'The Secret' in Christian context?

ilivetolearn

Hi All,

Firstly here's a little introductory background if anyones interested:

This is my first post to this forum. As with most Irish folk I was raised Christian and still try to embrace a select amount of teachings imparted by the man known as Christ. As a child I attended 'Born-Again' meetings weekly for about a year. I have read the gospels and the books of revelation, psalms, proverbs and genesis. I developed in keen interest in Francis of Assisi (Just in case: I'm aware that he's not in the bible) though I fear I may never quite understand the story of Job.

In my lifetime I can recall what felt like three spiritual/Christian 'experiences' whether they were or were not. One experience occurred during my confirmation mass during which I felt a heightened sense of spirituality, community and comfort. An earlier experience involved a group prayer/song in which I observed a man blind in one eye (slightly disfigured) singing along in the crowd. I felt felt an overwhelming sense of sympathy and began to cry (I was about 10-12 yrs). In retrospect I was confused, saddened and encouraged at the same time to see blinded man so selflessly content. The final experience was a negative one whilst attending a mass service. I was given a series of coins for the mass collection one of transpired to be especially shiny new copper penny. I vividly remember deliberating whether or not to keep the coin. Sadly I did and in Christian context I remember thinking that I had blatantly succumbed to a moment of temptation.

I have not attended mass in several years and grown skeptical of the religion as an entity though I still acknowledge the altruistic intent of its indoctrinations.


Now onto the topic at hand:

A few months ago I began reading 'The Secret'. Would I be correct in making the assumption that this is essentially what Christ was teaching? Would 'The Secret' be considered New Age or Christian? Even if the 'The Secret' is not of a Christian subtext are there any correlations that can be drawn?

Fanny Cradock

Can you provide a link or a synopsis of the book? Without meaning to be smart, I would have thought that the teaching of Jesus is to be found in the bible, particilarly the NT.

kelly1

Personally, I'd give "The Secret" a wide berth! Here's a criticism of it
http://www.gotquestions.org/secret-law-attraction.html

philologos

Indeed:

The Secret – www.thesecret.tv – also known as the “law of attraction,” is the idea that because of our connection with a “universal energy force,” our thoughts and feelings have the ability to manipulate this energy force to our liking.

We can't change God, God can change us however. Just my 2 cents on why that isn't compatible with Christianity.

The Mad Hatter

The Secret is the most transparent attempt to cash in on New Age rubbish that I have ever seen. It's just positive thinking mixed in with confirmation bias and some spiritualist nonsense.

Splendour

ilivetolearn wrote: »

Hi All,

Firstly here's a little introductory background if anyones interested:

This is my first post to this forum. As with most Irish folk I was raised Christian and still try to embrace a select amount of teachings imparted by the man known as Christ. As a child I attended 'Born-Again' meetings weekly for about a year. I have read the gospels and the books of revelation, psalms, proverbs and genesis. I developed in keen interest in Francis of Assisi (Just in case: I'm aware that he's not in the bible) though I fear I may never quite understand the story of Job.

In my lifetime I can recall what felt like three spiritual/Christian 'experiences' whether they were or were not. One experience occurred during my confirmation mass during which I felt a heightened sense of spirituality, community and comfort. An earlier experience involved a group prayer/song in which I observed a man blind in one eye (slightly disfigured) singing along in the crowd. I felt felt an overwhelming sense of sympathy and began to cry (I was about 10-12 yrs). In retrospect I was confused, saddened and encouraged at the same time to see blinded man so selflessly content. The final experience was a negative one whilst attending a mass service. I was given a series of coins for the mass collection one of transpired to be especially shiny new copper penny. I vividly remember deliberating whether or not to keep the coin. Sadly I did and in Christian context I remember thinking that I had blatantly succumbed to a moment of temptation.

I have not attended mass in several years and grown skeptical of the religion as an entity though I still acknowledge the altruistic intent of its indoctrinations.


Now onto the topic at hand:

A few months ago I began reading 'The Secret'. Would I be correct in making the assumption that this is essentially what Christ was teaching? Would 'The Secret' be considered New Age or Christian? Even if the 'The Secret' is not of a Christian subtext are there any correlations that can be drawn?

Steer well away from 'The Secret'. My niece bought a copy recently and I tried to convice her it was hogwash. Think she read it anyway :rolleyes:

All new age ideas/books will have some sort of 'Christian' theme running through them; loving yourself and connecting with others ya de ya...But they completely forget the first commandment and put me/you/whoever happens to be reading, on the throne instead of God.

As for your skepticism of religion-you're spot on there. I too am skeptical of religion but I am a Christian. Methinks you should chuck 'The Secret' out the window and get your hands on a copy of the Bible instead...:P