Milking The Secret
posted by Frank Pasquale
It looks like pressure from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (via the Federal Trade Commission) has gotten the Dairy Industry to stop touting milk as a diet food. They need to provide more substantiation of the link between “dairy consumption and weight loss.”
So what about The Secret? For those unfamiliar with this self-help phenomenon, here’s a nice summary from Emily Yoffe:
There are now 5.3 million copies of the book in print in the United States. . . .[i]t is a No. 1 best seller in Australia, England, and Ireland, and it is scheduled to be translated into 30 languages. . . There’s no secret to The Secret. The book and movie simply state that your thoughts control the universe. Through this “law of attraction” you “manifest” your desires. “It is exactly like placing an order from a catalogue. . . . You must know that what you want is yours the moment you ask.” “See yourself living in abundance and you will attract it. It works every time, with every person.”
Even Oprah is buying it . . . despite the fact the book contains such extraordinarily irresponsible claims as “You cannot ‘catch’ anything unless you think you can, and thinking you can is inviting it to you with your thought.”
Could the FTC do anything to stop the marketing of The Secret? At first this case reminded me of the not-so-clairvoyant Miss Cleo, but it turns out her transgressions were mainly of rules regarding 1-900 numbers. A quick perusal of Rebecca Tushnet’s fantastic blog led me to this post about a big fine against makers of the Q-Ray bracelet for “infomercials . . . falsely representing that (1) the bracelet provides immediate, significant or complete pain relief and (2) scientific tests prove the pain-relief claims.”
Perhaps The Secret lacks the “immediacy” prong of that accusation. But it does rely pretty heavily on both scientific and religious rhetoric. Consider this little tidbit from Yoffe, describing its author:
She asserts that “the discoveries of quantum physics … are in total harmony with the teachings of The Secret.” To prove this, she explains, “I never studied science or physics at school, and yet when I read complex books on quantum physics I understood them perfectly because I wanted to understand them.”
And I want to devise a perpetual motion machine! I’ll just envision it working and it’ll come true, right?
A few more thoughts beneath the fold….
Here is a rough and ready account of the elements of a false advertising claim:
(1) a false statement of fact has been made about the advertiser’s own or another person’s goods, services, or commercial activity;
(2) the statement either deceives or has the potential to deceive a substantial portion of its targeted audience;
(3) the advertising involves goods or services in interstate commerce;
(4) the deception is also likely to affect the purchasing decisions of its audience;
(5) the deception has either resulted in or is likely to result in injury to the plaintiff.
I’m not going to go through all these because I think The Secret’s author may have one last defense: anyone for whom The Secret didn’t work simply didn’t visualize hard enough. But it’s books like this that almost make me happy to see claims like the one against James Frey for Million Little Pieces. Maybe the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain can do something.
Finally, consider this pearl of wisdom from The Secret:
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Jesus were not only prosperity teachers, but also millionaires themselves, with more affluent lifestyles than many present-day millionaires could conceive of.
Someone needs to read a little less Prayer of Jabez and watch a little more Pasolini.
May 11, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Posted in: Consumer Protection Law, Intellectual Property, Legal Theory, Politics
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Responses (16)
John Armstrong - May 11, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I hate, hate these woo-woo new-agers who think that The Tao of Physics, The Dancing Wu Li Masters, or any of the poststructuralist Critical Theory drivel they inspired have more than a passing resemblance to actual quantum mechanics. She has clearly never read an actual “complex book on quantum physics”.
Anon Prof - May 12, 2007 at 12:41 am
There was just an article about a similar type of phenomenon re: anti-cancer supplements on the front page of the WSJ.
Richard - May 12, 2007 at 12:55 am
“Could the FTC do anything to stop the marketing of The Secret?”
Yicks! What are you suggesting, Frank? Think, man. If the FTC had authority to delve into The Secret, it has authority to delve into the Bible or the Koran. Those “self help” texts make fantastic statements that are irresponsible too, you know. Leave the quacks alone, or they’ll be calling you a quack next, etc etc.
eric - May 12, 2007 at 7:08 pm
I am ardently visualizing Rhonda Byrne and her kindred New Age self-help charlatans, standing in the town square, each wearing nothing but a sign that reads “I am a pathetic fraud,” while the townspeople pelt them with rotten vegetables.
Mark Renner - May 13, 2007 at 7:39 pm
They would then have to ban “An Inconvenient Truth” and most special interest legislation…. Not going to happen, but we can dream.
Willy - May 13, 2007 at 8:59 pm
I continually visualize a Libertarian congress and administration. Every four years the vibes get really strong, then I wake up.
Dave - May 13, 2007 at 10:12 pm
PETA Pockets run deep.
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/pressrelease_detail.cfm?release=188
The media is always pulling Barnard out of a hat to refute low carb diets. I guess now he’s gunning for milk. Got lawyers?
Freakasaurus - May 13, 2007 at 10:56 pm
‘The Secret’ you say? Why look fabulous and get rich! Look at Paris Hilton and all the great things that have happened to that drunk driving, jail a-goin’ [redacted]. She got the secret, daddy’s millions.
There is a fool born every minute and if you think this modern day Pythagorean charm of ‘like attracts like’ is the last we seen of new age magic, you better hide you head and get ready for real foolishness.
Steven Den Beste - May 14, 2007 at 4:28 am
Freedom of press. The First Amendment is in full force here. The FTC (or FDA, or any other government agency) doesn’t have the power to suppress a book simply because it contains false claims.
Erich von Däniken, anyone?
In fact, they can’t suppress printing of a book at all, except for certain very specific and carefully circumscribed reasons e.g. child porn.
Patrick - May 14, 2007 at 11:28 am
What is fascinating to me is this isn’t at all new. For those who pay attention to Christian movements this kind of philosophy is called “name it, claim it” theology. Been around for a good few decades or longer in its present form. The network TBN features a lot of these people, and in fact a good many of all preachers on television have this message to one degree or another.
The Secret is genius because it took this really appealing (”it’s up to me!”) message and removed all the pesky religious bits. Name it, claim it relies on a person’s power of faith, faith that can be visibly shown by “planting seeds”. “Send me your $1000 and you’ll have $10,000 because of your faith of releasing your money”.
It sells because it feels so not passive. It’s loony, but we want it to be true. We want it to be just that simple and something that we can fix.
And like with its religious version The Secret will have a wonderful following, always able to attract a constant new batch as soon as the old batch realizes that no matter how much they think right they still won’t be able to find their satisfaction. Oprah, of course, is just like the big haired women on Christian television who can flash her money and success, getting people to think that everyone can have her achievement if they just think positive enough.
The four people it works for stand on stage while the thousands and thousands and thousands who don’t find anything wander off to yet the next easy soul satisfaction craze.
Very sad. But, genius of a book. For the author to tap into that name it, claim it trend but give it a popular appeal is brilliant.
Rob S - May 15, 2007 at 2:50 am
When you say you can’t do a thing, you’re very often right. The inverse applies too. Haven’t you heard of self-fulfilling prophecy?
No, it’s not a matter of ‘envision(ing) it working and it’ll come true, right?’ First you envision it, then you work hard and persistently at it, then it comes true. What’s so crazy about that?
I haven’t read the book but I heartily agree with the philosophy in the synopsis as told above. Seems to me the author is empowering people to believe ‘You Can!’ Why is that fodder for your ridicule?
Maryland Conservatarian - May 15, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Rob S asks: “Why is that fodder for your ridicule?”
…anything that suggests an alternative to government as the ultimate provider is fodder for ridicule
RC - May 17, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Both this est-like bunk and “name it, claim it” doctrine are offshoots of the 19th-century “New Thought” movement, which also inspired Mary Baker Eddy’s “Christian Science” church.
Solomon Marni (El sheik Hussein Mystics of Aytaroun) - June 22, 2007 at 4:43 am
We are friends of the One
Shall I tell you our secret?
We are charming thieves who steal hearts
and never fail because we are
the friends of the One.
The time for old preaching is over
we aim straight at the heart.
If the mind tries to sneak in and take over
we will string it up without delay.
We turn poison into medicine
and our sorrows into blessings.
All that was familiar,
our loved ones and ourselves
we had to leave behind.
Blessed is the poem that comes through me
but not of me because the sound of my own music
will drown the song of Love
-Solomon Marni (karm Samra,Aytaroun)
The Mystic Sufi Science,Backward Time and The Day of Judgement.
THE CONTRACTION OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE REVERSAL OF TIME
Time is one of the most elusive mysteries of the universe. No one knows what time really is. Albert Einstein explained time by saying that time is something that we measure with the clock. Time passes slowly within objects moving at speeds close to that of light and stops altogether at the speed of light. Time also slows near massive objects like earth, sun, very dense stars called the neutron stars, and almost stops inside the super massive stars “the black holes.” Time has a direction, it always moves towards the future. Some physicists like Michael Berry, Thomas Gold, and Steven Hawking have proposed that time may reverse when the universe begins to contract. Verses in the Quran suggest that one day the universe will start contracting and this will coincide with beginning of the Day of Judgment.
“The day” when, We shall roll up the heavens as a recorder rolls up a written scroll. As, We began the first creation We shall repeat it. Qur’an, Chapter 21 Verse 104
In the above verse, “The Day” means The Day of Judgment and the contraction of the universe, is compared to the closing of a scroll. This is when time may reverse. Reversal of time will cause man to rise from his grave and again become alive. Every event will be replayed again as everything has been recorded in time.
This book pronounces against you with truth We have caused (all) you did to be recorded. (In time). Qur’an Chapter 45 Verse 29
And there is nothing hidden in the heavens, or the earth, but it is a clear record (in time). Qur’an Chapter 27 Verse 75
As the history of earth runs backwards through time, nations will return one after another. All the good and evil deeds of the individual as well as that of the nations will become completely apparent as time reversal occurs.
And you will see each nation humbled, each nation called to its record. And it will be said to them: This day you are repaid for what you used to do. Qur’an Chapter 45 Verse 28 (time reversal)
The playing back of time will cause people to see what they had done previously. They will have no control over their hands, feet, mouths, and eyes. All the wrong and right things that were done before by them will be repeated again. In this sense, the mouths, hands, and feet, will become witnesses against them in front of the angels and God, and they will not be able to deny any of their wrong doings.
On the day when their tongues and their hands and their feet testify against them as to what they used to do. Qur’an Chapter 24 Verse 24 (time reversal)
We warn you of doom at hand. A day when a man will look on that his own hand has sent before, and the non-believers will cry: “Wish that we were dust.” Qur’an Chapter 78 Verse 40
And, the messengers are brought into their time appointed. Qur’an Chapter 77 Verse 11 (The prophets will be returned into their time as time runs backwards)
NO FREE WILL IN THE CONTRACTING UNIVERSE
Man is given a free will to choose between right and wrong in the expanding universe, that is, when all his deeds are recorded in time. In the contracting universe, there will be no free will, and no one will have power to do harm or good to others, or change anything that they have done in their previous life.
A day when no soul has power at all over any other soul, The absolute command on that day is God’s. Qur’an Chapter 82 Verse 19
REVERSAL OF GRAVITY
When earth is shaken with her final earthquake. Qur’an Chapter 99 Verse 1
One aspect of gravity is minute differences in time at different heights. Time passes at a slightly faster rate at the top of a mountain, as compared to the sea level. This difference in time, although imperceptible to us, is enough to make things fall to earth, and can be measured with the aid of atomic clocks. If time reverses in the contracting phase of the universe, then this time difference will also reverse. This will cause gravity to reverse so that everything will fall upwards, producing an earthquake of a magnitude never seen before. The earth along with the mountains will be suddenly lifted up from under our feet and subsequently come crashing down.
When the trumpet is blown one blast the earth with the mountains shall be lifted and crushed with one crash. Qur’an Chapter 69 Verse 13-14
The reversal of gravity will cause the earth to literally explode and turn inside out. The mountains will fall apart. The red-hot lava will be thrown out lighting up the sky like molten copper.
When the sky will be like molten copper and the hills will be like flakes of wool. Qur’an Chapter 70 Verse 8
The following verses describe the Day of Judgment in a comprehensive manner. The Day of Judgment will start with the final earthquake as gravity reverses. The reversal of gravity will cause the earth to throw out all that was once inside her, thereby becoming, completely empty. The hollowed earth will have the sky towards its center. The people will begin to rise from the graves coming back alive, one after another, “in scattered groups”. The history of nations will be played back with the reversal of time. Nations as well as people will be totally powerless caught in the backward flow of time. They will helplessly reenact and witness their own deeds of the past. This drama will continue until each one of us is removed to the beyond.
When earth is shaken with her final earthquake. And earth yields its burdens (From within). And man says what’s wrong with her. That day she will relate her History (in time) because your Lord inspires her. That day mankind will issue forth in scattered groups to be shown their deeds. Qur’an Chapter 99 Verse 1-6.
WILL WE REGRESS TO NOTHINGNESS WITH THE REVERSAL OF TIME?
To an inquiring mind, it may occur that the reversal of time can lead to the resurrection from the grave. If this process remained unchecked then we will continue to grow younger, pass through our childhood and regress into nothingness in our mother’s wombs. This is also what time reversal theories say, again a purposeless exercise. Well not quite so! The thought of the great and final earthquake may instill fear into our hearts, but the real purpose is to make the higher dimensions accessible for escape from the collapsing universe. God has designed the universe with great precision. After the resurrection, arrangements have been made, to escape the unrelenting effect of time reversal, to beyond this universe.
On that Day, He shall gather them together it will seem as if they have stayed (in the grave) for an hour, recognizing one another. Those who were not guided and denied the meeting with God will perish. Qur’an Chapter 10 Verse 45
THE BLACK HOLES: “THE BLOCKED GATEWAYS” TO THE HIGHER DIMENSIONS
And heaven is opened and becomes as gates. Qur’an Chapter 78 Verse 19
The opening of gates in the sky is a concept similar to that of black holes. Such openings can be the gateways to beyond the universe through the higher dimensions. Massive stars, which collapse inward under their own weight, can form black holes. Gravity in such objects is so strong that even light cannot escape and they become invisible. Hence, the name black holes. Some physicists believe that space-time may be ripped apart in the black holes, producing gateways to beyond this universe. The curvature producing mass of the black hole however also blocks the opening, thus preventing anything from escaping to the higher dimensions.
In the contracting universe, this problem should not exist. The reversal of gravity in the contracting phase will change all the heavenly bodies into massive hollow structures just as described in the Quran. These hollow structures will have empty skies in their center where even the reversed gravity of relatively lighter objects like earth, will have a run away effect. This will cause the fabric of space-time to be torn apart, forming portals or gateways to the higher dimensions The heavens will split asunder, for that day, it will be frail. Qur’an Chapter 69 Verse 16
Mankind will see many strange things in the contracting universe that may cause confusion, (When sight is confounded.) One of these is the rising of sun from the west, mentioned in an authentic hadith. This phenomenon due to the reversal of time will be visible briefly as the Day of Judgment begins followed by the final earthquake. The earth will change into a hollow structure, from within which both the sun and the moon will not be visible. (The moon is eclipsed.) The gateways to beyond the universe will form in the center-sky, and may appear as a bright light constantly shining from straight above. This may cause us to wonder whether the sun and the moon have become one: (The sun and moon are united). This dilemma is probably mentioned in the following verses.
When sight is confounded, And the moon is eclipsed (hidden from view), And sun and moon are united. (appear as one light). Qur’an Chapter 75 Verse 7-9
The stars will stop shining as the light moves back with reversal of time. They will also be hidden from view from within the hollowed earth.
When the stars are put out. Qur’an Chapter 78 Verse 8
ANGELS DESCEND THROUGH THE GATES IN THE SKY
A day when the heavens and the clouds will be rent asunder and the angels will be sent down “A grand descent. Qur’an Chapter 25 Verse 25
The reversed gravity in the contracting universe will open gates in the center-sky of the earth. A spectacular site will be thousands of angels descending down to accomplish the task assigned to them on the Day of Judgment.
Think of the day when, We remove the hills, and you see the earth emerging and We gather them together, as to leave not one of them behind. Qur’an Chapter 18 Verse 47
The collapsing universe will ultimately be destroyed in a fireball which physicists call the “Big Crunch.” Everyone will be gathered much before that time comes and no one will be left behind. The angels of “The grand descent” may accomplish the gathering and removal of humans to “The beyond”. Anyone remaining behind could regress to nothingness, as time will be running backwards.
That you shall “ride” on from plane to plane. Qur’an Chapter 84 Verse 19
In our final journey through the gates that will open in the center sky, we may cross many planes or dimensions. The word “ride” is used in the Quran, as if this journey will be accomplished by riding on “something.”
As we leave this universe we may be collected together on some vast plane in an another dimension, every one will come from all times and places in history to face the judgment of their deeds and heaven and hell. ^ TOP
WHEN WILL THE DAY OF JUDGMENT ARRIVE
Men ask you of the Hour. Say the knowledge of it is with God only. What can convey to you that may be the Hour is near. Qur’an Chapter 33 Verse 63
They bid you to hasten on the doom. And if a term had not been appointed, the doom would have definitely come on them. And it will come upon them suddenly when they perceive not. Qur’an Chapter 29 Verse 53
As the expansion of the universe slows time and motion will also slowdown, the rate of expansion, will appear the same.
The threatened hour is near. None beside God can disclose it. Are you surprised then at this statement? Qur’an Chapter 53 Verse 57-59
Even the most advanced civilization in the universe would always observe that the universe is expanding at the same steady rate with which it started. Paradoxically the far-reaches of space may even seem to expand faster when measurements are made with our local slowing time. The nature of time is such that slowing of time also cannot be perceived. This of course means that the beginning of the Day of Judgment cannot be predicted and may come at any time. Only God, who is independent of time, knows of the real timing of the Day of Judgment.
WAITING IN THE GRAVE FOR DAY OF JUDGMENT TO ARRIVE?
In the Quran, the soul is compared to consciousness and death is compared to sleep. Once death overcomes us there is no perception of the passage of time and the next thing we see will be the Day of Judgment.
And on The Day when the Hour arrives the guilty will swear that they remained (dead) but for an hour, thus they were ever deceived but to those to whom knowledge and faith are given will say: ”The truth is that you have remained (dead) until the Day of Resurrection by God’s decree. This is the Day of Resurrection, but you used not to know.” Qur’an Chapter 30 Verse 55-56
On The Day of Judgment, the reality of afterlife and the true religion Islam will become clear to everyone. To God belongs the Sovereignty of heavens and the earth on the Day when the Hour rises, who follow falsehood will be lost. Qur’an Chapter 45 Verse 27
SUMMARY
Man has placed his trust in science and technology to solve all our problems. Dazzled by the ability of technology to produce quick results, our faith in God has become weak. Our actions are for worldly goals, although a stronger belief in God and fear of accountability in the afterlife could make us better people. We can see the consequences of lacking these in the moral decay that is afflicting many societies all over the world.
Many verses in the Quran describe the Day of Judgment. We live in a universe that has been expanding since its creation billions of years ago. Both the birth of the universe with the “Big Bang” and its expansion are described in the Quran. Scientists do not know if the expansion will continue forever, or if one day the universe will begin to contract. However, the Quranic verses suggest that the universe will not expand forever and that the Day of Judgment will begin with the contraction of the universe. It appears that time and gravity will reverse when the universe begins to contract. Reversal of time will bring about the resurrection from the grave. In this time reversed world we will come across all the good and evil that we did in our lives. Reversal of gravity will be the cause of the final earthquake, mentioned in the Quran. This will change the earth so that it will be turned inside out and be transformed into a giant hollow sphere with the sky towards its center. The reversed gravity focused towards the “earth’s center-sky” will have a runaway effect on space. The space in the center-sky will be literally torn apart to produce openings or gates to the higher dimensions that are beyond our universe. Through these openings, we will be removed from the collapsing universe.
Everyone will be taken away to escape the unrelenting effect of time reversal that could regress us to nothingness in our mother’s wombs. In some higher dimension or plane mankind will be brought together from all times and places in history, to face the judgment for their deeds and hell or heaven.
From the Quran, it appears that the timing of the Day of Judgment will never be known and it may come at any time. We should be aware that The Day of Judgment is very near to every one of us as there is no perception of passage of time after death.
The agony of death comes in truth; this is what you wished to avoid, And the trumpet is blown; this is the threatened Day. Qur’an Chapter 50 Verse 19-20
As we go through our daily life we should keep in mind that everything big and small that we do is being recorded in time. If we do not take steps to protect ourselves from evil, in addition to the threat of severe punishment, we stand the chance of great embarrassment on the Day of Judgment. The reversal of time will expose all our secrets.
I hope the believers will realize that, The Day of Judgment is a religious, scientific and mathematical truth, which every one will have to face; and our deeds in this world will determine our fate in the eternal life. There is no doubt however, that the real knowledge of the Day of Judgment is with God only.
The non-Muslims hopefully, will appreciate that the religion of Islam is more than just another belief and they will be stimulated to further investigate the world of Islam.
Following footings ….. The way to avoid embarrassment is One. Read the up and coming article through wiretrendQuantum.. The great Sitar on the day of Nakedness.
Sherman - June 25, 2007 at 4:33 am
I agree.
It could get quite “scary” when I thought of having more clients for my web design business when suddenly people started contacting me for design projects.
Sherman
Sherman - June 25, 2007 at 4:38 am
When I first heard of The Secret it was from a
friend’s email. He said it was the best movie he’s
ever watched.
Honestly, I thought it was a movie he’d watched in
a cinema!
Now that I know The Secret is only available on DVD
it’s quite embarrassing indeed.
I haven’t got a copy of the DVD though, just from
the free snippets found on Youtube.
Very inspiring.
I should probably get The Secret DVD myself. Or
beg, borrow or steal. ;p
Sherman
AttractionOptimization.com
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