A while back I had a highly-religiously-focused friend send me something along the lines of:
"Subject: The World's "Most Dangerous" Spiritual Guru: Oprah Begins 10-Week Online New Age Class
I sent you this article that describes the dangers of New Age and its teachings and how Oprah Winfrey is promoting it on her show. In particular, read the section where she talks about the movie, "The Secret". I knew you were interested in this movie/book and just wanted to put you on garde as to its dangers for your spirit / soul. Please watch out for these types of influences."
My reply back was along these lines...
I just read the article noted (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08030701.html) and have the the following to say:
I disagree with your comments and here's why (...remember this is simply my feedback no bad feelings intended):
I've purchased the DVD "The Secret" and enjoyed its concept. Obviously there are a few things that meh? I couldn't be bothered with, but overall the concept is fairly straight forward and accepted (by me). "The Secret" as many other books, movies, religions, whatever all teach us one thing:
Ask and you Shall receive.
Whether your link to this 'way-of-being' is adapted from the Bible, from "The Secret", from the "Law of Attraction", from wherever... whatever.. bottom line - we're all talking about the same thing, just in different "languages".
God, Jesus, Christ, Buddha, Karma - whatever you want to call that "Source" that "Energy" - we all know it's there and it's good.
The struggle (internally) is always about either proving it there or proving it's not there.
Either way - it's being acknowledged somehow: Acceptance or Denial.
I do believe and I do believe that believing is important.
First things first, you need to learn to accept yourself and love yourself - then everything else falls in to play. You are a part of "God". He created you, from himself. If you don't love yourself, then...I guess you don't love him.
"God" (or whatever you call it) always "gives" you want you want, when you love yourself enough to accept it - because you're already a part of him. So the debate is with yourself and from this debate you either ACCEPT or REJECT 'Him'. And with that being said, when things come your way you either ACCEPT or REJECT them consciously or unconsciously.
And then there's the Ego... who sits there patiently EXPECTING.
...so there's a difference between EXPECT and ACCEPT.
Religion is simply a "road", a "path", a "map" to go somewhere - choosing whatever / however you want (as your journey) is a choice and you shouldn't be condemned because of it.
...but somehow isn't this what religion teaches you? ...condemnation and they (Religion Rules) are you're only way to Salvation. Kind-of sounds like the structured dominance rule of "Our (My) Way or the Hwy-Way"...
Ha! So "they" Religion want me to think that if I do anything bad; like: don't go to church to ask for forgiviness, then God will condemn me? He'll throw me to the devil, the evil Gods, and leave me there to burn for eternity? ...And this is the God they expect me to worship?
I think not.
I know that God has shared himself into us (within our minds, within our soul) so that we can experience and learn... and ultimately in the end, choose: love.
That's the whole "Secret" and his whole plan... to eventually learn to "love unconditionally".
Love without discrimination.
Love without guilt.
Love without pressure.
Love without shame.
Love without judgment.
Love without anything else but just love.
There are people out there who are already "conditioned" by Religion, by Media, by the "world" -
they're the ones who's thoughts are "boxed-in" by ways of whatever since they are conditioned to believe that choosing without influence or guidance is wrong.
Geez... I don't know what to do, my husband beats me everyday but the Church tells me to love him and forgive him?
Hum... ok I guess living in Hell right now for my entire life is ok since when I die I'm guaranteed to go to Heaven, right?
...guess what? The Church changes it's rules and guidelines every-so often too...
Hum...? So what does this mean?
It means that the "Church" is ran by humans. Humans making choices for all of their followers.
Sounds like a government to me, or even a mafia! <--- Ha! Ha! Not to be taken too seriously...!!
Governments are bodies of people who make choices for people and these governing bodies tell their people that choices aren't theirs to be made. You can have a say and if I like then fine, otherwise you have to "Do things MY (our) WAY or the Hwy-way!" ...and so if they don't listen they get charged or go to jail...
So maybe I am the one who's converted, maybe I'm the New Age rebellious junky, and maybe I will burn in Hell for eternity. ...and then maybe not... I'm not here to try to convert anyone or change anyone's mind about anything - I'm just here to share my thoughts, my leanings, my beliefs.
If someone wishes to discuss this then BONUS, I would love to discuss -
But what I do believe (for me) is that "God" loves me just as much as he loves a terrorist.
How we choose to accept that love and how we use that love is OUR human choice.
The "Church" doesn't allow me to love thy brother (the terrorist) or the gay man working at the Subway...
...oh sorry - I can love them but I have to pray for them cause they are "wrong"... hum? Sounds discriminating don't you think?
Maybe this "rule" was initially created by some old-school minded Humans?
Nah? I'll take my chances and choose to love and pray my own way - cause I'm sure (since these are my beliefs) my way can't be all that bad.
I do believe in some Religious blessings, in Community Love (Gatherings) and some Celebrations - but Rules are simply a way to "Control" people.
Just like jails are.
Look up the word "control" in the dictionary:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/control
If you want truth, shut-off the TV, turn-off the Radio, sit by yourself and listen.
...not to the conditioned voices that you first hear inside your head... cause those are all of your pre-existing memories embedded in your head "reminding" you of all the "rules".
...no not those voices... just keep still till those stop and then listen to you.
Cause remember, you are a part of "God", he did create you.
And if Jesus is the son of God and is also a part of him then so are we, and so this is how/why we can live like Jesus. Jesus (or the image of Jesus, or the spiritual representation of Jesus, etc...) is an example of unconditional love. He is our aim, our example on how to love unconditionally.
Stop judging, stop gossiping, stop that negative "thinking".
All these things are simply just "the voices" in your head.
You can ask "God" to help you stop listening to these "conditioned voices" and start creating "new ones". Ones of love and acceptance.
Don't worry about what people say and think -
Obviously I'm not concerned about what you're saying or thinking while your reading this cause it's already said and done. I love myself and that's all that matters - my life is between me and "The Big Guy".
When things come back around - there's a reason for it...it's cause I'm (or someone around me that needs me is) not learning a lesson needing to be learned.
If something keeps coming back, look deep into it and eventually when you are ready - you'll come to realize that there's actually something there you need to learn.
And when you learn the lesson (needed) then the path continues...and all (the past) is forgotten / forgiven - the lesson is always (in the end) about "love".
..about letting go.
...about loving someone for who they are.
...about finally accepting the people for who they are (not changing people, not controlling them anymore).
...about accepting the situation as it is and not trying to "control" things anymore.
...about loving yourself.
Fear is the opposite of Love.
So if you fear something you will continuously fear it till you let go of that "fear" and just allow yourself to "love" instead.
Believing that "God" will take care of you is "love".
Not believing is living in Fear and so you are not living in "love" and so the circle keeps turning.
You just don't allow "good" to come to you cause you don't believe...
...you don't believe you deserve it; you don't believe in it; you just don't believe...
Whatever you choose is your choice.
Ultimately you may choose to keep-up with your human limitations or not -
but my choice is to keep living in "love".
Heck, it's not easy - but I'm willing to give it a shot!
"God" has taken care of me for this long...
I have 4 wonderful, beautiful children that I've been blessed to parent (the best teaching job ever)!
I have a wonderful understanding fiancé who loves me dearly (a growing experience that allows us both to keep learning together).
I work a tremendously great job helping people help people.
I continuously succeed with learning new things and then graciously get to share these teachings.
...and when things aren't going my way, that's because I'm not going "His" way.
And Yes, "God" gives me money --> if I have good intentions and am not expecting it (because I think I deserve it) and I'm not greedy about it, then yes he does provide for me (and yes in actual monies). If you want proof, ask me and I'll tell you ample stories.
