The Law of Prosperity

The Law of Prosperity

[TBC: Ralph Waldo Trine was one of the early influences on the prosperity doctrine taught by E.W. Kenyon and then by today's word faith movement. Prosperity is seen to be the result of a "law of prosperity" which can be tapped by those that understand its secrets. Hagin, Copeland, Capps and other more modern teachers are simply repeating the metaphysical ideas of Trine.]

Trine wrote: “This is the law of prosperity: When apparent adversity comes, be not cast down by it, but make the best of it, and always look forward for better things, for conditions more prosperous. To hold yourself in this attitude of mind is to set into operation subtle, silent, and irresistible forces that sooner or later will actualize in material form that which is today merely an idea. But ideas have occult power, and ideas, when rightly planted and rightly tended, are the seeds that actualize material conditions.” - Ralph Waldo Trine, In Tune With The Infinite, Chapter 11 – Plenty Of All Things – The Law Of Prosperity, pg. 104.

“It is significant to note that Trine attributes the confession of prosperity to “occult power.” Trine believed that “thought is a force, and it has occult power of unknown proportions when rightly used and wisely directed.” This usage of occult powers is, of course, a practice that the Faith teachers would publicly reject. Nevertheless, the Faith teachers must come to grips with the fact that those who began the practices of positive mental attitude and positive confession attributed their ability to acquire riches to psychic and occultic power. For example, Trine advocated the occultic practice of visualization as a means to become prosperous. He instructs his followers in the art of visualizing prosperity through mental suggestion and verbal affirmation” (D.R. McConnell, A Different Gospel…, The Doctrine of Prosperity, 1988, pg. 173-174).