Oprah has a responsibility as a public figure because some fruits and nuts think her word is gospel. Have you ever seen the rapture movies where the preacher gets left behind and all of his congregation as well because he the preacher did not deliver the word of God. Oprah knows she has a huge influence over some and sad as that is it is true. She needs to understand the consequences of her "" Christ conscience"".

Always a pleasure

There is nothing demonic, Negative or hurtful in what she espouses , Unlike the movies you mentioned which Paint Father (GOD) in a negative light which he creates to torment and give his creations everlasting Hell, Only Loving The few, This is more hurtfull Than anything Oprah believesIMO.

Fear and fear mongering. She helps many, She believes as Bro Jesus did and Loves ,

One does not need think Bro Jesus God in order to spread the love Of God, Nore does one need Subscribe to any church doctrins to Know the love Of God.

One does not even need to Know how to read to Share and or Know God's love.

Love Omnaka

My thoughts exactly

Yes I did assume that because I was confused by your question, note the question mark. Now is one of your concerns when reading the bible you fear that man translated wrong or was this just a rebuttal? If you wish there are more than one bible out there that you can study from(KJ, NIV, etc.).

And even more interpretations of each of them.
Take your pick.

Love Omnaka

People who came from a repressed minority, rose from poverty, and made something of themselves are to me what makes America great. Oprah is one of those people. She gives millions to the needy all over the world. People love her for a reason, Oprah deserves the fruits of her hard work, and what does she do? She helps the poor. She is a good human being.

True Christians don't need to feel threatened by her. Let her think what she wants too and leave her be. To nick pick, be legalistic, or "my way or the highway" attacks on her makes people dislike the Christian cause even more. In the end, that stuff makes YOU look badly.

It's a bad witness to attack her. She has done so much good in this world. I think she is real American hero.

My final thought to the Christians is:

WJAO?

Would Jesus Attack Oprah?

To be perfectly honest with you Amberlight, Oprah is a public figure and while I am sure she likes to give back these publicity stunts are not really giving back but merely bringing millions of followers with her! She has a responsibility to the public who made her so popular. Just because Oprah says so its not fact, nor is my opinion fact and that is my point people need to decide for themselves instead of relying on other peoples beliefs.
On the contrary I think the stunts she pull makes her look bad, I am simply pointing them out as she did all the work!
If the Pope told people some crazy non sense people would follow, I don't know why I only know I am not a follower!


Always a pleasure

I don't think anyone here feels threatened by her. I don't watch her show nor do I wish to and there is nothing wrong with people who do. Some might make some outcry in rage at what she says but like you said it has no effect on my beliefs. However, if Oprah subscribes to christianity and the bible should we not be allowed to base what she says on those standards and right the wrongs? Sure she is on tv and probably won't ever see this but maybe someone else will see that maybe she isn't so enlightened.

Do you think Jesus would respect her for saying He died in vain, for nothing or would he correct her and hope she will listen?

I cannot assume to know the intent of her heart of giving to the poor but what I DO see are her actions and that is why I think she is a very giving lady.



Exactly! In the end, people need to decide for themselves and not rely on a celebrity to tell them what to believe. I really doubt any serious Christian would look to her for spiritual wisdom. This is not her job.



Yikes! Remind me never to make a mistake in front of you then.



What one person believes to be rational another believes to be crazy non sense. Hopefully the majority people have all their marbles to see the forest from the trees so to speak.

I have been listening to the comments coming from Christian radio and they are positive she is a threat to fundamental evangelical teachings. Then I read the author posting this rant against Oprah so for me it appears like Christians are clarly theatened by her and are becoming quite vocal about it



I haven't heard of her claiming to be a Christian. She may have, I just never heard her proclaim it. I always had the impression she held religiously based views that were loosely based on Christianity, but was more or less a new ager. If anybody can show me she claims Christianity as her actual religion or church she attends, I would like to see it.



I know many who say they are Christians but couldn't really be one because of their contradictory actions. It's just a label they use to define they're part of dominant American culture.
I try to look at the fruit of the tree. That is how I can find a person who really sways me, by actions, not by legalistic dogma. Being dogmatically corrected doesn't sway me, and I doubt it would sway her either. Anyhow, she doesn't have time to listen to "correcting" anyhow, she's too busy giving and helping the poor.

this was in response to your not wanting to look at a link from a scholar who disagrees with you. why should you grace me , ma'am , with a reply ? well , respect for one but more importantly the debate itself - if you can not or refuse to look at another side as you put it .... you disregard evidence and choose to rather preach than debate. I've listened to your statement ------- thought about it last night



and have a question to you on your answer -----

so Jesus only needed God to bear true witness. Then I could very well claim the same and say the bible is not true ! nothing more than a collection of other religions , tales , mixed with a bit of some truthful historical and political instances wrapped in an agenda of the times. That it's about as 'true' as Gone With the Wind .

yet in that very line of thinking - just because the bible says something does NOT make it true. yet people believe it ....... how very very sad.

I think Jesus is a great Oprah fan !!! he respects her greatly ! she preaches just as he did. to love one another as yourself and God and like him never claimed to be the messiah , that is script added later ....... the fact is no one knows what Jesus said . ( especially before any of the priests )

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:b9fe8...lient=firefox-a

SO what? SO someone well known on tv has their own spiritual views. Shock horror some poeple may listen to them and even agree.. ahh help we are all doomed.

Hang on a sec...

Even if people do decide they agre with her statements they are harmless sentiments aren't they. Shes not asking people to hate or harm anyone. Just like any set of belifs or philosophies if deciding you agree with them and they work for you doens't entail any harm to people then so what? There are so very many ways of looking at life and one view is not more true than another as it is a matter of opinion. As long as the views held are not encouraging violence and intolerance towards others then its all good and happy and really dont worry about it.

Everyone has the right to believe what they want to. I'll be the first to tell you I am not a fan of Oprah. However my dislike of her does not mean that she can't believe as she see's fit to. Why are some Christian so scared of her? Like someone said before she's not hurting anyone so why can't see tell others what she believes? Wheres the harm in that?

I could be worse, she could come on TV and say she is a neo-Celtic Druid. I don't think anyone is going to change their beliefs because of what Oprah believes. If they do their beliefs weren't very strong in the first place and there are worse people they could follow. I don't watch Oprah myself it is kind of a girlie show.

What I find very very sad is that you don't believe in God's word. And God's word, the bible can not be compared to Oprah at all.
The bible has been around for a long long time and it will remain, As far as Oprah who knows?


Always a pleasure

With all due repsect Sandee the bible is only something like 1,800 years old Just because Oprah believes differently does not make it wrong.

I have found great happiness since I have rejected the Christian notion of God's "word."



And as long as it remains I fear the world will continue to be filled with intolerance, hatred, killing, overpopulation, and mind control. But that's just my opinion.

one needs not a book to discover what is before him.

simply
Open your eyes
Unplug your ears
and discover for yourself

Do what you whilst.

what I find sad is you believe that is Gods word. Of course the bible can be compared to Oprah. She may just as well be influenced by God as the bible writes claim to be. Your not God so you can't say either were or were not . it's all speculation.

There are texts and books that are God inspired that have been around longer than the bible - what of those ? the fact the bible bases it's Noah story one one produced by the Sumerians ages earlier points it wasn't God inspired but influenced by other religions and cultures. God's word ? as much as Oprah's is . as much as anyones beliefs are.

it is your thinking sandee that is egotistic. by your statement you show us only what you believe has any connection to God. Does it frighten you that God has no preference of religions ? That one not need your saviour to get to heaven ? because I see you agree that people should have their beliefs , but in the back of your head , your real thinking . is they aren't good enough for God unless they believe as you do. Any person of any belief that thinks that is lost. blinded .God is so much bigger than the box you put God in.

agreed. I have found my love of God has only gotten stronger since seeing any 'holy' text for what it is - man's ideas.

You are quite correct in this and unlike others I do not see any attack on Oprah but rather her view and the fact that many might be tricked into thinking her view is true Christianity. She has claimed to be a Christian herself but turns around and claims 'we made God in our image' which is the direct opposite of the truth we believe in that 'God made us in His image'.

It is sad indeed but take joy in the fact that we will not be deceived for we are able to test the spirits and rightly divide the Word and are able to tell she is not of the Book. If other's shall be deceived into thinking what she teaches is Christianity then that is the way it is and we cannot do anything about it but perhaps simply state our view which you have wonderfully done so in this thread.

What we should worry about is our own house. The many preachers, teachers, and followers of the Word who then turn around and do a poor job following it. They tell others they will burn in hell, they judge others this way, but we are not to judge. This fear tactic has driven many away from Truth as we see it and of course those who have been hurt this way may be more willing to turn their back on the Word or even believe in someone else's kinder version of what they think is Christianity even if it has nothing to do with it.

The true sadness is that our Word and our Lord is ever kind and ever gentle and ever caring. He also is a warrior and divine justice is also a part of Him but that takes nothing away from the fact that He is all those good things as well and the adversary has used men and women with good intentions and twisted them and they twist themselves and the Word and in the end become bad servants. I see none of that in you except a loving soul so let us hold onto the Truth as it has been given to us and even when those misrepresent that truth we cannot never forget that if some do not believe in our Truth it is because we or others have failed in displaying the Truth not through words but through the light of the living Word that should be displayed in our everyday actions.

Interesting phenomenon isn't it? I too found this to be a pleasant side effect. I went from a fearful spiritual snot to seeing what a rude jerk I was. I also saw how wrong I was (and yes, I had all the right "intentions"). When God is out of the box, wonders happen.

Other people can and have made this change without abandoning their belief in God. If you know better then do better is my philosophy. Not to say your view is wrong but it does not apply to me and many others.

who said we abandoned our belief in God ? I abandoned christianity . It held God back for me. Kept God small and petty and entangled in mans idea of who God is.

Thanks for elaborating that difference. Still I do not have to abandon the Word or the Christian principles espoused within it to actually see that within that framework God does not have to be held back or kept small and petty. The Spirit actually allows us to see that the Word is not just man's ideas but is divinely inspired and can be used as a guide to allowing the Spirit to dwell within. A full circle. Sure you might disagree as I do with yours but whatever works for us as individuals is good enough for each of us.

From the point of view of a non-believer, what Oprah preaches is absolutely benign and only helps people to live happier. These New Age Religions are in a sense an evolution or reform of the Abrahamic religions. They are adapting to modernity and pose just about no threat to anyone or anything. While I do not believe what they are saying, I can certainly respect their beliefs in light of its benignity.

The Christianity of the OP of this thread on the other hand, and of many of the Christians posting, is one that continues to preach damnation and still wishes to impose itself and its outdated morality on everyone else. That's a problem.

Many years ago I saw the way people hold Oprah's opinion in high regard as foolishness.

My stance has not changed. The way I see it, Oprah is the voice of reason for people who are intelligent enough to understand the need to think for oneself, but lack the final bit of competency required to actually go about doing so.

Why should a statement of damnation threaten you if you believe in no such thing? It may appear suspect to another.

It threatens me because this belief in sin, salvation, and damnation leads groups such as the Christian Right to encroach upon the society in which I live. The Christian Right is a fascist movement and threatens our democracy.

I agree.

And it endorses/justifies discrimination on a (pseudo) spiritual level.

Fascism cloaked in religion and claiming to be salvation for us.

I'm sorry I guess I missed the correlation between the people on this board and the Christian Right, please supply me with a quote or something.

Imposing Christianity on everyone would be wrong and take away free will. Let's assume this was their prime objective. It would never happen so rest assured. But is it their prime objective? It looks like to me they are trying to get everyone in their group or following to vote a certain way or petition for schools to teach abstinence. I think you're being a little dramatic, no?

Anyone who keeps tabs on the political landscape will attest to the fact that the Christian Right has been snubbed by the Republican Party and no longer has the power it once did in national politics. Maybe you are speaking about specific local politics.

So many other political organizations also try and force their way of life on us. Are you consistent and condemn them too or is it just Christianity that reserves your condemnation?

I have seen on your post here where you call people egotistical and hypocrites if they don't agree with you, I am not egotistical to believe what I know to be true TO ME.Yes I do think EVERYONE is entitled to their own beliefs and have said so but I will not change my beliefs to accommodate anyone.I have NEVER and will never say that I am better than anyone else or they are not good enough for God, we are all God's children and no one is better or more important than another!
You keep referring to this ''box'' I put God in, I really don't understand your meaning here as I do believe God is all powerful and knowing. God ha no limitations.


Always a pleasure

I believe that statement could be taken alot of different ways. . .the way I see it, it is true. . . to me, it means that man takes God and his teachings and gives them their own interpretation. . . something which can be dangerous and used as excuses for war and discrimination. In that way, man takes God, takes him "out of context", and uses him to further his own agenda. . .which, to a true Christian, would be wrong, right? I see nothing untruthful or offensive in that statement. Such things happen far too often.

Mhmm, that is exactly what is meant by that in general. To a Christian it would be wrong that is why we are not even supposed to have idols or give any special reverence to icons. Of course people claim we have broken that by claiming that we ascribe divinity to Jesus who was in human form. Though we honestly believe it was God who chose to take human form and not us who painted him that way. Some who claim Christianity do though, the image of Jesus on a cross in a crucifix is in violation some of us believe. Then of course there are those who say in order to be a Christian you have to dress a certain way and a whole lot of other rules not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. To a few of us that is also in violation because we are giving the Word our own rules that are rules from man and not God. People will change slowly as the Spirit guides them but if they change just to appear holy they are not doing so out of faith but purely from flesh. That is another way some make God in our image. All these things are wrong IMHO from a biblical perspective for a Christian. So I can see your view and understand why you do not believe it is wrong for you.

let us make man in our image

think of man as the funhouse mirrors


as for opera i agree christ did not die for our sins

"we let them kill him"

he came to spread the word
the word is all that matters
and instead we have a self serviant mob seeking immortality and not Truth.

who cares if hes dead or how he died what did he leave us.

I agree Nik to some it does not matter that they think He is dead or how He died. To a Christian though it does matter how He died, it was for a purpose, and of course we do not consider Christ dead but risen and alive.

no I call people egotistical and hypocritical when they think their way of belief is the only right way or when they say one thing then later say another.

ah but sandee you never until cornered put in the 'to me ' part. or I think . or in my opinion . It tumbles out like fact and that's all there is to it. which is egotistical. From now I will assume you mean it as an opinion. but I get the feeling you really do mean what you believe as fact and not opinion. See , an opinion keeps an open mind . Opinions can change.

yes you agree that we are all children of God. But could you admit , even the possibility that one doesn't need jesus in order to get to God ? or is that too much to consider ? And that is the box I'm speaking of = that one must accept jesus to be next to God , to gain heaven ect..... just because the bible says so doesn't make it fact. if it was fact then man would never have edited , disregarded , removed , ignored parts of the bible because it would all be fact. flawless. But we know it isn't.

Yet your state that the Bible is not fact and that you know it isn't. Surely you believe your belief is the only right way...or are you just stating it as a view and in turn respecting us of our view? We believe the Bible is fact but are not attempting to claim everyone should believe the same. Will you claim we are wrong and only you are right?

but the bible isn't fact. it may contain some cultural fact , political fact , geological fact ( so does Harry Potter ) but the rest can not be considered fact. you can believe in it , but that still doesn't make it fact.

I can see that this upsets you, but I like her theory.

Basically, from my understanding, she's saying that there isn't just ONE way to knowing 'God' (our ET creators who were mistaken for gods)....all religious testify to them and their teachings of love and consciousness.

She is right - Jesus's SOLE purpose wasn't just to come and die. It was to bring an updated message for humanity, that would have to be made known throughout the world. Through his death (and scientific ressurection) this messages was better spread because there was 'proof' to the early Christians that all of what Jesus said was true.

She's saying that Christ came to teach us and not just to die. I agree with her (although not with the primitive mystical beliefs).

-Josh

So does Harry Potter! HA!

You make me laugh...

Kinda like bro Jesus wearing a crown of thorns, and Sack cloth and the pope wearing a crown of Gold and silk.
Sorry wrong religion. arent Catholicks an offshoot of christians though?
I think this Op goes against forum rules, Bashing Oprah's beliefs as a starting thread.

I'm not gonna call the cops though.


Love Omnaka

lol Omnaka your sense of humor is great. I can only feel for those who do not understand it.

Your point about Catho'licks' and your other one about the cops (mods)...classic man just classic.

It really was Just bad spelling.


Love Omnaka

God bles Oprah for helping her fellow man, in what ever capacity she can.

Something we all should aspire to do.OMO.

Love Omnaka

I don't get why people are angry or upset with a talk show host. If you do not like her way of thinking, no one is pointing a gun at your head, forcing you or anyone else to watch.

I find it interesting that there are literally thousands of different christian denominations out there, and if Oprah starts a new one, what is the big deal? There are just as many differences of opinion on why Jesus did this or that, which is why there are different denominations in the first place. People who get upset over things like this, show their own fear and lack of faith. If a talk show host somehow freaks you out or you think they shake your faith, it must not have been that strong to begin with.