Ep 11 - Eastern Pantheistic Monism & New Age Spiritualism

This is part four of a six part series through James Sire’s classic book, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog. This episode features a conversation with my friend Monique Duson from the Center for Biblical Unity. In this episode we unpack Eastern Pantheistic Monism & New Age Spiritualism. One of the big application questions we ask throughout the series is this, “how does each worldviews impact our view of race and racism."

REFERENCES

• James W.. Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog.

All Episodes in the James Sire Series

What in the World Is Your View?

Today’s show features a conversation with Monique Duson who is the President and co-founder, alongside Krista Bontrager, of the Center for Biblical Unity. Monique has a background in social service and children’s ministry. She has worked with a diverse array of under-served communities. She worked as a Missionary to South Africa for over four years, serving children and teachers impacted by drugs, violence, and trauma. She spent two decades advocating for Critical Race Theory (CRT), but through a series of events, began to clearly see the contradictions of CRT with the historic Christian worldview. Monique is now convinced that CRT is not the best way to achieve racial unity and actively speaks out against the use of CRT within the church.

Monique has appeared on shows such as Relatable (with Allie Beth Stuckey), the Alisa Childers podcast, and Breakpoint (with John Stonestreet). Monique has a BA in Sociology from Biola University. She is working on a MA in Public Theology at Birmingham Theological Seminary.

DISCUSSION POINTS

Below is a list of just a few of the big ideas discussed in this episode. Subscribers, feel free to weigh in with your own ideas and join me in the conversation.

Eastern Pantheistic Monism

1. What is the nature of reality according to Eastern Pantheistic Monism? How does it differ from a Western perspectives?

2. Explain the concept of “god” in Eastern Pantheistic Monism. How is it different from the personal God of Christianity?

3. How does Eastern Pantheistic Monism view the relationship between the material world and the ultimate reality?

4. Discuss the role of logic and reason in Eastern Pantheistic Monism. Why might logic be seen as a barrier rather than a tool?

5. How does Eastern Pantheistic Monism approach the concept of knowledge and truth?

6. In Eastern Pantheistic Monism, what is the ultimate goal of human existence?

7. How does Eastern Pantheistic Monism address the problem of suffering and evil?

New Age Spiritualism

1. What are the core beliefs of New Age Spiritualism, and how do they differ from the core beliefs of Christianity?

2. Explain the concept of “god” in New Age Spiritualism. How is it distinct from the biblical revelation of God?

3. What role does personal experience play in New Age Spiritualism? How is it used to validate spiritual truths?

4. What is the New Age perspective on human potential and self-realization? How does it propose individuals achieve spiritual growth?

5. How does New Age Spiritualism approach the concepts of life after death?

6. In New Age Spiritualism, what is the ultimate goal of human existence?

7. How does New Age Spiritualism address the issue of suffering and evil? How does this compare to the explanations provided in the Bible?

Comparative Questions

1. How is the “god” of Eastern Pantheistic Monism different from the “god” of New Age Spiritualism?

2. In what ways are these two views most alike?

3. In what ways are these two views very different?

4. In what ways has your worldview (or the worldview of a Christian friend) been shaped by these two views? What biblical truth might help correct your thinking?

5. How can your knowledge of these two views prepare you to share the Good News of Jesus Christ?