'The Secret' - Law of Attraction (bless, POV, Abraham, Christian)

[Scarlett Wampus]

I'm sure many are aware that there is a self-help video called 'The Secret' popular in the US at the moment. If you've not seen or heard of it before the first 20 mins are available on YouTube as well as lots of trailers.

What do people think of this Law of Attraction and the way its being presented?

[Scarlett Wampus]

Whoops. Roli already started a thread on this. edit: but it seems to be centred on a certain Christian-esque perspective, so: -

i ) Does The Secret work?

ii ) Why or why not?

iii ) Why do you think its so popular?

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Scarlett Wampus

I'm sure many are aware that there is a self-help video called 'The Secret' popular in the US at the moment. If you've not seen or heard of it before the first 20 mins are available on YouTube as well as lots of trailers.

What do people think of this Law of Attraction and the way its being presented?

Hey SW, namaste. Sorry, I'm too lazy/impatient to watch 20 minutes worth of Utube. Is this "Secret" the idea that those who approach life with a positive attitude attract positive energy towards them and those who approach life with a negative attitude attract negative energy towards them?

[Scarlett Wampus]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Hey SW, namaste. Sorry, I'm too lazy/impatient to watch 20 minutes worth of Utube. Is this "Secret" the idea that those who approach life with a positive attitude attract positive energy towards them and those who approach life with a negative attitude attract negative energy towards them?

That's the one.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Scarlett Wampus

That's the one.

Personally, I do not understand what the big commotion is about. Hasn't this been common knowledge for ages? I've seen it espoused in magickal/new age circles as "creative visualization" and I've seen it espoused in psychological circles as "the power of positive thinking." Even Scientology teaches this how to overcome your "reactive mind".

People who approach life with a positive attitude make opportunities for themselves where others may not see them. And people who approach life with a negative attitude shutdown opportunities for themselves that might otherwise exist. There is a lot to be said for "you create your own destiny."

That said, it is also possible to take this way of thinking too far. For example, poor people have fewer opportunities than wealthy people. And if one only takes the view of this "Secret" one might blame poor people for their poverty. "Well, they're just attracting negative energy towards themselves; that's why they're poor." Analogously, one might give undeserved credit to wealthy people for their "success."

(Reminds me of the saying: "George Bush was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple." which may not make sense to a Briton... if you used a cricket analogy on me I'd be lost. Basically, he was born 3/4 of the way towards the goal and thinks he got there on his own merit.)

I think this "Secret" definitely has merit, but one must also remember that there are constraints and that a certain amount of "luck" is also involved too.

[gnomon]

i ) Does The Secret work?
To the extent that the psychology of positive thinking and the effects it has on our health and decision-making process, yes. As a scientific concept related to quantum mechanics invoking a universal law that our thoughts attract the like, no.

ii ) Why or why not?
Positive thinking is documented as contributing to a more general sense of well being among several studies. However, it is not true for everything. For example, the number of cases in which placebo effects help people with terminal illnesses is rather small. As for the actual law of attraction I would think that just a quick look at the news would provide enough evidence against the validity of such a law.

iii ) Why do you think its so popular?
Look at the official law of attraction forum and you will see a thread of over 2,000 responses essentially reflecting nothing but joy over finding money. It's primarily about money and the attainment of material wealth more than anything else. And besides, Oprah discussed it.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by gnomon

i ) Does The Secret work?
As a scientific concept related to quantum mechanics invoking a universal law that our thoughts attract the like, no.

Whah? Is that what it says??!

Originally Posted by gnomon

iii ) Why do you think its so popular?
Look at the official law of attraction forum and you will see a thread of over 2,000 responses essentially reflecting nothing but joy over finding money. It's primarily about money and the attainment of material wealth more than anything else.

Why am I not surprised?

[gnomon]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Whah? Is that what it says??!


Why am I not surprised?

Well, what it says often depends on which version of "The Secret", or "Law of Attraction", or "Law of Abundance" as put forth by Bob Proctor, or Esther Hicks, or "Abraham" (who speaks through Esther Hicks), or Rhonda Bhyrne or on and on and on.

Law of Attraction is Universal, and every person is affected by it. And it is always true that what I think and what I feel and what I get are always a match, and there is not a person on the planet that did not know that when they were born, and there is not a person on the planet that would not benefit by knowing it. But many, many, many are not yet asking and therefore are not yet ready for the answer. And so, we would say that -- although everyone wants this information -- everyone is not necessarily ready for it. We would not spend any time trying to convince anybody of anything because if they're not asking, your answers are just irritating. --- Abraham

There has never been an injustice anywhere in this physical time/space reality or anywhere else. Law of Attraction does not promote injustice. Law of Attraction amplifies the vibration that is within you. --- Abraham

Two quotes from:http://www.abraham-hicks.com/index.php

One could imply from this that every victim of any heinous crime essentially deserved what they got. While they certainly might not have been thinking about being victimized they were still putting out vibrations and the Universe responded.

While get rich programs and positive thinking on an intellectual level are fine "The Secret", being nothing more than a pseudoscientific borderline pyramid scheme, is offensive to reasonable thought.

[Scuba Pete]

I've always called it "Karma". You reap what you sow. I have been blessed far beyond my imagination because I try to be a nice guy. That doesn't make me a push over or a Casper Milquetoast, but I conscientiously try to do RIGHT on a consistent basis.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by gnomon

One could imply from this that every victim of any heinous crime essentially deserved what they got. While they certainly might not have been thinking about being victimized they were still putting out vibrations and the Universe responded.

I had been thinking more along the lines of the danger of blaming the poor for being poor, but yes, blaming the victim for their rape or murder is even more offensive to reason.