"The Secret?"?

Question

First let me be upfront about the fact that I have not read this book. I have read a lot about the book though. Most likely it is not right for me to give an opinion on a book I have not read and it is very possible that I have the wrong idea about this book, but here we go anyway. From all I have read about this big “Secret” I see one main flaw. It has people shining like a sun instead of shining like a moon. Let me explain. I believe it is wonderful for us to want to shine. As a follower of Christ, I understand we were created to shine and to walk in glory for all to see. To many times we get caught up in talking about how bad we are as sinners and though it is true we are all sinners by nature, it is also true that we created and meant to shine. I also believe in the power of our words and a positive mind-set. The Bible does back this up by teaching us that we have not because we ask not and ask and you shall receive. So why then do I not want to throw all my chips into The Secret? The flaw that I see in what this book is advocating is that YOU can get what YOU want as long as YOU change the way YOU think and YOUR attitude. You, you, you, you! It seems all about you and you are the source for your life! That is a scary thing for us all to buy into. But you say that is sounds like the same thing as “ask and you shall receive”? Maybe on the outset but the main difference between the two is that the Bible teaches that WE are not the source of what we receive. The Father gives us this shine, it is not our own. We should shine, but like the moon and not as a sun. The moon at times shines so bright that you would think it has its own source of power. It does not. Its shine is only a reflection of the Sun. Without the Sun there can be no shine for Mr. Moon. From what I have read about this book, it has many moons walking around thinking they are the Sun. And from what I understand, that many Suns running around will only lead to one thing… destruction! That many Suns around will end up burning us all to the ground. When you shine like a sun you think like a sun. You think the universe revolves around you instead of seeing yourself as just a part of the bigger picture. If we all walk around with the universe revolving around ourselves just wanting what we want and taking all the credit for it, we are bound to crash into one another. As well, if all of us are running around believing that we hold the power on our own and are not humble but instead just worrying about being self serving, we have missed the point of life. Friends, there is no “Secret” here; it has been out for 2,000 years! I do agree that if you ask you shall receive. But do not forget the conditions that are stated in the Bible before that statement is made. It starts by stating that if you keep Christ in your heart and then ask, you shall receive. Because then you know you should not get the glory for what you have received, He does! So I say shine! But when you’re shining remember your source and He is no secret. I love you all. God Bless you my fellow moons!
Jason LoBoi

Answer 1

I started listening to it yesterday (book on CD) and I think it's terrible. I actually think that the person who wrote this book and made the movie is getting rich off of people's insecurities.

I'm all for the power of positive thinking, but The Secret goes way beyond that. For instance, it said that anything bad that you have in your life has been brought on by your negative thoughts. Well, my 2 year old has severe cerebral palsy - did I bring that on with my thoughts?

Then it says that you can have anything ANYTHING that you want by following The Secret. So if I want my son to be a normal boy without cerebral palsy and without mental retardation, all I have to do is ask the universe?

I think it just goes too far and oversimplifies. It seems like a powerful money making scheme for the author and her cohorts. It seems like many people are being duped by The Secret.

I liked the book "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale. It's much more realistic, in my opinion.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Jason, you are of course, correct in seeing it is all about YOU, in the Secret. When Christ came he told us to look within our own hearts to find the truth. It is all within ouselves and allowing ourselves to believe what God has told us. It is our inability to forgive ourselves and believe in the magic which is promised to us which sets us on less than desirable paths. It is when we wake up to universal law and recognize it for what it is that we start living the abundant lives we are promised. Everyone finds the path to God in their own way. If you ask, believing in your heart all things are possible, it will be yours. Even Jesus said this is true. He is and was a shining example of all the precepts taught in the Secret. Service to your fellow man is an important aspect of this process. Read the book or watch the video. It is worth your time to check it out. Try not to let fear or preconceived notions color your concept of it. You will find that the tenets and beliefs in it in no way conflict with Christianity.
Best wishes

Below is a link to just one of the ministers who teach this material. Go there and take a look. Or look at the video or read the book to find more.

Answer 4

Diana,
I thank you very much for your attempt to explain how this book lifts up Christianity as a model. Though I must admit that I am a bit perplexed at the link you used as your source for this. I clicked on it to see where I was wrong and be enlightened by how this book is in fact complimentary to Christianity. Yikes! As I explored this source I came across some very interesting statements. Here are just a few:

“Is Agape Christian? And what about the Bible and Jesus?
No, if by Christian you mean the acceptance of Jesus as the only savior and Christianity as the only path to God and eternal salvation.
Agape teaches that Jesus was not the great exception, but rather the great example. Classically, the New Thought-Ancient Wisdom tradition of spirituality regards Jesus an enlightened being, one who attained cosmic consciousness or liberation from a sense of separation from the Source of all that is.
Agape’s teachings embrace a Reality the world’s scriptures and sacred texts endeavor to describe, even as they acknowledge the impossibility of such a task. Some call it God, Great Spirit, Hashem, or Allah, while others simply prefer to leave it nameless.”

Now I am not sure what Bible you are reading but I know that God is not referred to as “Allah”, even if some would like Him to be or have decided it to be “politically correct” to allow Him to be. Also, I do not follow a religion and sure do not follow one with its founder in the grave. My savior is alive and was more than just an “enlightened being”.
To be honest, I find it funny when people want to promote Jesus as just a “great example” and not the Son of God. I don’t think you actually can do that with any validity. For if He is not who He said He was, then how can you say he is a great example? He is either God in the flesh who came to make a way to the Father or He is a crazy liar…correct? You can’t really have it both ways. I won’t try to prove to you who He is, I will just say that I know who He was and is…do you?
As well, this "a little of this and a little of that" way of religion simply goes right along with what our society and this book are teaching. Have it your way! Look, I know it feels a lot better for some of us to believe that God is like a cashier standing behind a counter at Burger King waiting to take OUR order just the way WE like it. But that is just not the truth. The Bible teaches very clearly that there is one way and one way only to reach the Father… that is through our Lord Jesus Christ. I know people do not like to hear that and it makes them uncomfortable but I didn’t make it, it made me. Jesus said that no one can get to the Father but through Him. Does it sound exclusive? Sure! But at the same time understand that it is ALL inclusive because it is there for me, you, that prisoner, the scholar, the ignorant, the brilliant, the high, and the low of our world.
You said that there are “many paths” to God. I respectfully disagree. There may be many testimonies or stories of how people reached THE path, but there is only one path…Jesus. The Bible tells us that the narrow path leads to Heaven. It also tells us that the broad path is the way to destruction. This book, “The Secret”, may use some scripture to attempt to hush the Christian sect, but so did Satan. I would challenge you to not follow the broad path because it is the newest flavor of the month and what “everyone’s” reading. I would challenge you to stick with the book that has stood the test of time in answering the question, “How do I get the life I want?” Jesus came to bring life and bring it to the fullest, that’s all we need.

Jason LoBoi

Answer 5

the 'Deep'!