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Top Secret: The Truth Behind Today's Pop Mysticisms
America may be the land of plenty, but in the midst of our Walmarts, enormous supermarkets, and other signs of material surfeit, it seems that many are experiencing a gnawing spiritual hunger. New religions, spiritualities, and religious therapies attract throngs of believers to megachurches, Yoga classes, and the bestseller bookshelves. The latest popular fad in spirituality is Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, which promises both success and spiritual fulfillment, and is endorsed by no less than Oprah Winfrey.
If you're trying to make sense of all the offerings in this confusing spiritual wonderland, Top Secret is just the book for you. Noted religion scholar Robert M. Price examines the historical roots and the current appeal of today's pop mysticisms. Critical and appreciative at the same time, Price applies his impressive background in theology and biblical criticism to put these trends in perspective. Among other popular movements and books, Price discusses:
• Rhonda Byrne's The Secret and New Thought
• Helen Schucman's A Course in Miracles and the popular works of Marianne Williamson
• Deepak Chopra's How to Know God
• James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy
• The Jewish Kabbalah, recently made popular by Madonna
• Joel Osteen's Prosperity Gospel and his popular Your Best Life Now
• Diedre Blomfield Brown (AKA Pema Chödrön) and American-style Buddhism
Whether you're a skeptic looking for a rational approach to understanding current religion or a seeker in search of a deeper, more informed understanding of popular spiritualities, Top Secret has much to offer.
If you're trying to make sense of all the offerings in this confusing spiritual wonderland, Top Secret is just the book for you. Noted religion scholar Robert M. Price examines the historical roots and the current appeal of today's pop mysticisms. Critical and appreciative at the same time, Price applies his impressive background in theology and biblical criticism to put these trends in perspective. Among other popular movements and books, Price discusses:
• Rhonda Byrne's The Secret and New Thought
• Helen Schucman's A Course in Miracles and the popular works of Marianne Williamson
• Deepak Chopra's How to Know God
• James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy
• The Jewish Kabbalah, recently made popular by Madonna
• Joel Osteen's Prosperity Gospel and his popular Your Best Life Now
• Diedre Blomfield Brown (AKA Pema Chödrön) and American-style Buddhism
Whether you're a skeptic looking for a rational approach to understanding current religion or a seeker in search of a deeper, more informed understanding of popular spiritualities, Top Secret has much to offer.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Robert M. Price
405 books240 followersRobert McNair Price is an American theologian and writer. He teaches philosophy and religion at the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, is professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry Institute, and the author of a number of books on theology and the historicity of Jesus, asserting the Christ myth theory.
A former Baptist minister, he was the editor of the Journal of Higher Criticism from 1994 until it ceased publication in 2003. He has also written extensively about the Cthulhu Mythos, a "shared universe" created by H.P. Lovecraft.
A former Baptist minister, he was the editor of the Journal of Higher Criticism from 1994 until it ceased publication in 2003. He has also written extensively about the Cthulhu Mythos, a "shared universe" created by H.P. Lovecraft.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 29, 2009
Worth flipping through for the section titles alone. My favorite: "Nine Principles in Amber." (Get it?)
Based on the chapter titles, section headings, and and blurbs, I was expecting a very skeptical, snarky attack on various woo-woo hucksters, but instead Price focuses on relating "new-age" ideas to older (not always ancient) traditions, often in a positive, affirming manner.
However, he shows little patience for those who claim new insights—or, as you might guess from the title, to be revealing secrets—when they are really just repackaging well-worn notions.
No reverence is shown, either, for the "personalities" behind the ideas. It's no secret that Chögyam Trungpa was... an interesting figure. Also, Pema Chödrön is (unreasonably, IMHO) savaged for taking a Tibetan name, in, according to Price, an attempt to cash in on the exoticism of the East. (Ulrich Tolle, on the other hand, gets no flack for changing his name to Eckhart. I suppose 14th century Germans aren't considered exotic.) Yet, Price does not let his distaste for Shambhala teachers as an reason to dismiss the ideas that make up their teachings. Shambhala actually comes out rather well in "Top Secret."
So, if you're looking for GRRRR! ARGHH!! NEWAGERS!!! this isn't the book for you. Check it out, though, if you're interested in where the ideas behind various came from and how the fit into a larger picture of human beliefs.
Based on the chapter titles, section headings, and and blurbs, I was expecting a very skeptical, snarky attack on various woo-woo hucksters, but instead Price focuses on relating "new-age" ideas to older (not always ancient) traditions, often in a positive, affirming manner.
However, he shows little patience for those who claim new insights—or, as you might guess from the title, to be revealing secrets—when they are really just repackaging well-worn notions.
No reverence is shown, either, for the "personalities" behind the ideas. It's no secret that Chögyam Trungpa was... an interesting figure. Also, Pema Chödrön is (unreasonably, IMHO) savaged for taking a Tibetan name, in, according to Price, an attempt to cash in on the exoticism of the East. (Ulrich Tolle, on the other hand, gets no flack for changing his name to Eckhart. I suppose 14th century Germans aren't considered exotic.) Yet, Price does not let his distaste for Shambhala teachers as an reason to dismiss the ideas that make up their teachings. Shambhala actually comes out rather well in "Top Secret."
So, if you're looking for GRRRR! ARGHH!! NEWAGERS!!! this isn't the book for you. Check it out, though, if you're interested in where the ideas behind various came from and how the fit into a larger picture of human beliefs.
October 11, 2012
I've so wanted to read a serious critique of New Age and spiritual discourse as touted by Oprah et al. It's a lucrative industry, in part because these spiritualities run deep when a huge percentage of Americans report themselves to be "spiritual, but not religious."
I was excited about this book for its subject matter, but I was disappointed. The author claimed that he would not scorn followers of the works he critiqued, since after all these works are fulfilling an important function for many -- but he then proceeded to take a dry and rather pedestrian look at each of them that didn't inspire any new thoughts about what is so compelling about these new spiritualities. Reading this book felt like listening to a dusty intellectual rambling. I couldn't finish the book.
If you say you respect the role that new spiritual texts play in people's lives, your book should perhaps take a tone that reflects that. Instead, the author acknowledged that these new spiritualities contain kernels of timeless truth, and then cited their differences from historical religious texts as evidence of their shortcomings. That misses the point, in my opinion. I'd much rather read a book that honestly and respectfully considers new spiritual texts as the snapshots of the zeitgeist that they are, and that critiques them for their consumerist spiritual framing, apolitical tendencies, and subtle normative statements, rather than for their deviation from ancient texts per se. Does such a book exist??
I was excited about this book for its subject matter, but I was disappointed. The author claimed that he would not scorn followers of the works he critiqued, since after all these works are fulfilling an important function for many -- but he then proceeded to take a dry and rather pedestrian look at each of them that didn't inspire any new thoughts about what is so compelling about these new spiritualities. Reading this book felt like listening to a dusty intellectual rambling. I couldn't finish the book.
If you say you respect the role that new spiritual texts play in people's lives, your book should perhaps take a tone that reflects that. Instead, the author acknowledged that these new spiritualities contain kernels of timeless truth, and then cited their differences from historical religious texts as evidence of their shortcomings. That misses the point, in my opinion. I'd much rather read a book that honestly and respectfully considers new spiritual texts as the snapshots of the zeitgeist that they are, and that critiques them for their consumerist spiritual framing, apolitical tendencies, and subtle normative statements, rather than for their deviation from ancient texts per se. Does such a book exist??
March 26, 2009
Price deconstructs (for the most part) popular spiritual movements of the day, with special emphasis and criticism for home-grown (American) inventions and their poseurs. Joel Osteen, everybody involved in A Course on Miracles, and Oprah-type hucksters like Neal Donald Walsh and Wayne Dyer get extra attention and are lambasted.
Eastern religions, however, seem to hold a special place in the author's heart. However, his dissection of Buddhism and Hinduism are welcome, as is his explanation of the nearly indecipherable Gnosticism.
Kabbalah is revealed for what it is: Jewish scribes over-explaining and making overly-complex the limited text of the Torah, reading into it meaning that is, simply put, ridiculous.
Of most interest to me were the cult chapters in the Appendix. Why they are included I do not know, but Price's distinction between cult, sect, and church are well-argued and common-sensical.
An enjoyable book that gave me an insight into popular trends, which are both individualistic and dualistic, selfish while pretending to be expansive, and in the end, anti-God as they reduce Deity to a personal butler who stands ready to grant us our "best life NOW, dammit!"
Think I'll stick with worshipping the God of the New Testament: he seems like the least neurotic or character-disordered of the bunch.
Eastern religions, however, seem to hold a special place in the author's heart. However, his dissection of Buddhism and Hinduism are welcome, as is his explanation of the nearly indecipherable Gnosticism.
Kabbalah is revealed for what it is: Jewish scribes over-explaining and making overly-complex the limited text of the Torah, reading into it meaning that is, simply put, ridiculous.
Of most interest to me were the cult chapters in the Appendix. Why they are included I do not know, but Price's distinction between cult, sect, and church are well-argued and common-sensical.
An enjoyable book that gave me an insight into popular trends, which are both individualistic and dualistic, selfish while pretending to be expansive, and in the end, anti-God as they reduce Deity to a personal butler who stands ready to grant us our "best life NOW, dammit!"
Think I'll stick with worshipping the God of the New Testament: he seems like the least neurotic or character-disordered of the bunch.
June 19, 2008
This book is basically a critical look at several 'self-help' books. Some of these include "The Secret", "A Return to Love", and "Conversations with God". For the most part this book was interesting, though there were parts I felt like I was slogging through. If you don't actually want to read all of the books the author critiques then you may be interested to read this book. I liked that he has a sense of humor. When discussing religion people tend to be too serious.
I did learn a lot about Gnosticism and more about Buddhism, and even a little about 'New Ageism'. There is some crazy stuff out there. On the downside, he indirectly criticized my own religion (not that I can't take it, I just didn't see how this improved or clarified what he was writing about). Also, the appendix is all about cults. Which does and does not apply to the rest of the book.
I did learn a lot about Gnosticism and more about Buddhism, and even a little about 'New Ageism'. There is some crazy stuff out there. On the downside, he indirectly criticized my own religion (not that I can't take it, I just didn't see how this improved or clarified what he was writing about). Also, the appendix is all about cults. Which does and does not apply to the rest of the book.
April 26, 2008
Finally, someone takes the New Thought / New Age gurus and breaks down what they're really saying. And most of it (but not quite all) amounts to crap.
January 5, 2017
A really interesting book about New Age / New Thought. There's all sorts of these new spiritual movements in the last few years, the most popular being The Secret, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, and The Celestine Prophecy. This book explores them all, and several more I haven't heard of.
What I really liked about this book is how honest it is. When these new spiritual teachers had something beneficial to offer, this book says so, and when they've completely gone off the rails, this book says so. He isn't afraid to compliment or to scoff. And most of these new teachings do have something beneficial to offer, particularly Eckhart Tolle and Pema Chodron. Some of them, such Joel Osteen and The Celestine Prophecy are just plain bullshit, and this book explains why.
I also like the writing style. It's really fun to read. The way he words things really help clarify things, not just about the subjects this book explores, but also about spirituality and the history of religion. For example, before he discusses Pema Chodron, he gives a lighthearted cliff notes on Buddhism in general.
There is one teaching that ties all of these new pop mysticisms together, that we are the creator of our own destiny through the power of our minds and positive thinking. You don't need to be a theologian to know that it can help to see the bright side of things, or take some personal responsibility to achieve our goals. The problem, which this book often exposes, is that they take it way too far. They make pseudo-scientific claims about quantum physics. They claim that we can control everything in our lives, so anything bad in our lives is our own fault, slipping easily into "blaming the victim" territory.
My gripe about this book is that it's too long. I could have done without the chapters on the Kaballah or Gnosticism. The author rambles and digresses a lot, although it's still interesting. Sometimes it helps to hear an educated theologian thinking out loud about a topic. But there's too much of it. This book could easily be 100 pages shorter.
One of the best parts of the book is the appendices, which explains what a cult is, why people join them, and why they have a reputation for violence. Surprisingly, he makes the case that cults aren't so bad, at least not as bad as people tend to think. There's a bit of confirmation bias going on. We only hear about the bad cults, so we think all cults are bad. Brainwashing is rare in cults, though manipulation is common. However, manipulation is also common in mainstream religion. He explains that all religions started as cults. Most people think cult just means "bad religion," but it's probably more accurate to call them "baby religions." Still, cults can be dangerous, especially if the police don't know how to treat them. A lot of cult violence, he explains, was a reaction when they felt their backs were against the wall.
I think it's extremely important for people to understand cults and pop mysticism. People are hungry for spirituality. As science erodes religion, we should expect more cults to arise. There's something about the human mind that craves this. We should understand this, and not just write them off as aberrations. The false separation of cult and religion is one of this misunderstandings I'd like to see cleared up. It's all part of the same psychological impulse and has a deep impact on politics and human behavior.
What I really liked about this book is how honest it is. When these new spiritual teachers had something beneficial to offer, this book says so, and when they've completely gone off the rails, this book says so. He isn't afraid to compliment or to scoff. And most of these new teachings do have something beneficial to offer, particularly Eckhart Tolle and Pema Chodron. Some of them, such Joel Osteen and The Celestine Prophecy are just plain bullshit, and this book explains why.
I also like the writing style. It's really fun to read. The way he words things really help clarify things, not just about the subjects this book explores, but also about spirituality and the history of religion. For example, before he discusses Pema Chodron, he gives a lighthearted cliff notes on Buddhism in general.
There is one teaching that ties all of these new pop mysticisms together, that we are the creator of our own destiny through the power of our minds and positive thinking. You don't need to be a theologian to know that it can help to see the bright side of things, or take some personal responsibility to achieve our goals. The problem, which this book often exposes, is that they take it way too far. They make pseudo-scientific claims about quantum physics. They claim that we can control everything in our lives, so anything bad in our lives is our own fault, slipping easily into "blaming the victim" territory.
My gripe about this book is that it's too long. I could have done without the chapters on the Kaballah or Gnosticism. The author rambles and digresses a lot, although it's still interesting. Sometimes it helps to hear an educated theologian thinking out loud about a topic. But there's too much of it. This book could easily be 100 pages shorter.
One of the best parts of the book is the appendices, which explains what a cult is, why people join them, and why they have a reputation for violence. Surprisingly, he makes the case that cults aren't so bad, at least not as bad as people tend to think. There's a bit of confirmation bias going on. We only hear about the bad cults, so we think all cults are bad. Brainwashing is rare in cults, though manipulation is common. However, manipulation is also common in mainstream religion. He explains that all religions started as cults. Most people think cult just means "bad religion," but it's probably more accurate to call them "baby religions." Still, cults can be dangerous, especially if the police don't know how to treat them. A lot of cult violence, he explains, was a reaction when they felt their backs were against the wall.
I think it's extremely important for people to understand cults and pop mysticism. People are hungry for spirituality. As science erodes religion, we should expect more cults to arise. There's something about the human mind that craves this. We should understand this, and not just write them off as aberrations. The false separation of cult and religion is one of this misunderstandings I'd like to see cleared up. It's all part of the same psychological impulse and has a deep impact on politics and human behavior.
September 24, 2014
Dr. Price does what he does best--destroying silly beliefs with fact, dressed with a little snarkiness.
Though the cover shows only a handful of his victims, very few pop culture religious views escape Robert Price's ridicule. Kaballah, UFOs, Scientology, Osteen, Popoff, Wicca, sales gimmicks, et al. all receive a description and are reasonably put to the grave.
Price explains rationally why these pseudo-religions are bunk, how one can identify them, and where people can stick these ideas. Price is not really that harsh, and could have possibly been more destructive with these superstitions, but he's above that.
Though the cover shows only a handful of his victims, very few pop culture religious views escape Robert Price's ridicule. Kaballah, UFOs, Scientology, Osteen, Popoff, Wicca, sales gimmicks, et al. all receive a description and are reasonably put to the grave.
Price explains rationally why these pseudo-religions are bunk, how one can identify them, and where people can stick these ideas. Price is not really that harsh, and could have possibly been more destructive with these superstitions, but he's above that.
June 10, 2008
A nice description of the philosophical and psychological problems in today's mystical/spiritual movements, such as Oprah's favorite "The Secret," and Deepak Chopra's pseudo-Buddhist nonsense. Bob gives some of these systems more credit than I would, but he does have some interesting ideas. The book is definitely for those who have some experience looking at these movements critically.
May 31, 2011
Books and theories that reek of 'New Age' set my teeth on edge, as do pretenders and charlatans who turn ancient tenets into trite slogans. This book, therefore, was most refreshing and had me chuckling most of the way through. Fantastic book!
August 9, 2010
This book is great in that it gives a big "F you" to all of the pop culture gurus de jour. Oprah needs to read it and memorize its passages. She's partly responsible for its contents.
July 1, 2011
Really pretty boring. Imagine your most boring college professor. Okay, not quite that bad, but close. As much as I wanted to like it, I had to abandon it halfway through.
September 13, 2015
If you're going to hold a wienie roast, then light that fire Hiroshi! I would have enjoyed the unedited manuscript more. Price gave his pros and cons in an even tone like he was holding back. Judging by his headings, this could have been a real laugher, but his attempts at fair play left me flat. So, meh.
I had the wrong attitude due to his former titles. I expected some Christian-refutation-Jesus-shoe to drop, but it never manifested, as I imagined it might.
A tough read--much of it twice--while forcing myself awake. I hoped to understand why some of these mysticisms appeal to me, but no special insight manifested, just the usual lost sheep stuff. However, I benefitted from the book because it made all religious movements seem rather absurd. It helped me move beyond being a seeker and brought me to the dead end of understanding. If a religion doesn't liberate you from your suffering, then it isn't much of a spiritual path.
It dispelled any passing interest in Gnosticism or Kabbalah due to a mythology I couldn't grok. I also won't be delving into, "A course in Malarkey" due to it's Sphinx-like riddles. I read some Dyer back in the nineties, but none of it stuck with me. I enjoyed the "Cellophane Prophecy," when it came out, but as presented here, it does seem silly. Osteen creeps me out, so no temptation there. Price dimmed my enthusiasm for Buddhism, though I had no experience with the teachers mentioned.
I didn't agree that Tolle's teaching uses, "The Power of Attraction." Eckhart urges people to move beyond the mind, rather than to be caught up in it (present moment consciousness.) The Power of Attraction urges people to think about what they want to manifest while Eckhart says (paraphrasing) the quality that you bring to the present step will determine the outcome. That's the only thing Price said that made me twinge. Otherwise, I just nodded along with the book. I've benefited a great deal from Eckhart, so it's natural that I would resist any negative opinion. However, Price also benefitted from Tolle, so I'm not sure what he accomplished with that chapter.
While I grudgingly enjoyed it, I wouldn't recommend this book. I'd guess most of the people that read it have some ax to grind, and the book doesn't satisfy in that negativity sort-of way. It's weird how a book about--don't read these books because they don't satisfy--doesn't really satisfy. Egads! Worlds within worlds! Insert illustration by Jack Kirby here.
I had the wrong attitude due to his former titles. I expected some Christian-refutation-Jesus-shoe to drop, but it never manifested, as I imagined it might.
A tough read--much of it twice--while forcing myself awake. I hoped to understand why some of these mysticisms appeal to me, but no special insight manifested, just the usual lost sheep stuff. However, I benefitted from the book because it made all religious movements seem rather absurd. It helped me move beyond being a seeker and brought me to the dead end of understanding. If a religion doesn't liberate you from your suffering, then it isn't much of a spiritual path.
It dispelled any passing interest in Gnosticism or Kabbalah due to a mythology I couldn't grok. I also won't be delving into, "A course in Malarkey" due to it's Sphinx-like riddles. I read some Dyer back in the nineties, but none of it stuck with me. I enjoyed the "Cellophane Prophecy," when it came out, but as presented here, it does seem silly. Osteen creeps me out, so no temptation there. Price dimmed my enthusiasm for Buddhism, though I had no experience with the teachers mentioned.
I didn't agree that Tolle's teaching uses, "The Power of Attraction." Eckhart urges people to move beyond the mind, rather than to be caught up in it (present moment consciousness.) The Power of Attraction urges people to think about what they want to manifest while Eckhart says (paraphrasing) the quality that you bring to the present step will determine the outcome. That's the only thing Price said that made me twinge. Otherwise, I just nodded along with the book. I've benefited a great deal from Eckhart, so it's natural that I would resist any negative opinion. However, Price also benefitted from Tolle, so I'm not sure what he accomplished with that chapter.
While I grudgingly enjoyed it, I wouldn't recommend this book. I'd guess most of the people that read it have some ax to grind, and the book doesn't satisfy in that negativity sort-of way. It's weird how a book about--don't read these books because they don't satisfy--doesn't really satisfy. Egads! Worlds within worlds! Insert illustration by Jack Kirby here.
August 19, 2013
Not sure what Mr. Price's ground axe is supposed to cut. He seems pretty angry that spiritual leaders are human and that they tend to stand on the shoulders of other human spiritual leaders. A couple of his big reveals are that Pema Chodron wasn't born with that name and that her mentor was an alcoholic. His beef with Eckhart Tolle is that he is merely a gifted philosopher with a novel application of Zen. Mr. Price needs to get over his idolizing of spiritual mystics and get on with his own spiritual path. If you expect big exposures of lying mystics, you will be disappointed.
February 1, 2010
I can distill my thoughts about this book into a single word ... “bleah!”
'Top Secret: The Truth Behind Today's Pop Mysticisms' consists of a collection of academic, esoteric clap-trap wrapped in a populist cover. I have no idea who the target audience for this book might be. Perhaps cynical masters candidates in religious studies might find this book interesting, but almost no one else will.
'Top Secret: The Truth Behind Today's Pop Mysticisms' consists of a collection of academic, esoteric clap-trap wrapped in a populist cover. I have no idea who the target audience for this book might be. Perhaps cynical masters candidates in religious studies might find this book interesting, but almost no one else will.
August 27, 2016
Overall, the text is balanced in that the author doesn't give criticism without justification and praises when there is fruit amongst the weeds to be had. I have heard of most of these book, yet, my curiosity isn't strong enough to read them. I may not be able to have read them with as much philosophical knowledge but certainly view his conclusions as they would be my own.
He certainly dishes out more critiques to those texts he feels are lacking in logic and failing to offer helpful content.
He certainly dishes out more critiques to those texts he feels are lacking in logic and failing to offer helpful content.
June 16, 2014
Thin on the ground. Links popular figures to their roots, ok, but sees that as somehow discrediting them. I am not surprised that there isn't much secret. Used to be said that only fat people have diet books, so who has spiritual books? And why so many? Author harbors a liking for more traditional religions, and better behaved expounders.
September 10, 2009
Like his other book, A Reason Driven Life, the best I can say about this book is that it is better than The Secret, which I have read. This was boring, and it shouldn't have been. It is probably a little better than A Reason Driven Life though.
Read
June 28, 2011This was difficult to read and had to be returned to the library before I finished it. I have not felt motivated to check it out again. Maybe later...
March 22, 2013
scientific look behind some of today's popular spiritual ideas and new ageism concepts
Read
May 11, 2015Gnostic and Kabbalah chapters.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews