www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Emmet Fox

This forum has educated me immensly! I have gratitude to you all.

Now for my question,what does my fellow christian think about Emmet Fox,good,bad and indiferent?
I keep coming across people who are infatuated with his book:"sermon on the mount".I honestly do not know much about him.I did a search on the internet but did not find much besides vital statistics and general information.Is he considered new age?The site that I went to states that he was educated by Jesuits, but that does not mean he was a Jesuit.Any input would be greatly appreciated.

According to the Emmet Fox home page:
http://website.lineone.net/~cornerstone/emmetfox.htm
He went to a Jesuit college, but later became a minister at the Church of the Healing Christ, and then became part of a group called "New Thought". Never heard of it but I doubt he was still Catholic at that point! The web page also mentions that there is nothing sectarian about two of his books, including The Sermon on the Mount, implying that there is sectarian thought in his other writings! Personally, I think good Catholics should avoid reading sectarian thought unless they have a strong faith and a good background in Catholic theology so they don't get led astray. The early chapters of the Apocalypse warn us to stay away from heresy and bad doctrines. If you have good reason to read such things, such as for the purpose of apologetics, that's one thing, but if you're just curious, leave it alone!

I agree with Tammy. You're better off reading comic books.
Lauro

There are also some good Akathists on the Forum for people to read!

The Administrator has promised to bunch them up in one location when he has some time - or when the Parousia occurs, whichever comes first . . .

Alex

Thank You very much!
I had a gut feeling to leave it alone.I have an excellent book written by an anonymous monk that describes the beatitudes,commandments,etc...just fine.I am indebted to this forum.

LOL on the comic book reading.

Michael

I have read both of the workd by Emmet Fox. If he was educated by the Jesuits, I am sure his theology is OK These works are more in the mature of a detailed devotional I got a lot out of them and keep his book in my library.

Dr. Emmett Fox was not a Catholic. Although he was from Ireland and was probably baptized into the Latin Church, he left it in favor of a "New Thought" philosophy in the early Twentieth Century.

"New Thought" groups are religions which are a sister to Chrisitan Science Movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy.

Most "New Thought" groups trace their origin to Emma Curtis Hopkins who was a close associate with Mrs. Eddy until they had a falling out and went their seperate ways.

Mrs. Hopkins went on to teach many students of her own; and they in turn went on to start organized philosophies and religious teachings themselves.

Unity School of Christianity and Religious Science are two groups which trace thier roots to Emma Curtis Hopkins.

Another group was started in Colorado in the late 1800's by two sisters by the name of Brooks. This group was called Divine Science.

Emmett Fox was a clergyman of this group. He wrote a number of books.

He had a large following in New York City where he would hold religious lectures in the ball room of one of the larger hotels on Sundays.

He died in the mid-1950's.

His book " Sermon on the Mount" was a favorite book of Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcholics Anonymous, and an influential element of that movement as well.

With best Wishes to All!!

Stefan-Ivan