First of all, I apologize how long this post ended up being, but I really wanted to hit all the points that I did. I plan on writing a Part 4 to address a few other things in closing. That being said, let's begin.
Things I disagree with…
Things I disagree with…
…include*:
1. The Universe responds to your thoughts, that is, it is intimately aware and responsive to your thoughts and what makes you happy.
- Sounds like ‘If you think it, it will come’.
- Sounds like ‘If you think it, it will come’.
2. The Universe wants you to act quickly. Don’t second guess yourself; seize the opportunity.
- I have a lot of issues with this when initially interpreting what I believe they mean. There are many decisions in life for which making a decision hastily could be costly. There are many decisions in life that should not be taken lightly and should be accompanied by advice and insight from family and friends.
The particular context of this statement was when a girl was hoping for a boy friend and some guys asked her to come over and play volleyball and then leave with them to hang out or 'go out'. Does the advice refer to specific situations where it would be good to take a risk and go for it? Are there times when the 'Universe' would want us to second guess ourselves?
- I have a lot of issues with this when initially interpreting what I believe they mean. There are many decisions in life for which making a decision hastily could be costly. There are many decisions in life that should not be taken lightly and should be accompanied by advice and insight from family and friends.
The particular context of this statement was when a girl was hoping for a boy friend and some guys asked her to come over and play volleyball and then leave with them to hang out or 'go out'. Does the advice refer to specific situations where it would be good to take a risk and go for it? Are there times when the 'Universe' would want us to second guess ourselves?
3. We create our own happiness with the law of attraction. If you just think it, you will be wealthy and happy.
- This seems a bit oversimplified and optimistic that if you would ONLY think it, you could be wealthy and happy. Is the root cause of poverty and unhappiness in the world due to people neglecting to just think happy thoughts? Peter Pan?
- This seems a bit oversimplified and optimistic that if you would ONLY think it, you could be wealthy and happy. Is the root cause of poverty and unhappiness in the world due to people neglecting to just think happy thoughts? Peter Pan?
4. Your joy lies within you.
- I'm not sure what they mean by joy or how they differentiate it from happiness, but happiness is based on and dependent of happenstances, or life situations and experiences. I would like to think that joy is something that lies outside of my experience and interaction with the world as something that can remain constant in both good and bad times. For the Christian, my understanding would be that this joy would be found in the saving works of and faith in Jesus Christ.
- I'm not sure what they mean by joy or how they differentiate it from happiness, but happiness is based on and dependent of happenstances, or life situations and experiences. I would like to think that joy is something that lies outside of my experience and interaction with the world as something that can remain constant in both good and bad times. For the Christian, my understanding would be that this joy would be found in the saving works of and faith in Jesus Christ.
5. If you are thinking bad thoughts, such as about the debt you are in and the bills you will be receiving, then that’s why you have debt and bad things are happening to you. If you think that debt bill is going to be in the mail, then indeed it will be.
- I had the impression that if you just don’t think about it, and think about ‘good’ things such as getting money, then those debt bills will stop coming. They are likely, I hope, referring to the power of your thoughts in preventing action that will help you get out of debt; though I suspect they may also or alternatively mean that the Universe actually listens to you and responds accordingly.
- I had the impression that if you just don’t think about it, and think about ‘good’ things such as getting money, then those debt bills will stop coming. They are likely, I hope, referring to the power of your thoughts in preventing action that will help you get out of debt; though I suspect they may also or alternatively mean that the Universe actually listens to you and responds accordingly.
6. If you have a disease and you focus on thinking about it, then you are just creating more diseased cells. Healing will not occur until you have happy, positive thoughts and emotions. The body heals itself; you are curable from within; and you can change your life and heal yourself.
- I have heard about the wonders of the human body to repair and heal itself, such as when there is hope, but can we really extrapolate that finding to say that if you are sick and you are only thinking about the sickness, then you are only creating more diseased cells? And that healing won't occur until you have positive thoughts? How many people never really have positive thoughts and yet are healed? How many have great positive thoughts, but end up passing away? This seems too hopeful and unrealistic, not grounded in reality.
- I have heard about the wonders of the human body to repair and heal itself, such as when there is hope, but can we really extrapolate that finding to say that if you are sick and you are only thinking about the sickness, then you are only creating more diseased cells? And that healing won't occur until you have positive thoughts? How many people never really have positive thoughts and yet are healed? How many have great positive thoughts, but end up passing away? This seems too hopeful and unrealistic, not grounded in reality.
7. If you want it; if you can see it; then you can have it.
- A) One example included a boy that would stare at a picture of a bicycle he really wanted. He became upset since he never received one, so he threw the picture away. But wait, he decided to persist in his thought process, asking (the Universe?) for it anyways. He had faith; he believed. One day a man (grandfather?) showed up at the front porch with it. And the kid happily rode away on it.
B) Another example was with a man that wanted a car. He visualized it in his living room and acted like he was driving and hearing the sounds of it. C) Yet another had envisioned his dream home. (see the second video near the bottom of this post)
- On the surface, I don’t really see anything wrong with visualizing and setting goals. However, they push the notion that the Universe is actually responding to these people, and that some general spiritual guidance (or matter and energy in the Universe) is doing the work, rather than the thought process and actions just remaining with these people as motivations for pro-activeness and pre-planning.
- A) One example included a boy that would stare at a picture of a bicycle he really wanted. He became upset since he never received one, so he threw the picture away. But wait, he decided to persist in his thought process, asking (the Universe?) for it anyways. He had faith; he believed. One day a man (grandfather?) showed up at the front porch with it. And the kid happily rode away on it.
B) Another example was with a man that wanted a car. He visualized it in his living room and acted like he was driving and hearing the sounds of it. C) Yet another had envisioned his dream home. (see the second video near the bottom of this post)
- On the surface, I don’t really see anything wrong with visualizing and setting goals. However, they push the notion that the Universe is actually responding to these people, and that some general spiritual guidance (or matter and energy in the Universe) is doing the work, rather than the thought process and actions just remaining with these people as motivations for pro-activeness and pre-planning.
8. We’re all connected, we just don’t see it. We’re all spiritual; you’re a god manifested in human form. That means you have (god) potential to create your own energy and world. The power within you is greater than the power in the world. Are there any limits to this? Absolutely not!
- See this referenced video from my last post (Part 2) that is somewhat related, but only in terms of connectedness: 'The Hidden Influence of Social Networks'
- See this referenced video from my last post (Part 2) that is somewhat related, but only in terms of connectedness: 'The Hidden Influence of Social Networks'
9. Your purpose is what you say it is.
- I won't go into any long comments, but check out this related blog (a great work) that a friend of mine wrote on purpose comparing two views on opposite ends of the spectrum: Rick Warren and Richard Dawkins on Purpose
- I won't go into any long comments, but check out this related blog (a great work) that a friend of mine wrote on purpose comparing two views on opposite ends of the spectrum: Rick Warren and Richard Dawkins on Purpose
10. You should do anything that makes you feel it (good). It’s about finding something good that resonates with your heart.
- I have a lot of issues with this statement. If we should all just do what makes us feel good, then do we need to care about how others feel? There is a great deal of sacrifice in relationships, especially marriage, that can't be overlooked. We would need more context into this statement as well as more details since they may be stating a subset of something larger, and they may very well agree with my last statement and state that there is a give and take and we have to do things for others so that they will repay us to make us happy later.
Humans are self-centered beings, but I don't like the idea of scratching someone's back just so that they will scratch yours later, no matter how valid the argument. Point number 10 sounds very new age, in that it alludes to the fact that we create our own realities and that what you feel, say, and think is truth, as if truth does not exist outside of you.
- I have a lot of issues with this statement. If we should all just do what makes us feel good, then do we need to care about how others feel? There is a great deal of sacrifice in relationships, especially marriage, that can't be overlooked. We would need more context into this statement as well as more details since they may be stating a subset of something larger, and they may very well agree with my last statement and state that there is a give and take and we have to do things for others so that they will repay us to make us happy later.
Humans are self-centered beings, but I don't like the idea of scratching someone's back just so that they will scratch yours later, no matter how valid the argument. Point number 10 sounds very new age, in that it alludes to the fact that we create our own realities and that what you feel, say, and think is truth, as if truth does not exist outside of you.
11. People will look at you and ask ‘what is different with them?’. Well, the difference is that you know the secret.
12. Now you get that you are the creator of your destiny. The moment you begin to live your life this way, it will feed you, guide you, direct you, sustain your existence if you let it. Now, that is what I know for sure.
- I don't know if this is stated metaphorically or literally, but I get the feeling that he means that the Universe will literally take care of you intentionally in response to your wishes and desires. This statement, among others above including 11, was from a Reverend. My perception is that his god is the very material and energy of the Universe intellectually responding to his every wish.
- I don't know if this is stated metaphorically or literally, but I get the feeling that he means that the Universe will literally take care of you intentionally in response to your wishes and desires. This statement, among others above including 11, was from a Reverend. My perception is that his god is the very material and energy of the Universe intellectually responding to his every wish.
One of the interviewees had explained that ‘this is not just wishful thinking’. I don’t know how he can honestly support all of these claims. If you feel that I have any misguided assumptions and/or interpretations, please feel free to dialogue about them below.
These series of posts so far, were only intended to reflect my initial thoughts based off the video of 'The Secret'. For further information regarding what 'The Secret' and the 'Law of Attraction' is and how to use it, visit the link above by clicking on the header image, watch the video, and/or just search around online. The image below is a screen shot from the website:
Also, check out 'The Masters of the Secret' website, which touts that: "Millions of people saw these stars of The Secret on Oprah!, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Larry King Live, and The Montel Williams Show. Interest in this course will therefore be staggering."
Some other related videos:
This one is a comical but quite accurate retelling of the video with actual video footage:
* These just include paraphrases and quotes from the video 'The Secret' and no other source. These points were meant to be grouped together as related thoughts and ideas.
These series of posts so far, were only intended to reflect my initial thoughts based off the video of 'The Secret'. For further information regarding what 'The Secret' and the 'Law of Attraction' is and how to use it, visit the link above by clicking on the header image, watch the video, and/or just search around online. The image below is a screen shot from the website:
Also, check out 'The Masters of the Secret' website, which touts that: "Millions of people saw these stars of The Secret on Oprah!, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Larry King Live, and The Montel Williams Show. Interest in this course will therefore be staggering."
Some other related videos:
This one is a comical but quite accurate retelling of the video with actual video footage:
* These just include paraphrases and quotes from the video 'The Secret' and no other source. These points were meant to be grouped together as related thoughts and ideas.
Please see my related posts detailing my thoughts after watching 'The Secret' video:
Thoughts on 'The Secret' - Part 2: Things I agree with...
Thoughts on 'The Secret' - Part 4: Final comments
Posts
6 comments:
I really can't believe that people actually buy into this, but I guess people actually say that about Christianity too!
On point 2: I agree with you completely. There are times for rash decisions and acting in the moment, but there are times when you need to take time and think and make a well-informed decision. (Such as moving or buying a house! ;-))
Interesting thoughts on the difference between joy and happiness. I wonder where you may have gotten those ideas! Haha, in all seriousness though, I think you're right now that, there is a difference between happiness and joy, from what little I've heard about the Secret - pretty much what you've told me - it sounds like they do, at least have a concept of the difference, which is actually kinda scary...
Overall, I'm really impressed with everything you were able to pull out of the movie and explain how it's not true, you made a lot of really good points and I think you're right!
Hello, Anonymous here to say some conflicting things. I like to argue.
On point 1: If you change the word Universe with God, how would that change things? When you pray to God, aren't you asking for exactly what you want and feeling it will happen because God can do anything?
How do we know that God is real? Is it because that it is the most popular belief and what we were brought up taught to think? If you go to country with a predominantly Muslim or Buddhist(or any other) religion, would they think you were absolutely crazy for thinking and believing what you do? Is it crazy to think that somebody (God) that we have no proof exists is real? Is it crazy to think that energy (what everything is made of in the Universe) is somehow connected? Is The Secret real?
Food for thought.
On point 2: I think that the whole act quickly idea is that you shouldn't procrastinate. If Bill Gates thought, "Wow, I should create a company that sales the new technology of computers called Microsoft." But then after thinking that, never doing anything for years...eventually somebody else who acted quickly would have been known for what he is known for.
Food for thought.
On point 3: I agree, you can't just think it. It has to be supported with action.
On point 6: I think you have to think about the subconscious mind. People can portray having positive thought but always think deep inside negatively. And this occurs vice versa.
On point 10: I agree with you. You can't just anything that makes you feel good. Use it in a positive way.
I believe 100% in what Oprah says. It isn't the answer to everything in life, but it certainly is a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal.
Anonymous strikes again...
Hello Anonymous and thanks for the post. I will need to chunk this into separate posts since I am exceeding the limit.
@Anonymous - Response 1.a
Point 1 - A:
"If you change the word Universe with God, how would that change things?"
That would be partially accurate but flawed. While Christianity explains that God (of the Bible) knows our thoughts and actions, it does not describe God like a genie, granting our every wish and desire, namely to make us happy.
My mind is filled with questions, observations, and uncertainty about the purpose and outcome of prayer. From my very limited experience with the Old Testament, those books seem to portray prayer as something primarily offered to God either for deliverance from sins, physical disease, or from certain groups of people oppressing God's people through rule.
The picture that is currently painted in my mind from parts in the New Testament, is primarily one of offering up prayers to God for the conviction of sin (disobedience to God), justification (making a sinner righteous, but through Christ alone), sanctification (the Holy Spirit working through the believer to produce 'fruit' - the idea that you recognize a tree by the fruit it produces; the fruit being an outward display and result of what is going on inside the tree), as a means to talk to God (relationship), among other things. People pray for physical healings, sporting events, tests, and a million other things.
I could go into further detail about how these things should not be the primary focus of prayer and if they are, the person has a shallow, child-like, naive understanding of the God of the Bible (if God is even actually responsive to petty things like sporting events and our exams, which I do not subscribe to). Perhaps God could give you the motivation to work and study hard, but when the test or sporting event comes, you will likely only do as well as you prepared.
At the risk of excluding additional context, here are some references from biblegateway.com:
2 Corinthians 13:7 (English Standard Version)
7But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
2 Corinthians 13:9 (English Standard Version)
9For we are glad when(A) we are weak and you are strong. Your(B) restoration is what we pray for.
Ephesians 6:18 (English Standard Version)
18praying(A) at all times(B) in the Spirit,(C) with all prayer and supplication. To that end(D) keep alert with all perseverance, making(E) supplication for all the saints,
Philippians 1:9 (English Standard Version)
9And it is my prayer that(A) your love may abound more and more,(B) with knowledge and all discernment,
Hebrews 13:18 (English Standard Version)
18(A) Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
@Anonymous - Response 1.b
Point 1 - B:
"How do we know that God is real?"
Wow, what a loaded question that people of all walks of life have struggled with and have had intense dialogue about over the past thousands of years. :)
Are you trying to prove the ideas of the Secret by arguing against another conflicting proposition (perhaps some religious idea of God or none at all), and hoping that if that is invalid, the Secret will be defaulted to? Nonetheless, it is a great question that deserves great discussion both for and against this god/God hypothesis both from a general existence as well as specific characteristics (Christian, Muslim or other conception of God) being attributed to this deity. However, I will not use this post as a medium to do such. People believe or disbelieve in a certain god(s)/God for different reasons whether it be experiential, physical evidence based (science), historical, etc.
"Is it because that it is the most popular belief and what we were brought up taught to think?"
I think this is absolutely the case for many people. This is part of the problem seen today. Too many people claiming to know Jesus, but don't. They are only 'cultural Christians' as if they inherited it from their parents. In some religions, the title is inherited through the family name, but Christianity is not. In general, people from opposing religions likely think the other is deceived and crazy for believing what they do.
We grow up believing what our parents tell us, up to at least some age until we question things and begin to doubt. Early on in our childhood years, we have an enormous amount of trust and faith in our parents, and so we believe what they told us. Is this blind faith? Believing your parents based solely on their word? Depends on the parent and what they tell the child right? I am actually wanting to write a blog shortly on this, inspired by one of the chapters in Richard Dawkins' book, "The God Delusion".
If the parent told the child something wrong, then would it be blind faith for the child to listen? If the parent told the child something right, then would it be blind faith for the child to listen? If the parent is trustworthy, I don't think it would be so blind to listen to what they have to say, but if they aren't trustworthy, then it may be naive to believe a certain thing. The faith in the trustworthy parent is the faith I believe that most resembles that of the Christian and his/her father God. Trust in the goodness of the God of the Bible and that he is faithful to what he has promised and said.
I could go into a lot more thoughts on this one here but I will refrain from doing so.
"Is it crazy to think that somebody (God) that we have no proof exists is real?"
Yes.
Why is the thought even entertained if there is no evidence to believe in something?
The question therein lies: What is counted as evidence and what is not? Obviously people do have religious beliefs they hold to as well as people that reject any and all religious beliefs. There is plenty of evidence, but what believe (or lack thereof) does it point to and why? This is where the disagreements begin.
"Is it crazy to think that energy... is somehow connected?"
I don't think so, but then, it depends what one means by connected. Connected as in Avatar or as in the Big Bang? Scientists describe all matter and energy as originating from a single point in time in the past (estimated at 14.7 or so billion years). It was all 'connected' and close but now it is ever expanding like a balloon.
"Is The Secret real?"
What aspect of it? That this matter and energy is in tune with the matter and energy in our body and thus is intimate with our thoughts and emotions, aligning other matter and energy to fit our needs and give us what we want to make us happy? I assume that is the point where our views diverge.
@Anonymous - Response 1.c
Point 2:
Response well taken. If the main practical idea you get from this is to not procrastinate, then I see no issue. My issue would be in the interpretation of the statement that 'The Universe wants you to act quickly' means to do this for everything.
Point 3:
Right. But the secret purports to be more than just thinking it and putting it into action. It actually states that just thinking and believing things will actually materialize into outcomes based on the Universe aligning things for the person. An example is the car spot that the person claims to get everyday just because they think about it. If you don't believe in this line of thought, then you do not fully believe in all of the claims of The Secret. Would that be a correct statement?
Point 6:
Okay, are you referring to all aspects of a person such as mental, physical, emotional (etc) or a subset of this? Can you actually make more diseased cells if you think negatively? Can you actually make more healthy cells if you think positively? Maybe, at least partially in some way. I don't know if this is scientifically supported at all. I know that the attitude of the sick person can influence the outcome of their recovery, but to say that we can all be healed if we just think positively? Too bad those HIV infected cells (the list goes on) don't listen properly. If we are using 'disease' metaphorically, okay, but we can't use it in its most literal form as a physical disease here.
Point 10:
I agree. Where the lines begin to cross will be when we have different concepts of what is 'good' and 'positive'.
Thanks again for the comments! Please keep them coming!
Anonymous: You bring up some valid points! I think Jason covered them pretty well, but I would like to add a few short thoughts.
1.) In your statement "...When you pray to God, aren't you asking for exactly what you want and feeling it will happen because God can do anything?..." I would first say that you're making the assumption that God will say "yes" to everything we ask for. Obviously this does not happen because otherwise, we would have a lot more lottery winners, immortal people, and much more guys in frat parties getting laid. (That last one was a bit of a joke but you get the idea! ;)) Anyway, the point being, God is not a genie that is there to grant us every wish. He is there for His own glory, and we exist at His pleasure. Much the opposite as the role of the universe and mankind according to The Secret.
2.) How do I know God is real? haha, isn't that a good question? Well, I would say God is real because the Bible says He is, and the Bible has been proved over and over again as a reliable historical document by studying the early manuscripts themselves, archeology described in the Bible, and so on. My belief in the Bible is supplemented by my own experience with being physically healed as well as other evidences of God's existence. (This will probably be a blog post eventually due to this being too limited a space for me to more fully explain.)
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