Oprah... is she Christian or Anti-christian?

Today I watched my recording (dvr) of the O show from yesterday -- a mixture of guests who commented on what the New Earth book and class has d0ne to change thier lives. VERY INTERESTING!!

One of the first things Oprah discussed was the fact that the New Earth is being presented as a new religion, or a new doctrine. She claims "no"... rather emphatically. She had an 'expert' on spirituality give the definition and comparison of:


Spirituality: the longing for, and understanding of something beyond our physical bodies and physical earth... a greater purpose to life... the existence of something beyond this life... a god-like figure.

and

Religion: the practice of living out a persons beliefs in a diety and how that affects (or doesn't) particular areas of a person's life.

Oprah and her expert guest both comment that this book - New Earth - was meant to help a person in their exploration of spirituality and living out (their chosen) religion... comparing the book to "sugar" in a cup of tea. The presence of honey or sugar in the tea doesn't change the chemical makeup or reality of the tea... it just makes it easier to enjoy. That it wouldn' matter what kind of tea you chose... the sugar would go with all of them (Christian, Muslim, etc.)

Later in the show another guest who was Catholic (Christian) shared how reading the book helped her to get deeper meaning in the person of Jesus Christ. That previously in her life she thought Jesus' purpose on this earth was to come and die on the cross... but now she realizes that Jesus purpose was to show each of us how to live in a Christ consciousness... how to BE... how to do it... that a Christ Consciousness abides in all of us.

During this woman's comments, Oprah is conversing with her and also adds that she is a Christian... that she believes in Jesus ... that He died on a cross ... Oprah explained that she had previously begun to understand that Jesus purpose was also in living and showing us how.

So -- what do I think? It's certainly not a commentary on the whole book - since I haven't read it yet. But I do understand how this would raise serious issues for Christians ... and cause us to feel like we need to defend our faith.

Here are a few other points from the show that are obviously major points in the book:
- the Ego, in each one of us, is negative and must be diminished for us to be able to live healthy (not selfish) lives... and shows up in many ways we wouldn't expect... conciously and unconsciously

- when we live in the past (worry, regret) or the future (fear of unknown, obsessing over what to do) or let our minds go to anything that isn't "being present in the now" we are missing the most important gift of life.

- the only thing we have control over is the "now" if we let our minds go to any other place than "now" we are going unconscious.... and not using the power we have to make our "now" the best that it can be

-we only have power to change things in ourselves. If we spend anytime playing "roles" and trying to influence or "parent" or cause change in someone else... we are loosing out on OUR "now"... and the chance to change things for ourselves...

-parents have a responsibility to be PRESENT for their children... the influence of a parent changes according to the needs of the child. (didn't comment a lot on this area... I'm curious what else the author says).

This is getting longer than I thought!!

I had a very good friend who is a Christian psychologist. She commented that she believed all truth is God's Truth... that different elements of God's Truthes are recognized by all of creation... therefore they will come out in different ways... some from a Christian source... some from non-Christian sources. It doesn't mean that if something comes from a non-Christian source, it is automatically wrong.

I also have a personal issues with our modern American Christian "clique"... that sometimes we get so concerned with something being EVIL becuase it is not Christian... and we push out all the people who are not in our "club" becuase we flattly declare something "wrong" when we haven't even taken the time to research and find out the facts.



I have two examples that come to mind...
- Left Behind Books: do you know how many Christians do NOT like the "doctrines" that are "taught" in these books of FICTION! Personally, I've enjoyed every book... they are great illustrations for me... what Revelations COULD look like if it were to play out today.... But many people feel like the authors were trying to "teach" too much... and Christians LOVE to disagree about our particular denominational differences. We Christians were so busy fighting with each other we might have missed what good was capable from the books.


-Star Wars: I remember growing up in the first Star Wars era. So many of my parents friends were convinced that Star Wars movies were the "anti-christ." We were to shun all things Star Wars... there could be nothing good that came out of the Star Wars movies or toys becuase the author obviouly did not believe in God... the central diety was "the Force."

Now that Dirk and I have seen (all 6) movies... we kind of wonder what all the fuss was about? To us they were allegorical... not unlike the Lord of the Rings books/movies... CS Lewis, etc. I know there is a lot out there that is more supportive of a Christian World View in the writtings of Lewis and Tolkien.

OK -- so back to my point with Oprah...

I'm certainly not saying I think the book is totally wonderful.... that is it somehow "Chrisitan." I think the book would be very dangerous for people not grounded in their Christian faith... becuase I do sense a lack of strong definition in Christ as our ONLY Salvation. The book is written from the perspective that each person has to decide which "religion" is right for them.... and I cannot go along with that... I do believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to God... through His shed Blood on the cross.

If a person can allow themselves to get beyond that point (and I understand why some people could not... that is OK with me).... Most of the rest of what I have seen I think does agree with many Truthes that God has tried to show us through the Word...

Christs MAIN purpse was to die on the cross.... but if we live every day of our life, only to be certain that we are going to heaven, and don't live in VICTORY with Christ every day?? are we really living as Christ lived? Phillipians tells us that we are to have the mind of Christ... so I can agree with that part of Oprah's point. (as long as she doesn't deny the MAIN purpse was His death and resurrection... that point was never specifically asked).


He tells us to know worry about tomorrow (live in the now??)... He cares for the sparrows and the lilies of the field, will he not more so - care for us?

When we come into NEW life with him, we must leave our old nature behind (I see as a form of the Ego)...

The Bible tells us to take the plank out of our own eye before removing the speck from someone else.... not unlike the point E. Tolle makes with not living to control others around us (husbands, wives, grown kids, etc.)

I guess this just confirms to me that people are hurting... and looking for help anywhere they can get it. If "New Earth" is reaching this many people, where have we Christians been ... we haven't been doing a great job of spreading the news of Christ who gives REAL FREEDOM... Nor have we done a good enough job of discipling people... I truely believe that if a person studied the Bible and immersed themselves in God's Word and through prayer... they would not be seeking... except at the Throne of God.