Oprah's 'church' video draws over 5 million to YouTube
by Elena Garcia, US Correspondent
Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 14:09 (BST)
Another part of the YouTube video shows Oprah hosting her recent Webinar class, in which she promotes New Age writer Eckhart Tolle and his "New Earth" book.
A guest caller asked her in the segment how she reconciled certain spirituality teachings with those of Christianity.
Oprah went on to explain how her view of God changed after hearing a charismatic preacher describe God as "jealous God" in her late 20s. She concluded that by opening her mind to the "hugeness" of God and accepting that He is love helped her to reconcile the two.
"God is a feeling experience and not a believing experience. If your religion is a believing experience...then that's not truly God," she continued to say during the webinar.
Frank Pastore, a Christian radio talk show host on KKLA, was among the many Christian leaders who criticised Oprah's views, saying the two worldviews she discusses are actually irreconcilable.
"If she's a Christian, she's an ignorant one, because Christianity is incompatible with New Age thought," Pastore wrote in his commentary on Crosswalk.com.
He went on to list key differences between Christianity and New Age worldviews. In one entry, Pastore said that the meaning of life for Christians is to glorify God while New Age thought showcases enlightenment.
Bill Keller, founder of LivePrayer.com, a internet-based programme on faith and values, said he believes Oprah is starting her own cult.
"She has an incredible amount of influence over people and an incredible following," Keller told Celebrity News Service.
"I believe these New Age teachings are like 'spiritual crack' because people are hungry, the teachings satisfy and then they are hungry again," he added.
Keller, who has responded with his YouTube video on the matter, told Celebrity News Service that while many at this point are afraid to challenge Oprah because of her power, he expects more people to begin questioning her teachings over the next six months.
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Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Saturday, November 15, 2008, 0:06 (GMT)
Those that are hungering and thirsting for truth and righteousness will either find it or it will find them, regardless of all the snares that thay may get caught on for a time. God chooses right hearted and right minded people out of the world to serve him, humans can not do that. Don't worry about new thinking or beliefs, God will straighten matters in his own time.
S.L.S, St Paul, MN
Added: Thursday, November 13, 2008, 2:31 (GMT)
What is it with fundamentalists that make them think they have the answer? The creator said "let us make humankind after our image/likeness..." but somehow they have come away believing that the charge was to make God in their image/likeness. Making God this anthromorphous being who rewards and punishes - based on one's "religion". Get over yourselves! God, or by whatever name you call It, is bigger than any box you could try to put It in. If God could be confined to narrrow beliefs and dogmas, then God would not be God. God is ABSOLUTE GOOD and those who think they have a lock on "christianity" might want to re-examine the God they purport to serve! Again I say, get over yourselves! Start practicing the Love that God is rather than try to determine whether or not Oprah is evil. If you think she is, stop watching and start working on your own Soul. That is a full time job; leaving no room for all this narrow minded stuff!
Yvonne, Miramar, FL
Added: Friday, August 29, 2008, 12:32 (BST)
Oprah may God have mercy on you soul repent now before it's to late im telling you girl you can't mock GOD i will never watch your show again you should be grateful for what the Lord have done for you.
Debra , usa
Added: Thursday, July 24, 2008, 17:32 (BST)
Its a sad day when you know the truth and then deny Christ. There is only one way and that is through the blood of Jesus Christ Our Lord who died on the cross of Calvary for our sins. Lets all just pray for Oprah that the Lord will speak to her and that the millions that are following her teachings will turn their backs on her teaching and follow the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him into their lives as Lord and Saviour of their lives. John 3 verse 16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
BERNi MARKS, Johannesburg, South Africa
Added: Friday, May 2, 2008, 4:33 (BST)
Evil often comes wrapped in fuzziness and soft words. That is how the devil deceives us. The devil is now using Oprah to deceive many, who are in danger of losing their very souls if they follow her teachings. We are made in God's image; not the other way around! Those who consider Christians "rigid" because they adhere strictly to God's word do not understand the seriousness of being Christian. God is not a changeable God. God is "I am". If what he said was changeable, or not applicable, because, as many people say "times are different today", then he would be an imperfect God, which he is not. His word stands, period! God makes it very clear what the consequences will be for those who do not believe and who do not consider Jesus ". . . the way, the truth and the light. No one cometh to the Father except by me." You cannot go in and monkey around with God's word, watering it down, changing it to fit what YOU want without endangering your soul eternally. Oprah is literally playing with Hell fire and helping to lead the way to eternal damnation. But I am not surprised. Such happenings are all fortold in Revelations. There will be many who come falsely in Christ's name. I pray for those who still have time that you read your Bible and pray that your eyes be opened. Christ is coming soon!
Scout, USA
Added: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 21:10 (BST)
Christians are oh so in favor of open-mindedness when trying to attract people of other belief systems to Christianity. But it's a one-way street with them. Point out the myopia and irrational rigidity of Christian doctrine, and the Christ followers scream like stuck pigs. By the way, the writer of this article laments Oprah's "blatantly denying" that Jesus is the only way to God. Oprah's not the only one, if you'll recall. What about Jews of every persuasion?
JD, Atoka, USA
