Law of Attraction

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For Newton's law of attraction, see Isaac Newton.
For the movie, see Laws of Attraction.

The Law of Attraction is a theory commonly associated with New Age and New Thought theories. It posits that one should never dwell on the negative, as the "metaphysical principle of life" is embodied in a "law of attraction": "you get what you think about; your thoughts determine your destiny."[1]

The Law of Attraction is also referred to in The Bible through such passages as: "It is done unto you as you believe".[2]


Contents

[edit] Mechanism

William Walker Atkinson in his work "Practical Mental Influence" (published by The Advanced Thought Publishing co. 1908) states that the men and women who "get things" have a strong desire for that thing...and thereby attract it to them with their thoughts and strong desire. These men and women are constantly sending out strong waves of thought-vibrations,which in effect attract the physical reality of their thoughts. Such is technology, there are devices that facilitate the attraction process. They can be called law of attraction devices...energizing the user's thoughts for strong broadcast to the universe.

[edit] Modern renaissance

In modern times, one of the earliest known formulations of the Law in the Western hemisphere is contained in the 1906 book (republished in 2006) Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World by William Walker Atkinson, editor of New Thought magazine. Dick Sutphen affirms that the Law of Attraction states, in a nutshell, that like attracts like.[3]

In March 2006 a film named The Secret reporting on the "Law of Attraction", was made and gained much attention via internet video websites. The film was inspired by the producer's reading of the 1910 book The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles, which in its introduction refers to the origins of the theory of the Law of Attraction as follows: "This theory is of Hindu origin, and has been gradually winning its way into the thought of the western world for three hundred years. It is the foundation of all the Oriental philosophies, and those of Descartes, Spinoza, Leibnitz, Schopenhauer, Hegel and Emerson….." The film is now available on DVD.[4] Larry King, Ellen Degeneres, and Oprah Winfrey have broadcast shows based on the film. A book based on the film has also been released.[5]

[edit] Criticism

Some critics say that the claims made about the scientific justification of the Law of Attraction are not supported by any mainstream scientific research, and there have been no widely recognized studies demonstrating that the principle actually works (there are a number of recognized studies in which positive thinking has not had a measurable effect on objective conditions, while conversely scientific studies involving the use of placebos support the principle of positive thinking). Skeptics have claimed that the explanations of the claimed law (and even the use of the term "Law" itself) misuse and misrepresent mainstream understandings of electromagnetism and quantum mechanics in a way often characteristic of pseudoscience. In dismissing the claimed effectiveness and anecdotal testimony about the success of the Law of Attraction, skeptics argue that it is nothing more than a round-about means of self-motivation and a confirmation bias applied to acts of increased risk-taking, and has no further metaphysical effects.[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References and footnotes

  1. ^ Redden, Guy, Magic Happens: A New Age Metaphysical Mystery Tour, Journal of Australian Studies: 101
    Louise Hay, "the Queen of Affirmations",(9) believes that "our thinking creates our reality". In short, if one's consciousness is in tune with the "whole", creation becomes a resource from which we can manifest whatever we want; the fruits of our "magical thinking" enter our personal lives in the form of synchronicity. According to Hay's bestseller, "You Can Heal Your Life"(10), your life can be transformed by never dwelling on the negative, as the "metaphysical principle of life" is the "law of attraction": you get what you think about; your thoughts determine your destiny.
  2. ^ Matthew 9:29
  3. ^ Dick Sutphen website
  4. ^ NY Times article
  5. ^ whatisthesecret.tv on DVD and online

[edit] Books

  • Thought Vibration Or The Law of Attraction in the Thought World (1906, 2006) William Walker Atkinson ISBN-13: 978-1596059344
  • The Secret (November 28, 2006) Rhonda Byrne, Beyond Words Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1582701707
  • Guide for Living: Law of Attraction - How to Attract Money, Love, and Happiness David Hooper, Kathode Ray Enterprises, ISBN-13: 978-0975436158
  • The Writings of Florence Scovel Shinn ISBN 0875166105
  • The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles
  • The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham (December 1, 2006) Jerry and Esther Hicks, Hay House, ISBN-13: 978-1401917593

[edit] External links

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