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"The Secret" and Spirituality vs. The Christian Religion

Posted February 23rd, 2007 by BlueButterfly

Many people, both Christian and non-Christian, are interested in how "The Secret," by Rhonda Byrnes, relates to Christianity. Specifically, the key questions below:

1. Does "The Secret" say there is no God?

"The Secret" says that there is a God, but defines God differently than the Christian religion. It says that God is the one universal energy that makes up everything and everyone in the universe and we are all connected to one another by this unified energy. God is you, God is me, God is an insect, God is a plant, God is the air, God is a skyscraper, etc. Everything there is, is God - we are all one, we are all a part of God. So when we hurt another, we hurt ourselves, when we love another, we love ourselves, and when we judge another, we judge ourselves. Isn't that what's being said in the Bible, "thou shalt love thy neighbor as theyself. There is none other commandment greater than these," "love your enemies, do good to them which hate you," and "Now the body is not made of one part but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason cease to be a part of the body. There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other." We are all a part of a greater whole, which "the Secret" calls God, and which the Bible supports in many ways - this doens't mean "The Secret" says not to be a Christian - the two concepts of God can coexist as one belief.

2. Does "The Secret" say not to put your faith in anyone but yourself?

"The Secret" says to have lots of faith! Have faith in yourself, in the laws of the universe (God and the Law of Attraction), and in others. Faith is essentially the opposite of fear - when you have faith, you are unafraid, and when you are afraid, you lack faith. "The Secret" and the Law of Attraction say that you get more of what you focus on, like attracts like, and your thoughts create your reality, therefore if you are fearful you attract that which you don't want, but if you have faith, you attract that which you do want. It doesn't mean you must only have faith in yourself, your abilities, and your will, it means have faith in God - the energy that you can bring into your life as what you want and that makes you happy.

3. Does "The Secret" say no one will judge you, do whatever you want?

"The Secret" says that we are all part of a whole, so there is no need to judge the parts or the whole. Judgment is not necessary by a separate entity like the Christian God, nor by individuals of other individuals, because when people do what makes them truly happy, they are doing what is good for the whole, and when they do things that make them unhappy they are hurting themselves. Do you think someone who steals from others is truly happy? Do you think murderers or abusers are truly happy? These are people who seek pleasure and some sort of gratification, but they are not on the path to happiness. If they were truly happy, do you think they'd want to steal or take from other people's happiness? When you are happy, don't you tend to make others around you happier? When you're around someone who is miserable, don't they tend to bring others down too? So doing what you want, means doing what makes you happy, thus what makes others happy, therefore what is good for you and good for the whole. No one need judge because the emotions of happiness or sadness are the reward and punishment one experiences immediately.

4. Does "The Secret" say there is no Heaven, no Hell, only the Earth that's here now?

"The Secret" says there are no separate entities called Heaven and Hell, but that Heaven and Hell are within us - that when we experience true happiness, we experience Heaven, and when we experience unhappiness, we experience Hell. You are either in Heaven or Hell (or possibly some gray area in between) all the time, 24-7. That's why we are encouraged to do good things, to get the immediate feeling of joy and experience of Heaven, and discouraged from doing bad things by the immediate feelings of Hell. Since Heaven and Hell are built in each and every one of us, there is no need for outside Heaven and Hell that we only go to once we die, because we live in one or the other every day and we have the choice of which to live in by the actions we choose.

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the little god between your ears.

On February 24th, 2007 Anonymous (not verified) says:

This is the biggest pile of horse hockey...Oh, I'm sorry...I forgot that god is everything, including a big pile of manure,,,sorta like your lame idea of God.

Jesus Christ

On March 1st, 2007 Susan Bertalotto (not verified) says:

BlueButterfly,
So where does Jesus Christ fit into "The Secret" concept? I would think Jesus would have to be set aside in order to follow the "law of attraction". Since Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, how can "The Secret" and Jesus Christ be compatible? Thanks.

Susan

"The Secret" and Jesus Christ are compatible

On March 2nd, 2007 BlueButterfly says:

Susan - great question

Although the teachers of "The Secret" describe God in a certain spiritual, non-religious way, it does not mean that you have to believe in this definition of God to use the Law of Attraction (you already use the Law of Attraction based on whatever beliefs about anything you have). The point of "The Secret" is that you can be happy now, and you can have your life go the way you want it to (you can acquire more or less money, you can develop a better relationship with your spouse, you can do anything in any of the 5 aspects of wealth - financial, relational, intellectual, physical, and spiritual/religious). "The Secret" is open about spirituality and God, but it does not say you must believe in a certain kind of God to use the tools of "The Secret." You can believe in a specific God, you can believe in the merely spiritual universal God, or you can believe in no God, and still use the Law of Attraction to build the life that you want. The teachers of "The Secret" themselves say the tools and methods are compatible with any religious beliefs. Oprah is a great example of a good Christian woman who also uses the tools of "The Secret."

Since the Law of Attraction simply means that you get more of what you think/feel about, you can still do everything to follow Jesus Christ to God and use the Law of Attraction for whatever you want, whether that's very small or very large. On a very small scale, you could simply say, "I want to be happy in this life and I want to go to God, go to Heaven when I die." In this case you would be using the Law of Attraction simply to draw more happiness into your life (although happiness is a choice, this might just mean your children are healthy and happy, etc.). Or you can use the Law of Attraction to build a warmer relationship with your spouse. Or in a larger way, you could use the Law of Attraction to acquire a larger house and more money (you could donate the extra money or whatever you felt was right - the point is to do what makes you happy and do what you think will lead you to God. What I mean is, you can use the Law of Attraction to improve your life in ways that Jesus Christ and God would approve of, whatever you believe that is.

Jesus Christ

On March 3rd, 2007 Susan Bertalotto (not verified) says:

Thanks for your comments, BB.

I still don't see how the "law of attraction" can be used by a Christians and still know God thru Jesus Christ. God expects obedience to Him only, and our thoughts are to be in obedience to Jesus Christ, not focused on things or desires. A Christian's "goal" is to obey God, not to be "happy". God gives us joy - the joy that things and desires can't give us.

Oprah is not an example of a Christian. A Christian believes and lives that Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to God; Oprah has made is very clear that she does not believe that way. She believes there are many paths to God; but there is only ONE path, and that is thru Jesus Christ. Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to God except by Me. (John 14:6). So anyone who projects or teaches that we can come to God any way we want, that person is not a Christian.

God is sovereign. He is not beholded to us humans to do His work; He is quite able to do it on His own. The Secret and the law of attraction takes away from God's sovereignty. It demeans God and elevates man. Humans are not gods and never will be.

God said in Deuteronomy that we are not to "christianize" pagan practices and beliefs. The Secret is pagan, through and through. There is nothing of God in it because Jesus Christ does not have His rightful place in the practice. I realize that many people are being deceived by a false sense of security using these pagan methods. I pray that every one of them would know God thru Jesus Christ.

Law of Attraction in obedience to God...

On March 4th, 2007 BlueButterfly says:

Susan,

In your paragraph above: "God expects obedience to Him only, and our thoughts are to be in obedience to Jesus Christ, not focused on things or desires. A Christian's "goal" is to obey God, not to be "happy". God gives us joy - the joy that things and desires can't give us." you state precisely what I mean...

(First of all, "The Secret" says to choose to be happy; things and other desires do not bring ANYONE happiness, if anything they only bring a temporary pleasure, which is not happiness and not the goal of "The Secret.")

You believe as Jesus Christ has said, that if you focus and think about Jesus Christ and God, then you will come to know Jesus Christ and go to God rather than Hell. This is the Law of Attraction - you get what you think about, and you can use it for whatever you want, so if knowing God is the only thing you want, you are using the Law of Attraction for your biggest desire which is to be obedient to God. And that is totally fine, you are using the Law of Attraction for what you want, just like followers of "The Secret," - you just want different things. Unless you're a monk, I doubt that every one of your thoughts all day every day are on God or Jesus Christ because there are other things that need to be done like driving, eating, raising a family, etc. - so when your thoughts are not on God, use them in the positive. If you already incorporate the thought of God into every other activities, you are already using the Law of Attraction in the positive for yourself and for your desire to know God, such as if you say, "God, I know you will keep my children safe" and things like that rather than, "God, I don't want anything bad to happen to my children."Just be aware, that when your thoughts are not on God, such as when you say "I don't want to be late for work" you're also using the Law of Attraction to attract what you think about which is "being late," so all you need to do is think about what you do want and not what you don't want like, "I want to be on time." Since you want to know Jesus Christ and go to God, you don't fill your mind with thoughts about what you don't want like, "I don't want to not know God," "I don't want to disobey God," "What if I don't go to Heaven," "What if the Bible is wrong?" "I don't want to go to Hell." These will attract what you don't want, instead say, "I want to know God," "I want to be obedient go God," "I want to go to Heaven," "The Bible is correct and accurate and I intend to follow it to the letter." This is the Law of Attraction, this is "The Secret" - you can use it for anything, and Christians do use it for what they desire which is to be good Christians and know Jesus Christ and go to God.

and...

On February 24th, 2007 BlueButterfly says:

what is your idea of God? Enjoy your weekend!

God

On March 3rd, 2007 Susan Bertalotto (not verified) says:

God is the eternal, supernatural Spriit who created the heavens and earth and everything in it. He is one God in 3 persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. God made humans without sin, but as a result of Adam and Eve being deceived by satan ("you can be as gods"), all humans are born with sin. Jesus Christ died on the cross as an innocent sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind. We are reconciled to God only thru Jesus Christ; God did not make a provision any other way.

You and others believe differently who God is. That is why "The Secret" is so enticing. My concern is that people will think "The Secret" is compatible with God and Jesus Christ, which is impossible since Jesus doesn't have His rightful place in the law of attraction. It really all boils down to Jesus Christ, doesn't it?

Thanks for the conversation. Have a great week. :)

Everyone should believe in something greater than them...

On March 4th, 2007 BlueButterfly says:

Susan, I truly enjoy your thought provoking comments and discussion.

While we do have different beliefs in God, I think it is at least something that everyone believe in something bigger and more powerful than themselves as an individual (some sort of religious or spiritual belief). I agree that "The Secret" can be misunderstood and misconstrued, but I don't worry myself with what could go wrong, I focus on how I want things to go right in my life and in the world, like focusing on "world peace" rather than "no more war." If you focus on what you want, which seems to be to follow Jesus Christ to God, then I believe you will succeed. "The Secret" does bring up the old phrase, "be careful what you wish for" because I imagine some people will ignore the part about being happy now or believing in a power greater than themselves, and just wish for things rather than deciding to be happy, and I agree that a world full of people just wanting and acquiring things, without happiness or bigger beliefs, would be a sad and depressing place. I believe it all boils down to each person's beliefs, and what you get is what you believe.

The Law of Attraction and Spiritualty

On March 25th, 2007 Paula Quick (not verified) says:

I am all for the Law of Attraction. However, after I started to read the book I got really concerned about how God and Jesus (in the traditional sense) are minimized. A mature Christian can easily subsitute God and/or Jesus and be fine. But the book does nothing (in my opinion) to move people to seek the Bible, Jesus Christ or God. You may say that it's not the purpose of the book to promote religion or spirituality. Well, I might be OK with that except that toward the end Ms. Bryne encourgages you to use the book ("The Secret" that is) when you feel stuck. Just open it up randomly to read what the page says. Well, it used to be that is what people were encouraged to do with the Bible. WIth "The Secret" the Bible might be considered too "old school." For more about the Law of Attraction and Sprituality, please visit:

http://www.thelawofattractionforchristians.com

Susan, In your first comment

On March 19th, 2008 Dean - Law of Attraction for Beginners (not verified) says:

Susan,

In your first comment you wrote: "So where does Jesus Christ fit into "The Secret" concept?"

You can find the answer to your question here: Matthew 7:7-11 " Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

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"The Secret" and Spirituality vs. The Christian Religion

1. Does "The Secret" say there is no God?

2. Does "The Secret" say not to put your faith in anyone but yourself?

3. Does "The Secret" say no one will judge you, do whatever you want?

4. Does "The Secret" say there is no Heaven, no Hell, only the Earth that's here now?

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