Norman Vincent Peale

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Norman Vincent Peale (1966)

Norman Vincent Peale (born May 31, 1898 in Bowersville , Ohio , USA; † December 24, 1993 in Pawling , New York ) was an American pastor , author and Freemason .

Life

Peale was raised Methodist , but later moved to the Reformed Church of America and from 1932 worked as a pastor in the Marble Collegiate Church in New York . He grew the number of church members there from 600 to over 5,000 and his teaching of the power of " positive thinking " made him one of the most famous pastors in New York. From 1930 until his death he was married to Ruth Stafford Peale . In 1952 he published his first book The Power of Positive Thinking , which sold millions of copies worldwide. In 1984 Peale was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his theological work.

"Practically Applicable Theology"

According to his own formulation, Peale's theology should be "a practically applicable theology for man". He therefore basically created a kind of Christian life aid and not a spiritual-theological work in the narrower sense. In his book The Tough-Minded Optimist he wrote in a strongly apologetically formulated paragraph that he had also processed thoughts of the new spirit movement , in particular the Unity movement, and various authors in the context of the new spirit movement in his book, but on trinitarian image of God because he is a real Christian in the sense of his church.

criticism

Peales Lebenshilfe method is considered to be an important basic stream of positive thinking . On the part of the evangelicals and pietists , Peale's approach was rejected from the start as purely innerworldly or esoteric or occult. Above all, Dave Hunt justified the fundamental rejection of Peales theology in the 639 pages of his book The Occult Invasion . In his summarizing essay A Light and a Dark Side of Power? He claims that Peale turns to the "light" side of power because of a magical understanding of the world and does not know a personal and just God.

Some cult experts also reject Peale's positive thinking.

The psychologist and psychotherapist Günter Scheich undertakes a critical examination of positive thinking . Sheikh examines the purposeful amalgamation of religion and psychology. Peale combines belief in God in an "almost unbearable, blasphemous way with professional and economic success".

Peale sees the causes of physical illness as being rooted in the mind. He therefore played down physical causes and gave the impression that medical treatment would become superfluous due to his positive thinking method if it is used correctly.

In the teachings of positive thinking, as advocated by Peale, the “basic Christian conception of faith, prayer or healing is falsified into supposedly irresistible“ methods of success ”. Because the fulfillment of Christian hopes is subject to the eschatological reservation, naive-magical positive thinking is prohibited. "

reception

Nelson Mandela wrote to his wife Winnie in April 1969: "The books The Power of Positive Thinking & The Effectiveness of Positive Thinking by the American psychologist Dr. Norman Vincent Peale are probably worth reading. The city library should buy them. I measure the metaphysical aspects of his arguments of no importance, but I consider his views on physical & psychological issues to be useful. "

Works

  • The power of positive thinking . Oesch, Zurich 1960.
  • The effectiveness of positive thinking .
  • This is how positive imagination helps . Oesch publishing house.
  • So you get more out of life . Oesch publishing house.
  • Still positive . Oesch publishing house.
  • Therefore be comforted . Oesch publishing house.
  • Live positive! How active imagination changes your life .
  • Your life begins today. A positive word for every day .
  • Take happiness in your hand .
  • What enthusiasm can do .
  • Life can be joy .
  • The book of joie de vivre .
  • The yes to life . Oesch, Zurich 1994.
  • The plus factor . Heyne, Munich 1991.

Web links

criticism
Evangelical criticism

Individual evidence

  1. ^ German: Das Ja zum Leben , Zurich 1994, Oesch-Verlag, page 40.
  2. ↑ The Occult Invasion. The subliminal seduction of the world and Christianity , CLV, Bielefeld 1999, ISBN 3-89397-272-2 .
  3. ↑ Positive thinking in: Lexikon der Sekten, Sondergruppen and Weltanschauungen, Herder, Freiburg-Basel-Wien, 1991, pp. 821–822
  4. ^ A b Günter Scheich: Positive thinking makes you sick. About dizziness with dangerous promises of success. (PD) Dr. Scheich Verlag, 3rd ext. Edition Oelde 2013, ISBN 978-3-943632-03-3 . P. 50 f.
  5. ↑ Evangelical Central Office for Weltanschauung questions. Dictionary. Article “Positive Thinking”.
  6. ↑ Nelson Mandela: Letters from Prison. Munich 2018. p. 110.
personal data
SURNAME Peale, Norman Vincent
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American pastor and author
DATE OF BIRTH May 31, 1898
PLACE OF BIRTH Bowersville , Ohio , United States
DATE OF DEATH December 24, 1993
Place of death Pawling , New York , United States