OPRAH
SHIFTS TO THE DARK SIDE
By Marsha West
NewsWithViews.com
Oprah’s
Connection to the Occult
Notorious New Ager George Lucas's wildly popular Star Wars movies abound
with occult themes. In Return of the Jedi, dissident Jedi warrior Anakin
Skywalker fell to the dark side of the Force and became the evil Dark Lord of
the Sith, Darth Vader. Likewise, Oprah Winfrey has fully shifted to the dark
side and is a full-fledged New Age spiritual leader and occultist. Make no
mistake about it: as with Vader, Oprah is fully aware that she has made The
Shift.
A
Course in Miracles
As I pointed out in my article, Emergent Church Spreading Spiritual
Cancer:
"In 1987 she read the late Eric Butterworth's book 'Discover the
Power Within You.' His book changed how Oprah looked at life and religion. She
was convinced that Jesus didn't come to teach us about His divinity, as the
Bible teaches, but to teach us about our divinity! She recommended
Butterworth's book to her audience and sales soon skyrocketed."[1]
In 1992 Oprah began her promotion of A Course in Miracles. She was so
taken by the book's decidedly occult message that she bought a thousand copies
and distributed them to her friends and others. The Course, as it is called,
has undermined Christianity more than just about any other published work.
Shockingly thousands of study groups have utilized the Course in churches
around the globe.
Who wrote A Course In Miracles?
Dr. Helen Schucman, an atheist and psychologist, wrote the Course under
the direction of an "inner voice" that purported to be Jesus. The
Voice spoke to her one day and said, "This is a course in miracles. Please
take notes." The inner dictation came mentally and clearly. Almost daily
she listened to the voice and took shorthand dictation. At every new session
she was able to continue exactly where she left off. She admitted that the
strange phenomenon made her uncomfortable, yet she chose to continue the
dictation for seven years. You will not be surprised to learn that Dr. Schucman
dabbled in New Thought metaphysics and the occult.
What does the Course teach?
"The Course simultaneously indoctrinates its students in Eastern
metaphysics and human potential psychicism, while it specifically insulates
them against biblical revelation and true Christianity. In achieving this end,
its manipulation of psychological and emotional states is impressive, it offers
carefully thought-out spiritual exercises, one for every day of the year."
Marianne Williamson, prominent New Ager and senior pastor of Church of
Today in Warren, Michigan, began teaching the Course on "Oprah and
Friends" on XM Radio, January 1, 2008 and will cover 365 lessons. You
might say it's a devotional for New Agers. Former New Ager and author Warren
Smith provides the following examples of what you'll find in the lessons:
"Lesson #29 asks you to go through your day affirming that 'God is in
everything I see.' Lesson #61 tells each person to repeat the affirmation 'I am
the light of the world.' Lesson #70 teaches the student to say and believe 'My
salvation comes from me.'"[2]
Note the biblical language. In the Course terms that are uniquely
biblical are given completely different thoughts and meanings. In Course usage,
Holy Spirit, atonement, salvation, miracle, sin and forgiveness have undergone
drastic changes of purpose. "Often, the new meanings are the opposite of
their biblical usage. For example, atonement no longer refers to Jesus Christ's
substitutionary death on the cross for sin. In biblical teaching, the Atonement
is based on the fact that mans sinfulness separates him from God. Before man
can be reconciled to God, there must be a divine judgment of sin. Christ
sacrificed His own life on the cross He was judged in our place to accomplish
this reconciliation. This is what Christians mean by the word atonement, or the
atoning sacrifice of Christ (John
The Course has all but replaced Marilyn Ferguson's 1980 manifesto The
Aquarian Conspiracy that opened the floodgates to "the great irrevocable
shift" into public acceptance of esoteric occult Theosophy. In her
influential bestseller
Oprah
and the New Age Movement
In 1997 Williamson co-founded the American Renaissance Alliance (ARA) in
conjunction with the author of Conversations With God. He, like Williamson, is
a frequent guest on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Neale Donald Walsch.
ARA later became the Global Renaissance Alliance of New Age leaders. In 2005 it
was changed again, this time to the Peace Alliance. Endorsements come from
respected news anchor Walter Cronkite, a number of celebrities, and globalist
organizations that include Global Family, Amnesty International, American
Muslim Voices, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and several others.
According to Warren Smith, "This Peace Alliance seeks to usher in an era
of global peace founded on the principles of a New Age/New Spirituality that
they are now referring to as a 'civil rights movement for the soul.' They all
agree that the principles of this New Age/New Spirituality are clearly
articulated in A Course in Miracles which is fast becoming the New Age Bible."[4]
Marianne Williamson is only one among many of Oprah's guests who are
outright occultists. Oprah's mass viewing audience has unwittingly (in some
cases) received occult instruction from Marilyn Ferguson, Neale Donald Walsh,
Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, John Bradshaw, Jack Canfield, Shirley MacLaine,
Yanla Vanzant, Gary Zukav, Jerry and Esther Hicks, John Edward, Rhonda Byrne,
and Eckhart Tolle. (More on Tolle in a moment.) What do these people believe?
For one thing, you can create your own reality. "The message is the
same," says Russ Wise, "there is a power, an energy, a force within
you that opens your understanding to your true self – your God-Self, your
innate Divinity. There is no individuality; we are one. We only believe we are
separate, but in reality we are all a part of God's 'oneness.'" [5] May
the Force be with you!
Wise continues:
"In her book that launched her popularity on the Oprah Winfrey Show
in 1992 she [Williamson] made this observation, 'If you go deeply enough into
your mind, and deeply enough into mine, we have the same mind. The concept of a
divine, or "Christ" mind, is the idea that, at our core, we are not
just identical, but actually the same being. "There is only one begotten
Son" doesn't mean that someone else was it, and we're not. It means we're
all it. There's only one of us here.' Williamson then makes the analogy that we
cannot separate ourselves from God no more than the wave can separate itself
from the ocean."[6]
Former New Ager and author Ray Yungen laments, "This is the
decision the world is now facing is God a personal being or is God the Universe
and all that it entails?"[7] In other words, is there a transcendent God
who lives outside His creation, or are we all gods as New Agers believe?
Those who regularly watch Oprah's daytime show or listen to her XM radio
broadcast or visits her website cannot help but know that many of her guests
are purveyors of Eastern mysticism. In other words, many of Oprah's friends are
occultists! Some of her guests are occultists. She recommends occult books. So
guess what? That makes her an occultist! And she's priming the pump for her
audience to follow in her footsteps!
Now then, the reason committed Christians find the Course so offensive
is that it claims to be a revelation from Jesus Christ Himself. Moreover, it
claims to be an "enhancement" to traditional Christianity yet its
principles are inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture. How, pray tell, can
it be compatible with the teaching of the Bible when its philosophy is merged
with a belief system that is based on Hinduism?
I don't presume to know Oprah's heart; only God knows the heart. What we
are left to judge her on is her words -- and her words convey that she is an
occultist.
Oprah
and the Secret (power of positive thinking)
Need more proof?
Who was instrumental in promoting the occult teaching of The Secret? Oprah. In
February 2007 she aired a 2-part special to introduce her viewers to The
Secret. What The Secret promises is that the world is on the brink of a new
era, a paradigm shift that will open up to humanity "unleashed power,
riches and creativity." If this sounds familiar, it is. It's a cleaver
repackaging of what the Human Potential movement of the Sixties promised. Their
message? Your life can be transformed! You can experience an exceptional
quality of life filled with happiness, creativity, and fulfillment.
"Wildly entertaining" transformation sage Tony Robbins has been
selling this concept for decades. Robbins invites you to "unleash the
power within you" at one of his seminars. Attendees will "discover
how to identify what it is you really want, permanently break through any
barriers that might be holding you back, dramatically increase your physical
energy and mental clarity, and infuse passion into your daily life."[8]
Wow. All in one weekend.
Go to the The Secret website and you will find The Secret Scrolls.
Allegedly the scrolls contain "inspiring words to assist you in living in
the magic of The Secret. Also within the scroll will be exciting information
about upcoming Secret Events all over the world." And you'll be pleased to
know that "The Secret Scrolls is a positive and uplifting gift we know
will be a joy for you to receive." If you're looking to be transformed the
website offers products and other special offers. It's an investment, sure. But
you're worth it! Visitors are also directed to other websites, books and
teachers who are masters of The Secret. Pass the Rolaids, please.
Let me break this down for you. The Secret is the so-called Law of
Attraction (the principle that like attracts like). It's about attracting
wealth, better health, and better relationships. In a word it's about
happiness. Author Rhonda Byrne (who's happy now that she's made millions off
gullible consumers) calls it "the most powerful law in the universe"
and makes it seem as if the Law of Attraction is a scientific theory, which it
is not. Byrne claims that we attract into our lives the things we want and what
we attract is based solely on what we're thinking and feeling. So the
"secret" she unveils is a repackaged version of the age-old Power of
Positive Thinking. (Motivational speakers like Tony Robbins are selling the
same snake oil.) So basically every good or bad thing that happens to us, we
draw to ourselves, be it positive or negative.
The
“Christian” side of the Secret
You will also find this "spiritual law" in the postmodern
Church. "Positive confession" is a doctrinal pillar of the Word of
Faith movement. Positive confession stresses the inherent power of words and
thoughts. "Each person predestines his own future by what he says verbally
and by how well he uses spiritual laws. As such, it is as if we live in a
mechanistic universe instead of a personal one." Some of the major
promoters of this unbiblical teaching are Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth and Gloria
Copeland, Paul & Jan Crouch, Benny Hinn, Fred Price, Robert Tilton, Joyce
Meyer, Marilyn Hickey and, last but not least, the smiling preacher Joel
Osteen, who grins all the way to the bank. Listen to what the motivational
speaker (oops) senior pastor of
"The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it. This is
a spiritual principle, and it works whether what you are saying is good or bad,
positive or negative."
Who is he?
"I am the sum total of what I have been confessing through the
years."
What does he say about finances?
"God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to
fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us."
He also chirped, "If we say it long enough eventually we're going
to reap a harvest. We're going to get exactly what we're saying." Hoo-boy.
Those who embrace Word-Faith theology hold to the occult belief that
"Words are a creative force!" "Words have power!" They
believe your words can heal you or kill you. I am not making this up, folks.
Prosperity preachers teach that, "Words have the power of influencing both
the physical and the spiritual world. Hence believers spend much time
--binding Satan, demons and other spiritual entities.
--claiming health.
--claiming wealth."[9]
Rhonda Byrne and Joel Osteen may have significant differences, but the
one thing they agree on is that "You are the Master of the Universe, and
the Genie is there to serve you." For Byrne the Genie is the Law of
Attraction. For Osteen the Genie is God.
My reason for bringing up Word-Faith teaching is to show its
similarities to the New Age movement. Actually, New Age movement is a tired old
term. Devotees prefer "New Spirituality" or just plain
"Spirituality." Another term is Cosmic Humanism. No matter how you
couch it, it's Eastern mysticism.
New Agers outright reject the Jesus of the Bible and have adopted a
Cosmic Christ. Who is this Christ? "In esoteric schools of thought, the
Christ is considered to be a universal spirit or a cosmic force. The primary
goal of this impersonal spirit or force is to guide the spiritual evolution of
mankind."[10]
The
As I brought to light in my article on ECM, New Agers are not the only
ones who believe there is a paradigm shift taking place. Some Christians
believe it, too. As a consequence "everything must change."
"There is a growing movement afoot in the postmodern Church that
does not abide in God's Word. The movement calls itself 'Emergent' or '
"So they're touring the country, promoting their social gospel and
message of peace to the masses. Prominent ECM leader Brian McLaren is
spearheading the 'Everything Must Change' tour. According to McLaren's website
the planet is in Deep Shift
A time of transition
rethinking
re-imagining
and re-envisioning.
"But really, it's all about re-shaping the true Gospel of Jesus
Christ into a false gospel and re-imaging Jesus Christ into the New Age Cosmic
Christ!"[11]
I wrote about Brian McLaren in the above mentioned article, but for
those who haven't read it, he and other "Progressive Christian"
leaders are attempting to steer Christendom away from historic orthodox
Christianity into apostasy and in some cases outright heresy. ECM has introduced
New Age ideas into the Church that parallel Oprah's New Spirituality. McLaren
and Winfrey are New Age proselytizers. Oprah's platform is her TV show and
radio broadcasts; McLaren's is his books and Deep Shift conferences. Both of
them believe what they're doing is for the "good of the world."
Listen to McLaren's own words:
"Deep Shift provides support as leaders make their own personal
deep shift and guide their organizations through the transition and
transformation necessary to ignite the loving energy of people to work for the
good of the world. As guides, we provide coaching, consulting, and resources
for people leading in deep shift — faith community and church leaders,
nonprofit leaders, ethical business leaders and others."[12]
Note the New Age jargon: Transition; transformation; energy; shift;
community.
You ask, "What does Word of Faith and
Listen to what Warren Smith says about The Shift:
"In her first class with Eckhart Tolle, Oprah asked if people had
experienced the 'shift' while reading Tolle's book, A New Earth. The question
reminded me of Werner Erhard's New Age EST program in the 1970s that taught
this same idea of shifting one's perception, and then similarly asking 'Did you
get IT?' Obviously, there is pressure to 'get IT' to feel the shift: Oprah felt
the shift did you? Are you understanding this new [age] way of looking at
yourself and the world? Or, are you being blocked by your mind and your ego
from seeing this New Spirituality that can save our planet? Keep logging onto
our classes. Keep reading Tolle's book you'll 'get it.'"[13]
Now here's where it gets interesting. Dr.
Dennis Cuddy, historian and political analyst, wrote a provocative article,
Transformation By Crises and Synthesis, in which he pointed out the parallels
in A New Earth and Brian McLaren's book Everything must change: Jesus, Global
Crises, and a Revolution of Hope. Cuddy said:
"In Brian McLaren's 2007 book EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE: JESUS, GLOBAL
CRISES AND A REVOLUTION OF HOPE (note the words 'change' and 'crises'), he also
emphasizes the "common good" and refers to 'radical rethinking.'
Robert Schuller on
"In McLaren's book, he states that for millions of young adults,
'the Christian religion appears to be a failed religion' because it has
'specialized in dealing with "spiritual" needs,' failing to address
systemic injustice, poverty, ecological crisis and other societal and global
dysfunctions. This sounds like the leftist Catholics' old 'Liberation Theology'
claim. It also sounds similar to what co-founder of Global Education Associates
Patricia Mische said at a
"McLaren in his book continued to explain that this failed
Christian religion's threats of hell 'lose their effect when those making the
threats seem a little defensive, deranged, out of touch, manic.' Note that he's
saying they are mentally ill! This is similar to New Ager Marilyn Ferguson in
THE AQUARIAN CONSPIRACY: PERSONAL AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE 1980s (1980)
saying that if people will get rid of "crippling belief systems,"
they can have a 'transformation of consciousness' and find 'sanity within.'
More recently, it sounds like Eckhart Tolle's A NEW EARTH: AWAKENING TO YOUR
LIFE'S PURPOSE (2005) asserts that all of those expressing the certainty that
'I am right and you are wrong' are a 'dangerous thing in religions.' It
reflects a 'collective mental illness.' Tolle characterizes 'sin' as simply
'missing the point' of human existence and suggests that 'Eastern wisdom
teachings' allow us to 'let go of dogmas' and 'rigid belief systems.' He also
relates that in THE HOLY BIBLE 'a new heaven' actually refers to 'the emergence
of a transformed state of human consciousness.' Note again the terms 'mental
illness' and 'transformed.'"[14]
Did you get that? Anyone who holds to
absolute truth, as taught in the Holy Bible, "are a dangerous thing in
religions" and "reflects a collective mental illness."
Influential occultists are out to transform dimwitted Christians into the
likeness of Satan!
Cuddy's article includes comments about church-growth leader Rick Warren
who also "promotes a 'new spirituality' that emphasizes a concern about
global poverty, etc."
Remember the good old days when Christians heard the authentic Gospel of
Jesus Christ preached from the pulpit instead of the postmodern watered-down
version? You could tell the ministers that were literally called by God because
they had a desire to preach the Word! Today believers are hearing feel-good
messages, messages about how to be successful how to be a good spouse how to
raise kids how to live "Your Best Life Now" plus a mish-mash of
psychobabble. What is disgraceful is that many pastors are becoming Life
Coaches instead of teachers of the Word. We're told, "Do your best and
you'll get into heaven." This is so not true! In Mat.
Sadly, both Protestants and Catholics are receiving false teaching from
those they trust to give them the truth, which is why apostasy is rampant in
Christendom. Even Christian booksellers hock books by false-teachers and
apostates. As for Christian music, it is rife with unbiblical lyrics. (Listen
to Brannon Howse’ interview Christian music artist Steve Camp on the dumbing
down of today's music pastors) The words believers sing during worship are not
necessarily music to God's ears. It's a good idea to pay attention to lyrics
that are directed to God!
I've said this numerous times, but it bears repeating: Followers of
Jesus Christ MUST know what they believe and why they believe it. Paul warned,
"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you
do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim
Granted, Scripture twisting is nothing new. Even the Apostle Paul had to
deal with false-teachers who were plunging the early Church into heresy. In
Galatians 1:8 he gave this stern warning to God's people:
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel
other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!"
Then to make doubly sure the folks got his point, he repeated his
decree:
"As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is
preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally
condemned!"
It would seem Paul meant business and he was not worried about taking
care of people's feelings! The Apostle Paul spoke for God. True followers of
Jesus Christ had best heed his warning.
One last comment. At the end of Return of the Jedi, Vader is rescued
from the dark side. I believe there is hope for Oprah and many others who are
living in darkness to be rescued from the dark side. But first they must,
"Repent then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that
times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19).
Footnotes:
1,
2, "Oprah and Friends" To Teach
Course on New Age Christ By Warren Smith
3, A Course in Miracles: Christian Glossed
Hinduism For The Masses Source: Christian Research Institute website
4, "Oprah and Friends" To Teach
Course on New Age Christ By Warren Smith
5, Oprah Winfrey: The Oprahfication of
6, Ibid
7, For Many Shall Come in My Name By Ray
Yungen--Lighthouse Trails Publishing; page 131
8, TonyRobbins.com
9, Positive Confession: A Word-Faith
Doctrine Apologetics Index website
10, A Brief Dictionary of New Age
Terminology Logos Resource Pages website
11,
12, Deep Shift website, Everything Must
Change Brian McLarens Welcome message
13, Oprah and Eckhart Do the New Age Shift
By Warren Smith By Warren Smith
14, Transformation By Crises and Synthesis
By Dr. Dennis Cuddy
Recommended
1, For Many Shall Come in My Name By Ray
Yungen
2, Know What You Believe: A Practical
Discussion of the Fundamentals of the Christian Faith By Paul E. Little
© 2008
Marshahttp://www.newswithviews.com/West/marsha67.htm West - All Rights Reserved