1A THE NEW OLD RELIGION; SELF
1. The keystone of modern selfism: the psychological theory of individuation
a. THE INDIVIDUATION PROCESS:
i. It is an experience that could be formulated as the discovery of the divine in yourself, or the discovery of the totality of your Self.
2. The gospel according to ego:
a. It is a structure that orders your psychological qualities, so you can make sense of yourself and your actions. It gives you a sense of uniqueness, but know that we all have that in common.
b. The leading preacher of the gospel according to ego: Psychologist
3. To allow one's personal plan or purpose to be derailed or changed is a cardinal sin in the religion of selfism.
a. “No one messes with me, I’m doing things my way, and that’s how it’s going to be.” If you want to keep your head, keep a respectful distance.
4. People are terrified of any Divine power that moves through them.
a. Terrified of love. Relationship. Commitment. Loyalty. Devotion. They are terrified because, thanks to selfist dogma, all those things seem likely to compromise self-separation, self-power, self-purpose.
5. "I do my thing and you do yours. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, then it is beautiful. If not, it can't be helped."
6. And don't forget the self-improvement (or human potential) game, which became the bread and butter of pop-psychology. Self-improvement focused primarily on personal power, and secondarily, on personal purpose. "Have the life you want to have. Become the person you want to be."
a. Self-purposes. These are classics of the genre: "As a Man Thinketh," by James Allen. "Think and Grow Rich," by Napoleon Hill. "How to Win Friends and Influence People," by Dale Carnegie. "The Power of Positive Thinking," by Norman Vincent Peale.
7. AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE: SELFISM AND SPIRITUALITY
a. The two married and produced a monster child -- selfist spirituality, a blend of traditional spiritual goals and purely egotistical purposes.
b. Spirituality for personal power and fulfillment of personal purposes
c. Spirituality for personal separateness and self-protection
8. HAVE-IT-YOUR-WAY SPIRITUALITY. THE AGE OF SELFISM
a. The spiritual vacation. Committed selfists can't have a teacher -- not in a deep-in sense
b. Anymore, acceptable means of spiritual growth must allow you to exploit them and still be a rugged individualist.
9. DESIGN-YOUR-OWN-RETREAT-HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY BURGER.
a. Two hundred and fifty-six possible ways to tailor your spiritual life to your personal requirements.
10. SPIRITUALITY GOES EAST: SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF THE EAST; “GO WITHIN, AND FIND THE TRUTH.” Yoga
Spirituality is God's way, not your way
This morning at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, Minford, Ohio, I spoke from Romans 3:24. This is part one: The Introduction. The Religions of Self-ism.
