"The Secret" - the latest Hollywood religious trend

[The Lizard]

Take a healthy dose of cheesy "Da Vinci Code" conspiracy, combine it with a Scientology-esque claim that you can alter reality with your mind, throw in some simplistic feel-good "think positive" rules, then slap a big price-tag on the whole thing and you've got "The Secret", the latest religious philosophy to lure weak-minded Hollywood types with too much money on their hands!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/501370p-422790c.html

http://thesecret.tv/home.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csiAsbPxmmY

 

[jaguarr]

"The Secret" isn't a religious or Scientology thing. It's just a quantum physics thing that uses principles of visualization for achieving what you want in life. I wouldn't even call it a philosophy. There are countless other books and programs that use the same things, and many athletes use visualization techniques before competition. "The Secret" IS pretty cheesily done, however. I've seen the video (my wife's work gave her a copy to watch). It doesn't have anything in it that I haven't heard before. If people are organizing around it as a religion or philosophy, though, then that's just sad.

jag

 

[Kaleb]

omg I actually just finished editing a promotional video of this

 

[Kent]

Based on quantum physics? Bull****.

 

[The Lizard]

"The Secret" isn't a religious or Scientology thing. It's just a quantum physics thing that uses principles of visualization for achieving what you want in life.

Visualization as a psychological exercise is one thing, but claiming that the material universe can be manipulated via thought crosses the line from quantum physics into hypothetical religious belief from where I sit. There is evidence for "mind over matter" of course - that's nothing new, but the angle that "The Secret" takes - that there is particular superhuman mental process that's been hidden by a centuries-old conspiracy - is just window dressing to lure in the usual new-age crowd.

 

[jaguarr]

Visualization as a psychological exercise is one thing, but claiming that the material universe can be manipulated via thought crosses the line from quantum physics into hypothetical religious belief from where I sit. There is evidence for "mind over matter" of course - that's nothing new, but the angle that "The Secret" takes - that there is particular superhuman mental process that's been hidden by a centuries-old conspiracy - is just window dressing to lure in the usual new-age crowd.

Meh. I didn't get that they were saying that from the video. *shrug*

jag

 

[Mr. Credible]

Visualization as a psychological exercise is one thing, but claiming that the material universe can be manipulated via thought crosses the line from quantum physics into hypothetical religious belief from where I sit. There is evidence for "mind over matter" of course - that's nothing new, but the angle that "The Secret" takes - that there is particular superhuman mental process that's been hidden by a centuries-old conspiracy - is just window dressing to lure in the usual new-age crowd.

i hate the fact that people (not saying you, per se) will back christianity/catholisism, where some guy supposedly walks on water, turns water to wine, etc... but any time a new religion comes along it's immediately crap. why is it crap? just because it wasn't written 2,000 years ago, it has to be false? do you guys realize how stupid that sounds?

i'm not exactly supporting this (or any) religion, but whose to say that it's garbage? if it makes people feel good, then why isn't it okay for it to be a religion?

 

[Calvin]

"The Secret" isn't a religious or Scientology thing. It's just a quantum physics thing that uses principles of visualization for achieving what you want in life. I wouldn't even call it a philosophy. There are countless other books and programs that use the same things, and many athletes use visualization techniques before competition. "The Secret" IS pretty cheesily done, however. I've seen the video (my wife's work gave her a copy to watch). It doesn't have anything in it that I haven't heard before. If people are organizing around it as a religion or philosophy, though, then that's just sad.

jag

I've got a friend that was into this, though I don't think she ever purchased any thing for it, and she described it pretty much as this. Seemed like a reasonable motivational tool to me.

 

[jaguarr]

I've got a friend that was into this, though I don't think she ever purchased any thing for it, and she described it pretty much as this. Seemed like a reasonable motivational tool to me.

That's about all I observed it to be was a tool for gaining clarity about your goals and desires and motivating yourself to work towards them.

jag

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

"The Secret" isn't a religious or Scientology thing.

Satanic Deception.

 

[The Lizard]

i hate the fact that people (not saying you, per se) will back christianity/catholisism, where some guy supposedly walks on water, turns water to wine, etc... but any time a new religion comes along it's immediately crap. why is it crap?

You got that right that I'm not saying anything at all about traditional religion here. That's not my point. My point is that "The Secret" includes slick packaging and a supposed "conspiracy" to sell books and DVDs that basically hinge on the simple concept of thinking positive and visualizing your goals. Also that this is being actively marketed to and through celebrities right now.

Oh, and as for further marketing.... http://www.thesecret.tv/home.html

 

[Calvin]

What companies don't try to use slick packaging, manipulative advertising, and celebrity endorsement to sell products?

Chunky Soup is a crazy religious cult!!!!

 

[Mr Sparkle]

Visualization as a psychological exercise is one thing, but claiming that the material universe can be manipulated via thought crosses the line from quantum physics into hypothetical religious belief from where I sit. There is evidence for "mind over matter" of course - that's nothing new, but the angle that "The Secret" takes - that there is particular superhuman mental process that's been hidden by a centuries-old conspiracy - is just window dressing to lure in the usual new-age crowd.

I saw a video where a drugged up and drunk Grant Morrison claimed to do just that through writing, and called himself a "practicing magician" sure I thought it was kooky but, since he wasn't for my money and he was really earnest about it I can't help but wonder.

:heart:

 

[The Lizard]

What companies don't try to use slick packaging, manipulative advertising, and celebrity endorsement to sell products?

Chunky Soup is a crazy religious cult!!!!

My point exactly. It's a money-making company selling a product.

Where did I say "crazy religious cult" exactly? The NY Daily News said "nutty sect", not me. I'm just condemning it as the latest example of repackaging old concepts and reselling them to the easily manipulated.


Jeez, the way some of you supposed logical thinkers are defending this silliness I'm starting to think that "The Secret" police have gotten to you.

 

[Erzengel]

Secret, secret I gotta secret.

 

[Calvin]

Jeez, the way some of you supposed logical thinkers are defending this silliness I'm starting to think that "The Secret" police have gotten to you.

We are "The Secret" police.

 

[The Lizard]

We are "The Secret" police.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

I saw a video where a drugged up and drunk Grant Morrison claimed to do just that through writing, and called himself a "practicing magician" sure I thought it was kooky but, since he wasn't for my money and he was really earnest about it I can't help but wonder.

:heart:

Ju see the Disinformation DVD, or just th^t as a clip or something?
If it was the Disinformation thing, it made me like him. I didn't wanna do it. I didn't wanna do it.

 

[Mr Sparkle]

It was a clip from Disinfo-con.
frankly awesome

 

[jaguarr]

My point exactly. It's a money-making company selling a product.

You should have just said that to begin with, because I don't really disagree. Of COURSE they're out to make money using slick marketing and packaging. Who isn't, these day?

That said:

We are "The Secret" police.

I'm afraid we're gonna have to beat a confession out of The Lizard.

jag

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

 

[demento]

New Age mumbo jumbo.

 

[jaguarr]

LOL!

jag

 

[Kebab gud]

i have my own religion... I AM GOD! i wonder how many actors i can convert

 

[The Lizard]

I'm afraid we're gonna have to beat a confession out of The Lizard.

I was born and raised in Florida - oranges don't scare me.


Unless they're California oranges that is. Damn flakey new-age citrus...