Season 3: Episode 10 - Unpacking 'Happy Lies' with Melissa Daugherty

Episode #10 Show Notes

Hosts: Kimberly Willess, Warren Lamb

Guest: Melissa Daugherty

Summary

In this episode of The Soul Care Podcast, Kimberly and Warren talk with Melissa Dougherty, an author and apologist, about her book 'Happy Lies' and the New Thought movement. Melissa shares her spiritual journey from New Thought to Christianity, exploring how seductive New Thought beliefs can be and how they appear in modern Christianity. The conversation explores the meaning of suffering, the importance of surrender in the Gospel, and the false idea of human goodness. They also examine how consumerism affects spirituality and why true healing comes through Christ. Melissa mentions her future research plans, including a detailed examination of influential figures in the New Thought movement and their impact on Christianity.

Takeaways

• Melissa Dougherty's book 'Happy Lies' explores the New Thought movement.
• She shares her journey from New Thought to Christianity.
• New Thought beliefs are often mistaken for Christian teachings.
• The seductive nature of New Thought makes it difficult to identify.
• Suffering is viewed differently in New Thought compared to Christianity.
• The need for surrender to God's will is emphasized in the Gospel.
• Human goodness is an illusion in the context of sin.
• Consumerism influences modern spirituality and instant gratification.
• True healing comes through a relationship with Christ.
• Melissa plans to research influential figures in the New Thought movement.

Relevant Links

Mentioned Resources

• Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World (Melissa Daugherty)
• Melissa Daugherty YouTube Channel
• Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel (Kate Bowler)
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between (Greg Koukl)
• The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution (Carl R. Trueman)
• Biblical Counseling and Mental Disorder Diagnosis (Jenn Chen)
• Science Fictions: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth (Stewart Ritchie)
• Brainwashed: The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience (Sally Satel and Scott O. Linienfeld)
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (Michael Scheeringa)

Other Links

• Truth in Love Biblical Counseling
• Warren’s Blog

Warrenism of the Week: “Surrender isn't giving up; it's finally letting the right Person be in charge.”