There is power in the spoken word

We live in a world of confusion, heresies, and blatant falsehood. A day doesn’t go by when I hear of churches accepting false teachings, or disowning certain Scriptures because they don’t believe they align with the teachings of Jesus. Some Christians will have courage to speak out against them, while others decide it’s best not to make waves.

False teachings creep into the Church easily, because believers trust their sincere Jesus-loving pastors. These teachers will lay God’s Word alongside a falsehood, making the principle appear to be true, thus giving continued life to a lie. It then grows and lures in others, and before you know it — they’ve created a monster.

The Word of Faith doctrine of “positive and negative confession” is one of these false teachings. By embracing a faulty view of faith, hundreds of thousands have been captivated by it. This teaching is inseparably linked to the belief that “faith is a force,” which maintains that words themselves actually contain the power to change reality (positively or negatively, depending on what kind of words are spoken) when coupled with the faith-force. So basically, “What you say is what you get.”

What most people don’t realize, is that the Word-Faith movement is one of the most subtle heretical systems to emerge during our lifetime. Their teachings dominate television ministries and make them appear like Biblical Christianity. Those involved in the movement have no idea of its cultic qualities and theology. The gospel of the Faith movement does produce results, but you will find that the gospel of metaphysics does as well.

Mary Baker Eddy

Some who have been in the movement may say that they have seen healing and miracles occur, but results can never be the criterion by which the truth of an idea is proven. If that were the case, Charismatics would have to claim Mary Baker Eddy as a prophetess, and Christian Science as the true Gospel. But Christian Science is not the true gospel and Word-Faith is deeply rooted in the metaphysical cult schools.[1]

Spiritual Laws and Formulas
New Agers follow a similar principal of the“Law of Attraction.” The Law of Attraction
simply says that you attract into your life whatever you think about.  Your dominant thoughts will find a way to manifest. Sound familiar? This is the same kind of rhetoric heard in the Word-Faith movement. But what is actually taking place here? Is the occult world literally trying to offer mankind the “powers of creation and lordship?” These are powers that we as believers know belong to God alone. God never gave man the right to be his own master and live according to his own will. Yet, this is precisely what those promoting occult spiritual laws want. But you will find that it is what the vast majority of today’s Christian wants too.

It is, in fact, the exact same offer the serpent brought to Adam and Eve in the Garden — powers that will make you “like God.” “And the serpent said unto the woman, “You shall not surely die: For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4-5). 

Essentially, faith teachers are recommending “formulas” that a person should follow in order to get whatever he/she wants from God. And, of course, Scripture verses are taken out of context and misused in order to try to justify these formulas. They demote God to make Him look more human than He is. They deify man to make us look more like God. 
 
Word-Faith theology’s view of spiritual laws and formulas can really only be understood in light of the doctrine of god in the metaphysical cults. The “god” that the metaphysical cults believe in is not a personal God who sovereignly governs the universe, but an impersonal force — “the Force,” “the Infinite Power,” “the Spirit of Infinite Life,” and “the Infinite Intelligence.” This infinite, but impersonal, force rules the universe indirectly through “immutable laws” rather than directly through His presence and wisdom. [2]

How are the Word-Faith and metaphysical cults similar?
Consider the similarities between the Word-Faith and the metaphysical teachings of New Thought, Christian Science, Unity School of Christianity, Divine Science, the Church of Religious Science, and the Society of Healing Christ.

1. Metaphysical cults say: Faith is a force that both God and man can use 

 
Word-Faith says: “Faith is a force just like electricity or gravity” (Copeland), and it is the substance out of which God creates whatever is (Capps). God uses faith, and so may we in exactly the same way in order to produce the same results through obedience to the same “laws of faith” (Capps) that God applied in creation. “You have the same ability [as God has] dwelling or residing on the inside of you” (Capps). “We have all the capabilities of God. We have His faith” (Copeland).

2. 

Metaphysical cults say: Faith’s force is released by speaking words
 
Word-Faith says: “Words are the most powerful thing in the universe” because they “are containers” that “carry faith or fear and they produce after their kind” (Capps). God operates by these very same laws. “God had faith in His own words … God had faith in His faith, because He spoke words of faith and they came to pass. That faith force was transported by words … the God-kind-of-faith … is released by the words of your mouth” (Hagin). “Creative power was in God’s mouth. It is in your mouth also” (Capps).

Consider the teaching of Joel Osteen and the power of words:

(YouTube link)

3. Metaphysical cults say: Man is a “little god” in God’s class
 
Word-Faith says: “Man was designed or created by God to be the god of this world” (Tilton, Hagin, Capps). “Adam was the god of this world … [but he] sold out to Satan, and Satan became the god of this world” (Hagin). “We were created to be gods over the earth, but remember to spell it with a little ‘g’” (Tilton, Hagin, Capps). “Adam was created in God’s class … to rule as a god … by speaking words” (Copeland). “Man was created in the God class … We are a class of gods … God himself spawned us from His innermost being … We are in God; so that makes us part of God (2 Cor 5:17)” (Copeland).

Consider some of the things Kenneth Copeland has said: 

(YouTube link) (Please watch the entire piece to get the jist)

4. Metaphysical cults say: Anyone — occultist or Christian — can use the faith-force

Word-Faith says: Because man is a little god “in God’s class: very capable of operating on the same level of faith as God” (Capps), and “because all men are spirit beings” (Hagin), therefore anyone, whether Christian or pagan, can release this “faith force” by speaking words if he only believes in his words as God believes in His (Hagin). “God is a faith God. God releases His faith in Words, [and we must do the same:] … Everything you say [positive or negative] will come to pass” (Capps). “Spiritual things are created by WORDS. Even natural, physical things are created by WORDS” (Hagin).

5. 

Metaphysical cults say: You get what you confess
 
Word-Faith says: The vital key is confessing, or speaking aloud, and thereby, releasing the force of faith. “You get what you say” (Hagin, Hunter). “Only by mouth confession can faith power be released, allowing tremendous things to happen” (Cho). “Remember, the key to receiving the desires of your heart is to make the words of your mouth agree with what you want” (Copeland). “Whatever comes out of your mouth shall be produced in your life” (Tilton). “They’re [his two children] 30-some years of age today, and I don’t believe I prayed more than half a dozen times for both of them in all these years. Why? Because you can have what you say — and I had already said it!” (Hagin).

6. 

Metaphysical cults say: Never make a negative confession
 

Word-Faith says: The tongue “can kill you, or it can release the life of God within you … whether you believe right or wrong, it is still the law” (Capps). There is power in “the evil fourth dimension” (Cho). If you confess sickness you get it, if you confess health you get it; whatever you say you get” (Hagin). “Faith is as a seed … you plant it by speaking it” (Capps). “The spoken word … releases power — power for good or power for evil” (Bashan). Therefore, it is very important never to speak anything negative but only to make a positive confession — hence the name of the Positive Confession movement. [3]

The following metaphysical cults, which have ties to the Word of Faith, have said the following.

7. New Thought says: “This Infinite Power is creating, working, ruling through the agency of great immutable laws and forces that run all through the universe, that surround us on every side. Every act of our everyday lives is governed by these same great laws and forces . . . In a sense, there is nothing in all the great universe but law.”

8. Unity School of Christianity says: “The mental and spiritual world or realms are governed by laws that are just as real and unfailing as the laws that govern the natural world. Certain conditions of mind that are so connected with certain results that the two are inseparable. If we have one, we must have the other as surely as night follows day.”

In other words, “every thought of the human mind causes an effect in the universe through the operation of spiritual laws.” In such teachings, man does not have to deal with a personal God, but rather with impersonal laws that can be manipulated by anyone, regardless of their standing with God. Faith is merely a formula by which you manipulate the universe, by which you manipulate things.

Kenyon and Spiritual Laws

Kenyon

E.W. Kenyon (1867–1948), the Father of the Word of Faith,  referred to “the great spiritual laws that govern the unseen forces of life,” in many of his writings. He espoused the metaphysical version of deism, a universe governed by spiritual laws, instead of by God. So, in practice, the Word of Faith “god” does not differ from the god of the metaphysical cults, and both must do the bidding of universal laws that are activated by human faith.

Therefore, the numerous healings and miracles occurring in the Word-Faith movement are not necessarily signs from God, and the Faith gospel may not be the Gospel of the New Testament. Charismatics who assume that healings vindicate truth are overlooking the fact that almost every major religion and cult the world has ever known, has produced healings. For every god there is a religion, and in every religion there are healings.

Smith Wigglesworth has also been given credit as an early proponent of the metaphysical. In 1944, the teaching that stated: “What you say will come to pass. Speak the word and the bound shall be free, the sick shall be healed,” was written by Pentecostal evangelist Smith Wigglesworth in a publication titled Pentecostal Evangel. It is viewed by some to be a significant point on the timeline of 20th century ecumenical apostasy.

Smith Wigglesworth

Granted, the Faith movement does claim to heal “in the name of Jesus,” but this proves nothing, because the New Thought movement does also. Both the Faith movement and metaphysical cults incessantly use the name of Jesus. Because of the historical connection between the two, the question that must be raised again is whether the Jesus of the Faith movement is the Jesus of the New Testament. Perhaps the Jesus of the Word-Faith movement is “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4) and the gospel of the Faith movement is a “different gospel” (Gal. 1:6).

More Background on Kenyon and the Metaphysical Cults
E. W. Kenyon established his ministry in the late 1800s. Kenyon adopted the teachings of New Thought. New Thought is a spiritual movement which developed in the United States during the late 19th century and emphasizes metaphysical beliefs. It is a set of beliefs concerning the effects of positive thinking, the law of attraction, healing, life force, creative visualization, and personal power. The beliefs of New Thought are based in a variety of religious and philosophical sources, including Platonism (with its emphasis on the realm of Ideas), Swedenborgianism (biblical interpretation based on the view that the material realm has spiritual causes and divine purposes), Hegelianism (a philosophy identifying the nervous organism as the meeting ground of the body and the mind); spiritual teachings of Eastern religions like Hinduism, and especially the Transcendentalism of the 19th-century American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.[4]

Emma Curtis Hopkins

There have been two people who have claimed to found New Thought — Phineas Quimby (1802-1866) and Emma Curtis Hopkins (1849-1925), a former student of Mary Baker Eddy of Christian Science. Hopkins wrote High Mysticism and Scientific Christian Mental Practice and founded the Emma Hopkins College of Metaphysical Science, where the vast majority of graduates were women. The two most commonly-held and fundamental beliefs in New Thought are: (1) the Divine is in all things and (2) the mind is much more real and powerful than matter.[5]

What most people don’t realize is that the New Age movement, with the help of Alice Bailey, articulated and enlarged the Spiritualism of the 19th century Helena Blavatsky, Phineas Quimby, and Mary Baker Eddy, and brought it to a new level of metaphysical sophistication into the 20th century. [6] As you watch the video, you will see how New Thought and Christian Science has been woven together. The video give credit to Phineas Quimby’s New Thought as the forerunner to the New Age movement.

(YouTube link)

Does a Christian compromise his faith if he uses the metaphysical faith-force?
Are there power in words? Yes, I believe there is. Is positive confession to be used as a tool to get what a Christian wants? No, I believe that by doing this, a believer has compromised, because it uses mystical practices. The point of magic in Witchcraft

is to make the «bendable» world bend to your will.[7] Christians are not to bend the world to our will. God has provided the Christian with prayer, and it is the only means by which we have communication with Him and convey our requests. We are given answers according to His will.

«And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.» 1 John 5:14-15

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30

It’s plain and simple, with no formula required!
 
In Dave Hunt’s book Beyond Seduction, he said, “In the world of the occult, the metaphysical “mind power” of one’s belief is reinforced by speaking it aloud. This act releases what occultists call the “creative power of the spoken word” and brings into existence whatever one says or decrees. This occult idea forms the basis for mantras, incantations, and hexes. Nevertheless, the faith teachers continue to expound upon this unbiblical and occult thesis and represent it to be the teaching of Scripture through their ministry in the pulpit, radio, and television, and in books such as The Tongue — A Creative Force and You Can Have What You Say.

So you see, God provides boundaries, and they are for our benefit. Dabbling in the metaphysical is mysticism, and mysticism is the occult. The word «occult» means hidden, and when we hold that words have hidden powers in themselves, we are saying they have occultic powers. Contrary to what many Charismatic Christians believe about the power of their personal positive and negative confession, the practice has crossed the line. Their confessions become more like magical rituals, than an exercise of faith.

But, make no mistake, the Lord does not function through magic! It completely ignores His Sovereign Will for a person’s life as the individual attempts to operate within particular “laws” to bring about what he desires for his own life. Attempting to operate outside the Will of God and/or rebelling against His will is witchcraft (I Sam. 15:23).

Anton LaVey helps us see how Lucifer has manipulated his way at an attempt to reach the top. He wrote, “Satanic ritual is a blend of Gnostic, Cabbalistic, Hermetic, and Masonic elements, incorporating nomenclature [system of principles] and vibratory words of power from virtually every mythos ….”  In these rituals, the knowledge of the right words, appropriate phrases and the more highly developed forms of speech, gives man a power over and above his own limited field of personal action.”

Power and success are why so many people are willing to sell their soul to the devil!

The True Power of Words

In Biblical Christianity, we learn that the Word of God carries power to restrain (Psa. 119:9, 11), guide (Psa. 119:133), it is living and active (Heb. 4:12), it is a source of joy (Psa. 119: 47, 97, 162), of new life (1 Peter 1:23), and a source for spiritual food (1 Peter 2:2). The Word can deliver from troubles (Psa. 107:20), make free (John 8:32), illuminate (Psa. 119:130), bear witness (John 20:31), produce faith (Rom. 10:17), delight the heart (Jer. 15:16), and it has the ability to destroy the world in judgement (2 Peter 3:5-7).

God’s spoken Word produces a crop (Matt. 13:23). The «good seed,» the truths preached, have an affect by the Gospel being preached.

In Romans 10:8-10, the Bible says that our spoken confession of heartfelt belief has the power to bring salvation. “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.”

On the negative side, we find that words alone have the ability to wound (Prov. 26:22), sustain (Isa. 50:4), determine destiny (Matt. 12:36, 37), and stir up anger (Prov. 15:1). They can invoke a blessing upon another (Gen. 24:60; Gen. Gen. 27:4, 27) and invoke a curse (Gen. 3:17; Gen. 4:11; Gen. 9:25; Gen.9:47; Deut. 28).

Definition of Faith

(YouTube link)

Conclusion
Biblical faith is not magic.Yes, God does send His power as a result of proper faith, but faith is not the power of God in and of itself. Neither does “speaking words of faith” exercise the power of God. God exercises His own power. No human can direct or command the power of God. Humans only receive what the Lord sovereignly supplies. Faith is not the power of the mind, nor an attitude of mind over matter. Faith is trust and rest, specifically in the work Jesus did at Calvary. 

Further Research
«A Different Gospel: A Historical and Biblical Analysis of the Modern Faith Movement» by D.R. McConnell 

Related Post
Word of Faith: Part 1 

The power of the spoken word is a concept shared by many cultures and its roots go deep into pre-literate
history. The most widely cited written reference in western civilization comes from the Bible

The Gospel According to Saint John, Chapter One starts:

‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.’

The power of the spoken word, if Saint John’s words are interpreted literally, is sufficient to create an entire world.

In direct contrast is this old rhyme:

‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but names (words) will never hurt me.’

If we accept this idea words are powerless. Now we have a conundrum to consider. In the first quote words are omnipotent. In the second they are impotent.

What do you believe about the Power of the Spoken Word?
Is this a truth or a fanciful notion?
Should you consider the latent power in every word you’re about to utter before you open your mouth?
Before you leap to an answer, try another question.
What is a word?

Is it merely a bundle of random letters?
Is it a sound or a series of sounds?
How do words carry intent or meaning?
Does it matter how or what we actually say?
If we don’t understand the language being used, is there still power in the spoken word?

OK. That was lots of questions. Not just one. But words do that. They are complex slippery things defying simplicity. Their exact nature and the question of whether they have power or not has exercised great minds from antiquity to the present
day.

For myself, I know there is Power in the Spoken Word.

I picture a word as carrier. Made of a collection of letters arranged in a unique way, each word denotes or stands for either a thing, person or an action.

These ‘things’, ‘persons’ or ‘actions’ are given meaning through our experience and knowledge of them.
For instance, the word, Mother.
Say the word. Let it roll around your mouth until you can taste it. What images does it conjure up? What feelings come with
those images?

All of what you’ve just re-experienced was unpacked and released by the simple arrangement of six letters: M-O-T-H-E-R. To me, that’s power. The letters by themselves are meaningless.

I believe the ‘bigger’ the word, the more power it has.
By ‘big’ words, I mean those effecting us all regardless of who or where we are. These are universal words shared by
everybody. The language used may be different but the idea contained by those words is the same.

Some of the words from my ‘big’ list are:

life, freedom, love, hate, health, wealth, happiness, death, disease, cancer, family, war, kill, birth, brother, lover,
sister, son, daughter, mother, father, home, speech, forgiveness…

Maybe you can think of more. Each of those carries energy ( either positive or negative) and that energy is the sum of our
emotional response or intention. The word is a conduit allowing us to express ourselves.

How does the Power of the Spoken Word affect us?

Words can heal, words can hurt and words spoken by those closest to us have the most power of all.

Our word education begins when we do, at birth. Tiny and defenceless we are powerless, utterly dependent on others for our survival. From our mothers, fathers, caregivers we learn the power of the spoken word. We learn if we are loved, valued and cherished and we also learn the opposite and all the shades in between.

The messages of our childhoods keep speaking long after they were first spoken. It’s as if they get locked inside our minds
and echo on. Sometimes they lie dormant and then an event will trigger them. Up they pop like a jack-in-the-box and we hear
again what we were told long ago.

I saw this illustrated numerous times as a teacher. Unfortunately it was mostly the negative comments that replayed.

I experienced fully capable adults reduced to emotional chaos over what appeared the simplest of tasks. When the reason for the breakdown was explored they’d often tell me they couldn’t do ‘x’, ‘y’ or ‘z’ because they were stupid, silly or dumb.

When I challenged the statement, they’d say, that’s what they’d been told. Some would go on to tearfully explain. Inevitably there would be some strong figure or a number of them who shot the wounding bullets. They’d been ricocheting ever since.

If we track back over our lives there will be numerous occasions where words either healed or hurt.

How does the Power of our Spoken Words affect others?

If we accept words spoken to us have the capacity or power to affect the way we feel about ourselves, others and the world,
then we must accept our words have the same potential impact on those around us. We can hurt or we can heal. The choice is
ours every time we open our mouths.

Using the Power of Spoken Words to Heal.

Acknowledging the power of spoken words is a fundamental building block to many self-help as well as main stream therapies. For what we say out loud is a guide to what lies within us. If our talk is critical, cynical or destructive, then we tend to find we think about ourselves in a similar way. Quite simply, we don’t like or approve of much that we do or who we think we are. We have little tolerance for our weaknesses. We are ashamed. We fear being less than others. We attack for fear of being exposed.

The power of positive thinking has been well documented. Change the way you think or talk to yourself and you will change
yourself. The words you speak to yourself in the privacy of your mind have power too. Sounds too simple to be true, doesn’t
it? But it is.
Shakespeare said it like this: ‘Nothing is either good or bad.’Tis thinking makes it so.’
Words create our world.

Do you want to put some Positve Power of the Spoken Word in Your life?

Yes! Great. Go to Ten Tips on Using the Positive Power of the Spoken Word. These are simple to use power-packed suggestions.
Let the energy of your words heal.

Would you like to read some more about the power of positive thinking and how self-talk shapes our
lives?

Try reading James Allen’s ‘As a Man Thinketh’. This little classic is regarded as the forerunner to many of the best seller texts of today — including Norman Vincent Peale’s ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’. You can download a free copy right now!

Or you could try any of these 3 links to sites specialising in positive thinking.

They represent a variety of viewpoints. Give each of them a chance to ‘talk’ to you. If you don’t like what you’re ‘hearing’ click up the next. Fortunately, there are many ways to express the power of the spoken word. There will be one appropriate for you.

‘Benefits of Positive Thinking’ belongs to Cristina Diaz.
It contains a broad selection of articles and links to resources. Cristina writes in a warm, approachable way sharing her journey toward thinking positively.

Simon Templeton’s site features a collection of free downloadable classic texts.
Each e-book is a testimony to the power of positive thinking or the power of the spoken word. You’ll find amongst the treasures Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich’.

Steve Pavlina’s fascinating site features a startling variety of articles all related to various aspects of self development
including positive thinking and the power of the spoken word. He calls it Personal development for Smart People.
Warning! It’s so easy to lose hours here.

PS.
Does using the power of the spoken word positively mean you have to be a ‘pollyanna’ about everything or everybody you meet
in life?
You know…absolutely everything is ‘nice’, ‘super’ or ‘wonderful’ regardless of what you feel or the situation you’re in.

No. That would be daft. It would deny your intelligence and that of the person you’re talking to (even if it’s yourself!).

What it does mean is looking beyond the initial often destructive or dismissive impulse to find the constructive one. Example: I write. I want to write so well the words sing off the page. It seldom happens. Sometimes my words warble pleasantly but they also frequently squawk. I can stop writing altogether and say things like. ‘I tried but it was too hard.’ ‘I don’t have the talent.’
Or I can say: ‘That piece is better than the last. That paragraph worked. I like your sentence construction there. Now how about you go back and have a play with that bit where you were trying to explain…’
See the difference?

Do you ever get bored or feel limited by your current word collection? If so, it’s time to get a new one. Go to my How to Increase Your Word Power page for tips and suggestions to improve your vocabulary. There are thousands and thousands of words in the English language. They’re waiting for you now, all free to a good home; your mouth!

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Exploring the various meanings of words is a theme in The Hobbit and Tolkien’s other books and studies. A related theme is the contrasting mindsets of the various characters, and this scene is an example of both, and also a way to naturally convey the personality of the characters.

And for people humored by and interested in words and the various ways they can be thought of, it’s an entertaining, interesting exchange.

Of course, too, Gandalf is a wizard, and Tolkien’s magic is often based in words, rules, and riddles. In order to discover and use magic, often it is necessary to remember the exact words and their specific meanings, as seen later in various inscriptions, some of which can only be read in moonlight on specific days, or only make sense in context, such as the doorway to Moria, without whose interpretation of specific meaning, the Fellowship might have been thwarted.

Bilbo too has his fate determined by his clever use and interpretation of words during the riddle game that wins him the ring (and which also drives the fate of the world in The Lord of the Rings).

The scene also conveys the usual mindset of hobbits (which leads into the recurring theme of Bilbo’s thoughts and feelings as a reluctant adventurer), and Gandalf’s moral code and thoughts about enlisting Bilbo.

THE POWER OF THE SPOKEN WORD

Arguments and debates can be exhilarating experiences.

But those wishing to be more persuasive must first make sure they prepare.

If you say «I am having an argument», most people will assume that you are picking a fight. But this need not necessarily be so. The ability to argue in a controlled way is a fundamental skill. It is used by lawyers, politicians, campaigners and many others every day of the week. Arguing well is part of the process of successful negotiation. It is far more likely to get you out of trouble than into it. Some people instinctively find that they are strong arguers. However, the art of arguing can be taught, and in many schools it is part of other subjects. Until the beginning of this century, many people considered arguing to be one of the essential elements in a proper education

The Greeks and Romans, whose ideas about law, science, the arts and society have had such an enormous impact on our own culture, also influenced the way we argue. Aristotle (384-322 BC), the Greek philosopher, wrote a work called Rhetorica which laid down rules to follow in order to argue successfully. In these ancient societies, writing was used less widely than in ours and so public speaking was very important. There were no newspapers and no television to help people decide what they thought about issues. Practised speakers, known as orators, who spoke on formal occasions and at public meetings, were critical in helping to form opinions. Orators used all the tricks of rhetoric to get their points across. In Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Mark Antony is so angry about the assassination of Caesar, his friend, that he makes a powerful speech to the Roman people.

Shakespeare, who knew from his reading about the Roman art of public speaking, gives his character powerful lines which win the people over to his side. Speaking like a true Roman orator, Antony addresses his audience with the lines, «Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…»

If Anthony were transported in time and space to the Houses of Parliament in Britain today, lie would almost certainly recognise what was going on. He would realise that when politicians «debate» bills or motions, they are following on Horn the lines that were laid down in the ancient world. Whether he would be impressed by what he heard is, of course, another matter.

To win an argument, you need to convince someone that you are right. To do tliat you have to make a good case, which requires organisation. Many people have suggested ways to do this. The same basic principles underlie most systems.

Firstly, you should decide what you think. It is surprising how many people start sounding off about something without really deciding what they think about it. An opinion which has been formed without any real thought or inherited from others — friends or parents, for example — is really no more than a prejudice. Before you are able to argue on any subject, you need to understand what you are talking about.

Next, you should select your arguments. The whole process of talking about your opinion and showing why it is right is known as an argument. The individual parts of the process are also called arguments. Selecting your arguments means coming up with the reasons which best support your opinion. It often helps to think of specific examples to help illustrate them. You might want to argue that nuclear power should be banned. One of your arguments might be that it is dangerous. You might want to illustrate this by giving examples of accidents that have actually happened.

You should also anticipate your opponent’s arguments because, as well as coming up with reasons in support of your opinion, you need to think about the criticisms that might be made of it. You need answers for these criticisms. This is one of the most powerful ways of winning over your audience.

The order of your arguments is also very important. You might want to deal with the powerful and convincing arguments first. On the other hand, you might like to start with the less important ones and build up a more and more convincing case. Of course, there is more to winning an argument than just having a good case. You also need to present it properly. That means not just thinking about what you say, but also about how you say it. Over the years, people have thought up a number of techniques to make what they say persuasive. These include asking rhetorical questions (which are not meant to be answered), appealing to the audience’s emotions and making effective analogies.

Vocabulary.

argument — спор, дискуссия; аргумент, доказательство

debate — дебаты, дискуссия, полемика, спор

argue — спорить, доказывать, убеждать

exhilirate — оживлять, веселить

persuasive — убедительный

make sure — убедиться

assume — полагать, считать

fight — борьба

ability — способность

skin — кожа

lawyer — адвокат, юрист

negotiation — переговоры

get out of the trouble — избежать проблемы

essential — существенный

proper — подходящий, соответствующий

enormous — огромный

impact — воздействие, влияние

influence — влиять

lay down — заложить

ancient — древний

widely — широко

issue — вопрос

occasion — случай

trick — уловка

assasination — убийство

address — обращаться

audience — аудитория

countrymen — соотечественники

lend — здесь: предоставить

recognise — узнать, признать

be going on — происходить

bill — законопроект

impress — впечатлять

convince — убеждать

case — случай

require — требоваться

underlie — ледать в основе

sound off — разносить (новости)

opinion — мнение

inherit (from) — здесь: заимствовать (от)

prejudice — предубеждение

be able — быть способным, мочь

select — выбирать, отбирать

individual — отдельный

reason — причина, повод

support — поддерживать

nuclear — ядерный

ban — запрещать

accident — несчастный случай, авария

actually — на самом деле

anticipate — предвидеть

opponent — противник, оппонент

deal*(with) — иметь дело (с)

convincing — убедительный

on the other hand — с другой стороны

properly — соответственно, должным образом

appeal (to) — обращаться, взывать (к)

Word Study.

Ex. 1. Match the phrases with their Russian equivalents:

1. convincing arguments a/ существенный элемент

2. controlled way b/ официальный случай

3. in support of one’s opinion c/ огромное воздействие

4. ability to argue d/ древнее общество

5. successful negotiation e/ контролируемый способ

6. more likely f/ сильный спорщик

7. strong arguer g/ правила, которым следуют

8. essential element h/ соответсвующее образование

9. proper education i/ в поддержку своего мнения

10.enormous impact j/ убедительные доказательства

11. rules to follow k/ более вероятно

12. ancient society l/ во времени и в пространстве

13. Formal occasion m/ умение спорить/доказывать

14. tricks of rhetoric n/ другой вопрос

15. in time and space o/ уловки риторики

16. Another matter p/ успешные переговоры

Ex. 2. Match the phrases with their Russian equivalents:

1. to appeal to the audience a/ победить в споре

2. to form an opinion b/ унаследовать от других

3. to be persuasive c/ обращаться к аудитории

4. to address to opponents d/ произойти на самом деле

5. to win an argument e/ лежать в основе б-ва систем

6. to inherit from others f/ обращаться к оппонентам

7. to underlie most systems g/ завоевать аудиторию

8. to anticipate some critic h/ быть убедительным

9. to happen actually i/ сформировать мнение

10. to win the audience j/ предвидеть критику

Ex. 3. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Способность (умение) спорить/доказывать контролируемым способом является фундаментальным умением в дебатах.

2. Это умение применяется (apply) юристами, политиками и представителями ряда других профессий.

3. Хороший спор — это часть успешного ведения переговоров.

4. Некоторые люди инстинктивно чувствуют, что они — хорошие спорщики.

5. Однако искусству ведения переговоров можно научить.

6. До начала ХХ-го века многие люди рассматривали умение спорить и вести переговоры существенными элементами хорошего (proper) образования.

7. В древние времена не было ни газет, ни телевидения, а письмо (writing) использовалось в гораздо меньшей степени, чем настоящее время.

8. Чтобы победить в споре, вам нужно убедить других, что вы правы.

9. Удивительно, как много людей начинают говорить (sound off), не решив, что они думают по этому поводу.

10. Мнение, которое либо сформировано без раельного обдумыввания, либо заимствовано от других — не что иное, как предубеждение.

11. Прежде, чем начать спорить по какому-то поводу, вам нужно понять, о чем вы собираетесь говорить.

12. Затем следует отобрать нужные аргументы.

13. Весь процесс высказывания вашего мнения и доказательство того, почему это верно, называется дискуссией.

14. Затем следует отобрать доводы, которые лучше всего могут поддержать ваше мнение.

15. Неплохо также подобрать примеры, чтобы проиллюстрировать ваше доказательства.

16. Вы также должны быть готовы к возможной критике.

17. Порядок приведения примеров тоже очень важен — можно начать с менее

важных и закончить выступление наиболее убедительными.

18. С годами люди создали множество техник, чтобы выглядеть (sound) более

убедительными, в том числе риторические вопросы (вопросы, не требующие

ответа), воззвание к эмоциям аудитории и приведение убедительных

аналогий.

19. Пользуясь вышеуказанными (above) методами, вы сможете завоевать

аудитoрию.

Comprehension Check.

Answer the following questions:

1. What are the meanings of the word «argument»?

2. Who needs the skill of arguing?

3. Is the art of arguing an in-born (прирожденный) quality or it can be taught?

4 What is the book «Rhetoric» by Aristotle devoted to?

5. Why public speaking was so important in ancient times?

6. What is needed to convince someone that you are right?

7. What is needed to be successful in debates?

8. Is the order of presenting arguments important?

9. What is a rhetoric question?

Topics to Discuss.

1. Ways in which public opinion was formed in the past.

2. A book from which we can learn the skills of arguing.

3. Two different methods for presenting the points of the argument.

4. Criticism of speaking without preparation.

Text II-C