Eckankar - A funny word with big consequences

I drove one of my sons to the Minneapolis Convention Center recently to help him get registered for an event he was taking part in. I’m curious and like going to places I’ve never seen in the metro area, so why not make a trip downtown? What I saw in a big open area right inside the front doors of the center got my attention.

A large gathering of people in the middle of the convention center is normally enough to attract the attention of anyone walking through the large building. But there were signs all through the area that had a funny word: “Eckankar.” Well, I’m a practicing journalist and I got curious.

According to GotQuestions.org, Eckankar is a New World religion, which is the first red flag to jump out at me. The other thing that made me scratch my head is this was started in 1965 by a journalist named Paul Twitchell. Not a spiritual guru, a minister, or even a savant. That journalist happened to be involved in yoga, self-realization groups, and Scientology, which are three more red flags.

According to the official website, Eckankar allows followers to “explore their own spiritual experiences.” It’s also called the “Science of Soul Travel.” You may have heard the term “astral projection.” That means a person’s soul can transcend the physical universe and visit the spiritual world where God is. Speaking of God, let’s look at some of the basic beliefs, including their picture of God.

Did you know this building is in Chanhassen, MN?

God: He’s an impersonal, amoral, pantheistic (God IS the universe and all of creation) spirit. Twitchell described God (called “Sugmad”) in his book The Tiger’s Fang. They describe God as internally inconsistent, in need of wisdom and education, negative, unawakened, wondering, poor, unhappy, not content with his creations, and in need of assistance. Twitchell also says, “You’ll never find God by searching for him. He’s here and now within you.”

Now, how does the Bible describe God? God is love. His work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. He is faithful and without iniquity (sin). He never lies. He is knowable, not aloof. He’s wise. He’s also a jealous God, in that “You shall have no other gods before me.” Noticing any differences?

Sin: Simply karma that must be purged through the process of reincarnation and the work of the ECK. The website CARM.org says ECK is the Divine Spirit or the “Current” of life that flows through all living things.

What does the Bible say about sin? We are all born imperfect. All wrongdoing is sin. All have sinned and fallen short of what God intended for us. He who confesses and forsakes his transgressions will obtain mercy.

Jesus Christ: This should be a huge red flag. Twitchell says that “Kal,” or the devil, is the Jehovah of the Jewish Faith and the Father of Christian Teaching. Therefore, they really see Jesus as the son of Kal Niranjan, king of the lower worlds. That’s a nice way of saying Jesus is the son of the devil.

Jesus is NOT the son of the devil. Period.

What does the Bible say about Jesus? He’s the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through Him. There is no other name given under Heaven by which we must be saved. He’s also the same yesterday, today, and forever. Big differences here.

The fall, the second coming, Heaven, and hell are all Christian myths in the view of Eckankar.

Want a little more? The human soul is eternal and on a spiritual journey of reincarnation to discover and improve the true self, thereby realizing his own true inner divinity. This process can even include incarnation in animal forms.

ECK masters are agents of God, vehicles of the Divine Spirit that guide people through spiritual learning, past life regressions, dreams, soul travel, and meditations. Past ECK masters include Socrates, Plato, Jesus, Moses, Martin Luther, Michelangelo, Mozart, Einstein, and others. All these allegedly made astral journeys for their discoveries. Who knew?

But wait a moment. I thought Jesus was the son of the devil. That seems a little inconsistent.

Simple Conclusion

What’s really happening here is man is trying to bring himself up to God’s level or bring Him down to our level. Where does that come from? It comes from original sin. The original sin was Lucifer trying to take the place of God. It didn’t work, so Lucifer is trying to get man to do the same thing.

Can we please let God be God and stop trying to bring Him down to our level? We will never get there and have no business trying. Ask Lucifer how well trying to replace God went.

Isaiah 55:8 says, “As the heavens are higher than the Earth, so my (God’s) ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts your thoughts.” I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more comfort I find in that. I don’t know everything. There are days I can’t handle all the things life throws at me. I bet you know what that feels like.

He can handle it. Nothing surprises Him. So, can we let Him be God and rest in His love?