"Publishers Weekly reports, “Coloring books for adults are this year’s surprise smash hit category and they’re gaining steam heading into the gift-buying season.” Johanna Bradford’s 2013 Secret Garden has sold nearly half a million copies this year, and her newest book, Lost Ocean, sold more than 55,000 copies the week it released. All of Publishers Weekly’s top five bestselling titles in paperback are coloring books for adults.
The reported benefits of coloring books include relaxation and meditation, and as Religion News Service reported earlier this year, many have spiritual themes. But now Christian authors and publishers are getting into the coloring book game.
Margaret Feinberg, a prominent Christian author, released Live Loved: An Adult Coloring Book on November 17. She first noticed the trend in adult coloring books this past summer, but was surprised that many of them borrowed from non-Christian religions. Several popular products in this genre make use of Mandalas, which are ritual symbols utilized by
Indian religions. There is a Bhagavad Gita coloring book for Hindus and a Star of David coloring book for Jews. And one product gives Buddhists space to color “Buddhas, deities, and enlightened masters.”
Bethany House and Feinberg aren’t the only Christians in publishing who are releasing adult coloring books. Harvest House Publishers in Oregon is releasing a slate of titles including, Color the Psalms and Color the Names of God. Waterbrook Multnomah, a division of Penguin Random House that focuses on Christian books, has released Whatever is Lovely. Zondervan, an publishing imprint within Harper Collins Christian, has released Inspiring Words and more than half a dozen others. Sales of Christian books have been on the rise over the last year or more, and that trend will only accelerate if these coloring books resonate broadly with Christian consumers." RNS
In "Coloring IS a Spiritual Practice" the Rev. Dr. L. Roger Owens contends during his spiritual formation retreats he'd notice a few people "will be bent over their desks with intricate mandalas in front of them ... listening to me ...." as they color. Now does Owens feel these "poor souls" are being duped by falling for this new color fad? Does Owens feel they should be "engaging in a real spiritual practice like praying or reading Scripture?" "No," says Rev. Dr. Owens, "I give thanks that they are discovering a way of prayer their churches never taught them, but that is helping them listen to God and be present to others. And when I enter Barnes and Nobles ... I only hope that more Christians might discover this practice and deepen their lives with God."
"Now Owens, after thinking of the Biblical Martha's distractibility, reflected: "Do you know what Martha needs? A color book." A coloring book, avows Owens, is just a form of "mindfulness practice." However, mindfulness is a practice based on Zen Buddhism.
We're in the midst of "a meditation invasion via color books" --and specifically through mandala
color books and like New Age books as I've shown in this article. My question is if you've already bought into this color book craze under the guise of finding relaxation, and calm will you continue as
a deceived colorist, or will you become a discerning one? Will you understand that although coloring is not evil in and of itself, if it leads one into idolatrous sacred circles or like images then one must be very careful not to get entangled in this color book web.
In "Color Yourself Closer to God" Robin Pippin from the Upper Room's Devonzine shares that while working with a child's spirituality program, "The Way of the Child" by Wynn McGregor that she discovered mandalas. Pippin contends, "The purpose of coloring mandalas is spiritual ... designed to bring me closer to God and to get in touch with my heart." Yes, in touch with one's Higher Self as New Agers call it!"
Baptist Global News Asst. Editor Jeff Brumley wrote a piece: "Adult Coloring Books Emerging as Popular Spiritual Practice." How so? Brumbley says, "Using crayons ... to focus the mind while praying or to contemplate Scripture can be as beneficial as walking a prayer labyrinth or creating an icon, say ministers of spiritual formation."Brumley goes on to say that Blake Burleson, his co-editor and senior lecturer in religion at Baylor University, who with spiritual formation minister at Freemason St. Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia Michael Sciretti Jr., wrote Entemplating: Baptist Wisdom for Contemplative Prayer, teaches that praying while coloring puts the mind on hold while elevating the role of the heart in prayer. Burleson also states, "Every religion uses art to express itself--whether it's an icon, a mandala, calligraphy, or a cave painting." Maybe, Burleson should turn to Ezekiel 8 to see what the Lord had
to say about idolatrous wall art in the temple!" Learn to Discern Granny
The reported benefits of coloring books include relaxation and meditation, and as Religion News Service reported earlier this year, many have spiritual themes. But now Christian authors and publishers are getting into the coloring book game.
Margaret Feinberg, a prominent Christian author, released Live Loved: An Adult Coloring Book on November 17. She first noticed the trend in adult coloring books this past summer, but was surprised that many of them borrowed from non-Christian religions. Several popular products in this genre make use of Mandalas, which are ritual symbols utilized by
Bethany House and Feinberg aren’t the only Christians in publishing who are releasing adult coloring books. Harvest House Publishers in Oregon is releasing a slate of titles including, Color the Psalms and Color the Names of God. Waterbrook Multnomah, a division of Penguin Random House that focuses on Christian books, has released Whatever is Lovely. Zondervan, an publishing imprint within Harper Collins Christian, has released Inspiring Words and more than half a dozen others. Sales of Christian books have been on the rise over the last year or more, and that trend will only accelerate if these coloring books resonate broadly with Christian consumers." RNS
In "Coloring IS a Spiritual Practice" the Rev. Dr. L. Roger Owens contends during his spiritual formation retreats he'd notice a few people "will be bent over their desks with intricate mandalas in front of them ... listening to me ...." as they color. Now does Owens feel these "poor souls" are being duped by falling for this new color fad? Does Owens feel they should be "engaging in a real spiritual practice like praying or reading Scripture?" "No," says Rev. Dr. Owens, "I give thanks that they are discovering a way of prayer their churches never taught them, but that is helping them listen to God and be present to others. And when I enter Barnes and Nobles ... I only hope that more Christians might discover this practice and deepen their lives with God."
"Now Owens, after thinking of the Biblical Martha's distractibility, reflected: "Do you know what Martha needs? A color book." A coloring book, avows Owens, is just a form of "mindfulness practice." However, mindfulness is a practice based on Zen Buddhism.
We're in the midst of "a meditation invasion via color books" --and specifically through mandala
color books and like New Age books as I've shown in this article. My question is if you've already bought into this color book craze under the guise of finding relaxation, and calm will you continue as
In "Color Yourself Closer to God" Robin Pippin from the Upper Room's Devonzine shares that while working with a child's spirituality program, "The Way of the Child" by Wynn McGregor that she discovered mandalas. Pippin contends, "The purpose of coloring mandalas is spiritual ... designed to bring me closer to God and to get in touch with my heart." Yes, in touch with one's Higher Self as New Agers call it!"
Baptist Global News Asst. Editor Jeff Brumley wrote a piece: "Adult Coloring Books Emerging as Popular Spiritual Practice." How so? Brumbley says, "Using crayons ... to focus the mind while praying or to contemplate Scripture can be as beneficial as walking a prayer labyrinth or creating an icon, say ministers of spiritual formation."Brumley goes on to say that Blake Burleson, his co-editor and senior lecturer in religion at Baylor University, who with spiritual formation minister at Freemason St. Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia Michael Sciretti Jr., wrote Entemplating: Baptist Wisdom for Contemplative Prayer, teaches that praying while coloring puts the mind on hold while elevating the role of the heart in prayer. Burleson also states, "Every religion uses art to express itself--whether it's an icon, a mandala, calligraphy, or a cave painting." Maybe, Burleson should turn to Ezekiel 8 to see what the Lord had
to say about idolatrous wall art in the temple!" Learn to Discern Granny
When I was a child, I spake as a child,
I understood as a child,
I thought as a child:
but when I became a man,
I put away childish things.
1 Corinthians 13:11
