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Christianity Today, May (Web-only), 2007 |

Soulwork

The Real Secret of the Universe

Why we disdain feel-good spirituality but shouldn't.

Mark Galli | posted 5/03/2007 09:25AM

As soon as it became clear that The Secret was being read by millions, Christianity Today was inundated with email queries. Writers were pacing nervously, hoping for the chance to pen the first scathing ...

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may	Posted: May 15, 2007 10:04 AM

i think its a disgrace the "SECRET" is really not a secret, this is recycled self-help and many readers are forking over lots of dough for this when they have already known all along the power of positive thinking.norman vincent peale has already written a book about this,at least make the book and dvds economical.wake up people your being ripped off again this is nothing new.shame on the authors.

Elizabeth

Posted: May 12, 2007 9:49 AM


Is praying just a misguided form of positive thinking? This boook wants one to believe that "if you want it you can get it" not "God will get it for you".

Tim Bourgeois

Posted: May 08, 2007 2:31 PM


I think I understand what Mark Galli is trying to accomplish with this thoughtful response to The Secret, but I could not help but wonder if Paul would have bothered with identifying the so-called positive elements from the latest "wind of doctrine" blowing through the church in his day.

John Hale

Posted: May 05, 2007 9:07 PM


With so many good books out there affirming positive thinking within a Biblical basis, why waste time drawing attention to a book that apparently contains so much that misleads? I had not heard of it before this review, not being an Oprah devotee.

Ty Stakes

Posted: May 03, 2007 7:25 PM

Books like this one remind me of the spiritual hunger that people everywhere feel. They are looking for something...an answer that makes life make sense for them. Instead of wondering why this book with a few basic spiritual principles ensconced in heresy might be of value, can't we as Christians speak to the need of our cultures with truth in such a way that they'll read it/listen/watch and experience truth at work in their lives? Why settle for irrelevance?

Ian Kirk

Posted: May 03, 2007 4:42 PM

When I saw, during a late night channel surfing spree, I saw an Oprah episode covering this book. I knew immediately that there were going the be issues, when the author joyfully says that she pull this "wisdom" from many religious texts. Heresy in the making. I agree that there indeed needs to be an emphasis on positive thinking, but positive thinking because Jesus is in control. Norman Vincent Peale, many years ago, tried to bring that into the Christian life, I would hazard a guess that so many who such need to be introduce to Peale, not to the Secret. Mark Earley of Prison Fellowship also brought up an excellent point (as did even Maureen Doud), the conflict of opposing "positive" thoughts. The universe goes from friendly to schizophrenic. The real issue here is that there are far too many Oprah Christians, and others, who do not have the wisdom to toss the dross. How many will we lose to The Secret?

Stan Baldwin

Posted: May 03, 2007 2:36 PM

I haven't read THE SECRET. Probably won't. From what you say, it reminds me of many works of similar stripe that have come along in the past. Regularly. From the evangelical PRAYER OF JABEZ to the liberal POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING, all seem to me to offer useful advice--primarily to have an upbeat view of life--but are simplistic and tend to over-promise. And, of course, they offend the sensibilities of many evangelicals, me among them. So, I admire your courage in saying that there is value here and a message that our theological strait-jackets too often keep us from receiving. I especially like what you said about Jesus declaring an anything-is possible-for-you message.

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