Toronto Blessing
Torontosegen referred to in the parlance of Neocharismatischen movement, the revival and resulting phenomena that in the former " Toronto Airport Vineyard " church, a free church near the airport, the Canadian city of Toronto, began in January 1994. The phenomena have been referred to in the neocharismatischen movement as " new wave " of the Holy Spirit. These were to unusual ecstatic reactions of the participants to the prayer or the laying on of hands by personally received blessing.
Emergence and dissemination
The name " Torontosegen " ( English: Toronto blessing ) is derived from the position of the Vineyard community near the airport, Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto, in which the phenomena occurred increasingly since 1994. As a starting point applies a church service on 20 January 1994, which was held by the pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of St. Louis, Randy Clark. By September 1995 some 600,000 visitors visited the events of TACF. During the same period, the number of members of the congregation increased from 360 to greater than 1000.
The phenomena found in the neocharismatischen movement quickly spread worldwide after many charismatics had traveled to Toronto and the " Torontosegen " then appeared in other communities.
In subsequent years, the extreme left " manifestations " slowly. They were either normal part of special events or - depending on the handling of the municipalities with the "blessing" - stopped by church renounced in personal blessing.
In December 1995, the affiliation of the Vineyard community ended up at the airport in Toronto on Vineyard network. The community was called since 1996 Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship ( TACF ). Since 2010, the municipality acts as Catch The Fire Toronto and is one of the run by John and Carol Arnott network of municipalities Catch The Fire.
Observed reactions
When Torontosegen among others, the following phenomena have occurred reinforced:
- Drop, which is interpreted as resting in the Spirit
- Laughing or crying, which is attributed to the Holy Spirit; euphoric states
- Speaking in tongues
- Trembling, shaking
- Extraordinary movements and sounds of all kinds
- Loud screaming, which is interpreted as extension of evil spirits
- Fainting
- Palsy -like symptoms
- Histrionisches behavior.
Based on the Bible (eg Acts 2.13 EU), some of these states by the supporters are also referred to as drunk in the spirit (eg laughter ). They may occur spontaneously, but are also happy to be triggered and enhanced by participants in blessing the hand hangs up, fanning them air or receive blows to the mouth air, as wind and breath are considered symbols of the Holy Spirit specifically.
When resting in the Spirit trying to avoid injury: If it is foreseeable that someone will fall over, get behind him as catcher on people to catch him and gently lay on the floor.
The frequent tremors ( shaking ), and other phenomena have been observed previously elsewhere, such as with the Quakers, who take their name from similar phenomena ago. Even John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard movement, noted that similar could be observed both in his own community in Anaheim as well as other revivals around the world.
Religion Scientific Classification
Religion Scientific corresponds to the Torontosegen the phenomenon that is called in Hinduism Shaktipat. Also in form, the Torontosegen on a great similarity with a Shaktipat initiation.
Reviews
The Torontosegen is assessed differently.
Proponents see in Torontosegen the Holy Spirit. They point out that the spirit of God is power and that the parties empfänden the " manifestations " most liberating, refreshing and relaxing. You write about the blessing processes of healing and deliverance to.
DerTorontosegen but was also criticized within the charismatic movement to some extent. Religious critics see the phenomena characterized more as demonic and either negatively as a sign of obsession or vice versa as a sign of liberation from the dark forces.
Skeptics finally explain the phenomena as typical hysterical reactions in many similar situations were observed ( both religious and non-religious context) itself. According to them, the physical and mental reaction of those affected based solely on the expectation to be to have this experience.