Free Republic

The author told Breitbart News Executive Chairman and host Stephen K. Bannon that the idea of “positive thinking” has been a crucial but misunderstood concept in America. Bannon agreed and pointed out early in the program that from President Reagan’s outlook that “Nothing is Impossible”... He cites that Norman Vincent Peale, who was widely derided in the intellectual culture, revealed that scripture is laden with ideas that the mind has “positive powers.” Horowitz defends Peale as someone who worked very hard laboring over scripture and was not mistaken in believing that it embodied a “Theology of Self Affirmation. It didn’t...

Why is the term "self-help" so often used in a derogatory manner in mainstream media? Writing in the opinion journal Aeon, journalist and social critic Elizabeth Svoboda recently sized up today’s self-help field and concluded that some cognitively based self-help books are effective – and well worth defending -- whereas New Age and positive-thinking books are the product of "woo-peddlers" who cheapen the field. I stand with the "woo peddlers." Svoboda's piece demonstrates two assumptions that make it difficult to intelligently discuss self-help therapeutics in much of today’s media. First, the author groups together two different kinds of books: metaphysical...

THE POWER TO HOLD ON “The power to hold on is characteristic of all men who have accomplished anything great; they may lack in some other particular, have many weaknesses or eccentricities, but the quality of persistence is never absent from a successful man. No matter what opposition he meets or what discouragement overtakes him, drudgery cannot disgust him, obstacles cannot discourage him, labor cannot weary him; misfortune, sorrow, and reverses cannot harm him. It is not so much brilliancy of intellect, or fertility of resource, as persistency of effort, constancy of purpose, that makes a great man. Those who...

Sociologist Berniuce Neugarten of Northwestern University states: "Even in the very oldest group, those above 85, more than one-third report no limitation due to health."

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. – A man shot and killed himself in front of a cross inside televangelist Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral on Wednesday as a nearby volunteer told a group of visitors about the church's suicide-prevention program, police and church officials said. The man handed a note and his driver's license to two ushers, walked to the cross and then shot himself in the head as he appeared to be praying, Senior Pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz said. The Orange County coroner's office identified the man as Steve Smick, 48. Church spokesman Mike Nason said there was no record of...

<p>One of the most disturbing qualities of the neoconservative rhetoric is their incessant urging of Americans to "think positive" about the War in Iraq. They tell us America needs to remain on "offense." They tell us we haven't won the war yet because the Democrats are weak and anti-war citizens don't truly believe in the power of democracy. Ask any Republican presidential hopeful (besides Ron Paul) and they'll tell you we aren't losing the war, we're just uh... not winning it yet. But maybe we'll win it tomorrow. Or maybe the day after that. Winning is guaranteed though. But if we don't win it won't be because we didn't try, it will be because those soft-cocked, feeble-minded, hemp-clothed, anti-American, Communist-loving, douche-bag liberals said we couldn't!</p>

RUSH: A friend of mine sent me a quote last night from John Adams in a piece he wrote, "Thoughts on government," from 1776. It kind of got my attention. I want to read this to you. "Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man. From this principle it will follow, that the form of government which communicates ease, comfort, security, or, in one word, happiness, to the greatest number of...

On any given Sunday, 100 million households from Australia, Europe, and across the USA will tune in to view Joel Osteen broadcasting from the 30,000-member Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Rated as the #1 inspirational television program by Nielson Media Research, Joel Osteen is preaching a message that certainly seems to be touching home with people all over America. In his much respected best selling book, Your Best Life Now-7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, Osteen outlines a seven-step process for effecting profound change in your life. He speaks in terms of the positive in everyday life. Expect...

Preaching abundant living The Rev. Della Reese Lett teaches lessons of material success and personal empowerment in her own church. Della Reese, who played a down-to-earth heavenly being on "Touched by an Angel" isn't acting as she stands in front of a congregation on Sundays in West Hollywood. She's preaching — in her own church. And her message has no mention of sin, no mention of good and evil and no endorsement of sacrifice if it means doing without. She talks about abundant living, not in the hereafter but in the here and now.

Divinity without Dogma A Look at Progressive Churches by Jonn Salovaara Conscious Choice, September 2001 This article looks at groups associated to varying degrees with Christianity. Other articles have featured, and will feature, outposts of other religious traditions. For thousands of years, churches have formally stated and proclaimed "a body of doctrines concerning faith and morals" -- the dictionary definition of "dogma." Institutionalized belief tends to become dogmatic, even when the belief itself begins as an alternative to an earlier dogma. So it was with early Christianity, starting small and in contrast to Judaism and imperial Roman belief and eventually...

I happened upon this article while searching for something else. I thought this would be a wonderful departure from heavier discussions. Does anyone listen to her music? When I have christian radio on, I sometimes hear her music. She's a wonderful person and has a lot of good values.

Does anyone remember that Rush Limbaugh show where he only took calls from people who were downsized, had no money then turned themselves into prosperous people? Here's everyone's opportunity to take a light hearted break from the day's events, and talk about your success story. I'd like to know because I get very inspired by such things. Liberals don't like to know about people not depending on government, pulling themselves up by the bootstraps, and making it. Nothing wrong with a little prosperity consciousness and genuine belief in the American Dream.