Comments (42)

Jesus Christ commands us to follow Him, not a man wearing a white cassock and big cross around his neck.
No Pope, whether alive or dead, can give anyone a successful piggy back ride to paradise.

Is it because he wears a white cassock and big cross around his neck? Is it because he carries around with him a filthy God-dishonouring flag called Catholicism that excites you? Is it his cowardly acceptance of predatory priests that you find laudable?

Why was the Pope given a 21 gun salute and why did he accept it with a beam on his face?
In order to grapple with the answer to this question we must introduce the names of God and Satan, and ask ourselves who of the two would find this abhorrent way of behaving acceptable? The answer is only Satan.

The nation of America has a long association with the number 21. In order to grapple with the answer to this question we need to know that the occultist mindset reveres the number 21. As we cast our mind back to the London terrorist bombings we notice that it occurred on the 7th day of the 7th month in 2005.
Occultists who are haters of the Author of the holy Bible interpret this date as follows: 7+7+2+0+0+5 or 7 7 7. As we can see 7+7+7=21

The leader of the Catholic Church accepts occultist greetings and practices

them himself. In the holy Bible the numeric weight of the number 777 is

associated with God's perfect peace-promoting name.

Satan who is the mastermind behind all occultist thinking blasphemes God's

name by having 777 associated with heinous murder and carnage.

America was founded by occultists in the year 1776. When we employ the

occultist mindset we see that 1+7+7+6=21

The founding of America in 1776 wasn't a chance event, and neither was the

decision to have a 21 gun salute. What does a gun salute mean spiritually?

It means that those who perpetrate it honour or worship the power of force

rather than God's word. When we go to 2 Corinthians 10:4 we can see that God

is against the worship of gun power. When we go to the Lord's prayer we read

in Mathew 6:13 For Thine is the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.

The power we are to worship is the power of God not the revengeful Satanic

thinking that end justifies the means.

God's power equips us to pray for our enemies. God's power equips us to

forgive and have compassion toward our enemies and God's power will equip us

to renounce the use of guns as a retaliatory weapon.

God's power will enable us to say God will go before us. Our

complete trust is in His voice which says Judgment is mine says the Lord.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (fists)(bullying, degrading words)

(guns) but mighty through God (His teaching, the holy Bible) to the pulling down of

strongholds (hatred)(bitterness)(indifference)(false god worship)etc.

Celia wrote, "This is not just New Age feel-good quackery."

Yes, it is. Have you ever read "The Emperor's New Clothes?" Have the courage to say it, and enlighten a whole bunch of would-be readers: The emperor has no clothes.

I love Oprah, but she can go over the edge.

I heard from a very reliable source that Oprah is really a dude?

The webcasts are really AMAZING. They have provided me a greater understanding to some very important aspects in my life. And I am not the only one benefiting. Quite a few of friends and family members have experienced wonderful things.

But I understand not everyone will "get it". Some people are just too into their own mental chatter and don't know better than judging and criticizing.

But I think if one TRULY practices their religion--and what is the essence of any religion but love, peace and generosity, etc-- one would recognize something that is beautiful and beneficial...even if it is not their cup of tea. At least there would be respect.

My basic philosophy is, if someone is working to make this world a better place, at least have the respect to respect. Basic innate respect for other human beings is such a beautiful thing to experience.

Att: kelargo: YOU WrOTE;

"In January 2008, Oprah Winfrey selected 'A New Earth' as her "Oprah's Book Club" selection, accompanied by a 10-week live online seminar (or "webinar") with Tolle, which started on 3 March 2008."

cha-ching!"

Ya YA'O Ka-ching!

Rudolfo: I'm not surprised by your comments nor did I expect you to get it. I do read a book and it teaches me more about life than any made up-spiritual, follow me, follow your mind, open your mind to what I say, make me rich, new fangled religious leader.

Claire! Nice Phil Dick reference! From some of the comments that are dismissive of you or your tone in this article it is clear that most don't follow you.

Buddha teaches that all suffering comes from desire and attachment.

Anybody follow Dr. Wayne Dyer? I find it interesting that after a long career authoring self help books etc. He has come around to the Tao as his latest teaching. Nice!

Why the Washington Post is commenting on the Oprah show is beyond me. But why the column is so shallow is equally mistifying.
What did you do? Find a job for a local teen that thinks she wants to be a columnist some day?

Is she an expert on spiritual matters, tv personalities, or pop culture? Please enlighten me?

Not sure what your message to us is Claire? I'm not being cynical. If your given a forum to write, maybe you should take the priveledge more seriously.

In January 2008, Oprah Winfrey selected 'A New Earth' as her "Oprah's Book Club" selection, accompanied by a 10-week live online seminar (or "webinar") with Tolle, which started on 3 March 2008.

cha-ching!

Oprah could expedite her therapy for PTSD and other painful childhood experiences and accompanying memories by donating 200 million dollars to the charities of her choice.

She is literally and figuratively weighed down by too much moolah - this gesture could catch on with the rest of dollar-bloated corporate America. CEOs would be contributing 50% of their annual salaries and stock options to the needy and various worthwhile charitable causes.

The entire upper 1% of the super-wealthy in our fair nation could all experience catharsis in gigantic wave of compassion and capitulation to the higher good - this could be a beautiful thing. I think I read about this in an Eckart Tolle book.....anyway, he should get the credit if this completely unexpected phenomenon occurs.

Yes, it is easy to criticize someone else unless you have walked in their shoes. What if Oprah is dealing with the effects of child abuse and Post Traumatic Stress? What if during that time, she felt abandoned by God? What if she thought the church she knew were part of the oppressors? What if part of her healing involves a spiritual recovery from the effects of despair, poor self-image, and other effects of Post Traumatic Stress. What if her belief in God is what enlivens her spirit.

I haven't seen the webinair mentioned here. But someone told me about Tolle's books in the context of Post Traumatic Stress recovery. And the little bit I've seen of Oprah on and off over the years suggests to me that she might be dealing with these issues. I've read that many people who successfully recover from Post Traumatic Stress find it important to help others. They don't want to forget from where they've come.

Is Oprah perfect and sinless in her ministry? Probably not. But I say God bless her for taking such a risk and using her journey to recovery to help others. Maybe she will help people who feel isolated in their suffering realize that they are not alone, and give them hope. She casts a wide net. And I, for one, am thankful that she does.

"It's pretty scary...I read some of the quotes and it's distortion of God's word and now we're the potter and God is the clay. It's abominable...."

If that is your impression than I think you should perhaps actually read the book and not just "quotes". We're the potter and God is the clay? Where do you get that? I have read this wonderful book several times and have no idea how you could have come to that conclusion.

This book is about getting out of our minds and living in the present moment. What a far out, wacky and downright Satanic concept.

I have heard a lot of Tolle's tapes but had never tuned into the Oprah show until the webcasts, so I did not have many preconceived ideas about Oprah. I have found that she is the perfect foil for Tolle, she asks fabulous questions, her comments are always apropos of what they are discussing. So all in all I think she is a great hostess for this show. I don't of anyone who could do better. She strikes me as very sincere about the teachings, willing to learn, and very curious. She also asks difficult questions. I don't find that her ego or celebrity status get in the way at all. She is very natural and relaxed, yet keeps the show moving.

What is the rationale for keeping an "Oprah Watch" blog on the Washpost main page? I guess it must give both the Washpost and Oprah additional audiences. I was wandering aimlessly through the washpost main page after many months of not even looking at it, and the Oprah link caught my eye. Then, of course, I also clicked at the link at the top of this current blogpost, that took me for the first time in my life to the Oprah.com blog. There you go: both the washpost and oprah got one more click in their ratings. Neither one would have gotten it if it wasn't for the washpost area in the main page hightlighted with a not so good Oprah picture, and the link to the Oprah.com blog above. There you have the whole rationale: Oprah helps sell herself as always, but the use of her image by the washpost also helps sell the washpost. One hand washes the other?

Having read Tolle's book and found it to be very helpful, it was disheartning for me to see OPRAH deciding to introduce him to the masses. Acting like his book was brand new (it's been around for a few years), the webinar has turned into the same thing everything else OPRAH does, it's all about OPRAH.

OPRAH has such an ego that it gets in the way of anything positive the webinar or Tolle might contribute.

OPRAH needs to realize that it's not all about her. We all don't aspire to be like her (although that's the impression you get from watching or listening to anything she does).

Tolle is great and i encourage people to read his works.

As for the OPRAH webinar, pass. It's not worth the time or effort.

why does the post publish such drivel. Your coulumnest is distinguished only by her ignorance. Why encourage other bigots out from under their rocks?

Celebrity self-love and spiritual self-gratification will never go out of style. It's hard to see the damage here, unless one wants to whip themselves up into fear of superstitious idiocy or its opposite Satanic competition to more popular superstitions.

Get the behind me Satan, and get out your wallet.

I haven't read any of the other comments yet, but as a reader of "A New Earth" I find the author's perspective really inspiring and a mind awakening. However, the one and only time I tuned in to the "webinar" I was completely turned off and distracted by the conversation. A writer Mr. Tolle may be, but as an instructor he is lacking. Further, Oprah's constant uttering of "Hmmmmm, I get that!" -- as if she were being constantly "awakened" after each and every statement made by Mr. Tolle -- was just annoying. I didn't -- and won't tune in again. However, minus Mr. Tolle's unskilled leadership and Oprah's unnecessary running commentary, the book itself is quite fascinating, helpful, and I am actually gradually incorporating much of his concept into my everyday life. Having said all of this, though, I am dismayed that Oprah -- however wonderful she may be in many ways -- feels the need to dabble in every aspect of life. At some point, one needs to stop self-promoting. This may be the place.

I haven't read any of the other comments yet, but as a reader of "A New Earth" I find the author's perspective really inspiring and a mind awakening. However, the one and only time I tuned in to the "webinar" I was completely turned off and distracted by the conversation. A writer Mr. Tolle may be, but as an instructor he is lacking. Further, Oprah's constant uttering of "Hmmmmm, I get that!" -- as if she were being constantly "awakened" after each and every statement made by Mr. Tolle -- was just annoying. I didn't -- and won't tune in again. However, minus Mr. Tolle's unskilled leadership and Oprah's unnecessary running commentary, the book itself is quite fascinating, helpful, and I am actually gradually incorporating much of his concept into my everyday life. Having said all of this, though, I am dismayed that Oprah -- however wonderful she may be in many ways -- feels the need to dabble in every aspect of life. At some point, one needs to stop self-promoting. This may be the place.

Oprah, Oprah, Oprah. I don't have a problem with Oprah, per se. I'm an avid reader but could not stomach any of the books she chose for her bookclub. Oh well, more people were reading than ever before. Her magazine is about her and the many things she likes and I cannot afford. Hey, it's her money and, face it, lots of people love reading about Oprah. The rich are different in that they have the wherewithall to indulge their enthusiasms, in public, for all to see. So, I am not surprised and hope she and the folks who channel her find what they are looking for. Amazingly, money doesn't seem to fix everything but it does make things look a lot better, depending on your angle.

oh jezus mother maria pleeze i love oprah but she must know that religion poisons everything and everyone it touches. its a total scam a major fraud , stay away from it and you will be a much better and happier person!!

Eckhart Tolle's teachings are all about God or Christ consciousness, about allowing yourself to open to the universe within each of us that is greater, more loving and more enduring than the ego-centered boxes that we confine ourselves and others to every day. Christians who describe others with words like abominable and Satanic, who question Oprah's relationships with a woman because it escapes labeling, who criticize people who do things differently than they do, who judge others who seek relief from their suffering as being selfish, seem to be missing the purpose of spiritual existence,
which is to bring human and other living beings together in love.

Ummmm, who cares?

Interesting, how Angela provides a perfect example of how the ego labels everything in its attempt to control. In her case the label is "satanic."

Oprah is a promoter-par-excellence and in this case she is putting her talents to truly valuable use. The massive response to the webinars shows what a great hunger exists for label-free spiritual truth and exploration. It's very heartening to see the power of the web used in this groundbreaking way.

There is so much fear in these responses it is staggering. Oprah's spiritual journey does not diminish your own. She is a pop star presenting a pop version of spirituality and self-awareness. What are you so afraid of? Are your own spiritual foundations so weak that this is a threat to you? Don't watch her, don't read that book. It's that simple. Build your own faith, lead by example.

Ms. Hoffman seems to get shocked quite easily: "Oprah meditated! She read a poem! She recalled childhood beatings!"

And some of the other posts here are shocked to the point of being bizarre. Why is any of this stuff satanic? Some folks believe that anything that doesn't fit into the world they learned in Sunday School must be weird or satanic. As a group we Christians need to get past the idea that anyone who has a different belief is godless.

Some people find peace in Christian prayer. Some find it in meditation. If it's a legitimate attempt to make you a better person, what's the problem.

And why attack Oprah for doing what clearly works for her audience. She's not my style of TV but she's always been a positive force in this world.

I haven't read Tolle's "A New Earth" and have only watched snippets of the Oprah Tolle webcast but from what I can gather a lot of what Tolle preaches sounds a lot like buddhism.

In response to "Does it ever seem that some people can't seem to see past their own lives...

...There is plenty wrong and there is plenty of things, even and especially, in our everyday lives that can be done; but to live in such a fantasy land of EVERYTHING IS FINE BECAUSE I AM FINE is kinda beyond words for its self-centeredness."

The whole point of Buddhist teaching (and from what I saw at least) Tolle's teaching is to help free us from attachments, including attachment to a sense of self aka ego. It just so happens though that in order to do that one must spend time observing oneself in order to know oneself and gain insight.

There are many problems in the world but the ones closest to home are the problems within us and no one but ourselves can fix those inner problems. By spending time on oneself one becomes more at peace and more able to be truly loving and compassionate towards other people.

I think whoever wrote that post should try and be a little more open minded and maybe try to read "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Gunaratana (A Buddhist Monk, and freely available). To quote from the book "Meditation is running straight into reality. It does not insulate you from the pain of life but rather allows you to delve so deeply into life and all its aspects that you pierce the pain barrier and go beyond suffering." Meditation works and with the right intention leads one to become a more happy, loving, and compassionate human being.

I agree with Rapture44 that mysticism is the heart of all religious self-discovery - however, when this new-age quasi-meditative, quasi-mystical stuff is publicly broadcast on Oprah, all kinds of red flags go up.

As another poster indicated, Oprah is one of the great sales maestros of all time, with perhaps the largest audience of willing customers ever.

Why either she or Eckart Tolle need more money, fame, or attention is beyond me - addictive disorder?? In my estimation, this is the furthest thing from consciousness raising imaginable. It's pure entertainment, folks....don't be among the duped. Raising your own consciousness is a life-long pursuit.

What's next?? Seances and speaking with the dead?? Oh, that's right - she's already done that......

Mysticism IS the soul of all religions. What's scary is the "new age" brand of mysticism that dominates our contemporary religious marketplace. In line with most people's tastes, it downplays values like sacrifice and suffering, in favor of upbeat messages about being at peace within, taking control, etc. But no matter what you believe suffering will always be a reality, despite some new ageists attempts to wish it away. True mysticism should emphasize in equal part divine joy and peace as well as suffering and sacrifice.

The essence of all religion is mysticism; to say mysticism is satanic is the greatest peversity. Do you understand Jesus when he says the "Kingdom of God is within you?" It's a mystery, right? Is that peverse?

What is so scary about someone meditating and trying to help people overcome painful memories? What scares me is when christians say they would rather blow up a clinic than let an abortion happen. What scares me is the rhetoric of the "holy". You people need to get your priorities straight. Sure, Oprah's grip on the average American consumer of television is warped, but at least she's not sucking the money out of the coffers like your Jerry Falwell's and your mega-churches.

Couldn't agree more with Angela the first poster. This indulgence in new age mysticsm and 'spirituality' is just scary. And it definitely isn't christian.

Unfortunately when one's foundations are shaky, anything goes . . .

A wise person once told me that the problem with rich people is that they've never had to learn the meaning of the word "no." Isn't this all the more true of celebrities in our celebrity-worshipping culture? If they become wealthy and famous enough they can indulge their every fantasy about who they are and what they do. At a certain point the wheels of the plane leave the runway and they become airborne. No problem - if you insulate yourself enough, you create your own "reality."

Such narcissism doesn't mean you can't continue to be being a shrewd business person. In some quarters it is a sin to say anything critical of Oprah, just like many used to react in horror if anyone criticized Martha Stewart. Oprah and Martha are actually very similar. Both have created an "identity" that is their primary commercial product, and they market it using all the techniques of "brand management" available in our advertising-driven culture. It is hard to see Oprah's spiritual initiative as anything more than that latest marketing venture from Oprah, Inc. "But she's so sincere!" the faithful will say. Don't you see? That's part of the brand image. When you buy Oprah, you buy sincere...

Oh my. I'd didn't know Oprah had branched out into something that would be covered under "religion". I've always found her a bit scary (who has a magazine with a picture of themselves on it every month, or has a "Hermes Crash moment", or a Best Friend Gail with whom no words can define their relationship)? I DID know she is going to have her very own TV station, having bought one of the Discovery channel stations. I tend to agree with her on most issues -- I haven't seen or heard of this web series but will check it out. Athiests like myself are more interested in religion than almost anyone else. Thanks for the article; interesting and funny.

"We hypostasize information into objects. Rearrangement of objects is change in the content of the information; the message has changed. This is a language which we have lost the ability to read. We ourselves are a part of this language; changes in us are changes in the content of the information. We ourselves are information-rich; information enters us, is processed and is then projected outwards once more, now in an altered form. We are not aware that we are doing this, that in fact this is all we are doing."

Jacob Josefs, you post some weird stuff...

Hey, with viewership like that, darn right she better start thinking about the collective consciousness...

"You're soaking in it." :)

What's her whole career? Just hanging it all out there. Maybe she'll figure out something productive. Maybe not.

But people *watch* and maybe that's even *why,* for whatever reason it's her.

Funny how life goes. Even a public one.

She's a daytime TV personality, of course it's about public pain. ritualized and expiated in some way. May as well try and be conscious about it.

(Yes, I'm duly cynical about it, but also cynical about people suddenly freaking out about this when it's looking 'heretical' or whatever. )

I have watched all the webcasts of Oprah and Eckhart Tolle, and have read Tolle's books and listened to many of his retreats. I find that he is the clearest teacher that I know of. He contemporizes the basic truths that all the religions speak about. Tolle appeals to so many people who cannot relate to what passes nowadays for religion, but are still yearning to find the deeper truths of life and how to live a more meaningful life. Tolle also appeals to many people who are part of religious communities, but who are seeking more answers. Tolle separates the wheat from the chaff by asking the fundamental questions that all religions ask, and giving fundamental answers to these questions that a person with a modern, scientific viewpoint can understand. This is not just New Age feel-good quackery. These are the questions that humans have always asked. The fact that so many people have tuned in from around the world, shows that many people are looking for deeper answers. Thank you for mentioning this on the On Faith site.

Does it ever seem that some people can't seem to see past their own lives.

If anyone would actually take an honest look at this world, the whole world, not just their own little cushy corner and not see the reality out there, then I really do feel sorry for their blindness and deafness.

There is plenty wrong and there is plenty of things, even and especially, in our everyday lives that can be done; but to live in such a fantasy land of EVERYTHING IS FINE BECAUSE I AM FINE is kinda beyond words for its self-centeredness.

Talk about the "blind leading the blind".

I am thankful that God's Plan is for ALL OF HUMANITY to be in His Kingdom [the new heavens and the new earth] which will arrive at the dawning of the seventh day, but in the meantime what is left of the sixth day before night gets here, we should do what we can.

Take care, be ready, see you [HUMANITY] in the Kingdom.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Amen Angela

It's pretty scary...I read some of the quotes and it's distortion of God's word and now we're the potter and God is the clay. It's abominable....I wrote Oprah and of course, I never received a response...didn't expect to but to think that she has all these new age teachers calling themselves Christians. Mysticism: is not of God; it's satanic....