The Secret: Is It A Religion?

I’ve been working on this one in my head for a little while now. I apologize if this reads like an exhaustive theology or something, but what can you do? Also, this has nothing to do with Real Estate, so feel free to skip it if that’s why you’re here.

As usual, I think it best to start with a nice definition from a neutral third party:

Religion: A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the Universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional or ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

So, is “The Secret,” better known to some people as the “Law of Attraction,” a Religion? I’m certain that every Baptist minister in the world will tell you that it isn’t. Why? Because it doesn’t fit that narrowly-conceived traditional notion of Religion where God is a person who sits on a throne somewhere and throws bolts of lighting at bad people. Still, if you look at the definition above from Dictionary.com you might think differently.

Does “The Secret” have a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe? Check.

Does “The Secret” teach that the Universe (or God) is the superhuman agency by which the desires come to pass? Check.

Does “The Secret” involve devotional or ritual observances? You mean like reading devotional books, practicing meditation, and “fellowshipping” with other like-minded people? Check.

Does “The Secret” contain a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs? Well, if you count yourself as a human, then check.

So, there you have it. It fits the definition, but I think the definition is missing something: A religion is only a religion if the person practicing it believes in faith that the practice of said religion can lead to a desired result by supernatural means. For instance, Christians believe that following their religion will lead to “heaven.” Those who practice the Secret believe that their religious observance will lead to health, wealth, and emotional freedom, etc.

The question then becomes “Can a religion lose its religious status by becoming commercialized?” If you sell books about it, record tapes about it, put it on TV, and splash it across the internet, is it less a religion? Joyce Meyer doesn’t think so. Neither does the Billy Graham organization. So why is it such a transgression for “The Secret” to sell books and tapes? Did the thought ever cross your mind that they might be doing to for the purpose of helping people? If they really do think they’ve found the secret to a happy, fulfilled life, wouldn’t they have the obligation to spread the word?

Judge not, lest ye be judged.