Comments for How about Making Some Christian CDs for a Change?? at http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com , comment 1 to 31 out of 20 comments http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:57:40 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-3575 Most, if not all, of my Rabbi's or teachers would say it is actually forbidden according to the Halacha (Jewish law) from the Torah to listen to Christian hymns. While they may be stirring, spiritually satisfying and comforting, the ramifications of the Trinity implies belief in more than one deity. Even Psalms, which is all inclusive, scored to Christian hymns are very problematic. - chani Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:40:01 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-3570 Hi,Belleruth, I would just like to say that I would not want Christian symbolism or scripture in anything I buy from your site. I enjoy the spirituality inherent in your work but even the mention of God can be jarring. You end one of your CD's after using imagery of the wind, a wave and light by saying "I am wind, the wave and the light." I find it so empowering.On other CD's you say that " you are in the hands of God and you are totally, utterly safe and so you are." While it is consoling, I could also be consoled by having you say "you feel, totally and utterly safe and so you are. Just as reassuring but without the need for some other entity to verify that feeling. Thanks for reading my comment. Daniel - Daniel Wed, 31 Oct 2012 23:12:10 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-3569 In response to Kathy who asks why we scored passages from psalms to hymns: we didn't. The beautiful Tranquilities series was created by a Christian pastor (Donna Shenk) and a Naturopathic doc (Robert Miller). They were responding to a need for Christian-based materials. And although the Psalms are certainly part of the Old Testament, they are also included in Christian and Muslim teachings as well. I take your point, but see it as the other side of the coin: they were thinking to make their Christian resource more inclusive by using passages from Psalms, rather than from the New Testament! :) - Belleruth Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:54:51 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-3568 Yes, I agree with so many that your work is such a blessing to alleviate needless suffering. I would appreciate resources that mention God. Not as a religion issue but one reflecting a relationship of comfort and healing. Perhaps a Spiritual category would be more fitting with a sub-category Judeo-Christian for those who find comfort in hearing the Psalms. - Sally Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:53:42 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-3567 Your work is a true mitzvah (righteous deed) for the world. As an observant Jew, however, I respectfully question why you set meditations based on the Psalms to a background of Christian hymns. The Psalms originated in the Hebrew Bible (Christians call it the Old Testament.) It seems out of synch to take what is Judeo-Christian in use and narrow it to an only Christian audience. - Kathy Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:14:57 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-3566 I find Belleruth's CD's and Steve Kohn's music very helpful. They help me relax, connect, and feel more deeply. My kids know if I'm stressed or frustrated, they put on the music and say "now do you feel better?" As an observant Jew, I would very much appreciate if CD's with Christian imagery or music would be labeled as such. Inasmuch as I recognize how helpful it would be for Christians, I do believe the CD's you currently have are all-inclusive. Anything that is focused on a specific tradition, should be labeled as such so there are no "surprises". Thank you. And G-d bless everyone. - chani Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:16:20 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-3559 Since the passages selected are from Psalms, they are pretty familiar to everyone in the Judeo-Christian, Bible-based world, and would work as well for observant Jews as for Christians. The hymns that serve as background music have a distinctly Christian flavor, however, and that may or may not matter to you - it's an issue of individual taste, more than anything. Hope this helps. - Belleruth Thu, 25 Oct 2012 05:58:28 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-3557 To each his/her own. I completely empathize with those who are not fond of more Christian-based imagery as a practicing non-Christian myself, but I do think that there's something of quality, it should be made available to those who want it, clearly labeled as having a religious orientation. Do you think that Tranquilities is a program that an observant Jew such as myself would be comfortable using? - Leah Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:53:32 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-1870 Just casting my vote: Please do continue to make non-religious recordings available. If you do feel the need to supply separate recordings specifically for certain belief systems - that's okay with me, of course - although I hope you might label the religious recordings carefully so that the purchaser will be aware of the content. I'll continue to seek the non-religious recordings myself. I'm content with the references to light, beings, power, and similar - but I am not at all comfortable with other more specifically religiously oriented references. I understand that people who are strongly religious feel the opposite - but I hope that in their desire to seek more religious wording that they won't suggest you take away the non-religious recordings which resonate for others. Thanks for your wonderful recordings! A psychologist recommended them very highly. - LM Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:39:07 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-1270 I absolutely love the cds that you currently produce and I hope that you continue to make more titles that are non-religious. I hope that if some future selections do incorporate a christian theme, that they are clearly marketed as such. I would be extremely disappointed to buy a guided imagery cd and find out while listening that it was religious. I gravitate toward things like guided imagery for spiritual/emotional healing precisely because it does not require belief in any religion or creator. - sara Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:34:43 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-1174 I LOVE your work, and have so many of your cd's. Just want you to know that I absolutely LOVE the line in the affirmations track that says, "I know that I am held in the hands of God and I am perfectly, utterly safe." It simply does not get any better than that for me. PLEASE do more Christian guided imagery... so everyone will have their choice as to what will work best for them. I LOVE your work, and have so many of your cd's. Thank you, Belleruth. :) - Suzann Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:07:10 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-719 I am having open heart surgery and found the guided imagery cds are great for before surgery and suggest to have it played during surgery and also after. The cds are good but I would love to have one with a Christian base because I believe that is where most of our faith and courage will come from and the majority still believe in a God of love. - VIRGINIA KAJA Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:59:50 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-689 To each his own. The point of the CD's is that they resonate with you and your beliefs; if you don't want a "christian-based" CD then DON'T BUY ONE but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be available for those who do. - Renae Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:56:24 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-111 I too have looked for Christian CDs but have not found any that measure up to yours, Belleruth. I can also empathize with those who have negative views of Christianity given all the evil that has been perpetrated in the name of Christianity. But I believe to reject Christianity because of the way humans have abused Jesus' message is to throw the baby out with the bathwater. There has also been an incredible amount of good to come into the world thanks to Christianity - think of all the saints' lives, for example - would those people have had the strength to sacrifice, hold on, stay strong in the darkest nights of the soul, without their Christian faith? I think not. So for Christians, it is hard to imagine us NOT wanting to connect with the trinity as we work through difficult mental, physical, and spiritual images. It is in the tough times that we need our religion the most. So I applaud your open-minded, Belleruth, in recognizing that both kinds of CDs have enormous value in serving the global community. you are such a blessing here on earth! Thank you for your love for all beings regardless of belief, and thank you for honoring religious believers as well. Blessings to you and your team at Health Journeys, and keep up the great work. It is so amazing that you exist and that I feel like I can help my friends - such as a friend with a 6-year-old son like mine who just found out she has breast cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes. She has 10 months of chemo in front of her and I felt a little less helpless knowing that I could connect her to Health Journeys. - Diane Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:08:55 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-101 Like Vanessa, I would also like to hear, meditate, visualize, imagine, and affirm that the power is from God. My faith is in an almighty, loving, and healing God. I have several of Belleruth's compact disks and an older serenity prayer tape by Dr. Miller. While listening, I mentally replace words on the recordings with my choice of words to help strengthen the experience. I believe God has used these recordings as a tool for healing in my life even though they are not titled as Christian material. In my own journey, that is the way I use them. Even though others do not share my spiritual views, I still respect them as individuals. My opinion, for what it is worth, would be to not change any of the existing recordings, but to offer some new recordings that are scripture based. I understand what Belleruth is saying about a quality standard, so hopefully someone who is qualified will write something that can be produced. Scriptural affirmations are something I would be interested in buying. - Clarissa Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:30:19 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-93 The one God reference is often found toward the end of the affirmations track ("I know that I am held in the hands of God and I am perfectly, utterly safe.") and it's true that it's both the most appreciated line and the most complained about line on our audios. People with life threatening illnesses or undergoing difficult circumstances generally tend to love it; selected others, not so much. BR - Belleruth Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:23:36 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-86 I believe there is a place for Christian imagery, but the CDs of yours that I use do not have it. I would not have bought them if they did. I appreciate the nonreligious approach of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, Relieve Stress, General Wellness, Healthful Sleep, and Diabetes. In one of these there is a reference to God which I try to ignore; I don't listen to that one as often. I understand the person who is able to translate the name in her head, but I don't want to have to do that while listening to imagery because it takes me right out of the imagery. - Deborah Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:07:05 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-76 Thanks so much for these thoughtful comments. They help to keep all of us at HJ from making assumptions based on the filters in our own heads, you know? BR - Belleruth Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:27:32 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-75 As a survivor of severe child abuse, your PTSD Mp3's have been one of the most important gifts I've ever received--both literally and figuratively speaking. I must have listened to the program dozens of times within the past year, if not more, and each time I have a new experience and gain new insight that helps me heal. I revel in the program's simplicity and yet each phrase and imagery is so condensed with meaning and power that they are like seeds of light that plants itself in the mind and grows over time. It's extraordinary work you've done Belleruth and it's even more extraordinary for the helpful effect it's having on my healing journey. Thank you. - Gene Skala, Chicago Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:48:32 +0100 http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/ask-belleruth/how-about-making-some-christian-cds-for-a-change.html#comment-74 My belief is that your (Belleruth) very powerful teachings transcend any one religion. The concepts and methods work without this kind of particularization. Please, please do not cater to the few at the risk of alienating the many. For the christians who want christian meditations, seek this from christian providers who wear their faith on their sleeve. - Annie Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:39:01 +0100