Oprah's theology not gospel
Adelle M. Banks/Religion News Service
Issue date: 7/20/08 Section: Divine Intervention
One of Winfrey's quotes highlighted in the story is her belief that "there couldn't possibly be just one way" to God. "One of the mistakes that human beings make is believing that there is only one way to live," Winfrey said.
A spokesman for Winfrey's Harpo Productions said the celebrity is a Christian.
"Oprah was raised Baptist and has stated many, many times that she, is a Christian and that she believes in only one God," said the spokesman, who asked not to be named. "She has also said, `I'm a free-thinking Christian who believes in my way, but I don't believe it's the only way, with six billion people on the planet.'"
The spokesman noted Winfrey is hardly alone; 70 percent of Americans said "many religions can lead to eternal life" in a recent survey from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
Part of the evangelicals' concern stems from Winfrey's recent embrace of Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" as the first spiritual book she included in her hugely popular book club. In the July issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, she said the book's advice on "putting the ego in check" had a "profound impact" on her.
"Spirit to me is the essence of who we are," she said. "That essence doesn't require any particular belief. It just is."
Charisma editor J. Lee Grady said Winfrey's recent discussions of hypnotism on her show may have prompted more people to question her views.
He has long thought Winfrey did not embrace "an orthodox belief in Jesus Christ," but he thinks other Christians may just be starting to draw that conclusion, sparked in part by what they learn about her on the Internet.
"There's definitely an alarm because so many people watch her, that she could lead people into New Age belief or deception," he said.
A spokesman for Winfrey's Harpo Productions said the celebrity is a Christian.
"Oprah was raised Baptist and has stated many, many times that she, is a Christian and that she believes in only one God," said the spokesman, who asked not to be named. "She has also said, `I'm a free-thinking Christian who believes in my way, but I don't believe it's the only way, with six billion people on the planet.'"
The spokesman noted Winfrey is hardly alone; 70 percent of Americans said "many religions can lead to eternal life" in a recent survey from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
Part of the evangelicals' concern stems from Winfrey's recent embrace of Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" as the first spiritual book she included in her hugely popular book club. In the July issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, she said the book's advice on "putting the ego in check" had a "profound impact" on her.
"Spirit to me is the essence of who we are," she said. "That essence doesn't require any particular belief. It just is."
Charisma editor J. Lee Grady said Winfrey's recent discussions of hypnotism on her show may have prompted more people to question her views.
He has long thought Winfrey did not embrace "an orthodox belief in Jesus Christ," but he thinks other Christians may just be starting to draw that conclusion, sparked in part by what they learn about her on the Internet.
"There's definitely an alarm because so many people watch her, that she could lead people into New Age belief or deception," he said.
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