Norman+Vincent+Peale

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Norman Vincent Peale grew up with "the biggest inferiority complex in the state of Ohio". Yet, he grew up to be a world- renowned pastor and author. Peale was the epitome of perserverance as he struggled through an inferiority complex, scrutiny on his preaching, and criticism of his political views.======

His childhood was plagued by his inferiority complex. He was born in rural Ohio on May 31, 1898. He was the son of a Methodist pastor and lacked his brother's appearance. His inferority complex caused him to be very shy. He couldn't make small choices, and he didn't have friends. He did poorly in college, and dropped out in his freshman year. When he returned to his parents, they forced him to go back. He was still battling his inferiority complex as he progressed through college. Finally, one of his professors had had enough. His professor talked to him one day after class, saying that he needed to get over his inferiority complex and "be a man". He took his professor's advice and prayed. He was slowly getting over his problem. He gradudated from the Boston University of Theology. He married afterwards and wrote "A Guide to Positive Living". This was the first largely succesful self-help book. Then, he became a pastor.

Peale then had to overcome public scrutiny on his preachings. He false-preached may things, then blended them with Christianity. Other than his own religion, Peale believed in/endorsed- Mormonism, false gospel, Shinto practices, and "New Thought'. Many people became suspicious of him through his preachings. Some people eventually left his church. However, he used the support that (the rest of) his church gave him and prayed to God to get through this bullying.

Some of Norman's political views weren't observed happily either. One of his main, questionable points was his extreme dissaproval of Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy. He thought that the county would be ruined if a Catholic were to be President. He even created a comittee to try to take down JFK before he was elected. However, this made may people furious. The massive barrage of hate that he got form his views caused his newspaper collumn to be dropped by many syndicates, and Peale threatened to resign form his church if anything else happened. This made most people quiet down. Many newscasters made a point to make jokes about Peale. Although his efforts failed, Peale (somewhat stubbornly) stuck to what he believed in through oustide hate.

Through his multiple and diverse array of challenges, Norman became world famous. He is one of the most well known preachers ever, and won many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His books have sold millions of copies and have been translated into dozens of languages. No matter your religious or political views, he was a remarkable man. He also coined the term- " When life gives you lemons, made lemonade."

References- Humphrey, S. (2005). //Dare to dream! 25 extraordinary lives//. New York: Prometheus Books. AdminMagil. (2004, June 27). //Norman vincent peale//. Retrieved from [] Frame, R. (1994). Self-help patriarch peale dies. In Retrieved from [] Image- Higgins, R. (Photographer). (1966). //Norman vincent peale//. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norman_Vincent_Peale_NYWTS.jpg