Beckwith is a New Thought minister and founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, California, a New Thought church with 8000 members. Beckwith was one of the featured teachers in The Secret movie (hence an automatic consideration for inclusion in our encyclopedia); teaches meditation and “scientific prayer”, speaks at conferences and seminars and is the author of numerous books. Beckwith is a prophet of the infamous Law of Attraction, a crackpot idea in pseudo-scientific dressing about how positive thinking metaphysically attracts success. When Beckwith says "There's enough for everyone. If you believe it, if you can see it, if you act from it, it will show up for you. That's the truth", it is not meant metaphorically. The same goes for "There are laws of the universe and if you practice them they will respond to you." No, Beckwith, that’s not how it works.
Beckwith’s main project is to combine the most fluffy ideas from the world’s religions with New Age thought – and then proceed to declare it “science”; the epitome of New Age flakiness, in other words.
It should be mentioned that Beckwith is a serious contributor to various charities and environmental issues; unfortunately his ridiculous metaphysical rantings might overall have more adverse consequences than his contributions to social issues have positive consequences.
Diagnosis: Professional snowflake with delusions of grandeur and a serious shortage of critical thinking skills; quite an impact, but it is unclear to what degree his metaphysical gibberish contributes to his influence.
Note to Aaron if he reads this: William James was a vigorous proponent of "scientific prayer" to an extent that would probably have qualified him for inclusion in our Encyclopedia, if he had been alive today.
ReplyDeleteI have to wonder - if Aaron does read this, will he try to argue that James didn't really believe in such nonsense, or will he go the route of defending scientific prayer?
ReplyDeleteYou know, I found your site ok until I came across this article! Unlike all those others, Michael does good and promotes something you probably is not at all that much mind open to even think of. Which is interesting regarding other articles you wrote here... You hit hit hit those who do damage and when you are probably left without someone new to comment on you turn to people who talk about something that is the truth? Nature and universe we came from, natural and universal materials we are created from, which science proved long time ago, therefore laws we naturally abide to subconsciously and consciously because that is our nature. Religion didnt create us, events in the Universe did and of course our atoms, molecules, smallest and biggest units of all of us react to and you attack that?
ReplyDeleteHow can I now believe in the credibility of your words... Argh man ... really?