Interview with Richard Abanes about Tolle, Part 1

July 14, 2008 Posted by Roger Overton

This is the first part of a four part interview concluding this Thursday.

Eckhart Tolle claims
that what he is teaching is neutral to his religion. Yet many people are
flocking to him as though he's a religious teacher. Is his message religious
and how does it compare to Christianity?

First, people must realize that Tolle is a master of double-speak and
self-contradiction. On the one hand, for example, he will assert that
there is neither absolute good/bad, nor absolute right/wrong — but then he
will go on to tell everyone what is absolutely good/bad and absolutely
right/wrong per his own views. He will also allege that anyone who claims there
is only one way (or one truth) is blinded by ego, illusion, and false beliefs
– but then he will go on to inform readers/listeners of his own “truths”
per his own ideas and absolute interpretations of the Bible. He uses this same
technique when it comes to the question of whether or not other religions are
compatible with his teachings. He will claim in one breath that his teachings
are totally compatible with other faiths, but then when it comes to
Christianity, for instance, he will go on to advance beliefs that are totally
incompatible with what has been established as the foundational views of
Christianity.

Second, when it comes to Christianity, he paints it as one of the worst
examples of spirituality/faith when it is out of control and based on illusion,
lies, and dangerous ideas. As he puts it, “The history of Christianity is, of
course, a prime example of how the belief that you are in sole possession of the
truth, that is to say, right, can corrupt your actions and behavior to the
point of insanity.” This is the same worn-out slander that has used against
Christianity for centuries — i.e., bring up all the horrific things done under
the guise of Christianity (e.g., witch hunts, Crusades, etc.) and blame the
actual faith itself, rather than the people who merely used the faith to
further their own evil and wickedness.

Third, it should be understood that Tolle's “religion” is not really
a “religion” per se, but rather an eclectic mix of doctrinal views
taken from all over the religious landscape. This reflects the way people are
choosing their spirituality today — i.e., a little bit of this a little bit of
that. And it doesn't really seem to matter if the various things they are
choosing are intellectually consistent or logical. In other words, of a certain
idea “feels” good, then they'll take it and just throw it into their
personal spirituality stew. This is why Tolle, I believe, uses so many quotes
from the Bible — it sounds awfully spiritually and uplifting. Unfortunately,
the words contained in his select passages are rendered meaningless by him
because he perverts them utterly via radically New Age misinterpretations
of them based on his own internal, subjective “knowledge” of what
those verses supposedly REALLY mean — always contrary, by the way, to their
context and language. In this way he utterly reshapes/redefines every Christian
doctrine around what HE believes about God, Jesus, eternal life, salvation, the
cross, the “new” haven and earth mentioned in Revelation, the term
“Christ,” and the mission of Jesus.

What is the basic
message he's teaching?

His basic religious message is: You can escape suffering and live happy,
fulfilled, and purposeful if you know who you REALLY are. And who are you?
Supposedly, you and everyone else, and everything else, is “God”
(which he defines as the Life Force, Power, One, Reality, or Essence of all
that exists). This impersonal, cosmic, metaphysical stuff is what we need to
recognize as our TRUE self, underlying the illusion of forms we see. Such a
view is nothing but pantheism, which has been taught in Hinduism for centuries.
It's one of the foundational teachings of the classic New Age Movement. It's
all very, very old stuff. But with a new twist, thanks in part, to Oprah, who
has become, as one person said it, the Queen of the New Age Gurus.

What is it that people find so appealing about Tolle's
message?

Tolle is a likable guy, first of all. He's not intimidating in the least—i.e.,
he comes off as very calm, kind-hearted, gentle, witty, caring, sincere,
non-judgmental, and non-combative. There's a lot to be said for personality!
This is enough to get most people to believe just about anyone, be they a
used-car salesman, a politician, or an entertainer.

And then you have Oprah, who has been identified by Forbes as the most
influential/powerful celebrity in the world. So, for a lot of people (fans,
fellow celebrities, Hollywood movers and
shakers), whatever Oprah says is golden. Whatever she says is true must be
true. Add a few more celebrity endorsements into the mix and you've got untold
millions looking to Eckhart Tolle because he is being backed by celebrities.

As for his actual message, it is crafted extraordinarily well for our era of
self, self, self. It's all about the self — me, me, me. What can YOU achieve,
by YOUR efforts, to make YOU happier, by getting what YOU want, through
understanding YOUR power, and knowing YOUR real identity, which is “God”
(as Tolle defines him from a pantheistic perspective). The bottom line is
simple—i.e., escape your suffering, obtain what you want, live a good life.

This is the same foundational teaching that has infected certain segments of
the Christian community. The only difference is that in Tolle's teachings, each
person is supposed to look inwardly to their own self as “God.” The
Christian version doesn't go quite that far, but instead, holds on to an
external God while we are painted more us more like little gods who can, by
virtue of our faith, make the big God give us what we want.

Christianity, contrary to Tolle’s assertion, does not teach it is possible to
“end” suffering. Such an idea is nowhere to be found in Christ’s sermons (or
anywhere in the Bible). In fact, the very opposite is taught in scripture—i.e.,
followers of Jesus will experience all kinds of suffering for myriad reasons.
History has repeatedly born out the accuracy of this teaching with frightening
clarity. Christian suffering began almost immediately after Jesus ascended to
heaven (Acts 1:10–12). But believers in Christ always recalled Master's
promise: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4).
The Christian’s hope, in other words, is not to escape suffering, but to endure
it with the strength, guidance, and comfort of God that is made available to us
through the Holy Spirit, who is variously called the Counselor, Helper, or
Comforter (John 14:16). The answer for Christians who live in a world rife with
suffering is to look to, and lean on, God, “who comforts the downcast” (2 Cor.
7:6). It molds us, shapes us, and conforms us to the image of Christ. This is
not a real popular message. In fact, it seems that few people these days (even
in the Christian church, especially in America) are willing to accept what
Jesus said in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world.”