"The Secret"

oneofthem · May 9, 2007

Hi all.

Has anyone heard of a self-help type new age documentary called "The Secret"? It seems to be all the rage at the moment. It's quite scary because it draws from a few Christian truths as well as other stuff, and it distorts what is true and tries to blend it in with everything. Eg, principles of faith .

Has anyone seen it, or does anyone here know anything about it? My boyfriend's mum is really into it and i get the heebie jeebies when anyone tries to talk new age with me cos i used to be into that rubbish.

Izdaari Eristikon · May 10, 2007

I've seen it for sale in book form at Costco.

Here's the website for it: http://thesecret.tv/home.html

Now you know as much as I do.

BigNorsk · May 10, 2007

It really became popular when Ophrah featured it a couple of times. You are correct when you recognize that it is not Christianity but is New Age Religion. It is teaching that by your thoughts you control the energy throughout the cosmos and can bring things like wealth and so on to you simply through having the correct thoughts.

The Health and Wealth Gospel or the Name it and Claim it Gospel promoted by others is the same except they substitute the word "God" for "energy".

Basically the idea is that we are the creator of our own universe. If it stopped at teaching how people can sabotage themselves or such it wouldn't be bad, but it goes beyond, telling people that they shouldn't have any negative thoughts and how they can make whatever they want happen by focusing and dwelling on it. Really they are telling you to covet and whatever you covet you will get.

Marv

elsbeth · May 10, 2007

I don't think it is "scary" so much as silly. The basics of focusing your thoughts on positive things is ok, and that DOES make a difference in what happens to you- not because of any hocus pocus "law of attraction", but because it changes what you do and what you present to other people. I know sincere Christians who could benefit from some positive thinking- they pray but are continually sabotaging themselves at the same time.
I would say its a good chance for Christians to talk about God being the power in the universe- not some "universal mind" as the Secret mentions (I bought the ebook to see what the fuss was about).

Lightcreated · May 13, 2007

Why would some1 teach such things ?
I would'nt want to be the person that wrote/teaches such a blatantly false gospel.
I do'nt see this world going on for many years longer, the Lords return it deffinently very near.This worl has never had somany people living on it, and it never been so sinful as it is 2day.

Lightcreated · May 13, 2007

Why would some1 teach such things ?
I would'nt want to be the person that wrote/teaches such a blatantly false gospel.
I do'nt see this world going on for many years longer, the Lords return it deffinently very near.This world has never had somany people living on it, and it's never been so sinfull as it is 2day.

BereanTodd · May 13, 2007

Lightcreated said:
Why would some1 teach such things ?
I would'nt want to be the person that wrote/teaches such a blatantly false gospel.
I do'nt see this world going on for many years longer, the Lords return it deffinently very near.This world has never had somany people living on it, and it's never been so sinfull as it is 2day.

Why? Well, it's quite simple, the same thing that has led to all false worship over the millenia ...

Romans 1:18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualitieshis eternal power and divine naturehave been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creatorwho is forever praised. Amen.

26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

atheliah · May 14, 2007

Yeh... just saw an add for Oprah on TV... she's on Wednesday night here in Australia with a special presentation of 'the secret'... didnt know wot it was when I saw the add, but after seeing this thread, I know wot it is...

this world is getting further and further from Jesus....

Bek

ContentInHim · May 14, 2007

Well, if Oprah says it's OK, then I say ..... run for the hills. What a new age princess she is!

atheliah · May 14, 2007

ContentInHim said:
Well, if Oprah says it's OK, then I say ..... run for the hills. What a new age princess she is!

LOL.... I thought she was a christian... with the way she talks sometimes... but no, shes not...

heatherwayno · May 15, 2007

Oprah does claim to be a Christian but she says she feels there are more than one path to God. I feel she does not want to offend her non- christian viewers- she relies on their ratings for her paycheck lol!

The secret is really simplistic- if you have positive energy, thoughts- good things will happen to you?? whatever! Yes, the world is getting farther away from Jesus and this is just another fad.

Izdaari Eristikon · May 15, 2007

heatherwayno said:
The secret is really simplistic- if you have positive energy, thoughts- good things will happen to you?? whatever! Yes, the world is getting farther away from Jesus and this is just another fad.

Simplistic but not untrue. In general, optimism and positive thinking do work, and positive energy is much more effective than negative energy. It's one of God's laws, a legitimate piece of the cosmic jigsaw puzzle.

Where it goes wrong is it's only a small part of the truth, only a small part of the real "Secret" (which actually isn't secret at all) to which the keys are Christ and the Word of God as found in the Bible.

I haven't yet readThe Secret or watched the film version, but I have looked over a copy of the book, and read the site. It seems probable to me (subject of course to revision after I read it) that it contains a good deal of truth, things that will really help people... but it'll be a shame if they think that's all the truth they need and stop looking.

ContentInHim · May 15, 2007

Does anyone else find it "interesting" that people will read all sorts of ridiculous spiritual self-help books, but won't pick up the Bible? I include myself here - at least until a couple of years ago. Now, no matter what sort of modern problem is troubling me, I can find answers in it's pages!

MarieRose · May 15, 2007

I found it weird that so many Christians are into this 'Secret' thing. Just go to amazon.com and look through the reviews and alot of the five star reviews do mention being Christians. Pretty sad considering 'The Secret' is new age nonsense and much of it goes against the message of Christ.

atheliah · May 15, 2007

It is sad to see christians being led astray by 'spiritual' self help books, DVD's and shows... Those that r weak in their faith tend to be easier led off the path...

I guess people r always looking for quick answers, the easy way out... when they dont see an imediate answer/result to their problems from God, they go else where...

oneofthem · May 15, 2007

I see how it could seem okay to new Christians. There are a couple of aspects that adopt Christian principles, such as faith and WoF doctrine.

Problem is, the elements of truth that they do use, they surround with all this other rubbish and create superstition and deception.

I feel sorry for the poor sods who have adopted this teaching.

atheliah · May 16, 2007

Goodness... its on TV right now... I can see how ppl can get pulled in... the put a little bit of God, with a little bit of satan, mix it around, make it sound all good and harmless... and a bit of thinking 'oh, that is so true'... and then, ur sucked in...

rubbish!

Sinias · May 17, 2007

I watched this a few months ago. I dated a woman who was really into this and it seemed like half the town was big on it. Every where we went she was talking to someone about "the secret" I didn't find anything fascinating about it but it was taking some Christian people away from the Word and all they were talking and thinking about was this dvd. They were even holding Wed. night meetings about it.

Strangerintheearth · May 20, 2007

Maybe it's the name 'The Secret' that interests people. They have to find out what the secret is. Newsflash for those 'secret' people: Jesus Christ is the secret. Only He's not a secret! He stands at the door and knocks for those who wish to drink freely.

plum · May 20, 2007

another thread about it: http://www.christianforums.com/t5357555-the-law-of-attraction.html
I posted something there that i will repost here:

SO much is wrong with it that all I want to do is bang my head up against a wall.

a very good article/blog entry about this by a university professor:
http://stackblog.wordpress.com/2007/02/21/oprahs-secret-new-old-good-bad/
just a small piece:

So I’m all for proper positive thinking.
What is spiritual lethal in this concoction, however, is actually several poisons, and–ironically–they all have to do with choice.

The second is the poison of self-will. It’s all about me and it’s all up to me.

Um, no. From a Christian perspective, it’s about God, and the world, and me, and it’s up to God, and the world, and me. I am a dependent and interdependent being, and I need to call on God to help me, and draw on the world’s resources in gratitude and faith, or I will perish. I don’t have that much power.

The third is the poison of blaming the victim. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all for empowerment, for self-respect, for teaching about responsibility and opportunity that helps people free themselves from traps of perpetual servitude–economic, political, sexual, or psychological.

But this teaching basically says that your problems are your fault as the flip side to its message of hope. And that teaching is just disgusting when one considers the cases of so many people who have been damaged and oppressed and who still are–and can do little about it. How do you preach The Secret to young, addicted prostitutes in East Vancouver or Bangkok? How do you preach it to widows and orphans in Darfur refugee camps?

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