffling feathers among theologians and scholars? Steffan reviews the pros and cons with Richard Foster, Ben Witherinton, and Michael Horton among others weighing in on the controversy. Christianity Today, Oct 13, pp3943. <www.ow.ly/qUPl6> See also: Sarah Young Defends Jesus Calling to New York Times: Author explains how and why she channels Jesus in his own voice by Jeremy Weber (christianitytoday. com, Oct 25 13, <www.ow.ly/qUPNS>) The Jesus Calling page on its publishers web site says: Each day [of the devotional] is written as if Jesus Himself were speaking to you. Because He is. Do you hear Him calling? <www.ow.ly/r2dhR>. Thomas Nelson certainly hears money calling, offering four sequels (Dear Jesus, Jesus Today, Nearer to Jesus, and Jesus Lives); a childrens version (365 Devotions for Kids); an illustrated Jesus

V O L U M E 1 8 : 4 2 ( 1,1 7 8 ) / N O V E M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

Calling Bible Storybook for little ones; and even a Jesus Calling Devotional Bible. The Jesus Calling app has ranked in the Top 10 bestselling apps for both the iPhone and iPad for two years running, selling over 200,000 units as of October 31. <www. ow.ly/r2dlp> Noteworthy online critiques: <www. ow.ly/r2dnz>, <www.ow.ly/r2drA>, <www. ow.ly/r2dtB>, <www.ow.ly/r2dx4>
SOURCES: Monographs

1 - A Religion of Ones Own: A Guide to Creating a Personal Spirituality in a Secular World, by Thomas Moore (Gotham, January 2014, hardcover, 288 pages) <www. ow.ly/qUI7o> 2 - Care of the Soul : A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life, by Thomas Moore (Harper, 1994, paperback, 336 pages) <www.ow.ly/r2cSk> 3 - Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young (Thomas Nelson, 2004, hardcover, 400 pages) <www.ow.ly/ qUPwN>
SOURCES: Periodicals

4 - Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, <www.etsjets.org/JETS> 5 - Library Journal, <www.libraryjournal. com>

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