Saturday, January 17, 2009

Oprah on Spirituality

Apparently Oprah has embraced a number of “new age” teachers and is promoting a concept called Live Your Best Life and hosted a forum called spirituality 101.



Oprah began the program by saying that spirituality means being connected and feeling alive. She then took a deep breath and encouraged the audience to doo likewise to get yourself in the present moment. She then introduced her guests on the panel discussion: Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith is the author of "Spiritual Liberation," and Elizabeth Lesser founder of the Omega Institute and author of “The Seekers Guide” In addition Rev. Ed Bacon of the All Saint Episcopal Church in Pasadena, was part of the group. Oprah asked each of her experts what they thought spirituality is.

Rev. Bacon said he agrees with being connected. Give the power to be fully alive. He said that the doorway to the experience is to be unconditionally and fully loved. Lesser: said that it’s an instinct that there is more to life than meets the eye. Spirituality is the fearlessness to ask the big questions. Who am I? What is my purpose in life? Where do you go when you die? Beckwith: said when you’re connected to the love, peace, harmony these are eternal qualities. Individuals who connect to these qualities and are in that spiritual moment. Oprah said that you really are a spiritual entity inside a human body. Whatever happens things are going to be alright if you are in connection with your spirit.

If you carefully note their words they are all unifying around a theme of introspection that finds fulfillment in self. Or as President elect Obama said on the campaign stump, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” This phrase is the title to Alice Walker’s book who calls on her readers to find spiritual strength within themselves. The subtle erosion of Doctrine and Dogma diminishes the truth of the Word of God. Men are left to rally around the lie of self deception. Man now is the center of truth and knowledge. There is no need for a Messiah, Deliverer, or Savior. Man can look inward for salvation.

False religion would have you look inward to find strength in yourself. The original lie of Satan was to doubt the goodness of God and listen to yourself you can be your own god.

Genesis 3:5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

It is becoming easier to see how various false religious systems of the world will unify under the banner of self. Their unity however will be short lived as false religion will have its final fling.

Chapter 17 in the Book of Revelation is a summary of the final days of false religion.

It is interesting to note that they agree on both their philosophy and conclusions.

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