I had an interesting conversation with someone yesterday about this blog. This woman is someone I consider a friend, albeit not a close one. She is a devout Christian, though I will not disclose her church affiliation because this is not the point.
She told me that in her opinion, affirmations were against her religion. She seems to think they are a new age concept, therefore, dangerous to her salvation.
Regardless of my belief system or hers, I decided to do a little investigating. Doing so was easy because I had recently been listening to The Power of Positive Thinking audio book. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale advocates the use of affirmations – from the Christian Bible!
For example:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
“This is the day the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Of course, I don’t want to debate theology. Again, not the point of this post. I just want to encourage everyone who fears affirmations are against their faith to turn to their holy books and find the positive statements there that can edify them.
In the Christian faith, scripture memorization is considered a great thing. How do we commit something to memory? We repeat it. Over and over. Sounds like affirming to me. What do you think?
Affirming something is simply stating it as if it were already true. If you believe the Bible is true, affirm this. If you believe something else, affirm it.
Am I completely off track here? Please do not turn this into a theology debate. Flamers and trolls will have their posts deleted. As will anyone who launches a personal attack on another commenter. So please offer considered, thoughtful answers to my question. I’m interested to see where this goes.



2 comments
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September 25, 2008 at 1:39 am
@Stephen
You are correct, affirmations are very much a part of the Christian faith. I would submit that the Lord’s Prayer itself is an affirmation. What other term can one use to describe phrases such as “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”? (Yes, confirmed old-school Lutheran)
September 25, 2008 at 2:12 am
Mary
I am a lapsed Catholic who has explored other Judeo-Christian belief systems. There is a great deal of positive reinforcement and affirmation to be found in most holy books, I think.
It shocked me when this devout and educated woman told me that using affirmations was against her religion.