A forum for discussing matters of moment, from a curmudgeonly perspective. (The ideas posted here do not necessarily represent those of any organization with which I am a part). Rude and insulting remarks will not be published, but civil disagreement is welcome.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Curmudgeon on "The Secret"
I am quoted rather extensively (and correctly) in this newspaper story about the new and egregious New Age rubbish called, The Secret.
The Secret is a most horrible insult to anyone who has ever suffered. I am aghast that anyone would even think to believe such tripe. In addition to your Untouchables example, The Secret would necessarily lead a person to believe that the Holocaust was the fault of European Jews, etc, thus rescinding the Nazis' guilt.
I suppose it is New Age's answer to "name it and claim it" Christianity?
"The Secret" seems compelling to many people because it takes Biblical truth: Philippians 4:8 "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" but then mixes it with utter falsehood. The same with "taking personal responsibility for your thoughts" as the video store owner said. Part of 2 Corinthians 10:5 says: "We take captive every thought" but look what was left out - a reference to "The Secret" and its ilk and the purpose of taking thoughts captive (which is not a selfish purpose). The entire verse is: 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"
This is kinda like physics philosophy. What happens when an unstoppable force (stupidity) impacts an immovable object (reality)?
ReplyDeleteThe Secret is a most horrible insult to anyone who has ever suffered. I am aghast that anyone would even think to believe such tripe. In addition to your Untouchables example, The Secret would necessarily lead a person to believe that the Holocaust was the fault of European Jews, etc, thus rescinding the Nazis' guilt.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it is New Age's answer to "name it and claim it" Christianity?
"The Secret" seems compelling to many people because it takes Biblical truth:
ReplyDeletePhilippians 4:8
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things"
but then mixes it with utter falsehood. The same with "taking personal responsibility for your thoughts" as the video store owner said. Part of 2 Corinthians 10:5 says:
"We take captive every thought"
but look what was left out - a reference to "The Secret" and its ilk and the purpose of taking thoughts captive (which is not a selfish purpose). The entire verse is:
2 Corinthians 10:5
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"
I've seen quackery that sounds a bit like this in the UK called "cosmic ordering".
ReplyDelete