Comments on: The Abuse of Prosperity preaching http://ukspirituality.org/blog/2007/12/28/the-abuse-of-prosperity-preaching/ A conversation about liberal spirituality in the 21st century Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:41:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: rachel http://ukspirituality.org/blog/2007/12/28/the-abuse-of-prosperity-preaching/#comment-111 rachel Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:56:02 +0000 http://ukspirituality.org/blog/2007/12/28/the-abuse-of-prosperity-preaching/#comment-111 Isnt this typical of many spiritual messages though - the message is taken, stressed in a different way to make whatever the person wants it to mean. This has happened in so many religions too. As a consumer driven society our economics depend on us buying and wanting more 'stuff'. Its quite a contrary situation when at this time of year there were news items on TV before xmas saying the retailers were worried as we werent spending enough (subtle message is - go out and spend - its your duty to our society or there will be problems with interest rates later!!!) Then we have the january sales and now I notice the items are about debt and the trouble some people have got themselves into. No wonder so many get confused. And this spirituality of materialism isnt that new. Even in the 1980s people started using a slogan 'greed is good'. With the ' gospel of prosperity' we have the story of the Emperors new clothes'! The trouble is that there is a grain of truth that there is a spirituality within the idea that we can be happy with what we have. But people mistake this for meaning what we have in material 'stuff' again. I believe what the message is meant to be that we have everything within us to be happy. And even that we can find happiness in the life we lead by looking at not what we lack, but the people, love, health, life experiences etc. that are in our lives. Even to look at the unpleasant stuff and see what may have come from it (strength, courage etc) What has happened though is that we have had the message dressed in false clothing. Books coming out that tell us we can 'order stuff' up like some kind of cosmic argos!! Creative visualisation is something that was written about in the 1970s but even then it wasnt about visualising having things, but finding joy in the life you already live. Its message was supposed to be that joy is found in the life you lead - being who you are NOT what you own or get. Now personally I dont believe you cant be spiritual if you have a comfortable life. But sadly so many self help books are focussed on the wrong message. Isnt this typical of many spiritual messages though - the message is taken, stressed in a different way to make whatever the person wants it to mean. This has happened in so many religions too.

As a consumer driven society our economics depend on us buying and wanting more ’stuff’. Its quite a contrary situation when at this time of year there were news items on TV before xmas saying the retailers were worried as we werent spending enough (subtle message is - go out and spend - its your duty to our society or there will be problems with interest rates later!!!) Then we have the january sales and now I notice the items are about debt and the trouble some people have got themselves into. No wonder so many get confused.

And this spirituality of materialism isnt that new. Even in the 1980s people started using a slogan ‘greed is good’. With the ‘ gospel of prosperity’ we have the story of the Emperors new clothes’! The trouble is that there is a grain of truth that there is a spirituality within the idea that we can be happy with what we have. But people mistake this for meaning what we have in material ’stuff’ again.

I believe what the message is meant to be that we have everything within us to be happy. And even that we can find happiness in the life we lead by looking at not what we lack, but the people, love, health, life experiences etc. that are in our lives. Even to look at the unpleasant stuff and see what may have come from it (strength, courage etc) What has happened though is that we have had the message dressed in false clothing. Books coming out that tell us we can ‘order stuff’ up like some kind of cosmic argos!!
Creative visualisation is something that was written about in the 1970s but even then it wasnt about visualising having things, but finding joy in the life you already live. Its message was supposed to be that joy is found in the life you lead - being who you are NOT what you own or get.
Now personally I dont believe you cant be spiritual if you have a comfortable life. But sadly so many self help books are focussed on the wrong message.

]]> By: carole http://ukspirituality.org/blog/2007/12/28/the-abuse-of-prosperity-preaching/#comment-110 carole Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:32:10 +0000 http://ukspirituality.org/blog/2007/12/28/the-abuse-of-prosperity-preaching/#comment-110 Well said, the truth always emerges but when people are so desperate and seek help, their awareness is veiled, their weaknesses exposed and they often spiral downwards by these prosperity abusers. Let's pray for their protection and that their true needs and wants are revealed to them, and let us leave the princes of darkness to auto-destruct with Divine Justice/Divine Intervention/Divine Order. With enough resolve, a pure heart to help others, all is possible. I wish everyone an abundant and prosperous New Year 2008! Well said, the truth always emerges but when people are so desperate and seek help, their awareness is veiled, their weaknesses exposed and they often spiral downwards by these prosperity abusers.
Let’s pray for their protection and that their true needs and wants are revealed to them, and let us leave the princes of darkness to auto-destruct with Divine Justice/Divine Intervention/Divine Order. With enough resolve, a pure heart to help others, all is possible. I wish everyone an abundant and prosperous New Year 2008!

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