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The Toronto Blessing: an Expression of Christian Spirituality in the Charismatic Movement?

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The Toronto Blessing: an Expression of Christian Spirituality in the Charismatic Movement? ,,• THE TORONTO BLESSING: AN EXPRESSION OF CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY IN THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT? by STEPHANUS PETRUS PRETORIUS submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY WITH SPECIALISATION IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF C E T KOURIE DECEMBER 2002 ********************** ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study was made possible by all the support and guidance I received from different people. II is appropriate at the completion of this thesis to honor those who supported me. Thank you very much Prof Kourie for your patience with and trust in me during this study. You have guided me through this project in a professional manner. To David Levey for the editing that he has done with such enthusiasm. You have done an excellent job and your inputs were very valuable. To Mrs Thirion at the library for assisting me in finding literature sources, thank you. To all the family and friends who supported me, thank you. Lastly, however not the least to my wife, Marianne, who went through this process for a second time. Thank you for your patience, support, motivation and interest in what I am doing, your value is indeed priceless. Also to my two children, Stephan and Monique who had to put up with my studies just as much, thank you very much for your patience and understanding. As a believer I am convinced that this study would not be possible at all if ii was not for the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. All honor and glory to God. SUMMARY Spirituality is a word in frequent use in contemporary society. In a broad sense ·it refers to the 'raison d'etre' of our existence, the meaning and values to which we ascribe. Everyone embodies a spirituality in this wider sense, whether it be nihilistic, materialistic, humanistic or religious. The present study evaluates the phenomenon of the Toronto Blessing in the light of spirituality in general and Christian spirituality in particular. By means of a broadly-based phenomenological methodology, the manifestations accompanying the Toronto Blessing are evaluated firstly, with respect to the bible; secondly, with respect to the Hindu experience of 'Kundalini awakening'; and thirdly, in terms of neuroscience and certain psychological processes, such as hypnosis, mass hysteria, and the role of body and mind in creating spiritual experiences. Although Charismatics claim that the Toronto Blessing has a sound biblical foundation, no evidence to support this claim has been found. However, striking similarities are found between the manifestations of the Toronto Blessing and the techniques used in the 'Kundalini awakening' for the transference of energy. Finally, the major findings of this study support the conclusion that the Toronto Blessing is largely the result of psychological techniques. The possibility of Godly intervention is not totally excluded, but caution is urged, so as to be aware of extraneous factors that create similar manifestations. While it is agreed that the Toronto Blessing can be seen as an expression of spirituality in a broad sense, nevertheless it cannot be viewed as an expression of Christian spirituality in the Charismatic Movement. KEY TERMS LIST OF KEY TERMS USED IN THIS STUDY 1. Spirituality 2. Christian Spirituality 3. Mysticism 4. Christian Mysticism 5. Charismatic Movement 6. Toronto Blessing 7. Kundalini awakening 8. Altered state of consciousness 9. Hypnosis 10. Suggestion 11. Vineyard churches TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE Page INTRODUCTION 1.1 OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY AND PROBLEM TO BE 1 INVESTIGATED 1.2 DESCRIPTION OF TERMS 2 1.2.1 Christian Spirituality 2 1.2.2 Biblical perspective 2 1.2.3 Charismatic movement 3 1.2.4 Toronto Blessing 4 1.3 METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH 5 1.4 LANGUAGE 5 1.5 CITATIONS 6 1.6 DIVISION OF CHAPTERS 6 1.7 LITERATURE REVIEW 7 1. 7 .1 Polemic Viewpoint 8 1. 7 .2 Charismatic Viewpoint 9 1.7.3 Inter-Religious Viewpoint 10 1. 7.4 Psychological/neuroscientific Viewpoint 11 CHAPTER TWO MYSTICISM AND SPIRITUALITY 2.1 INTRODUCTION 14 2.2 MYSTICISM 14 2.2.1 Introduction 14 2.2.2 Different dimensions of mysticism 16 2.2.3 Definitions of mysticism 19 2.2.4 Characteristics of Mysticism 21 2.2.5 Mystical experience and religious experience 25 2.2.6 Extraordinary manifestations and mysticism 28 2.3 CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM 34 2.3.1 Introduction 34 2.3.2 What is Christian mysticism? 37 2.3.3 Eastern mystical influences in Christianity 44 2.3.3.1 Hinduism 44 2.3.3.2 Kundalini in the Christian tradition 47 2.3.3.3 Zen Buddhism 51 2.4 SPIRITUALITY 53 2.5 CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY 55 2.5.1 Introduction 55 2.5.2 Defining Christian spirituality 57 2.5.3 Charismatic spirituality 60 2.5.4 Comparison between Christian mysticism and Christian spirituality 62 2.6 CONCLUSION 64 CHAPTER THREE HISTORICAL ROOTS, DEVELOPMENT AND THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT AND THE TORONTO BLESSING 3.1 INTRODUCTION 65 3.2 THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT 65 3.2.1 Definition 65 3.2.2 Historical background 66 3.2.2.1 Classical Pentecostalism 67 3.2.2.2 The Charismatic Movement 69 3.2.2.3 The Third Wave - Signs and Wonders Movement 72 3.2.3 Theological understanding of the Charismatic Movement 75 3.2.3.1 Bible as the final authority 76 3.2.3.2 Baptism in the Holy Spirit 78 3.2.3.3 Gifts of the Holy Spirit 87 3.2.3.4 Signs and Wonders 89 3.2.3.5 Goals of the Charismatic Movement 94 3.2.3.6 Summary 95 ii 3.3 THE TORONTO BLESSING 96 3.3.1 History and roots of the Toronto Blessing 96 3.3.1.1 The Word of Faith Movement 97 3.3.1.2 Vineyard Movement 98 3.3.1.3 The Latter Rain and New Prophets Movement 100 3.3.2 Description of the Toronto Blessing 103 3.3.3 Characteristics of the Toronto Blessing 105 3.3.3.1 Vocal expression 105 3.3.3.2 Kinetic or locomotor expression 106 . 3.3.3.3 Spiritual expression 108 3.3.3.4 Sensory expression 108 3.3.4 Environment for the Toronto Blessing 109 3.3.5 Summary 114 3.4 CONCLUSION 114 CHAPTER FOUR THE TORONTO BLESSING FROM A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE 4.1 INTRODUCTION 117 4.2 BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION 117 4.2.1 Diversity in Biblical interpretation 118 4.2.2 Charismatic hermeneutics 120 4.2.3 The governing presupposition of this chapter 123 4.2.4 Basic guidelines in Biblical interpretation 124 4.3 CERTAIN PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS EVALUATED IN THE LIGHT OF BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS 128 4.3.1 Introduction 128 4.3.2 Certain biblical accounts used by charismatics to substantiate the Toronto Blessing manifestations 129 4.3.2.1 Acts 2:1-13 129 4.3.2.2 Joel 2:19-32 132 4.3.3 Charismatic substantiation of the Toronto Blessing manifestations 135 4.3.3.1 'Slain in the Spirit' 135 4.3.3.2 Trembling and shaking 139 4.3.3.3 Weeping 140 4.3.3.4 Uncontrollable laughter 141 4.3.3.5 Animal noises 146 4.3.3.6 Further signs 147 iii 4.4 COUNTER ARGUMENTS FROM THE PROPOSERS OF THE TORONTO BLESSING 148 4.4.1 The Bible in not full extent of extent of Christian revelation 148 4.4.2 The Bible is not a 'text book' but a 'test book' 150 4.4.3 An appeal to the complexities of the Acts of the Apostles 153 4.5 THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 154 4.6 CONCLUSION 156 CHAPTER FIVE THE TORONTO BLESSING AND THE KUNDALINI EXPERIENCE 5.1 INTRODUCTION 159 5.2 KUNDALINI 159 5.2.1 Introduction 159 5.2.2 Role of Kundalini in Hinduism 160 5.2.3 Myths and misconceptions about Kundalini 162 5.2.4 Organization of energies (charkas) in the human body 164 5.2.5 Kundalini awakening 168 5.2.5.1 Introduction 168 5.2.5.2 Preparation for the awakening of Kundalini 169 5.2.5.3 Process of awakening 172 5.2.6 Shaktipat (saktipat) 174 5.2. 7 Signs and symptoms of awakened Kundalini 175 5.2.8 Positive and negative effects of Kundalini 181 5.2.9 Evaluation of Kundalini 182 5.3 THE TORONTO BLESSING AND KUNDALINI 187 5.3.1 Comparison between manifestations of Kundalini and the Toronto Blessing 187 5.3.2 More similarities between Pentecostalism/Charismatics and Kundalini 193 5.4 CONCLUSION 195 iv CHAPTER SIX ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE OF THE TORONTO BLESSING: DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS 6.1 INTRODUCTION 200 6.2 ALTERED/ALTERNATE STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS {ASCs) IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICE 201 6.2.1 Consciousness 201 6.2.2 Altered states of consciousness 205 6.2.3 The Toronto Blessing associated with an altered state of consciousness 207 6.2.4 Induction of altered states of consciousness 211 6.2.5 Characteristics of altered states of consciousness 212 6.2.6 Role players in creating spiritual experience 213 6.2.6.1 Role of religious life in spiritual experience 214 6.2.6.2 Role of the body in spiritual experience 216 6.2.6.3 Hypnosis and mass behavior 218 6.3 DIFFERENT THEORETICAL VIEWPOINTS ON SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES 231 6.3.1 Neuroscientific perspective on spiritual experiences 231 6.3.2 Social psychology perspective on spiritual experiences 238 6.3.3 Pathologically-orientated perspective 242 6.4 ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE 246 6.4.1 Introduction 246 6.4.2 Development of a belief system 246 6.4.2.1 Attention 247 6.4.2.2 Comprehension 247 6.4.2.3 Acceptance 247 6.4.3 Factors inducing change in a belief system 248 6.4.3.1 Social comparison theory 249 6.4.3.2 Cognitive dissonance theory 250 6.4.3.3 Attribution theory 251 6.4.3.4 Self-perception theory 252 6.5 THE TORONTO BLESSING A MYSTICAL OR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE? 255 v 6.6 CONCLUSION 257 CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSION 7.1 INTRODUCTORY 262 7.2 MYSTICISM AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY 262 7.3 ROOTS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT AND THE TORONTO BLESSING 264 7.4 THE TORONTO BLESSING EVALUATED ACCORDING TO SIMILAR EXPERIENCES IN THE BIBLE 266 7.5 THE TORONTO BLESSING MANIFESTATIONS COMPARED WITH SIMILAR MANIFESTATIONS DURING THE KUNDALINI EXPERIENCE 267 7.6 THE TORONTO BLESSING EVALUATED FROM WITHIN DIFFERENT THEORETICAL VIEWPOINTS 268 7.7 FINAL CONCLUSION 269 7.8 FURTHER RESEARCH 272 BIBLIOGRAPHY 274 269 PRET UNISA LIBRARY 1007 ·UL- 1 3 Class .
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