Articles from David Berg and the Family International - www.deeptruths.com
Exposé of Self Realization Fellowship (SRF)
By Shadrach, April 19, (1970?)
Webmaster's note: This is one of the classes given in the very early days of the Children of God. I never heard of this group before but apparently it's still active. Google gives 125,000 results when entering the words Self Realization Fellowship.
Introduction:
I have the class broken into 3 categories normally.
History of group and characters.
Doctrine: What they believe and what Bible says.
Practices: Why do we study cults and isms? When you're on the street and run into somebody, you'll be able to know enough about them to talk to them, Romans 16:19: I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. Names and dates are important.
Self Realization Fellowship History:
Paramahansa Yogananda is the major character of SRF. He was born sometime in the late 1800's in India. During his life in India he had many supernatural experiences. He was said to have visions, also prophets appeared at his door and prophesied to him of his future greatness. I John 4:1-3 says many false prophets are in the world, but every spirit that will not confess that Jesus is come in the flesh (John 1:14) is not of God. Also, Matthew 24:11 says that many false prophets shall come and deceive many. In 1917 he made a journey to America where he remained until his death. He came to the U.S. to attend a religious meeting in the east coast. While he was in the country, he started the Self Realization Retreat in the hills of Ensenadas, California. He also started the Self Realization Fellowship Cafe on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California and wrote the book, Autobiography of a Yogi. He died in 1955 and was buried in Glendale, California. His followers say that his body didn't decay for 20 days after his death. A scripture for that is Matthew 24:24 which says that false Christs shall arise and show great signs and wonders and if it were possible they would deceive the very elect.
Doctrine:
1) According to their beliefs, Christians are murderers.. They take this view because of the atrocities done to humanity by so called religious people in the name of Christ. This cult is very pacifistic. But we know that Jesus was not a pacifist as He proved in John 2:15 when he beat the systemites with a whip.
2) They are vegetarians (they do not eat meat). But the Bible says in I Timothy 4:1-4 that in the last days there would arise doctrines of devils, that would command to abstain from meat. Genesis 9:3
3) They believe in reincarnation (another physical life on a higher or lower plane after death.) But the Bible says in Ecc. 9:5-6 that the dead have no more part in anything done under the sun, Also Hebrews 9:27 says that after death comes the judgment. Psalm 78:39
4) They say that theirs is the pure religion. But the Bible says in James 1:27 that pure religion is to keep yourself unspotted from the world (the System).
Practices:
1) Their main method of works for salvation is meditation. Their particular form of meditation is done by rolling their eyes upward and inward to see what they call the spiritual eye. We see through spiritual eyes by faith. II Cor. 5:7. The Bible says we should meditate all the time on God's Word. ( Psalm 119:48 and 1:2 and Joshua 1:8.
2) They also wear bands around their forearms through which they say spirits are drawn from "Mother God." But in Matthew 6:5-14 Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father, God. They believe that these spirits are stored up in their bodies and flow out as they do good acts. Romans 3:10 .
3) They practice what is called hyper--ventilation (controlled breathing). But the Bible says in II Cor. 5:7 that we walk by faith, not by feelings. This practice is harmful to brain cells because it causes a lack of oxygen. This is against God's Word, which says our bodies are the "temple of God" and if we defile them God will destroy us. I Cor. 3:16-17.
Conclusion.
They say you realize yourself when you realize that you can be equal with God. But we should realize ourselves that we are filthy rotten sinners. Romans 3:10. (Have you lied? Revelation 21:27) We can only be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and we can only reach God through Jesus, John 14:6.
Disclaimer: This article is not and was never an official publication of the Family International. It's from a typewritten class given in the very early days of the Children of God. I scanned it and converted it into digital format using OCR software. I tried my best to proofread it, but there still may be errors.
If you'd like more inspirational material,
subscribe to Activated!
Each issue deals with topics that count, such as:
- Faith
- Love
- Prayer
- Success with People
- The Future
- Marriage
- Parenting
...and much more--all in terms that are relatable and easy to follow. Personal accounts from active Christians around the world confirm that God is still alive and working just as wonderfully as ever on behalf of those who love Him.
Put that power to work for you! Connect with the source of love, happiness, peace, freedom, contentment, and the rest of the best life has to offer--God, who the Bible says is love. Change your life! Change your world! Get activated!
If you'd like more inspirational material,