“Spirit-Mind-Body”
With government, corporations, and public education promoting human potential philosophies, are we approaching a de facto state religion?
Is this an alarmist question? Or is this a reasonable concern to consider?
Federal and state governments are promoting the Human Potential Religion. Examples of organizations that have contracted with government to preach some or all of the tenets (see below) are Pacific Institute of Seattle, Washington; Edge Learning Institute of Tacoma, Washington; and Resources for Organizations of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. An example of a government installation promoting human potential training is Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington under the course titles: Increasing Human Effectiveness, Train the Trainer, Stress Management, and the Psychology of Personal Adjustment.
Private Corporations are spending millions of dollars on Human Potential Training, sometimes forcing their employees to participate. An example of a business who used such training programs is Walker Chevrolet of Tacoma, Washington. Steve Hiatt alleges that Walker Chevrolet fired him when he refused training to be a facilitator for Pacific Institute’s “New Age Thinking” program. Mr. Hiatt appealed to the EEO Commission but was ignored.
The education establishment is mobilizing to “restructure” public school curriculum by shifting from merely teaching content area information to teaching children “new ways to think.” As an example, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development in Alexandria, Virginia is promoting a program called “Tactics for Thinking” which contains many of the human potential elements under the title “Learning to Learn Skills”. The author of the program likens it to the motivational training of Lou Tice’s Pacific Institute, whose courses have been entitled “New Age Thinking”. A Pacific Institute instructor was quoted as saying that these principles were the same as those used by Hitler and Jim Jones except Pacific Institute uses them for good. “Tactics for Thinking ” has been in use in Walla Walla, Washington public schools.
Tenets of the Human Potential Religion
Deity: Self
Humans have infinite, unlimited potential.
Self is worshiped. The key to success and the answers to all of life’s problems lie within the self. Building self-image is a primary goal through daily, ritualistic self-praise, affirmations, and self-talk.
The Nature of the Universe
There is no absolute truth.
Each person creates his own reality.
Thoughts create our reality and can affect external objects.
Ritual
Eastern meditation, visualization, guided imagery, looking within, altered states of consciousness, hypnotic states of higher suggestibility,
various other psychotechnologies.
Daily affirmations, self-talk, and continual positive thinking.
Epistemology:
“Truth is within” <<<< [From Unmasking the New Age by Doug Groothuis.]
Code of Ethics and Behavior
Do not think negative. Reject traditional beliefs that limit you. Only think positive. Visualize your goals with intense imagery in order to make them happen.
You must take control of your life. Your must take responsibility because there is no one else.
Believe in yourself.
The Purpose of Life
Not a destination, but a journey.
Self-actualization.
Achieving infinite potential by reprogramming the subconscious through affirmation and self-talk.
The Nature of Man
Infinite potential.
Guided by the impersonal, amoral subconscious which ultimately controls behavior and therefore must be reprogrammed for success.
According to “Caesar”: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Caesar’s courts
have held that government may not advance religion.
“Religion” – Belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers; Any specific system of belief, worship, conduct, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy (theory of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge, and the nature of the universe: including ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics).
Government should not promote religion and government should not meddle in people’s minds.
The above is the text (slightly modified) of a pamphlet we published in 1987-88.
Jim Jones Cultivated a Following
I Support the U.S. Constitution
Confronting “Motivational” Training Programs
Some examples of unbiblical philosophies & techniques:
Transcendental Management
– Share and Network – Global Transformation
– High Touch Need – Look “Within”
– Deep Breathing and Visualization
– “Explain How the Subconscious Mind Works!“
– “Your Subconscious Mind is Programmed in Two Ways“
Facing up to the fact that we’re deceived:
Humanistic & Transpersonal Psychology 1 of 2
– The False Gospel of Self Esteem – Questions for Christians about Psychology
Abide in the Vine – Walking in the Spirit
Return to:
The World Religion