Part II - THIS PAGE The Labyrinth and Pagan Spirituality
The labyrinth has never deviated far from its metaphysical roots and is still being used as a ritual in pagan spirituality Labyrinths, Contemplative Prayer and An Altered State Of Consciousness
Labyrinths and Contemplative Prayer have quite a lot in common Labyrinths A Connection with the Divine... For Everyone?
Slinging the entire Gospel message out of the proverbial window. Is Labyrinth-Walking Compatible With Christianity?
The evangelical Christian community talks about "spiritual warfare" and "putting on the full amour of God," but are often found embracing that which they claim to counter. Quislings in The Church
Here are some examples of the wolves disguised a Christian' leaders. Note: These are only a few well-known and easily recognized names. There are thousands more. Conclusion
Modern Protestant leaders who should know better are disregarding explicit instructions from the Father Himself, and indulging in religious practises from the East - teaching other people to do the same.
Part I - Previous Page
Introduction
What is a Labyrinth? Labyrinths Vs. Mazes. Ancient Labyrinths. Greek Mythology. The Modern Labyrinth Walk. From Greek Mythology to Catholic Cathedrals. From Chartres to San Francisco and Beyond
The Labyrinth and Pagan Spirituality
The labyrinth has never deviated far from its metaphysical roots and is still being used as an one of the rituals connected with pagan spirituality. For example, Kathy Doore, whose online blog labyrinthina.com is dedicated to the ancient mysteries of Peru, writes
Labyrinths were woven into objects to personify man's connection to his source and were often placed at sacred places in nature to remind him of this union. When one walks the labyrinth it is in recreating this very ancient expression of thanks and remembrance of the divine in all things. Labyrinths are temples that enhance and balance and bring a sense of the sacred – a place where we can confirm our unity with the cosmos, awaken our vital force and elevate our consciousness... It is a mirror for the divine, a place to behold the beauty in nature. Spiraling inward and out, this serpentine flow is the most generative form of subtle energy. The process of moving through the pathway unwinds this stored energy, releasing, magnifying, and ultimately harnessing the flow. Working directly in conjunction with the human energy fields this spiraling flow interacts with the kundalini energy coiled at the base of our spine converting the subtle energy into life force itself. This uncoiling of the kundalini vitalizes us through a process of unfolding both upwards and inwards, an exhalation and ingathering of energies known as the dance of creation. [20]
Kundalini energy? Why does the old adage of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread come to mind? See Chakras, Kundalini, and The Ancient Hindu Custom of Shaktipat - Part IV of ‘Slain’... By What Spirit? Circle Sanctuary, founded in 1974 by Selena Fox, is a non-profit Nature Spirituality church and 200-acre nature preserve dedicated to networking, community celebrations, spiritual healing and education. An even called the Pagan Spirit Gathering will be celebrated during Summer Solstice Week (June 16 - 23, 2019) at Hannon's Camp America campground, near Oxford, Ohio. One of the rituals that will take place during the week of PSG is the "Candlelight Labyrinth Ritual: A transformative, walking meditation through an all-night labyrinth formed by 1000 lighted candles". [21] The Labyrinth Society: The Labyrinth Society's biggest event is the Annual Gathering which will take place from October 18-20, 2019 at Pearlstone Center in Reisterstown, Maryland. The society's Energy Keepers are 140 individuals throughout the world who are all asking that any issues you are facing – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial, decisional – be resolved for the highest good of all... As requests come in, Energy Keepers imagine the individual or situation in the center of the labyrinth envisioning him or her returning to his/her sacred center to connect to the Source of All that Is. This is followed by using individual preferred methods of energetic healing including Reiki, prayers, meditation, or surrounding the situation in Light as well as walking or finger walking labyrinths with the individual in mind. [22]
Labyrinths, Contemplative Prayer and An Altered State Of Consciousness
The situation is exactly the same as the one with Contemplative Prayer - widely accepted as Christian. But Eastern religions such Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism and Occult/New Age devotees have long practiced an almost identical form of 'prayer'. Since what is considered sacred varies from group to group, the experience is therefore interpreted according to the beliefs and practices of the practitioner. As Pastor Gary Gilley says in his review of Mysticism, an Evangelical Option?..
"The problem (or at least one of several problems) is that every mystic describes his experience in line with his belief system. Hindus believe they have union with the Hindu deities, the American Indian thinks he has contacted the Great Spirit, and the Christian mystic believes he is receiving revelation from God. Of course they cannot all be correct". [23]
The terminology also varies.. Buddhist call this state Nirvana or Satori... New Age people call it at-one-ness, etc... Christian and Muslim mystics perceive they have experienced some kind of ecstatic union with God or encounters with saints or angels. To say it is the Holy Spirit is just so much tosh, since there is not one, not two, but seven common themes of mysticism between Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu and American agnostic mystical experiences. (See Contemplative Prayer). Proponents of Contemplative Prayer and Walking Labyrinths Make Similar Claims.
Proponents of the former claim that it leads to an intimate experiential knowledge of God and cause them to be better able to hear God's voice. And, as shown earlier, the page on labyrinths on Grace Cathedral's web site says, "As you leave, following the same path out of the center as you came in, you enter the third stage, which is joining God, your Higher Power, or the healing forces at work in the world". Kimberly Lowelle Saward, President of The Labyrinth Society is often credited with saying "The labyrinth serves as a bridge from the mundane to the divine. It serves us well." [24]
In other words both practices are 'portals to the divine'. And how is this 'portal to the divine' accessed? Christian contemplatives are encouraged to use a 'sacred' word' of their choosing. However, this does not alter the basic fact that repeating a word or phrase over and over again is nothing but a mantra that can and does lead to an Altered State of Consciousness associated with the transportation to a "higher realm of consciousness" or mystical experience. The following is an excerpt from Lauren Artress' book The Sand Labyrinth: Meditation at your Fingertips, (Emphasis Added). She says labyrinths ... are designed to help us find our way. They have only one path - from the outer edge into the center and back our again... Many labyrinths, including the seven- and eleven-circuit ones, are "non-linear," meaning that the path goes through the four quadrants in a non-sequential way. One enters in the first quadrant, moves through the second, the back to the first, then to the third, and back to the second. As you move through a non-linear labyrinth, you lose your sense of where you are in the pattern, and enter into a pleasurable state of timelessness. Some people find this type of surrender particularly relaxing and refreshing. [25]
Kathy Doore, whose journeys to ancient “sacred” sites is a passion and a profession says.. (Emphasis Added) Labyrinths are time windows, portals, where time stands still. They are known to facilitate altered states of consciousness and have parallels with reincarnation, initiation, prosperity, and fertility rites... Moving through a Labyrinth changes ordinary ways of perception connecting the inner and the outer, the right brain and the left brain, the involutional and the evolutional through a series of paths that represent the realms of the Gods and Goddesses. These realms are associated with planetary movement as a process that induces Union with the One. [26]
But how do labyrinths facilitate an altered states of consciousness? The following put forth by Christian writer Prof. Johan Malan makes a whole lot of sense. When a person walks the labyrinth he meanders back and forth, turning 180 degrees each time he enters a different circuit. It is said that each time the person shifts his direction he also shifts his awareness from the left brain to the right brain, or vice versa. For this reason, labyrinth walking is accredited with inducing receptive states of consciousness, which also helps to balance a person's chakras (the body's psychic centers). [27]
Note: Alpha: is the "resting state" of the brain when its activity slows down and emits waves from about 8 to 13 cycles per second. This passive, non-critical and non-analytical state occurs when you are truly relaxed or half way between being fully awake and asleep. The Alpha state is often achieved very naturally. We all know that sitting by the sea and listening to the crashing of the waves can be extremely relaxing, as can listening to the rain, or even simply daydreaming. There is considerable scientific evidence that lowering the frequency of one's brain waves induces relaxation that has significant physical benefits. However, there seems to be a very fine line between practicing something that physically benefits you and something that is used to further occult abilities and experiences. As asked by Don Matzat in What Is Centering? "The issue is not the natural experiences of human consciousness, but rather the relationship between the alpha level and spiritual experience. Does such a relationship exist? If so, is the Holy Spirit producing the experience or is there an alternative source? Should we be concerned that this altered state of consciousness is associated with a variety of occult practices? [28]
See More About The Altered State of Consciousness A very valid question in view of the fact that Alpha is harnessed by numerous pagans and occultists.
Labyrinths A Connection with the Divine... For Everyone?
Remember the bit about the labyrinth being (in common with many other mystical practices being promoted today) the discovery of self and a connection with 'the divine'? Well this connection with the divine is supposed to take place irrespective of what religion one belongs to and what one's beliefs happen to be. The labyrinth is a device designed to bring a person into a higher spiritual realm whether they are Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, New Agers, atheists or anything else.
Joanne Sanders, associate dean for religious life at Stanford University states that Although often associated with Christianity, the use of labyrinths "crosses religious and cultural boundaries". The circuitous patterns found in labyrinths have surfaced in many cultures, dating back thousands of years, and have a centuries-old history as a spiritual tool. [29]
The Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Springfield, Illinois pretty much sums up what is commonly believed... "A labyrinth is similar in terms of function to a rosary, the stations of the cross, the tao-te-ching and Buddhist meditation" and "As with those other traditions' spiritual devices, intentionality is crucial... Different people will choose different names to describe the experience. Don't let that distract you. Names are not as important as the experience itself." [30]
In one of her books, Artress speaks of a group of musicians called Musica Divina that came to play and sing at the labyrinth when it was opened to the public. Among them was a "revered Sufi teacher named Hayat Stadlinger" who walked the labyrinth at the age of ninety two. Artress goes on to say - that when Hayat died a friend wrote "...I was comforted seeing my darling Hayat walking that timeless symbol-the Labyrinth-the returning path to the Beloved" [31]
In the above quote a Sufi teacher is portrayed as walking a "returning path to the Beloved". In one short sentence the entire Gospel message has been slung out of the proverbial window. Which brings me to the million dollar question ...
Is Labyrinth-Walking Compatible With Christianity?
In keeping with the general down-the-tubes trend of the modern church, the last couple of decades has seen so called Christian advocates of the labyrinth portraying the practice as a "rediscovery" of a lost form of Christian spirituality. Not only has the pagan practice been revived, but proponents actually claim that the Father approves.
Seekers outside the church are focused on raising their level of consciousness and attaining enlightenment and self-actualization through an assortments of spiritual practices. The tragedy is that Christians today are trying to find God or enhance their experience of Jesus often by using exactly the same tools - contemplative prayer, meditation, labyrinths, yoga etc. While firmly denying any part in classical mysticism many are actually participating in time-honoured mystical practices. For example, Jill Geoffrion who has a M.Div. degree from Princeton Theological Seminary says, God is blessing the use of the labyrinth; many are being drawn closer to Jesus, experiencing healing and gaining spiritual clarity as they pray on its path. [32]
But is there any truth to this claim? Sure there is! That is if you completely ignore the fact that God does not condone any involvement with pagan spirituality and practices and forget that Israel was commanded to utterly destroy all idols and places of worship of the heathen nations. Referring to the seven tribes that then occupied Canaan, the Lord told the Israelites "You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. "You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place. (Deuteronomy 12:2-3 NASB) "But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. "For you are a holy (Heb. qôdesh) people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:5-6 NASB)
Note: In it's almost 500 occurrences in the Old Testament, qôdesh has occasionally been used of God's "Holiness" and "Holy Name" (Ezekiel 39:7, Amos 4:2), However it most often refers to an inanimate object, not a person. Since inanimate objects cannot be morally good or bad, the word "holy" implies a sacred, consecrated, or dedicated place or thing, Something exclusively set aside for God's purpose. See What Is Holiness? In the same vein, Paul clearly pointed out that light and darkness have no place together Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. "Therefore, Come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "and do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17 NASB)
Hidden Origins of the Labyrinth?
Additionally, instead of just blindly accepting a practice we need to first give some serious thought to the fact that labyrinths are found in many countries of the world (including India, France, Egypt, Scandinavia, Crete, Sumeria, America, the British Isles, Italy, etc.) some of which go back many thousands of years. It is difficult to believe that these virtually identical designs were independently dreamed up by people in unrelated parts of the globe. The only explanation that makes any sense if that all of them had a common origin. This fact alone should give Christians plenty of pause for thought. I suspect that, whether she knows it or not, when she made the following statement Lauren Artress was far closer to the mark than she ever dreamed. (Emphasis Added) My passion for the labyrinth has never let up! I think this is because I get so much from it. I also can teach everything I want to teach through the labyrinth: meditation, finding our soul assignments, unleashing our creativity, spiritual practice, psycho-spiritual healing; you name it! .... It [the labyrinth] has the exact cosmic rhythms embedded within it. I sense that this design was created by great masters of Spirit, who knew the pathway to integrating mind, body and spirit" [33]
And who would these great masters of Spirit be? Beings that are more than happy to point a gullible world and an even more credulous Church in every direction but the right one. See the introduction to Alice Bailey, The Lucis Trust, and The Reappearance of "The Christ". As said by Carl Teichrib, author of Game of Gods - a comprehensive investigation into the changing nature of Western civilization, The evangelical Christian community talks about "spiritual warfare" and "putting on the full amour of God," but are often found embracing that which they claim to counter. [34]
Much to the contrary, to the Christian labyrinth supporters adopting heathen practices does not constitute "touching what is unclean" - they have no problem at all casting a little incense on pagan altars.
Quislings in The Church
Pastor Gary Gilley points out...
"Labyrinths are rapidly becoming a recognised form of worship in many evangelical organisations and churches. They are being promoted by Youth for Christ, Youth Specialties, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, The Emergent Church Convention, NavPress, Rick Warren (by recommending NavPress' pro-contemplative magazine Discipleship Journal and speaking at Youth Specialties conferences), Zondervan Publishing, National Pastors Convention, Leadership Magazine, Group Publishing and a host of others.
Here are some examples of the wolves disguised a Christian' leaders. Note: These are only a few well-known and easily recognized names. There are countless other so called Christian leaders and pastors that allow, nay! encourage the use of labyrinths in their churches and else where. At the 2004 National Pastors' Convention, held in San Diego, the daily morning schedule included the following: Opportunities to walk the labyrinth (from 7.00am-10:30pm); Contemplative morning prayer exercise (8:30am-9:15am); [and] Sustainable life forum: Stretching and Yoga (8:30am-9:15am)'. Speakers at this convention included Rick Warren, Howard Hendricks, Dan Kimball and Brian McLaren". [35] Dan Kimball and his wife actually walked a labyrinth at this convention, which left them "calmed and refreshed" their perspective "uniquely restored" . He goes on to say "After the convention we knew we couldn't keep this experience to ourselves. A few months later we featured a labyrinth as part of Graceland's annual art event at Santa Cruz Bible Church. Graceland artists recreated the labyrinth with a kit we purchased (The Prayer Path, Group Publishing), transforming one of the church's multipurpose rooms into a medieval prayer sanctuary. The team hung art on the walls, draped fabric, and lit candles all around the room to create a visual sense of sacred space. Over two nights we saw more than 100 people go through the labyrinth. It was a joy to see so many people on their knees communing with God through the experiential prayer elements". [36] A Campus Crusade PDF document for something they call The Journey says The Journey is an interactive prayer experience based on a feature in European medieval cathedrals - The basic premise is that you are on a pilgrimage with God to the center of a labyrinth and back out again. At each station, you encounter God concerning a different aspect of your life. [37]
Youth for Christ had an on-line labyrinth which seems to have been taken down Doug Pagitt, pastor of Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis and author of several books feels that walking a labyrinth is just a physical act that is of value to faith "… walking a prayer labyrinth, going on pilgrimage, and making the sign of the cross have served to connect the physical body to the life of faith through the centuries". [38].
Conclusion
How professing Christians manage to ignore or gloss over verses in the Scriptures that are either inconvenient or do not fit in with what they have already decided to believe or do is a never ending source of amazement to me.
With full knowledge of their heathen origin, the Roman Catholic Church accepted and popularized numerous practices including labyrinth walking. But then the Bible has never been the final word of authority in Catholicism. However, modern Protestant preachers who should know better apparently are just as blind or willfully ignorant as their Roman counterparts. Cheerfully disregarding explicit instructions from the Father Himself, they indulge in religious practises from the East and teach other people to do the same. How in the world anyone can claim to be a follower of Christ and yet ignore the fact that Israel was commanded to utterly destroy all idols and places of worship of the heathen nations, and that Paul clearly pointed out that light and darkness have no place together is well beyond me. I will repeat two Bible quoted earlier "You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. "You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place. (Deuteronomy 12:2-3 NASB) Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. "Therefore, Come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "and do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17 NASB)
While the majority of Christians would claim that their walk is completely focused on Jesus Christ, it DOES NOT rule out the fact that the labyrinth is an inter-religious and deeply mystical tool, and that it promotes an altered state of consciousness which is exceedingly dangerous for one who names the name of Christ. When all the layers are stripped away and we peel off the Christian labels we have stuck on it, the labyrinth is nothing but pagan spirituality. Although its roots are much deeper, we adopted it from a Cathedral where much of the worship is focused on the Black Madonna. How and why should God bless something that has its origins in esoteric doctrine and ancient pagan mythology? As shown earlier, the labyrinth has never lost its occult meaning and is still being used as an instrument of pagan spirituality. When did the Bible stop being enough? Why can't Christians get it through their heads God has already outlined all that they need. The leaders who have told us that labyrinths are Christian are traitors who will one day have to answer for every soul they led astray. We are in the midst of the Great Falling Away, which has been so ill recognized simply because it has not adhered to what most people's perception of what a falling away should look like. Most people probably expected humanity to become less religious and more materialistic - less spiritual and more worldly. While it is true that a large percentage of humanity has indeed become more carnal, a staggering number of people have actually become more spiritual, seeking out the divine in every possible nook and cranny, including within themselves. God's instructions are already crystal clear --- it is time for us to sit up and pay attention to them.
Footnote II - The Druids
A Druid was a member of the priestly and learned class active in Gaul, and perhaps in Celtic culture more generally, during the final centuries BCE. Rites and sacrifices were carried out by the Druids, who fulfilled a variety of roles in Celtic religion, as priests and religious officiants, but also as judges, sacrificers, teachers, and lore-keepers. Druids organized and ran the religious ceremonies, and they memorized and taught the calendar. They were suppressed by the Roman government from the 1st century CE and disappeared from the written record by the 2nd century.
Most of what is known about them comes from the Roman writers who regularly discuss the practice of human sacrifice. Gruesome reports of druidic practices appear in Latin histories and poetry, including Lucan, Julius Caesar, Suetonius and Cicero. Human sacrifice was the reason why druidism, unlike other national religions within the empire, was outlawed under Tiberius. [PLACE IN TEXT]
Footnote III - Chartres Cathedral and the Cult of the Black Madonna
Chartres Cathedral is known as the Virgin Mary's Seat on Earth.. (Note: The graphic at the top of the page shows the white statue of Mary at the far end of the aisle, beyond the labyrinth)
According to tradition, Chartres Cathedral has housed the tunic of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the labyrinth-Black-MadonnaSancta Camisia, since 876. The relic was said to have been given to the cathedral by Charlemagne, who received it as a gift during a trip to Jerusalem. Because of this relic, Chartres has been a very important Marian pilgrimage center and the faithful still come from the world over to honor it. [39]
And certainly the focus of the Cathedral is Mary, or more accurately the Black Madonna. Black Madonnas (or Black Virgins) are icons of the Catholic Virgin Mary, and sometimes Jesus, pictured with darker skin dating back to the medieval period (commonly defined as the 12th – 15th centuries). They are usually found in Catholic and Orthodox countries. They usually are not large: standing or sitting statues around three feet tall, or paintings. They are everywhere, with a documented four-to-five hundred of them in Europe alone. [40]
The Black Madonna in Chartres Cathedral
In the great cathedral in Chartres, 50 miles southwest of Paris, there are two Black Madonnas. Notre Dame de Pilar, a 16th-century copy of a figure from the 13th century, stands in her gown of gold in a side chapel of the cathedral. She perches regally atop a high pillar, surrounded by candles. Notre Dame de Sous-Terre ("Our Lady of the Underground") is tucked away in a crypt near a holy well that dates from pre-Christian days. During the French Revolution, the sculpture in the crypt was destroyed, and in 1856 a replica was sculpted. [41] Certainly Lauren Artress knows the appeal of the Black Madonna.. Her Veriditas site advertises what they call "contemplative pilgrimage retreat experience in order to deeply listen to that which is calling.” This pilgrimage includes a private group tour of the 11th Century church including the largest crypt in the world, where you will meet a black Madonna called Sous Terre, our Lady under the earth... [42]
Note: During a decade-long restoration designed to remove a heavy coating of black grime deposited by 800 years of candle soot, incense, fires, and a misguided oil-burning furnace installed in the 1950s also included removing the "unsightly coating"from the 16th-century wooden icon. The Black Madonna is now white. [43] I have no idea whether the statue in the crypt was similarly treated. Connections With the Druids?
There are those that believe the mother and child depicted by the Black Madonna are descended from the image of the Virgin forever giving birth, worshipped by ancient Druids. That the Druids held sway in the area of Chartres is of little doubt... ...the very name Chartres comes from Carnutes, a powerful Celtic people that lived in the heart of independent Gaul. In fact the territory of the Carnutes had the reputation among Roman observers of being the political and religious center of the Gaulish nations. [Wikipedia]. Julius Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico) mentions "The Druids of Gaul assembled at a fixed period of the year at a consecrated place in the territories of the Carnutes (now identified as Chartres) which was reckoned the central point of Gaul." [44].
The back cover of Jean Markale's book Cathedral of the Black Madonna says, The great cathedral of Chartres us renowned the world over as a master-piece of High Gothic architecture and for its remarkable stained glass and mystical labyrinth. But the foundations of this sanctuary go back to a long time before Christianity, when this site was a clearing where Druids worshipped a virgo paritura, a virgin about to give birth. Now at this ancient meeting place, where all the Druids in Gaul gathered once a year, there stands Chartres cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and home to one of the most venerated Black Madonnas in Europe: Our Lady of the Pillar. [45]
Coincidence? I doubt it!
Footnote IV - Grace Cathedral - A Literal Den of Vipers
Exploring the roots of the labyrinth, includes the beliefs of the people heading the organization that pioneered the labyrinth movement in the US.
Grace Cathedral reminds me of a den of vipers. When bitten by one of these venomous snake, the victim's fate is very unpredictable and left untreated they are quite likely to die. Remember that in the 1990's William Swing was Bishop of Grace Cathedral, and Alan Jones has been the Dean of Grace since 1985. And how does this matter?  William Swing and the United Religions Initiative (URI): During the 1995 United Nations 50th Anniversary, Swing proclaimed that Grace would work towards the building of a global inter-faith network. After an intense amount of travel and lobbying, Swing succeeded in forming the United Religions Initiative (URI)- one of the world's leading UN affiliated inter-religious partnerships. Today, the URI is a global organization is designed to bring all religions together to dialogue and seek common ground. You're probably familiar with the old saying, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Thanks to Bishop William Swing that road is not only paved, but it's being widened, and the lines are freshly painted. Alan Jones and Reimagining Christianity:
 Here are two quotes from his book Reimagining Christianity: Reconnect Your Spirit without Disconnecting Your Mind, which just about says everything there is to say about his brand of Christianity. The Church's fixation on the death of Jesus as the universal saving act must end, and the place of the cross must be reimagined in Christian faith. Why? Because of the cult of suffering and the vindictive God behind it." [46] "The image of the child Jesus sitting on the Buddha's lap appeals to me and captures the spirit of this book. It is an image of the Kingdom. "The Kingdom" is a sort of shorthand signifying an inclusive community of faith, love and justice." [47]
Incidentally Brian McLaren has endorsed Reimagining Christianity, saying (on the back cover)… ...Alan Jones is a pioneer in reimaging Christian faith that emerges from authentic spirituality. His work stimulates and encourages me deeply
Bishop Marc Andrus and the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade:
Grace Cathedral is currently presided Grace-Andrusover by Bishop Marc Andrus, who rode in the infamous 2007 San Francisco Gay Pride Parade along with "Nigeria's premier gay activist" Davis Mac-Illaya. The parade featured generous amounts of nudity and displays of gay sexual depravity. Oasis/California (the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of California) was so proud of this first participation in the parade by an Episcopal bishop that they created t-shirts titled "Marching with Bishop Marc" and were selling them at CafePress. See Section on Homosexuality End Notes - The LabyrinthPart II
[20] Kathy Doore. Labyrinths Myth & History. http://www.labyrinthina.com/labyrinths-myth-history.html [21] The Labyrinth Society. https://labyrinthsociety.org/news-events [22] The Labyrinth Society. https://labyrinthsociety.org/energy-keepers [23] https://tottministries.org/mysticism-an-evangelical-option-by-winfried-corduan/ [24] The Dome Education & Gathering Center. The Labyrinth. http://www.thedomecenter.com/labyrinth.php [25] Lauren Artress Journey Editions; Book and Kit edition. Page 3,4 [26] Labyrinths Myth & History http://www.labyrinthina.com/labyrinths-myth-history.html [27] Prof. Johan Malan. Ancient Labyrinths are Re-emerging. https://www.bibleguidance.co.za/Engarticles/Labyrinth.htm [28] Don Matzat . What Is Centering? http://www.issuesetcarchive.org/issues_site/resource/journals/centerng.htm 4 [29] Stanford Office for Religious Life. https://religiouslife.stanford.edu/programs-events/labyrinth [30] Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation https://www.aluuc.org/get-involved/labyrinth [31] Lauren Artess. Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool, Page 84- 85 [32] Christian Uses Of Labyrinths. https://jillgeoffrion.com/christian-uses-of-labyrinths/ [33] Interview with Arts and Healing Network, September 2003. Please note, the Arts & Healing Network closed in 2015 [34] Carl Teichrib. The Labyrinth Journey: Walking the Path to Fulfillment? http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/teichrib/labyrinth.htm [35] Labyrinths by Gary Gilley. https://tottministries.org/mysticism-part-4/ [36] Dan Kimball. A–maze–ing Prayer. http://www.hadleyrobinson.com/theology-others/dan-kimball/laybrinth-prayer-by-dan-kimball.pdf [37] http://globalprayermovement.org/resources/the-journey/ [38] Doug Pagitt. BodyPrayer: The Posture of Intimacy with God. WaterBrook Press (November 15, 2005) Page 4 [39] http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/chartres-cathedral [40] The Black Madonna & What You Need to Know About Chartres .
https://obsidianlit.org/the-black-madonna-what-you-need-to-know-about-chartres/ [41] Marilyn McFarlane, Mystery of the Black Madonna. https://europeupclose.com/article/mystery-of-the-black-madonna/ [42] Veriditas Programs in Chartres, France. https://www.laurenartress.com/pilgrimages/ [43] A Controversial Restoration That Wipes Away the Past -
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/01/arts/design/chartres-cathedral-restoration-controversial.html and
21st Century Chartres: The Famous Gothic Cathedral is Newly Restored -
https://www.francetoday.com/culture/chartres-the-famous-cathedral-is-newly-restored/ [44] Lewis Spence History and Origins of Druidism. Aquarian Press, London; Second Edition edition (1971) Page 20 [45] https://www.amazon.com/Cathedral-Black-Madonna-Mysteries-Chartres/dp/1594770204/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Chartres+and+the+great+mystery+of+the+Black+Madonna&qid=1558544234&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmrnull [46] Alan Jones, Reimagining Christianity p. 132 [47] Alan Jones, Reimagining Christianity p. 12 | 
