“The Secret” – Rhonda Byrne

[birdie1971]

My wife was talking to her sister on the phone earlier this evening. My sister-in-law was suggesting that my wife should read a book and watch a DVD called, “The Secret” by a person called Rhonda Byrne.

http://thesecret.tv/behind.html


Apparently, “The Secret” is a self-help, spiritual concept that incorporates something called the, “Law of Attraction” which Byrne says has something to do with quantum physics(!).

Having done a cursory search on the internet about this, it is quite clear that it is fatuous nonsense of the highest order. My question is – how do you tactfully tell someone that they're flirting with irrationality?

[Mamyalynne]

You can't , when folk get sucked into this kind of thing, they have to find out the hard truth themselves. It is worth stating your opinion but otherwise stand back. Been there and done that and got no thanks at all for it.

[birdie1971]

I think her rather wacky thinking is mostly due to her husband. He's a psychologist who believes some really weird stuff like there's a Jewish conspiracy in media that prevents non-Jews from getting onto TV. He's now got into Byrne (so to speak) and consequently, she's tagged along. Odd chap. Very odd.

Anyway, thanks for the advice – much appreciated.

[naomi24]

You can try arguing rationality, but don't hold your breath. An irrational fixed idea rarely succumbs. I find it worrying that as a psychologist he is in a position to influence other people.

[LazyGun]

@Birdie - I have had a similar experience, with a friend being amazed and then semi- convinced that there are being let into some fundamental secrets about the cosmos.

I blame quantum :) Fact is, you can find proponents of the importance of "quantum" with just about any complimentary health therapy, and more than a few claiming some quantum connection when it comes to a particular description they have for the way the universe works.

From the way it has been described to me, isnt "The Secret" very similar to Noel Edmonds idea about "Cosmic Ordering"?

[Mosaic]

You can't tell her - that will confirm her growing conviction about conspiracy. But you can try to distract her. Quite literally, get out and about, do entertaining things together and get tired out together so she's too tired to want to read at the end of the day. Hopefully the phase will pass as she loses interest.

[Ankou]

"how do you tactfully tell someone that they're flirting with irrationality?"

would you not do it as you would with any other of those things which "in your opinion" are hogwash - ufo's, ghosts, feng shui etc etc. if you think its bunkum, why hide that?

however, if this self help goulash is helping her help herself and she aint harming anyone, then best left to ponder her own true life mysteries...?

[birdie1971]

@LazyGun - “... From the way it has been described to me, isnt "The Secret" very similar to Noel Edmonds idea about "Cosmic Ordering?”

That's what it sounds like to me too. It's the old concept of wishing for something hard enough to cause it to happen (ie. praying), that's been repackaged, re-branded and sold to a gullible public. Rhonda has tried to give it an air of respectability and credibility by suggesting (quite incorrectly) that it has a basis in scientific fact.

[birdie1971]

@Ankou - “... however, if this self help goulash is helping her help herself and she aint harming anyone, then best left to ponder her own true life mysteries...?”

Absolutely. If she was keeping it to herself. But she isn't. In fact, she suggested that because my wife and I don't subscribe to the “Law Of Attraction”, we are somehow doing ourselves a disservice. My sister-in-law is now going to send us a DVD of 'The Secret' so that we can see for ourselves the truth that we are obviously missing and lacking in our lives.

Can't wait :-(


Also, she (the sister-in-law) was singing the praises of Dave Icke! It seems that it's worse than I thought. The wheels have well and truly become detached from the logic wagon.

Houston, we have a problem.

[birdie1971]

@Mosaic - “... You can't tell her - that will confirm her growing conviction about conspiracy...”

Yeah, I wondered about that. You're right about getting her out and about and away from her fruit-cake of a husband. Thanks for the advice.

[birdie1971]

@Naomi - “... I find it worrying that as a psychologist he is in a position to influence other people.”

You're not alone. I find it deeply worrying that a person who is qualified to give psychological assistance to those in need holds such bizarre views.

[birdie1971]

Thanks for all the comments and advice everyone.

[beso]

Quantum is the perfect word for scientificating hogwash. Few actually understand it, least of all those who abuse the term to promote their snake oil.

We have one around my way at the moment. Quantum healing promises to heal anything in a "science meets magic" scheme that allows the regrowth of any organ on the sheer power of Quantum thought alone. Teeth, kidneys, lungs anything. Hundreds of cases all verified by independent medical research. How science could have missed this I really can't understand.

You too can be trained to perform this healing miracle in a short weekend course costing just $760. "Be quick as places are limited."

Another one that amuses me is the plethora of "electromagnetic" devices from the fringe. These things are supposed to heal you by "pulsing powerful electomagnetic waves".

They can cure anything that ails you. High blood pressure, low blood pressure and no doubt even the damage done by the powerful electromagnetic waves coming our of mobile phones and power lines. @@

[naomi24]

I would watch the DVD birdie - I always think that unless I have investigated what someone else is saying, I am not qualified to comment so I take a look at anything that's suggested. I have a couple of books in a similar vein to the stuff you're talking about - given to me by a spiritualist friend who is very much taken with the ideas they contain. I've read them, but they've done nothing for me.

Do let us know if your experience changes your life, won't you? ;o)

[Ankou]

i think with all these thing, secrets, mystery, intrigue, cover up, conspiracy etc etc, people will always be swept along with the latest idea out of pure fantasy and appeal for drama. look at the popular attraction and 'general acceptance of fact' that followed dan browns fictional efforts. dan brown i think sells it as fiction, icke sells it as fact.

i saw a programme about 911 conspiracy theorists a bit ago who went to new york and met people affected. it was interesting watching them fabricate imaginary scenarios to suit their close-minded ideology that everything was preplanned. in the main they appeared normal. until they provided their solutions about what and why it all happened.

depending on the susceptibility of your sister in law - although on current evidence it owuld be mean, perhaps you could show her a few old episodes of v and tell her its big brother in the houses of parliament or something.

[naomi24]

Haaa! 'V' - I used to like that.

[jomifl]

I particularly liked the rat eating scenes, where an enormous rats were effortlessly swallowed whole, convincing it wasn't.

[jomifl]

I think the 'secret' really is, if you want something badly enough you do something about getting it. If you can't be arsed then somebody who wants it more than you gets it. The whole idea of the 'law of attraction ' is obviously nonsense after a cursory inspection and there is no indication of anything like it operating on any level.( apart from in a fantasy world)

[birdie1971]

@Naomi - “... I would watch the DVD birdie..”

I actually intend to. I can't say I'm looking forward to it but in the interests of knowledge, I'll take one for the team!

[birdie1971]

The 'Law Of Attraction' seems to have a rather unsavoury flip-side. The theory goes that if you wish hard enough and want something hard enough, you'll get it.

I googled "the law of attraction” and the first page returned was this one...
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=765297

Looking at the list, some of the quotes looked very unpleasant indeed. In particular, Number 14 said, “... EVERYTHING in your life you have attracted .. accept that fact .. it's true.”. Wow! That's quite a statement. Everyone who contracts a disease has brought it upon themselves; everyone washed away in a tsunami has only themselves to blame, etc.

What a wonderful philosophy.