Oprah reveals "The Secret" to life on her show

[D4Christ]

Well, it seems that Oprah is once again promoting her new age beliefs again this time through a new movie out on dvd called, “The Secret”.

I only heard about The Secret because a Christian friend of mine emailed me to tell me to watch the program, which aired on February 8th. She claimed to have watched the dvd in its entirety and thought it was great.

I do not trust Oprah and with a little investigation I soon found out that these Secret Teachers are all popular new age gurus. One person Dr. Michael Beckwith appeared on the airing of The Secret and Neale Donald Walsch appears on the dvd movie of The Secret. Nothing I could say could speak more volumes about what these men think aobut Christians.

Dr. Michael Beckwith, Founder and Spiritual Director of Agape International Spiritual Center says on his website:

Is Agape Christian? And what about the Bible and Jesus?
No, and yes.

Yes, some Agape members are Christian, and their personal encounter with the spirit of Jesus as an embodiment of the Christ Consciousness richly informs their spiritual lives.

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. Yes, in the sense that New Thought- Ancient Wisdom history includes the Gnostic teachings of the earliest Christian mystical sects, as well as the founders of the uniquely American New Thought Movement including Emmanuel Swedenborg, Ernest Holmes, Howard Thurman, and transcendentalists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and others.

The Bible is referenced in Dr. Beckwith’s services and Agape’s classes. However, the version that is used is a metaphysical, Gnostic-inspired edition translated and interpreted from the original Aramaic, rather than the Greek translation used in traditional Christian churches such as the King James version, or the Saint Gregory version used by the Catholic church.

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. Jesus is revered as a wayshower, as an exemplar of unconditional love, selfless service, and self-mastery.

Neale Donald Walsch, author of Converstations With god says god told him this about psychic powers:

PSYCHIC POWER
Using psychic ability is nothing more than using your sixth sense. Obviously, this is not "trafficking with the devil," or I would not have given this sense to you. And, of course, there is no devil with whom to traffic. (205)
SEX
NDW: Is sex okay?
God: Of course sex is "okay." … Play with sex. Play with it! It’s wonderful fun. (205)
Sex is sacred, too… But joy and sacredness do mix (they are in fact the same thing)… You have repressed sex, even as you have repressed life, rather than fully Self expressing with abandon and joy. You have shamed sex, even as you have shamed life, calling it evil and wicked, rather than the highest gift and the greatest pleasure. 207
The energy that which underscores sex is the energy which underscores life… 207
Call on Me, therefore, wherever and whenever you are separate from the peace that I am. I will be there. With truth. And Light. And love. (211)

Neale’s thoughts on the New Spirituality:

I think the new spirituality will be a spirituality that's not based on a particular dogma. And that steps away from the old spiritual paradigm that we have created on this planet, which comes from a thought that there is such a thing as being better. The sad part about our past is that religions, ironically enough, are responsible for creating the most destructive idea that has ever been visited upon the human race: the idea that there is such a thing as "better."…

I was told to challenge every minister, every priest, every spiritual teacher, every world leader, every politician, everyone that has a constituency of any kind, to stand before their constituencies and [to]utter the one sentence that no religion, no political party, and no nation on the face of the earth will dare utter: "Ours is not a better way, ours is merely another way." That single sentence would change the experience of the world. That is the new spirituality, to answer your question directly. That will be the guiding principle. The new spirituality will step away from dogma, will step away from "We're right and you're wrong." And it will step into an inclusionary kind of understanding, that allows us to honor and to celebrate each other's points of view without finding them mutually exclusive.

I can clearly understand now why the bible says that even the very elect might be deceived. We must be watchful and not buy into everything we hear that sounds good.

Has anyone else heard of The Secret?

[David L]

^^
Nope... I just did with that post.







I think more along the lines of say ours is the only way...

[redeemed1953]

I have said it before; I will say it again:

Oprah is the antichrist.

Not the ANTICHRIST of Revelation, but the spirit of antichrist possesses her


.

[Mttw633]

Was that on Oprah? That was creepy; giving further evidence that our time is short. It does sound like her mantra: Natural Universal Law: law of attraction. One of the teachers, the last one mentioned who is a quantum physicist was the creepiest! A bell goes dong! Then he says, "You! (he whispers then) I want to tell you something, You are god in disguise!"

[AndCanItBe]

Have you guys seen this post from staticstorm in Whatever?

http://fulfilledprophecy.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=21466

Interesting. Secret. Holy Mystery.

[AndCanItBe]

You have to download a player to watch the trailer. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I wouldn't do it.

From the synopsis

The Secret has existed throughout the history of humankind. It has been discovered, coveted, suppressed, hidden, lost and recovered. It has been hunted down, stolen, and bought for vast sums of money. Now for the first time in history, The Secret is being revealed to the world over two breathtaking hours.

http://thesecret.tv/home-synopsis.html

[David L]

:armor:


I have said it before; I will say it again:

Oprah is the antichrist.

Not the ANTICHRIST of Revelation, but the spirit of antichrist possesses her


.

...and the rest of this world. Every false religion that puts itself in place of Christ has the spirit of antichrist. The theological term used to describe it is the German word zeitgeist or the spirit of the age.

[OneOfTheseDays]

Self-righteousness, self-righteouness, self-righteousness....

It takes a humble human being and broken heart to bow the knee to Christ.

[ChurchGirl]

totally creepy.

totally.

[D4Christ]

What creeps me out is that the person that told me to watch The Secret is a christian of whom I used to think was real deep and learned. But what I am realizing is how deep and wide the tennicals of New Thought have reached into the Christian community.

One of the over-ridng themes in The Secret is to be the Best You...Live Your Best Life Know...The Universe is filled with abundant riches....Earn more money...have more success.....sound familiar. It is the same trite we hear each and every prosperity preacher and pastor teach. It is no wonder that many christians have been prepped and are ripe to receive this message about life from people who feel that christianity is only one path of many to reach the One.

The new agers are right ...there seems to be a shift in consciousness and saints I do not think it is in our favor.

[beeps]

Who is the scariest Oprah or Javier.

[laney]

I clean house for an elderly couple. The women is into all this stuff, it is new age among other crazy things. I new she was "different" in her beliefs from little things she would say and she is always full of advise concerning my life. I don't know if her husband is with her on this, I don't think so but she, however is very much into it.

She has given me a couple of diffent books to read in which I never read because they just are so wishy washy to me that I just could not get into them. A couple of months ago she hands me this dvd she says she would like for me and my son to watch. It was "The Secret". I was hesitant about watching it but curious at the same time so I did watch it. Now if I had not had a discerning spirit, I think I might have fallen for this. The Secret was more or less about law of attraction, you know...think positive and the positive energy will draw positive to your life, and vice versa. But there were a few warning signs, can't remember exactly what, but like I said, a few years ago, before studying and reading Christian site forums such as this, I would have thought nothing of it.

Anyways, she says to keep it and bring it back in two weeks when I cleaned for her again. The night before I was to go clean she called to remind me to bring it back and ask me if I had watched it. I said yes and she ask me if my son had watched it. I said no and she was demanding he watch it. He said to tell her he didn't want to and get this, she said well tell him the only way you get to clean for me is that he has to watch it. I kind of laughed it off and said ok to her but when I got off the phone I told my son what she said and he was so mad. He ask if she was serious and I said well, I think no, but she was being persistant on you watching it. He was like...mom tell that *&^&^% where to go...

Anyways, I took it back the next day and she ask me how I liked it and what I thought about it. I told her well, It just reminded me of the thoughts of postive thinking but I have never been a positive thinker. Then I started talking about Jesus and that I felt He would always be the first thing in my life and one thing led to another. Finally I came out and ask her about her beliefs and ask her if she was into New Age and she said no, I'm far beyond that... whatever that meant...

Well, from what I gather, she adores Oprah. She talks about her all the time and she gives me her magazines when she finishes reading them every month. I don't read them because I don't like Oprah...
But I don't tell her that...

Well, I worked for her yesterday and guess what she ask me? She said Oh, did you watch Oprah yesterday? I said no, and she said, well they had all of the people that did The Secret on there. I was thinking, oh joy... but I didn't say anything.

Now this woman also believes in reincarnation. When she told me that I was like... I ask her what she was comming back as and she said, oh its not a what its a who. I said ok who? She said well, I would like to come back as my mother.

Now from all the crazy things I have studied they are closely related as this type of worship. Maybe a little different in some areas but this stuff is spreading like wildfire. Its crazy and its scarey but it is also really sad. Sad that people can believe in this kind of hog wash but they can't believe in Jesus Christ. I don't believe in pushing my beliefs on anyone but if she keeps trying to push hers on mine, I think there might be a great falling out comming. I need the money but I can find a replacement. I have witnessed to her and told her about my beliefs and made it clear that nothing will change them. So yea, this kind of belief is here, been here a long time but is comming back. And its people you would not ever dream of, highly respected people. So keep on the armor...keep your eyes open and you spirit keen, for we need it now more than ever before...Jesus will come back soon, He has too...

[wschaub]

Man, if someone said i could only work for them if i exposed MY son to their new age indoctrination I would flat out tell them theres no way and if thats a precondition for my working for them then I'm not going to meet that precondition. I refuse to compromise, even to the point that I say I did something and just don't do it to humor them. to me thats still a lie and I wont lie for them and play their own game.


Be careful as well these people aren't just crazies they actually are tapping into some heavy demonic powers and WILL try and send them against you to try and confuse you and draw you in. she is definitely not being very subtle about trying to draw you in and I would not be surprised in the least if shes praying to her demons to try and draw you in.

these new agers by and large arent just about their own sin a lot of them have an agenda to draw as many of gods people away from him as possible by any means possible because they hate God.

[Rte66]

That site is creepy. ..the colors, reds and blacks.

The "contact us" on the front page says. .."Need help? Ask the genie." with a picture of some guy.

last thing before I left. ..there are these wax seals all over the different pages on the site (like ones that you can use to seal letters. .. where you melt the wax and let it drip on the seal of the envelope and then press your stamp into the wax to make an impression) So these are blood red with a captal S on them! stands for "Secret" of course. ..

[laney]

Man, if someone said i could only work for them if i exposed MY son to their new age indoctrination I would flat out tell them theres no way and if thats a precondition for my working for them then I'm not going to meet that precondition. I refuse to compromise, even to the point that I say I did something and just don't do it to humor them. to me thats still a lie and I wont lie for them and play their own game.


Be careful as well these people aren't just crazies they actually are tapping into some heavy demonic powers and WILL try and send them against you to try and confuse you and draw you in. she is definitely not being very subtle about trying to draw you in and I would not be surprised in the least if shes praying to her demons to try and draw you in.

these new agers by and large arent just about their own sin a lot of them have an agenda to draw as many of gods people away from him as possible by any means possible because they hate God.

wschaub, I understand what you are saying. I do not feel however, that I have compromised my relationship to my Lord in anyway. You see, we cannot run from all the cults of the world, they will grow and grow. I do not intend to run away from someone that has a sick belief. Now, there is a point that if she crosses, she will know that she has crossed. But you see, I have the Lord Jesus Christ on myside! I have the protection and guidence of His Spirit! I have no fear of her powers because there is no greater power than that of our Lord and Savior! I have tackled greater powers than hers and the Lord has always protected me. I have faith! But thank you for your concern...

[D4Christ]

You guys should also check out a reporter named Warren Smith, who is exposing how the new age culture is creeping into the mainstream in his online book, "Reinventing Jesus Christ."

Warren exposed the relationship between Neal Walsch, "Conversations with god" author and Oprah. Here is an excerpt from a web site I found where he discusses this. Scroll down to read the section titlted, "Walsch, Winfrey and the Press."

Then Walsch described how Oprah Winfrey had him flown into Chicago to do The Oprah Winfrey Show, but the program was never aired. Walsch explained:

"…Oprah brought me to Chicago. She loves Conversations. In fact she says it is her favorite book. She says that on the air—'This is my favorite book'—and she holds up Conversations with God. So she brought me to Chicago and she said, 'Let’s do two hours.' I’m gonna do a two hour special. And she interviewed me on videotape for two hours and we had a fascinating conversation, the way only Oprah can, ‘cause she gets right into the interior of it. And I went back home, flying back home, and I thought, 'My God, they’re going to do a two-hour special. This is incredible… talk about zooming sales.' And I went home and… it stayed in the can for a year and a half. I did not call her, ‘cause I didn’t want to bother Oprah with, you know, 'Where is my program? When are you going to put it on?' …

"But finally the producer called us and said, 'You know, Neale, we just can’t use it. You are so incredibly provocative in what you’re saying about your relationship with God, humanity’s relationship with God, where religion currently stands in the world etc., etc.,… that we’ve looked at this thing, we’ve watched this program eight times and all of us agree it’s just too soon. You’re way ahead of the curve, we can’t put this on now.'”

Warren exposes how new agers are very conscious of the public's readiness for their message. Warren says,

Walsch’s revealing account illustrates how New Age leaders and media sympathizers, like Oprah Winfrey, are spiritually molding an unsuspecting public. They understand that the media is the message and that timing is everything. They are pushing their New Age/New Gospel/New Spirituality but they have to make sure the public is ready for what they have to say. This is why they have to always anticipate what their audience can handle. And this is why Oprah and her staff decided to introduce Walsch in a short, carefully edited clip about 'memorable thinkers' rather than in the longer two-hour interview as 'the man who has conversations with God.”

I think Warren's stuff is worth reading. We have to be ready for what the enemy dishes and not be so surprised when we find ourselves as the minority, who are disagreeing with this global shift to interfaith peace talks. We must remember that the enemy will be crafty while giving the masses what they want and at the same time slowly turning them from the concept of one way to salvation.

I think sometimes we christians get too cocky and assume that we will recognize satan when we see him...but we forget he will not be dressed with a pitch fork in a red suit...that we can spot anywhere. Instead he will be a wolf, bringing the message of peace and love, dressed like a lamb.

[laney]

D4Christ!

[laney]

I just read over that on line book you linked and it is a must read! Thank you for the link!

[Passion]

That site is creepy. ..the colors, reds and blacks.

The "contact us" on the front page says. .."Need help? Ask the genie." with a picture of some guy.

last thing before I left. ..there are these wax seals all over the different pages on the site (like ones that you can use to seal letters. .. where you melt the wax and let it drip on the seal of the envelope and then press your stamp into the wax to make an impression) So these are blood red with a captal S on them! stands for "Secret" of course. ..

Anyone see the "Top Secret" page where you can join and get access to their "top secrets"? It's almost tempting to register in order to find out what their so-called "top secrets" are.....I just don't know if I have either the stomache or the patience for that!

[D4Christ]

Anyone see the "Top Secret" page where you can join and get access to their "top secrets"? It's almost tempting to register in order to find out what their so-called "top secrets" are.....I just don't know if I have either the stomache or the patience for that!

It's funny that you said that because I too was tempted to sign up to see what they are discussing. But new age-speak makes me crazy and I cannot stand listening to it. I would get too tempted to respond and probably get banned. Jesus came to save the lost and those who seek Him. These people have made up their mind and beds and do not want "saving."

[User Formerly Known As]

I think it was Christianity Today that refered to her as the Church of Oprah. This phrase descibes her well because Oprah has this entire following of people who do and say pretty much whatever she says. Adding to this delima is her claim to Christian authority based on coming from a Baptist background. So many people, who either dont care about what the Bible says or who want to believe in the Bible but are theologically incoherant see her as the light that paves the way.

[Rte66]

I was tempted, just slightly, to join. Only slightly because I KNOW I have NO time for that!! And yes sometimes I read what others say and just want to throw the book in the garbage its so stupid, like I was reading a Jehovah's Witness witness book that they left me. Just makes me feel cold and hollow seeing the deception unfold as I read.

Sometimes its necessary to read the lies that the enemy puts out but I can only take so much at a time it seems.

I used to love Oprah back in college. ..but now. ..it saddens me to see where she is leading people. She does so many wonderful things and you know she loves people and wants to do right but she has missed the Absolute Truth of Jesus. I think its because she loves people more than God. ..doesn't want to believe that folks will go to hell just because of a "technicality" about believing Jesus is the ONLY way.

[Butterfly]

I have been reading Constance Cumbey's book "The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow". It's a book about the New Age movement. It was written in 1983 and in it are quotes from new age authors stating how they will infiltrate christian churches. It sounds to me amazingly like the emergent church movement. Everything they said they would do over 24 years ago is happening now. It also sounds very much like Rick Warren's Peace Plan. If anyone is interested in learning more there is a lot of information about all of this including an article about "The Secret" at lighthousetrailsresearch.com.

We must keep our eyes open there is so much deception out there.

Butterfly

[bwd8908]

Pure occultism. "The Secret" is the Law of Attraction. They say like emotions attract like outcomes.

Love is considered magnetic. Hate is considered disintigrative.

So, real Christianity is supposed to be disruptive to anti-Christian ideals. Praise God for Blessed Assurance, not Rhonda Byrne. (Sorry for the hate speech.)

Luke 12:26-31
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

[beeps]

SHUDDER SHUDDER EEEK

[BrazilianMommy]

The main problem with these guys is that they don't clearly reject Jesus, but they (as the name of the book mentioned) reinvented Him. Like the Muslims. They do not discard Jesus, they create confusion by mixing lie with truth.

The Christian that do not read his bible and do not arm himself with the truth can easily fall for those things. I makes me deeply sad, but we know it was coming.

[Passion]

The main problem with these guys is that they don't clearly reject Jesus, but they (as the name of the book mentioned) reinvented Him. Like the Muslims. They do not discard Jesus, they create confusion by mixing lie with truth.

Indeed. Just like Satan.

[bwd8908]

They do not discard Jesus, they create confusion by mixing lie with truth.

This is true.

They say "Dont worry. Be happy."
We say "Dont worry. Be happy."

The difference is a matter of who's providing for you:

"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law"
“Be strong, o man! lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture: fear not that any God shall deny thee for this.”
“Love is the law, love under will.”
-- Aleister Crowley

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof."
-- Mat 6:31-34 KJV

But, don't they sound the same when you dumb them down enough!

One speaker I heard last night said $12bil was spent on psychics in a year. Over half was spent by Christians who were taught that God no longer speaks to them. Seek Him, first.

[Nocturne]

thing that gets me, is that it is called 'the secret'. Especially considering what I was just reading about the 'Genesis Farm', where they are promoting belief in a great and holy 'Mystery'.

'Mystery' is the name written on the whore. Could it be that Oprah's 'secret' could be turned into an all out 'mystery' worship of the end times?

[susanah]

Isn't it eerie to see the one world religion forming right before our eyes.

(p.s. - I like your c.s. lewis quote staticstorm)

[bwd8908]

'Be your own god.'The newest self help religions are the same old lie told in Eden.

[BrazilianMommy]

Right!! The Devil didn't even had to creative.

[WhiteH2OWoman]

'Be your own god.'The newest self help religions are the same old lie told in Eden.

AMEN!

As I was reading "The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow," by Constance Cumbey, I was struck by the fact that the "New Age" movement--which is clearly satanic in origin--is not even anything new.

"New age" is based on the same old 2 lies the serpent used on Eve in the garden of Eden, waaaay back in Genesis.

Lie #1: "You shall surely NOT die" (if Eve eats the apple.) "New Age" is really, really big on reincarnation and karma and other claptrap, with the underlying thread being that no one need die. All of which is bull, because we DO die...and then we're either with God or we're in hell. But they don't want you to know about hell...

Lie #2: "Ye shall be as gods" (said by the serpent to Eve, as an incentive for eating that apple.) "New age" teaches that we can all be divine, that we are all "little gods." Remember Shirley McLaine on TV in the 80's, in the blasphemous, "Out on a Limb," under the urging of her "New Age" coach, yelling, "I AM GOD!" ? The truth is that this was Lucifer's first sin, believing he could be like the Most High. Not possible. We can be WITH God...we are NOT God and never will be.

New age, old lies. Satan isn't very original.

[mightymac]

Whenever I hear of folks reinventing Jesus (as if! He is the Creator...!) I turn it around in my mind like this: So, if Jesus is who you say he is, then he is a liar because Jesus said he was God and that the only way to Heaven was thru him. Now, knowing that, why in the world would I believe you?

It simplifies and clarifies things for me when I just think, He's either who he said he was or he was a liar or a nutcase, and nutcases (and liars) can't do miracles or raise themselves from the dead for people to see. I believe with all my heart that He is who he says he is, and I will always be better off for it, though I loose everything here (and believe me, my life is falling apart right now and I really could loose everything, including my kids if the demons prevail on my circumstances. I pray that the Lord will not let that happen. I really don't want to have a Job experience. But I pray the Lord's will be done. I have to trust Him though I am naturally fearful.)

[BrazilianMommy]

I am truly sorry to hear you are going throught such a hard time. I will be praying for you.

[AndCanItBe]

[wannabereal]

hey guys....there was a really good video about the "new age" and its influences someone had posted once....can't remember the name and wanted to go back and watch the whole thing....anybody remember that??
and where might it be?? (either youtube or google i think...)

[WhiteH2OWoman]

Excellent thinking, MightyMac!
You pointed out the fatal flaw in the reasoning of those who want to keep one foot in and one out by claiming Jesus was just "a really good teacher." Really good teachers do not go around claiming to be God if they are not. Thus, there is no such animal as a " really good teacher" who is not God, yet claims to be. That would not be good teaching, to teach a lie.

[BrazilianMommy]

I got this from a friend, it is 20 minutes into the movie we are talking about. No need to download or sign up for anything

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 3732767570

[BrazilianMommy]

I have not watched btw

[Passion]

I am truly sorry to hear you are going throught such a hard time. I will be praying for you.

Ditto!

[Passion]

'Be your own god.'The newest self help religions are the same old lie told in Eden.

New age, old lies. Satan isn't very original.

Exactly. He just tries to dress them up in "new" packaging.

[bwd8908]

'Be your own god.'The newest self help religions are the same old lie told in Eden.

AMEN!

As I was reading "The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow," by Constance Cumbey, I was struck by the fact that the "New Age" movement--which is clearly satanic in origin--is not even anything new.

"New age" is based on the same old 2 lies the serpent used on Eve in the garden of Eden, waaaay back in Genesis.

Lie #1: "You shall surely NOT die" (if Eve eats the apple.) "New Age" is really, really big on reincarnation and karma and other claptrap, with the underlying thread being that no one need die. All of which is bull, because we DO die...and then we're either with God or we're in hell. But they don't want you to know about hell...

Lie #2: "Ye shall be as gods" (said by the serpent to Eve, as an incentive for eating that apple.) "New age" teaches that we can all be divine, that we are all "little gods." Remember Shirley McLaine on TV in the 80's, in the blasphemous, "Out on a Limb," under the urging of her "New Age" coach, yelling, "I AM GOD!" ? The truth is that this was Lucifer's first sin, believing he could be like the Most High. Not possible. We can be WITH God...we are NOT God and never will be.

New age, old lies. Satan isn't very original.

I could add a third:
knowing good and evil

Rather than using Godly discernment, "self realization" movements tell people to "Know thyself."

[kazbo]

I watched most of it.

It starts out "you, you, you, you, you, you, you" - what you want - success - health - wealth - whatever you want - SELF SELF SELF SELF SELF.

As others have said, it is the old "positive thinking" recycled, packaged for a new generation. I feel for those who get sick or have something bad happen to them and blame themselves for "drawing it to themselves like a magnet".

BUT like the best lies, there is a bit of truth there. Our thoughts are important, and powerful. Not powerful in that they change reality, but they can change us, and they can torpedo faith. The way you look at things does affect your perceptions of them. We all know negative people who can put a negative spin on almost any event, and others who see the good in almost anything.

The Bible tells us our thoughts are important: "take every thought captive", "be transformed by the renewing of your mind", "set your mind on things above"; but as believers the idea is to remind ourselves of the truth and mold our thinking to the truth, and to guard ourselves from believing lies and dwelling on thoughts that can result in sinful actions.

I have a dear friend who had some disappointments and began thinking he was God's "whipping boy". God has it in for me, God's against me, he doesn't care, he's let me down, he broke his promises, etc. etc. Despite my and other people's attempts to encourage him with the truth, he persisted in thinking this way for several years (he's no wimp, but he saw his dreams dying and it took its toll). No surprise - he turned away from God a couple of years ago and has "given up on God", as he puts it. He says he needs a heart operation and God can put him on the operating table if he wishes, but he won't put himself there. I wonder however, at this point, if he would even see any good God does him or if he would find a way to "reason" it away because he has so convinced himself that God doesn't care about him.

So the truth in "The Secret" is that our thoughts will affect our lives for better or worse. Our thoughts do matter and we need to be careful what we allow ourselves to think. But we will not get everything we want by thinking the right way. Unless what we want is a closer walk with Christ and God's glory.

I'll stop preaching to the choir now.

[wannabereal]

I got this from a friend, it is 20 minutes into the movie we are talking about. No need to download or sign up for anything

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 3732767570

I watched the video and just as my initial impression was when i heard about this months ago and when i saw it on Oprah......BUNCH OF ****....
Simply re-packaged new-age drivel....pure and simple. It's a CRYING SHAME that a lot of what they say sounds like the same stuff being preached in a lot of churches tho....

And here are some of the "inconsistencies" that should really stand out to people:
1) the whole video starts out talking about the "laws" of the universe and this "law of attraction"...but then later in the video a guy says "there ARE NO RULES IN THE UNIVERSE"..... well then which is it???LOL

2) they "build their case" saying that what you THINK determines your reality....then later they say "well it's not so much what you think (thoughts) but your FEELINGS"....well which is it????

3) one lady says...."you don't have to worry about every little thought because 'thank god' there's a time delay before it becomes reality"...but then later in the video they say basically what you start out thinking in the morning determines your reality THAT DAY...so which is it??? and how long is this "time delay" then???

4) lady says "if you open your mailbox every time expecting to see a bill,it'll be there"....so are you saying people who know "the secret" NEVER pay bills/mortgages??? how do they buy their homes, cars etc if they never EXPECT bills???

5) THE BIGGIE: If "down through the ages" successful people have known "the secret" to wealth and especially HEALTH......WHY DO THEY STILL DIE?????? guess the secret doesn't work so well huh??

Shame such unadulterated **** (sorry) will only serve to fool a lot of people (especially now that Oprah has signed on and promoted it...) while merely just ENRICHING THE AUTHORS/MAKERS of the book and DVD (until this latest "fad" wears off)........ (also sad, how the "christianized" version of this kinda reminds me of the "prayer of Jabez" craze )lol

warn your friends and family.......

sad......

[sparkly]

Thank you Thank you for starting this thread!

My new-age hippie father sent this dvd for Christmas. I was planning on watching it with my mom, who is a strong Christian, and we were going to critique it, and figure out just what he was in to. My first thought when I saw the cover, was that he was in a cult. (He has been in one before, and I think he is getting involved with them before, they just up and moved to Texas from WA.)

Anyway, I put it on the other day, because he had emailed me that "the Secret" was going to be featured on Oprah. So he was nudging me, since I hadn't given him any feedback in a month and a half on this thing.

I can see where this would be very attractive...In fact, I watched it alone, not wanting my husband to see it. He is not a Christian, and I didn't want him to be seduced by whatever it taught.

I've watched half of it so far, don't know if I'll ever watch the whole thing. But the one thing that stand out, is the criteria I use for establishing if a system or belief can be true.

It has to be absolute truth, and it has to be for everyone.

Now, of course I believe that there is only one way to the Father, through Jesus Christ. But some beliefs don't even touch on that...they are so subtle, so deceptive, that a person might not realize how they are wrong, because they don't out and out conflict with the salvation message of Jesus Christ.

Now, the premise of the Law of Attraction is attractive. I admit, it got me thinking. But the one glaring, neon, blinding warning, is that not one of the people who said they just ask for what they want, never mentioned whether or not they should have the thing they wanted. There was no "God willing", no seeking of His will. Just whatever "feels" good. Good feeling equals good thing. I have been at odds with my father over this for years...this cannot be true, and I will try and point out why.

This is disgusting, and I don't like having to bring it up, but what makes a child molester feel good? What makes an adulterer feel good? What makes a glutton feel good, or an alcoholic, or thief? Sexual abuse, fornication, substance abuse, gluttony, greed...these are all BAD things. BAD!!! How can GOOD, come from BAD? And what about the victims, how can supposed "good" things come to a person, to make that person feel good, when that is a very bad thing for the person it is coming from?

This law cannot be applied across the board for all, and so it is not true, or valid.

Does this make sense, I probably could expand on it more. And probably will, this thread is going to help me immensely as I write my reply to my father. My father who should know better, he went to seminary to be a minister. I have to think that once, he KNEW the truth, but he chose to believe a lie...

(BTW, I did not grow up with him, my parents were divorced shortly after my birth.)

Looking forward to replies!

[Mttw633]

We should all pray for your father!

I think this really is timely; the enemy wants people so distracted and wrapped up into their own little worlds we won't want to be involved with any other countries (Iraq, Iran, Israel). Then because of this philosophy they'll think we as a nation are putting out all this 'bad energy' it will only come back on us.

What did our Lord tell us to do? (WATCH) When we see all these things lift up our heads. This would be one thing I would mention to your father; there is an enemy of our souls and he would love to see us distracted and not seeing the signs of the times.

[ChurchGirl]

Sparkly...I'll be praying for your dad - can you all pray for mine? Everything Sparkly wrote - except I get books like....Your best life now....purpose driven and something from the Dalai Lama.

It's sweet my father is trying to relate to my faith, that he is reaching out at least. He's been walking without the Lord for over 20 years now due to mutual adultery in my parents marriage - he lost faith...I guess...still trying to figure out why he walked away though.

He's a mild mannered professional poker player in Vegas now....

[D4Christ]

Thank you Thank you for starting this thread!...
...

Your Welcome!

This is disgusting, and I don't like having to bring it up, but what makes a child molester feel good? What makes an adulterer feel good? What makes a glutton feel good, or an alcoholic, or thief? Sexual abuse, fornication, substance abuse, gluttony, greed...these are all BAD things. BAD!!! How can GOOD, come from BAD? And what about the victims, how can supposed "good" things come to a person, to make that person feel good, when that is a very bad thing for the person it is coming from?..

I think you can find your answer about the relativity between good and bad from new age author of Conversations with god, Neale Donald Walsch.

On a fansite devoted to his book I found an excerpt which explains his god's (demon) explanation of the relativity of right and wrong. Here is the link.

Right and Wrong are Relative Terms

There’s nothing “wrong” with anything. “Wrong” is a relative term, indicating the opposite of that which you call “right.”

Yet, what is “right”? Can you be truly objective in these matters? Or are “right” and “wrong” simply descriptions overlaid on events and circumstances by you, out of your decision about them?
And what, pray tell, forms the basis of your decision? Your own experience? No. In most cases, you’ve chosen to accept someone else’s decision. Someone who came before you and, presumably, knows better. Very few of your daily decisions about what is “right” and “wrong” are being made by you, based on your understanding.
This is especially true on important matters. In fact, the more important the matter, the less you are likely to listen to your own experience, and the more ready you seem to be to make someone else’s ideas your own.
This explains why you've given up virtually total control over certain areas of your life, and certain questions that arise within the human experience.
These areas and questions very often include the subjects most vital for your soul: the nature of God; the nature of true morality; the question of ultimate reality; the issues of life and death surrounding war, medicine, abortion euthanasia, the whole sum and substance of personal values, structures, judgments. These most of you have abrogated, assigned to others. You don't want to make your own decisions about them.
“Someone else decide! I’ll go along, I’ll go along!” you shout. “Someone else just tell me what’s right and wrong!”
This is why, by the way, human religions are so popular. It almost doesn’t matter what the belief system is, as long as it’s firm, consistent, clear in its expectation of the follower, and rigid. Given those characteristics, you can find people who will believe in almost anything. The strangest behavior and belief can be—has been—attributed to God. It’s God’s way, they say. God’s word.
And there are those who will accept that. Gladly. Because, you see, it eliminates the need to think.


Thinking is hard. Making value judgments is difficult. It places you at pure creation, because there are so many times you’ll have to say, “I don’t know. I just don’t know.” Yet still you have to decide. And so you’ll have to choose. You’ll have to make an arbitrary choice.
Such a choice—a decision coming from no previous personal knowledge—is called pure creation. And the individual is aware, deeply aware, that in the making of such decisions is the Self created.
Most of you are not interested in such important work. Most of you would rather leave that to others. And so most of you are not self-created, but creatures of habit—other-created creatures.
Then when others have told you how you should feel, and it runs directly counter to how you do feel—you experience a deep inner conflict. Something deep inside you tells you that what others have told you is not Who You Are. Now where to go with that? What to do?
The first place you go to is your religionists—the people who put you there in the first place. You go to your priests and your rabbis and your ministers and your teachers, and they tell you to stop listening to your Self. The worst of them will try to scare you away from it; scare you away from what you intuitively know.
They’ll tell you about the devil, about Satan, about demons and evils spirits and hell and damnation and every frightening thing they can think of to get you to see how what you were intuitively knowing and feeling was wrong, and how they only place you’ll find any comfort is in their thought, their idea, their theology, their definitions of right and wrong, and their concept of Who You Are.
The seduction here is that all you have to do to get instant approval is to agree. Agree and you have instant approval. Some will even sing and shout and dance and wave their arms in hallelujah! That’s hard to resist. Such approval, such rejoicing that you have seen the light; that you’ve been saved!
Approvals and demonstrations seldom accompany inner decisions. Celebrations rarely surround choices to follow personal truth. In fact, quite the contrary. Not only may others fail to celebrate, they may actually subject you to ridicule. What? You’re thinking for yourself? You’re deciding on your own? You’re applying your own yardsticks, your own judgments, your own values? Who do you think you are, anyway?

And indeed, that is precisely the question you are answering.

[kazbo]

This is the sort of stuff that ties me up in knots. Obviously this guy is wrong. We know that. Yet if someone would send me that (the whole thing above about right and wrong) I would feel overwhelmed with all the things that come to mind about how wrong this guy is, yet find myself unable to coherently explain why.

He starts off talking about right and wrong, then morphs into "who you are". "No one can tell you who you are." Yeah, whatever. What does that have to do with moral choices? Too bad he can't give an example of what he really means when he talks about how we've all been programmed to think some things wrong and others right. Let's start with a short list, shall we? Murder, rape, stealing, lying, child abuse. How silly for me not to realize the only reason I believe those things are wrong is because I've been told they are and I'm too lazy to think it out for myself.

Unbelievable. Notice the subtle appeal to pride: you who think this out and come to the realization that truth is relative are smarter than those brainless, lazy people who believe in their religions. Do whatever you want to whomever you want whenever you want - after all, you're simply being true to yourself.

Any rational human being would know this guy is so off base. He needs to read some C.S. Lewis (specifically: "Right or Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe")

Okay, I'm off to calm down and to pray for this guy; and to pray anyone and everyone that comes to his site can't escape the nagging feeling that "something is terribly wrong here".