# I put the author of "The Secret" and everyone who quotes it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 8, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-the-author-of-the-secret-and-everyone-who-quotes-it/618183 "2012-04-08T16:27:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-the-author-of-the-secret-and-everyone-who-quotes-it/618183/281 "2012-04-21T15:52:14Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’m sure some people think like this (and wouldn’t it suck to live like that). But I find a random universe comforting. Yes, I’m a Christian, and one of the downsides of that is when you start to feel precious. > > But in a vast, randomly-designed reality? “Hey, it’s not all about me… or my religion, or homo sapiens, or even the earth!” We’re just part of a much bigger universe (that, given the frequency of parades for alien ambassadors, probably doesn’t give a shit about us). I’m 53 years old and very close with my father and yet it was only a few weeks ago that I came to the knowledge that my father believes we were planted here by aliens. Believe me when I tell you that my father is the last person on earth you would ever suspect of having such a belief. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-the-author-of-the-secret-and-everyone-who-quotes-it/618183/282 "2012-04-21T17:09:36Z")
Does he believe in panspermia rather than abiogenesis (used to be in vogue a couple decades ago), or does he believe that the human race itself was planted fully formed on this planet? ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-the-author-of-the-secret-and-everyone-who-quotes-it/618183/283 "2012-04-21T18:36:51Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > People crave understanding, because it makes them feel less powerless. > People don’t want to be so afraid of dying, and a belief in a creator and a plan allows them to shed a lot of that fear. > These are very fundamental fears and feelings that have very little to do with the intellect, so even the most science-minded people will still be found among the ranks of the believers because it brings peace. Peace is a good thing if the alternative is abject terror of a random universe, and that’s what it would be for a lot of people. I respect science, but agree that spirituality can bring personal peace. Sometimes this personal peace comes with the choice for blindness to harsh truth. And sometimes it also comes (like with the theory of “The Secret”) with an explanation for real world problems, that seems benign, but is deeply insulting to the victims of rape, abuse, or murder, etc. A spiritual victim blaming, that “empowers” one to take responsibility for random bad realities, as well as random good realities. Less powerless, yes? When you are involved in the root cause of your own suffering, that is power. How can wannabe gurus dispel fear and a lack of power with this kind of BS? Apparently with ease, as it plays on the fundamental fears and feelings… Just because Stoid’s -paragon of understanding act -does not seem to go over well here, is no big thing, because there will always be many believers in this same kind of crap. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-the-author-of-the-secret-and-everyone-who-quotes-it/618183/284 "2012-04-21T19:05:44Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I’m 53 years old and very close with my father and yet it was only a few weeks ago that I came to the knowledge that my father believes we were planted here by aliens. Believe me when I tell you that my father is the last person on earth you would ever suspect of having such a belief. Wow. I’m at a loss as to how that feels. Actually, my hope is that he’s “just dickin’ with yo’ mind”… it is passed on genetically, you know. 😃 Seriously, though, tell him some random cynics on the internet want to know if he’s serious. If he laughs and says “Got ya, kid!”, update us. Because til then, I’m feeling helpless on your behalf. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-the-author-of-the-secret-and-everyone-who-quotes-it/618183/285 "2012-04-21T20:17:06Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Does he believe in panspermia rather than abiogenesis (used to be in vogue a couple decades ago), or does he believe that the human race itself was planted fully formed on this planet? I didn’t probe for more detail, I was too thunderstruck. And it just felt like something I didn’t want to know more about. > [@digs](#): > > Wow. I’m at a loss as to how that feels. > > Actually, my hope is that he’s “just dickin’ with yo’ mind”… it is passed on genetically, you know. 😃 > > Seriously, though, tell him some random cynics on the internet want to know if he’s serious. If he laughs and says “Got ya, kid!”, update us. Because til then, I’m feeling helpless on your behalf. Well, my world hasn’t been rent asunder or anything, I’m just amazed. I adore my father above and beyond all persons living or dead, but there are many subjects we cannot or choose not to discuss because we’ll jsut end up very irritated with one another. (He’s a hardcore ultra-extreme libertarian with a good dollop of racist thrown in…) I think pondering our alien origins may have to go on that list. > [@florez](#): > > And sometimes it also comes (like with the theory of “The Secret”) with an explanation for real world problems, that seems benign, but is deeply insulting to the victims of rape, abuse, or murder, etc. Well, this is an area where I am at odds with most people and I know that, but I think people embrace being insulted by loads of things, large and small, and I dont’ get any of it. I get it in the technical terms of understanding that for some people X remark, idea, suggestion, what have you, leads to Y feelings of insult, I just don’t get why people invest themselves in being insulted, but that’s a whole 'nother thread, one I started years ago… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-the-author-of-the-secret-and-everyone-who-quotes-it/618183.md?page=14)