Today I started reading The Secret, and came across the following quote:

Quantum physicists tell us the Universe emerged from thought! (Page 15)

I admit my knowledge of quantum physics is sorely lacking … is this statement accurate? If so, what exactly does it mean? I know what it means in “The Secret” context, but what does it mean in the world of quantum physics (if anything)? (I’m not trying to be a smart-ass by the way, this is a serious question!)

I’ll post some thoughts on the content of The Secret as I get farther in the book. For those who haven’t heard of the book, it’s basically the best-selling New Age repackaging of the 1952 book The Power of Positive Thinking. Available via Amazon, eBook version from eBooks.com (this is the version I got) or your local bookseller. I’m reading it because I’m writing one of my research papers on it. My initial impression is that the power of positive thinking stuff is generally good, but the “thought magnet” stuff and the implication that thoughts create reality is simply unnecessary at best. [Edit: As I read further into the book, I'm becoming more increasingly concerned. I think this book could actually be harmful.]

I was pointed to this video by a post on the PyroManiacs blog. It’s called “Just Stop and Think“, created by Francis Chan and a whole team of videographers and so on. Note that it’s about 15mins long so only watch if you have time right now; if you don’t, bookmark this link and watch it later. If you do have time, click below to watch the video online (QuickTime format):

56k: Just Stop and Think Video (Small)
Cable/DSL: Just Stop and Think Video (Medium)
T1/Fast LAN: Just Stop and Think Video (Large)

The reaction to the video in the PyroManiacs thread seems mixed, but generally positive. I thought the video was well-done, although it only presents part of the story; don’t miss the Questions page on the same site.

Further reading:

• Story: “I hated Christians.” - The story of the man who “upon hearing the word ‘Jesus’ would throw up”.
• Jesus? I want to know more - Who is this ‘Jesus’ anyways? (He’s probably not like you expect.)

I finished reading Inventing the Flat Earth: Columbus and Modern Historians by Dr Jeffery Burton Russell, which describes how the Flat Earth myth is historically bogus. (The Flat Earth myth discussed is not the myth that the world is flat, but rather the persistent myth that people in general and Christians in particular during Columbus’ time believed that the world was flat). An interesting read overall, though I’m glad the author limited himself to 80 pages. This quote from the last page of the last chapter of the book (where the author describes why the Flat Earth myth persists) caught my attention:

The modern view combining relativism and progress as widely understood is incoherent. A true relativism would assume that no worldview is better than another; a true progressivism would assume that worldviews are moving closer and closer to a predetermined and preferred goal. The two beliefs are mutually exclusive. … The hope that we are making progress toward a goal (which is not defined and about which there is no consensus) leads us to undervalue the past in order to convince ourselves of the superiority of the present. (Russell, 76)

I have commented on this subject before (see A Modern Absurdity: Everything new is good, everything old is bad) but it bears repeating, because I really believe that this mentality is one reason why people are hesitant to seriously consider Christianity, while some unfortunately seem so eager to embrace Scientology. If what is old is bad, then Christianity must be bad, right? That is fallacious thinking. I’m no luddite; I probably spend half my waking life on my computer for school, work, or recreation. But I do recognize that what’s “new and improved” often is not ‘improved’ at all, and what’s “new” is often merely what’s old wrapped in the fancy new dress of modernity. The fact that something is old is certainly no reason to reject it out of hand.

TruthMedia has started a new blog to discuss movies, Movies at TheLife.com. Currently the focus is on The Nativity Story, a film that “follows the life of the Virgin Mary and Joseph over the two-year period immediately prior to the birth of Jesus and several years afterward” (from the Wikipedia article). After watching the trailer, I’m excited to see this movie. While The Passion of the Christ was rather disappointing (for both style and theological reasons, although there were some great moments in it) The Nativity Story looks like it should be a great film, and early reports seem to confirm this. Search out this film when it opens in theaters December 1, or if it’s not playing in your country, find a way to see it!

Related links:

• Video: Watch the Nativity Story trailer!
• Is the slaughter of the children historical? - As depicted in the trailer
• Who is Jesus? - A full study of his entire life on Earth