Oprah’s Religion
I have received so many e-mails from friends “warning” me about Oprah’s “New Age” religion. What has been alarming to me wasn’t Oprah’s Stand , but the fear from which my friend’s have reacted. I don’t watch Oprah because I don’t watch much T.V. but she seems like a modern secular evangelist. However, from what I can see, she differs from the Christian Television Evangelists because she brings elegance and savvy that is persuasive to our generation. So it doesn’t surprise me if she becomes the catalyst for a new “religious” or “political” movement. It isn’t like this is a new phenomenon, just a different time and medium.
After viewing the Youtube segment I linked in the last paragraph, that is being sent around about her comments on Christianity I thought to myself, “she means well and like all of us is searching, and for this I believe she will be blessed.” I am sure that will alienate my more zealous friends, but that is what occurs to me.
I am not afraid of her stand. It could cause people to be open to searching, which makes an opening for the relational reality of Jesus to be made known in an even more relevant way. Kind of like Paul’s Mars Hill. At the very least it causes me to think about my stand and how I can love as Jesus loves me. My sense is to be more curious about her points of view and to better understand what drives her and those who are moved by her message. In that journey, I believe the God of Jesus will change everybody involved.
T. S. Elliot said “Oh my soul, be prepared to meet Him who knows how to ask questions.”
Cultural Christianity tends to get so stuck in contending with “statements” about who God is, thus missing the opportunity to question our perceptions of what people mean or intend and be curious about who they are and what they are facing, in the way we would want somebody to do with us, especially when they are questioning what we so passionately, even self-righteously believe.
I say, if our peace is disturbed by what is being said, the more we are willing to question what it is we are fearing the more effective we will be in questioning others as they develop certitudes that are as likely to be as survival driven as our own.
“Great peace have they who love thy law and nothing, by any means shall offend them!” Psalm 119:165
Right on Dan. Opra is seeking, that’s more than we can say about many Christians. I firmly believe that God will meet those that seek him. That certainly is my testimony, JR
As I read this blog it reminds me of a comment Peter Kreeft (Professor of Philosphy at Boston College) made at the end of one of his speeches at a college during a question and answer period. The question as I remeber it was regarding the religion called Wicken and how to combat that as a Christian. Most Christians I have encountered immediately go to what’s wrong with that religion. Kreeft’s answer surprised and inspired me. Basically he invited the questioner to wonder what that religion had in it that was attractive and how what is present in that religion is merely a distortion of what can be available in our faith. In other words, regarding Wicken specifically, perhaps what’s attractive is some sense of mystery that too often gets eradicated in many of our expressions of Christianity. Perhaps that has to do with our effort to try to reduce our faith down to some managable formulaic shell of a religion rather than living in the wonder and mystery that our faith really is.
So, when it comes to “Oprah’s religion” I just wonder, what is she onto that so many find so compelling? How can that observation instruct us as Christians as to what may be missing in how we are expressing our faith to this hungry world? Rather than stay in self righteous judgement of everything that doesn’t look the way we think it should, be right about that judgment, and allow that judgment to marginalize people, what if we found a way to incorporate that missing element, without compromising our faith, into the truth we purport? How would the expression of Christianity so many reject today be transformed into a relevant expression to meet the longings people have? It is these longings that the religions we’ve judged as faux are already meeting.
As I’ve grown tired and time stands still before me, I’ve discovered so many trapped in fear similar to what is being purported by this video. I’m sure much money was poured into the making and it’s sad that we develop these things (as humans) to further our commitments to fear.
I’m not sure that I’ve fully hashed out all my beliefs about God and Christ, but each day, I hash out more. What does it mean that in Christ, all things are held together? Must we adopt a Jewish understanding of God? Why are we concerned with terms like consciousness instead of light? I say that whatever is not God will fail at some point and maybe God will let that happen. Maybe it is then that we have a choice?
Did the Baptist Church fail for Oprah at some point? Did it need to fall apart for her? Maybe! Has she arrived? God knows.
Dan,
It seems to me that human beings are attracted to the reflection of the Divine that we see in Truth, Beauty and Goodness. What I find interesting is that individuals seem to be attracted to these eternal values in different measure. Our church’s senior pastor is moved by God’s Beauty as reflected in music, literature and art. Another pastor at our church loves Truth. Oprah strikes me as someone who is drawn primarily to Goodness. All Truth (and i would add Beauty and Goodness) is God’s and I suspect some of what Oprah is drawn to reflects God. We should all be seekers. Not to be a seeker is to be consumed with pride. The older I get, the more mysterious God becomes to me and the more drawn I am to do what I can to help bring His Truth, Beauty and Goodness into my life and the lives of others.
I’m deeply in love with the man Jesus. How he pulls off being a savior is astounding to me!!! Everyday I listen and look for what new stunt he’s going to pull off.
Because of how I know him, there is no doubt in my mind he would be a regular guest on Oprah’s show and an active participant in her worldwide class.
He oozes new in every age.
P.S. He oozes new in every age – uncompromisingly. That is how he is different from us, his fickle brethren.
Hey Dan good words. If as believers we spent more time reaching and less time judging the relevance of the post modern church just might get to a place where it looks more soothing than threatening. As Paul said, “All of us who are mature should take such such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
That is Philippians 3:15 NIV
” Oprah’s 4 interviews with Jill Bolte Taylor were the first that Oprah did after Eckhart Tolle and they take everything Tolle talks about to another level. Oprah’s copy of Jill’s book, MY STROKE OF INSIGHT, was dog-eared and all marked up and kept reading from it the way she read from A New Earth and recommended it highly.
Oprah’s recommendation was enough for me. I read My Stroke of Insight and I loved it too. This story is as inspiring as The Last Lecture or Tuesdays with Morrie – and even better, it has a Happy Ending!
I bought the book on Amazon because they have it for 40% off retail and they also had an amazing interview with Dr Taylor that I haven’t seen anywhere else – Here is the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/My-Stroke-Insight-Scientists-Personal/dp/0670020745/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211471755&sr=1-2
I read “My Stroke of Insight” in one sitting – I couldn’t put it down. I laughed. I cried. It was a fantastic book (I heard it’s a NYTimes Bestseller and I can see why!), but I also think it will be the start of a new, transformative Movement! No one wants to have a stroke as Jill Bolte Taylor did, but her experience can teach us all how to live better lives. Her TED.com speech was one of the most incredibly moving, stimulating, wonderful videos I’ve ever seen. Her Oprah Soul Series interviews were fascinating. They should make a movie of her life so everyone sees it. This is the Real Deal and gives me hope for humanity.
Who was warning you about a new age movement? And why should it concern your cult?
Dear Joe,
“Great peace have they who love Thy (God’s) law and nothing by any means shall offend them.”
With much appreciation,
Dan
so you didn’t get sleep bummer. thanks for the quick response.Good luck to you and your movement.Go deep as i say!
Thanks Joe or should I say David? My lovely grandfather once told me that if the proverbial elephant is in the room introduce him to every body.
You see my blog site captures your URL and IP address and so even though you leave a false name and e-mail address, there is still a foot print.
Actually, I sleep as well as you assume. I travel the world so it would appear from the time on my posts that I am up at all hours. However, many of my late night or very early morning posts if not all are a result of the phenomenon known as time zones.
Thanks for your concern,
Dan