REVIEW

Book Review: Beyond The Secret — Spiritual Power and the Law Of Attraction by Dr. Lisa Love

Written by Ruthie
Published April 03, 2008

As a follower of The Secret, I couldn't wait to read this book. When I saw "Spiritual Power," my curiosity peaked. But it turned out not to be the "new age" type of spiritual power, but rather that of a religious viewpoint. Which in itself isn't a bad thing, and Dr. Love did a great job explaining her views and how they work.

I'm sure there will be a big audience for her work. Often those with strong religious beliefs have a hard time accepting something that allows you to desire what you want without guilt. Dr. Love remedies that with a Christian version of the law of attraction, where you put aside the ego, asking for things that benefit all. She acknowledged how she followed the law of attraction to get what she wanted, even using a visualization board for her wishes. She tells the readers that it worked for her but she had a feeling there had to be more to it; it just didn't feel right to be all about what she wanted, so she developed her own version that encourages spiritual growth over materialism. "Not surprisingly, my inner turmoil resulted in the eventual rejection of my own wealthy lifestyle. I went back on my prolonged spiritual quest." She feels we should seek out what the spirit (God) wants, not what we want.

I believe in the power of attraction and I know it works. I've heard the complaints that it's too materialistic, and people take offense to being told they bring negativity on themselves. Those will be the ones who will like Dr. Love's book. Her book will teach the law of attraction to those who were turned off by the original version.

I personally don't think that materialism is a bad thing: everything in moderation and with the right attitude. Wanting a car to make someone jealous is wrong, but wanting reliable transportation is fine. It doesn't benefit anyone but you. But that's okay.

This is why I cringed when I realized this book was more of a religious slant than new age. Religion tends to make everything enjoyable a bad thing. I have little patience for such view points — life is to be enjoyed, not endured. God is the creator of all things, which includes cars, beaches, and jewelry. He created the men and women who created such luxuries, as long as we treat others well and help when we can. There is nothing wrong with enjoying what life has to offer. Dr. Love says you can have all those things if you want them in a way that will also benefit others, and she has ten basic steps to spiritual happiness. Again, she acknowledges the original version works. I think her version will allow Christians to feel less guilt about seeking a better life.

Beyond The Secret doesn't share my outlook on life and the use of The Secret, but at least it will introduce the law of attraction to those who may otherwise never hear of it and its power.


Ruthie is a celebrity webmaster and an author. She has written two books, Ugly Girl and Rescued Hearts. She spends her free time contemplating the meaning of life while watching the grass grow from her sofa on the front lawn. Ruthie818@neo.rr.com
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
Book Review: Beyond The Secret — Spiritual Power and the Law Of Attraction by Dr. Lisa Love
Published: April 03, 2008
Type: Review
Section: Books
Filed Under: Culture: Religion, Books: Spirituality, Books: Religion, Books: Psychology and Self-Help, Books: Philosophy, Books: Nonfiction, Books: Health
Writer: Ruthie
Ruthie's BC Writer page
Ruthie's personal site
Spread the Word
Like this article?
Email this
Submit to del.icio.us Save to del.icio.us
RSS Feeds
All RSS Feeds (240+)
Comments on this article
BC articles by Ruthie
Culture: Religion
Books: Spirituality
Books: Religion
Books: Psychology and Self-Help
Books: Philosophy
Books: Nonfiction
Books: Health
All Books Articles
All Review articles
All BC articles
All BC Comments

Comments

#1 — April 3, 2008 @ 16:13PM — John Curtis [URL]

The Secret is the latest and by far the worst example of a HIGHLY profitable trend where self-help gurus with fabricated new age titles and little relevant education, credentials or legitimate expertise brainwash us into believing that they know what is best for us, our marriages and our families.

Often their only contribution to society is introducing some exotic sounding, new age philosophy. However, they often cleverly form an incestuous group of like-minded "experts" who cross-promote each other by swearing their success is due to following the beliefs of another member of their "cult!" All the while, they ply the airwaves jockeying for an ever-larger audience by appearing in the national media to garner third-party endorsements.

The Self-Help Movement has become the Self-Destruct Movement by diminishing or destroying our critical thinking skills to choose and evolve on our own. We have given up the freedom to build healthy lives, marriages and families based on our unique history and life experience. Instead many victims, blinded to the value of their own life experiences, are attracted to the latest secret in self-help, in an attempt to find out what they should think, feel and how they should act... this is the definition of a cult.

The solution is a return to our (common) senses! The best way out of this learned "self-helplessness" is to go cold turkey. Stop following ALL self-help gurus now. Begin, instead, to reclaim your natural, God-given ability to think for yourself. The common sense that was once readily available to all of us is still there free of charge and waiting to be applied to just about any challenge we might face in life... all you have to do is use it.

Please, let's all work together to stop the flock of "sheepeople" who blindly move from one UNPROVEN concept to the next, looking for the answers to life's challenges that you already possess and that is the OBVIOUS!

#2 — April 3, 2008 @ 17:02PM — duane

And religion continues to be chipped away, as these "love doctors," not to mention preachers, rationalize nominally crass human instincts, twisting the religious teachings in an attempt to align them with the pursuit of our base desires. Crassness and base desires and are just fine with me, but these people are disingenuous charlatans interested primarily in fattening up their bankrolls. "Prolonged spiritual quest" my eye. I'm glad I'm not religious, or I would be appalled, and that would cause a big internal conflict.

#3 — April 14, 2008 @ 10:12AM — Noel [URL]

While you have point there. I do believe this "Self Destruct Movement" as you call it has helped a lot of people. Not only that. It has helped a lot of people HELP OTHER PEOPLE and I will not bother to elaborate. And I guess you spend a lot of time copying and pasting this same comment to other people's blogs who are sharing what they found out with these so called "Self Destruct Movement". But for ME, I choose to use the positive things of what I am learning so that I achieve my GOALS in life. So that I can Bless Others as God as mandated me to do so.

Cheers!

Want comments emailed to you? No spam, promise! Address:

Add your comment, speak your mind

(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/75447)

Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.





Remember Name/URL?

Please preview your comment!

Fresh
Articles
Fresh
Comments