| New [Old] Age [Lie] | Kenyonism ("Word-Faith") | Christianity | |
| Cosmology: | Mostly nondual monism; all is God; all reality is simply an emanation from God, and will ultimately return to God; matter is illusory, and the attendant problems associated with matter -- such as poverty and sickness -- is likewise illusory, and the direct effect of our not realizing our divine nature. | Dualistic, nonmonism. God is separate from his creation, but there is in effect an "evil god," the devil, who kicked god out of his earth. This devil has true authority and could only be duped out of his authority by a technicality on his part by the wily god. The Kenyonist god is nonsovereign and manipulatable [hence such titles to Kenyonist literature as "How To Write Your Own Ticket With God"], the universe -- and the Kenyonist gods -- is controlled by unalterable "spiritual laws", and history is the result of the eternal conflict between the Kenyonist gods, the "good" god and the devil. Reality is divided between the "natural" and the "spiritual"; opinion is divided as to whether or not the "natural" is entirely illusory; sickness and poverty are considered illusory to some degree, as it is vitally important to be very careful to not "confess" or "agree with" what Kenyonists refer to as "symptoms"; sickness and poverty are the direct effect of our not realizing and "confessing" our divine rights. | Nondualistic nonmonism. God is Sovereignly in control of His creation; nothing lies outside His control. Although He is good, perfect, holy, and just, He desires creatures who would deal with Him on the basis of free choice; history then is the result of human rebellion against Him, and the Sovereign LORD wooing fallen humanity to Himself. God has a purpose and a plan, and omnipotently allows the temporary rebellion to occur so as not to coerce man's acceptance of Him. He will, however, Sovereignly bring history to a close at some future point once His purposes have been accomplished. Reality is two-tiered, but there is an organic connection between the spiritual and the material, and both are equally "real". Sickness and poverty are the direct result of living in a fallen world. |
| View of God: | Varies; consensus seems to be a Universal Mind, which adheres to set cosmic principles, and must abude by the same; can be manipulated using faith formulae in the form of creative visualization, chanting, etc. | A being which must obey certain set cosmic principles dubbed "spiritual laws;" can be manipulated vy "activating the force of faith" through "faith-filled words" (the equivalent of chanting mantra or daimoku) of "positive confession" and creative visualization, and steadfastly denying reality in favor of adhering to a "good confession." Is apparently effectively equal or at least near in power to the devil. | The Necessary Being; absolute Sovereign over His created order. Omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable, and Personal. Absolutely unmanipulatable. |
| The Meaning of Faith: | Faith is a force manipulatable by creative visualization, chanting sacred phrases, and carefully choosing your words so as to "speak your reality into existence." | Faith is a force, and words are the containers of that force. By carefully choosing your words, you can "speak your reality into existence." | Faith is a channel of living trust between the creature and his all-knowing, all-loving Creator. Faith accepts that which the understanding cannot grasp, and trusts in spite of circumstances that God will do that which is best, is most loving, and will bring the greatest glory to Himself. |
| The Results of Faith: | The results of faith are guaranteed, because faith is based on predictable forces, such as the Mind and the perfect health that resides within ourselves. | Results are guaranteed, because faith manipulates predictable, spiritual forces or laws, such as the "spirit man" and the perfect health that resides within him and is ours by covenant with the Kenyonist god. | The results of faith are guaranteed in the sense that true faith is a trust in the Sovereignty of God; true faith therefore can never be disappointed, because it trusts that no matter what, God is still loving and still in control. The results are not guaranteed in the sense that what someone places faith in other than the Sovereignty of God (i.e., some one "believes god" for healing or wealth, rather than believing God for His perfect will), it is sure to be disappointed. |
| The Meaning of Failure: | The failure to be healed reveals a lack of adequate faith, or very possibly a spiritual defect within that is manifesting itself. | Failure to be healed is the result of a lack of faith, or very possibly the presence of sin manifesting itself. | Failure to be healed means that God has other plans, either to use the infirmity for a greater purpose (self-edification, to silence the enemy, witness, etc.); it does not mean that God does not want you healed, or that He cannot heal, or that He is punishing you. Indeed, perfect healing is ultimately guaranteed at the Resurrection. |
| Epistemology: | Reason cannot be trusted as a source of knowledge; only mystically attained knowledge -- "revelation knowledge" -- is valid. Faith often runs directly contrary to reason and reality. Faith can be irrational. | Reason cannot be trusted as a source of knowledge; only mystically attained knowledge -- "revelation knowledge" -- is valid. Faith often runs directly contrary to reason and reality. Faith can be irrational. | Reason is a tool that God created us with which -- when used correctly -- is useful as a source of knowledge. Faith never runs contrary to reason, though it looks beyond reason. Faith can be transrational, but never irrational. |
