Daily affirmations arose out of what is called “The Law of Attraction,” popularized by author Rhonda Byrne in The Secret. This book was featured by Oprah in her book club in the early 2000s, and fleshed out by one of her favorite spiritual gurus, Eckhart Tolle. When The Secret first came out it was viewed skeptically by Christians and secularists alike. The idea of the practitioner bringing some desired object or circumstance into being by aligning her thoughts with vibrational frequencies of the “universe” —attracting money, fame, health, and love — is absurd on its face. Money comes not by feeling and thinking but by working. Love is a complicated business. And fame, well, in the age of social media, that is perhaps easier to attain. But over the decades, manifesting has entered into many Christian circles through the Word of Faith heresy and the extreme popularity of Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and Rachel Hollis. By building habits, particularly through the daily affirmation, you can begin to tune your feelings and thoughts to the frequencies that will bring you happiness and wealth. You step, as it were, into the current of all the good you desire. That is why the grammatical tense of the affirmation matters. You have to begin to live now as if you already have all the money. But what were we made for? What should we desire? Should Christians practice daily affirmations?
This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal author Anne Kennedy about her online-exclusive, “I’m the Head and Not the Tail: A Christian Decides to Skip the Daily Affirmation”.
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Other articles and podcasts featuring this author
Hank Unplugged:
Gaslighting, BLM, Cancel Culture and More with Anne Kennedy
Postmodern Realities
Trusting Jesus in a Universe that Doesn’t Have Your Back: A Christian Looks at Manifesting
Episode 279: Haven’t We All Sacrificed Enough: A Christian Tries to Observe Lent
Haven’t We All Sacrificed Enough: A Christian Tries to Observe Lent
Episode 273: Identity and Obedience in Revoice 2021
Identity and Obedience in Revoice 2021
Episode 268 I’ll Start My Diet Tomorrow: A Christian Makes a New Year’s Resolution
I’ll Start My Diet Tomorrow: A Christian Makes a New Year’s Resolution-Special limited preview
Episode 255 For Our Lamps Are Going Out: Gaslighting in the Age of Social Media
For Our Lamps are Going Out: Gaslighting in the Age of Social Media
Episode 224 You Only Die Once: Why It’s Okay Not to Live in the Present
You Only Die Once: Why It’s Okay Not to Live in the Present
Episode 216 Why Do I Call Myself Good? A Look at Virtue Signaling
Why Do I Call Myself Good? A Look at Virtue Signaling
Episode 211: There Is No Health in Us: Wellness and Self-Care in the Age of COVID-19
There Is No Health in Us: Wellness and Self-Care in the Age of COVID-19
Episode 204: The Road Back to Where? A Look at Self Discovery Using the Enneagram
The Road Back to Where? A Look at Self Discovery Using the Enneagram
Episode 198 Cancel Culture and the Gospel: Where Can You Go When The Whole World Is Against You?
Cancel Culture and the Gospel: Where Can You Go When The Whole World Is Against You?