|
Posts: 117
Joined: July 2025
|
|
|
|
Forums31
Topics8,348
Posts56,544
Members992
| |
Most Online2,383
Jan 12th, 2026
|
|
|
#33352
Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:45 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,904 Likes: 1
Permanent Resident
|
OP
Permanent Resident
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,904 Likes: 1 |
What is the info on him? His name has come up and I'm pretty sure he is a gnostic and spiritualist, but some claim that he just got a little heretical toward the end of his life. Then they cite CS Lewis as being an admirer of his work, and the Vatican giving him the okay but under scrutiny.
I'm getting less and less impress with Lewis. Maybe it because I haven't read any of his books but he is all over the map.
John Chaney
"having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith . . ." Colossians 2:7
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,615
Needs to get a Life
|
|
Needs to get a Life
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,615 |
C. S. Lewis dedicated his book, Surprised by Joy, to this "guru" who blended Catholicism with Hinduism. He was formerly a student of CS Lewis. Griffiths became an ecumenical Catholic priest, and ran an ashram in India were he prayed and met with Buddhist monks and Hindu priests. Griffiths' defended the high points and aspirations of both Hindu and Buddhist spirituality in his books. The Bede Griffiths Trust. One of his disciples wrote: This was not merely a psychological analysis, but a deeply contemplative look at the overwhelming inner experience he had gone through. Intimating it was a mystical experience which could not properly be put into words, Father used symbolic language to try and express the depth of the experience. The two symbols he used were the Black Madonna and the Crucified Christ. He said these two images summed up for him something of this mysterious experience of the Divine feminine and the mystery of suffering. A few months later Griffiths' wrote: The figure of the Black Madonna stood for the feminine in all its forms. I felt the need to surrender to the Mother, and this gave me the experience of being overwhelmed by love. I realized that surrendering to death, and dying to oneself is surrendering to Total Love. Regarding the image of the Crucified Christ, Griffiths' made the statement that his understanding of the crucifixion had deepened profoundly. He wrote: On the Cross Jesus surrendered himself to this Dark Power. He lost everything: friends, disciples, his own people, their law and religion. And at last he had to surrender his God: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." Even his heavenly Father, every image of a personal God, had to go. He had to enter the Dark Night, to be exposed to the abyss. Only then could he become everything and nothing, opened beyond everything that can be named or spoken; only then could he be one with the darkness, the Void, the Dark Mother who is Love itself... Then a final quote from a talk that he gave in Jaiharikal in May, 1991: I would like to share with you something of my advaitic experience...I was overwhelmed and deluged with love. The feminine in me opened up and a whole new vision opened. I saw love as the basic principle of the whole universe. I saw God in the earth, in trees, in mountains. It led me to the conviction that there is no absolute good or evil in this world. We have to let go of all concepts which divide the world into good and evil, right and wrong, and begin to see the complimentarity of opposites which Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa called the coincidentia oppositorum, the "coincidence of opposites." Yes, we need to watch Lewis and others closely. From various sources: (1) Lewis believed "There are people in other religions who... belong to Christ without knowing it."
(2) Lewis had a character in his novel, The Great Divorce, say, "St. Paul talked as if all men would be saved."
(3) Lewis admitted the Bible "may no doubt contain errors," and, he doubted, denied, or avoided discussing, many biblical miracles [A. J. Mattill, Jr., "Some Reflections on C. S. Lewis' `Modern Theology and Biblical Criticism,'" The Journal of Faith and Thought, Spring, 1985, pp. 22-33].
(4) Lewis denied the "inspiration" of Biblical authors whenever they attributed to "God" blatantly immoral actions and commands (such as "striking dead" the couple for withholding some of their money from the church in Acts). Lewis wrote, "The ultimate question is whether the doctrine of the goodness of God or that of the inerrancy of Scripture is to prevail when they conflict. I think the doctrine of the goodness of God is the more certain of the two." [John Beversluis, C. S. Lewis and the Search for Rational Religion. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985, pp. 156f].
5) Lewis misunderstood several texts and states that Jesus made an error when He predicted that the Son of Man would come in final judgment within a "generation" of Jesus' day, or, "before those standing [around Jesus after his transfiguration] had all died." [C. S. Lewis, "The World's Last Night," The World's Last Night And Other Essays. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich].
6) Lewis focused on Jesus' death as "exemplary," the perfect example of "dying to self" that we all should follow. He did not focus on it as a necessary price to pay to appease God's wrath toward all mankind. [Michael J. Christensen, C. S. Lewis on Scripture: His Thoughts on the Nature of Biblical Inspiration, The Role of Revelation and the Question of Inerrancy. Waco: Word Books, 1979].
7) Lewis had no theological difficulty accepting that Genesis may have been "derived from earlier Semitic stories which were Pagan and mythical," [C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms. London: Collins, Fontana Books, 1958, p. 93]. and he found more truth in the story of the "Garden of Eden" when he regarded it as a myth than when he regarded it as history. [Christensen, pp. 34-35].
8) Lewis accepted the theory of the biological evolution of the human form from earlier animal species. [Christensen, pp. 31-32]
9) Lewis speculated that at least some animals might be granted eternal life with human beings in heaven. [Christensen, pp. 32-33]
10) Lewis believed in the miraculously "real" presence of Christ in the communion wafer. [Christensen, p. 30]
11) Lewis believed in purgatory, prayers for the dead, and prayers to saints. [Christensen, pp 29- 30]. Is Lewis of some value in our studies? Yes, indeed! Do we need to be careful, very careful? Yes, indeed!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18
Plebeian
|
|
Plebeian
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18 |
John,
You are corrrect in being less than impressed with C.S. Lewis. Lewis was actually a Rosicrucian. As for Bede Griffiths, he was an apostate who became, well before the end of his life, a practicing Hindu. He died in that state. The Vatican since Vatican II has been run by Judeo-Masons. The abomination at Assisi on January 24, 2002 where all kinds of pagans, including Voodoo witch doctors, were praying together in little adjacent rooms after the apostate Wojtyla enjoined all there to pray together for peace, included a sizable number of Calvinist Reformed "pastors". As far as I'm concerned, apostate is apostate no matter who does it.
Ps. 118:1 Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 969
Old Hand
|
|
Old Hand
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 969 |
Steve in Vista said:
John,
You are corrrect in being less than impressed with C.S. Lewis. Lewis was actually a Rosicrucian. You wouldn't mind sharing where you found this little tidbit of information would you?
Peter
If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. Augustine of Hippo
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18
Plebeian
|
|
Plebeian
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18 |
From: http://www.crossroad.to/glossary/occult/hermetic-magic.htmBrief excerpts: "Christian Hermetism" was illustrated by the Anglican occultist Charles Williams, close friend and spiritual advisor to C. S. Lewis. He was a Rosicrucian, a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn, yet continued to call himself Christian and participate in Anglican sacraments. A mystical blend of Catholic/Anglican Sacraments (Eucharist and Baptism) and the legendary Holy Grail, it involves a merging of occult traditions with acceptable elements of Christianity. This is the ultimate deception: Satan's timeless promise of spiritual power and eternal life without true repentance, the cross, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. … The New Kabbalah: "The New Kabbalah is a philosophy and Jewish theology grounded in the union between traditional Jewish mysticism and modern rational thought. Rooted in the visionary mythos of Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-72), and interpreted through such modern and postmodern thinkers as Freud, Jung, Hegel.... "...the New Kabbalah is enriched by comparative studies and dialog between Jewish mysticism and other religious and philosophical traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Platonism, and Gnosticism. … Neo-Platonism. The belief that "Platonic Archetypes represent true reality, while what we observe and speak are only shadows of that reality." Western Occultism: In the 20th century, ancient and medieval mysticism such as the Kabala, Gnosticism, Hermetic magic, Astrology and Alchemy blended together with Jungian psychology and Eastern spirituality. New beliefs and occult orders sprouted throughout in the fertile Western cultures, which were rejecting Christianity and hungry for new self-empowering forms of spirituality. Rosicrucian's, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Freemasonry, Unity, contemporary Yoga and various other labels help us identify some of the expressions. But with today's rising tide of suggestions and images from the Internet, Hollywood, popular books (like those by J. K. Rowling, Anne Rice, C. S. Lewis, and Tolkien), and Japanese anime, there is no limit to its forms. Today's "success-oriented" purpose-driven and emergent churches are especially vulnerable to the mystical expressions and grandiose promises of occult deceptions. This phenomena is summarized by occultist A. W. Waite, a founding member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a major influence both on Freemasonry and 20th century England. One of its members, C. S. Lewis' "dearest friend" Charles Williams, a member of the Inklings, along with Lewis, Tolkien and occultist Owen Barfield. Prayerfully ponder Waite's message, for it helps explain the deceptive philosophy that permeates C. S. Lewis' fantasy worlds of spiritual fantasies: … [end of brief quotes] Read it all and see how deeply pagan it is.
Ps. 118:1 Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 969
Old Hand
|
|
Old Hand
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 969 |
Sorry friend the article says Charles Williams was a Rosicrucian not C.S. Lewis. So I am afraid that you pegging him (C.S. Lewis)as a Rosicrucian is a misinterpretation of the facts.
And yes I did know all about Williams membership in the Golden Dawn et al ad nausem.
Peter
If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. Augustine of Hippo
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18
Plebeian
|
|
Plebeian
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18 |
In my first reply to your post I showed in the four places where C. S. Lewis is mentioned by name that the Rosicrucian Williams was C. S. Lewis' life long mentor, not just that they happened to know one another. Here is more on the subject. (The Golden Dawn or H.O.G.D and the Rosicrucians and the Freemasons are all closely related as well) For the background of C. S. Lewis' initiation into the occult: From The Inklings -- Charles Williams (1886 -- 1945) http://www.crossroad.to/Excerpts/books/lewis/inklings-williams.htmBrief excerpts: From The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis by Alan Jacobs (HarperCollins, 2005) pages 196-198. "Perhaps the most interesting person among the Inklings was one of the temporary members of the party: Charles Williams, an odd and charismatic man.... He wrote plays, poems short and long (including a sequence based in Arthurian legend), works of literary criticism, and theological treatises, but Williams was chiefly known for his novels.... Often referred to as 'supernatural thrillers,' they include... Black Masses, magical Tarot Cards, the crown of King Solomon, an Antichrist, and dead people who can speak with the living [i.e. necromancy]. "A reader of Williams’ biography is likely to come to the conclusion that he was rather creepy. His 'romantic theology'—which understands erotic love not so much as a path or ladder to the love of God but as a form of the love of God—encouraged him to flirtations... (Williams was married). "He seems to have had the same sadomasochistic tendencies as the young Jack [C. S.] Lewis, though without ever escaping them. His fascination with the occult exceeded what most Christians think of as appropriate bounds. Yet few who knew him saw him in this light. Lewis adored him, finding him chivalrous, generous, even selfless, as well as a major thinker and a brilliant (though often too obscure) writer. 'I begin to suspect that we are living in the ‘age of Williams' he once wrote in a letter to his friend, and our friendship with you will be our only passport to fame.' … "Williams would remain in Oxford, continuing to work for the press but also giving occasional lecture series for the university, and of course meeting with the Inklings, until his sudden and unexpected death in May 1945.... Lewis was devastated by the loss, more than any of the other Inklings. Williams had... effectively displaced Tolkien from his place in Lewis’s life—indeed, he called Williams, in a letter written soon after the man’s death, 'my dearest friend.'" … [concerning Williams] "...by the time he was in his late twenties he was making some study of the beliefs and practices of that semi-magical branch of Christianity known as Rosicrucianism. [An occult system using a blend of Egyptian and Christian symbols] During this period he read books by the Rosicrucian writer A. E. Waite; he entered into correspondence with Waite, and at Waite’s invitation was initiated (in 1917) into an organisation called the Order of the Golden Dawn.... "Among its first initiates was a coroner who allegedly performed necromantic rites... while another early member was black magician Aleister Crowley, the self styled Great Beast.... [end of excerpts] Showing the life long influence of Williams, C. S. Lewis' Rosicrucian mentor, of which the Rosicrucians are so proud, from one of their sites: From the AMORC The Rosicrucian Order: http://www.rosicrucian.org/park/library/1204_biblio_greater_trumps.htmlBrief excerpt: The Place of the Lion (1931) was instrumental in bringing about the friendship between Williams and C. S. Lewis. It starts with the escape of a lioness from captivity and her mysterious disappearance, and involves the Platonic Archetypes come down from the Divine Mind... It also embodies Williams's teachings about the affirming and denying of images. Taliessin through Logres [and] The Region of the Summer Stars, by Charles Williams. And Arthurian Torso, by Charles Williams and C. S. Lewis. Grand Rapids, W. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. 1974. Introd. by Mary McDermott Shideler. [end of excerpt] And showing how they use their disciple C. S. Lewis' writings over and over, from the Rosicrucian Order AMORC: http://www.rosicrucian.org/park/library/1204_biblio_greater_trumps_pg2.htmlBrief excerpts: Duriez, Colin. The Inklings Handbook : a Comprehensive Guide to the Lives, Thought, and Writings of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and their Friends. St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2001. ISBN: 082721622X. Hillegas, Mark R, ed. Shadows of Imagination: the Fantasies of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1979. With an afterword on J. R. R. Tolkien's The silmarillion by Peter Kreeft. ISBN 0809308975. Knight, Gareth. The Magical World of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield. Longmead, Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element Books, 1990. ISBN: 1852301694. Moorman, Charles. Arthurian Triptych: Mythic Materials in Charles Williams, C. S. Lewis, and T. S. Eliot. New York: Russell &Russell, 1973. ISBN: 0846217163. Urang, Gunnar. Shadows of Heaven: Religion and Fantasy in the Writing of C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and J.R.R. Tolkien. London: SCM Press Ltd, 1971. Wright, Marjorie Evelyn. The Cosmic Kingdom of Myth: a study in the Myth-philosophy of Charles Williams, C. S. Lewis, and J.R. R. Tolkien. Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Illinois, 1960. [end of excerpts] Finally from: "Narnia" and "Lord of the Rings" are leading children and adults into witchcraft and Satanism… http://www.tldm.org/News8/JRRTolkien.LordOfTheRings.HarryPotter.CSLewis.Narnia.htmBrief excerpt: 5) Both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were initiated in the H.O.G.D. (The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn), which is a deeply occult, black magic secret society. - A high initiated witch related that both Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were initiated in the H.O.G.D. (The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn), which is a deeply occult, black magic secret society. (The "Order of the Golden Dawn" was primarily made up of mystical "Christians" and former followers of Madame Blavatsky the founder of the Theosophical Society that still adhered to Luciferianism.) During a discussion about Tolkien and his work, this male witch commented that "The Hobbit" and the rest of the Middle-Earth series was merely an elementary 'primer' for witchcraft. He was even a bit irritated at the lack of background knowledge about Tolkien among the people gathered. Later he added C.S. Lewis to the conversation as another well known literary figure who was initiated in the H.O.G.D. [end of excerpt] Conclusion if you want to boil a frog in water, heat the water slowly and he won't jump out. That is exactly what C. S. Lewis and Tolkien and the rest of the people here did. They are part of the Ecumenical movement which seeks to unite all religions together. In contrast God said "Thou shalt have no other gods before me". God the Son Jesus Christ said that He alone was the Only way and truth and life, that no one comes to the Father but by Him.
Ps. 118:1 Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18
Plebeian
|
|
Plebeian
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18 |
Concerning spiritual mentorship. Whoever is your teacher and senior that you adhere to, this defines what you profess. That is why Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ made it emphatic when he said:
1Tm:1:
1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the commandment of God our Saviour and Christ Jesus our hope:
2 To Timothy, his beloved son in faith. Grace, mercy and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
2Tm:1:
1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus:
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son. Grace, mercy and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forefathers, with a pure conscience, that without ceasing I have a remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day.
Ti:1:
1 ¶ Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the elect of God and the acknowledging of the truth, which is according to godliness:
2 Unto the hope of life everlasting, which God, who lieth not, hath promised before the times of the world:
3 But hath in due times manifested his word in preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour:
4 To Titus, my beloved son according to the common faith, grace and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Paul the apostle also warned:
Gal:1:
6 ¶ I wonder that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel.
7 Which is not another: only there are some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.
9 As we said before, so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema.
10 ¶ For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
2Cor:6:
14 Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God: as God saith: I will dwell in them and walk among them. And I will be their God: and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore: Go out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing:
18 And I will receive you. And will be a Father to you: and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Ps. 118:1 Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 969
Old Hand
|
|
Old Hand
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 969 |
Hmm Steve when you get the time I suggest you look at the home page of the url you gave here: Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, C.S. LewisIf you go there you'll see: Virgin Mary's End Time Prophecies. Now Steve I will grant you there is much to say about C.S. Lewis and not all of it is good. But I have to tell you your sources aren't doing much to convince me of your position. I suggest btw you take a moment and read some excellent articles about conspiracy theories by one of this discussion boards own: Fred Butler. Tin-foil hat theology part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Peter
If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. Augustine of Hippo
|
|
|
|
|
1 members (Pilgrim),
127
guests, and
38
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
