DVD: The Secret

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The thing that gets to me about Oprah though is that she gives back very little here in the US. Especially not inner city Chicago. She feels that the kids in the inner city schools don’t want education enough. What it really is, is that she “looks” better building this school in Africa, and being in charge of it, and controlling it. If she wanted to do good, she could quietly give her money away to fix some of the problems close to home. But no, she has to do it in a way that brings glory to her. So what example is that setting? That inner city youth are not worthy of the almighty Oprah?
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/08/AR2007010801418.html

So she’s bashing the inner city kids for wanting Ipods and sneakers yet she’s spewing forth a philosophy of get what you want NOW. hmm. Sounds a bit contradictory to me.

That’s what really irks me about Oprah. .
 
Thank you, everyone, for bringing this to my attention. I hadn’t heard about this. Very disturbing.
 
Could we please all stop judging Oprah on where she donates her money and why? If you have a problem that she’s donating to schools in Africa instead of in inner-city Chicago, or think that she has the wrong motives for donating to begin with, how about writing to her and expressing your concern and giving her your suggestions, instead of saying uncharitable things about her behind her back? That goes for all the New Age stuff she’s spouting as well - if she starts getting a lot of negative feedback from viewers, she might think twice about making more shows about “The Secret” and other stuff like that. Just my :twocents:

God bless 🙂
 
I’m not sure that anyone is being uncharitable or judging her. If we don’t speak up about the new age stuff - the secret - then no one will realize that it’s an issue. It’s like my friends who are convinced, because oprah says so, that the Secret is in line with all Christian teachings. If we remain silent, then we basically say we agree with these things. And I believe we are doing just what you say; we need to, and we are, giving negative feedback.

As for where she gives her money, I think that is subject to discussion in the context of this thread - she is advocating a belief of “get what you want and get it now”, which really makes it look funny that she’s publicly criticized inner city children for doing the same thing. (see the article I referenced where it was quoted)

Now, Oprah gives away oodles of money. And no one really is saying that her motives aren’t good. But in light of the recent statements she has made (re: the school kids) and in light of what she’s now promoting, (the Secret) I think it all paints a picture.
 
Morning_Star15 said:
Could we please all stop judging Oprah on where she donates her money and why? If you have a problem that she’s donating to schools in Africa instead of in inner-city Chicago, or think that she has the wrong motives for donating to begin with, how about writing to her and expressing your concern and giving her your suggestions, instead of saying uncharitable things about her behind her back? That goes for all the New Age stuff she’s spouting as well - if she starts getting a lot of negative feedback from viewers, she might think twice about making more shows about “The Secret” and other stuff like that. Just my :twocents:

God bless 🙂
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May I suggest you read what the Vatican has to say about educating yourself concerning the New Age and how to minister to those that get caught up into it’s trappings.

Here is the link:

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html

I have no idea where her motives lie when she donates money for this or that, that is her business, but educating ourselves about the New Age should be a responsibilty and concern to all the members of the Church. We must be able to speak about it and against it with the truth and love of Christ.
 
fnz2thrght said:
It’s like my friends who are convinced, because oprah says so, that the Secret is in line with all Christian teachings.
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That’s exactly the problem. And because the Secret is supposedly in line with Christian teachings (so says Oprah), those of us who reject it are accused of being narrowminded, ignorant,or having faith that is so weak we are afraid to expose ourselves to other ideas. :mad:

Well, I don’t know about fear, but just because there happens to be a garbage can full of garbage nearby doesn’t mean I have to dig into it and expose myself to it.
 
We are called to be prophetic by our baptism…and prophets are not usually popular. I think there is always a sense of false compassion when the Truth is being told, we are accused of everything under the sun.

This stuff is dangerous…read the link I provided on what the papal retreat master has to say about all of this…we will be a remnnant…let us just pray that we do not become deceived as the Bible warns us that the elect will be deceived themselves. Let us pray for that grace and discernement…🙂
 
fnz2thrght said:
I’m not sure that anyone is being uncharitable or judging her. If we don’t speak up about the new age stuff - the secret - then no one will realize that it’s an issue. It’s like my friends who are convinced, because oprah says so, that the Secret is in line with all Christian teachings. If we remain silent, then we basically say we agree with these things. And I believe we are doing just what you say; we need to, and we are, giving negative feedback.

**Giving negative feedback to whom? Is Oprah posting on/ or reading this thread? Wouldn’t it be more effective for Oprah to be told that what she’s doing is wrong, as opposed to people who have never met her and most likely never will meet her? I understand that part of this discussion is about educating the people on this thread, and that’s great, but what’s the point in saying here that she’s donating money to the wrong charity, and making assumptions as to why she does so, followed by criticism based on those assumptions? **

As for where she gives her money, I think that is subject to discussion in the context of this thread - she is advocating a belief of “get what you want and get it now”, which really makes it look funny that she’s publicly criticized inner city children for doing the same thing. (see the article I referenced where it was quoted)

I read the article, and I think what Oprah said is compatible with the approach in “The Secret” - she’s not saying that these kids shouldn’t be able to “get what they want and get it now”, she’s just saying that what they want is not what they should want, and that she wants kids to want and go after things that are really important, such as an education. So IMO Oprah’s decisions on where to donate her money aren’t relevant to her promoting New Age stuff.

Now, Oprah gives away oodles of money. And no one really is saying that her motives aren’t good.

Really? You should reread what some people have been saying about it all being about maintaining her image/ control, etc.

But in light of the recent statements she has made (re: the school kids) and in light of what she’s now promoting, (the Secret) I think it all paints a picture.
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All I’m saying is that we should avoid making personal judgments (or comments if you prefer) about Oprah and her motives, as I don’t think any of us here even know her, so what do we know about how she thinks? It’s all just speculation. So how about sticking to discussing the content of “The Secret” instead? 👍

God bless 🙂
 
Morning_Star15 said:
All I’m saying is that we should avoid making personal judgments (or comments if you prefer) about Oprah and her motives, as I don’t think any of us here even know her, so what do we know about how she thinks? It’s all just speculation. So how about sticking to discussing the content of “The Secret” instead? 👍

God bless 🙂
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You make an excellent point. As for the secret its old new age stuff …rewrapped in new presentation.
 
I am curious to know the motivation of any one advertising anything New Age…New Age is Old Age aka Gnsoticism…but dangerous stuff indeed.
 
Here is a question asked by a lady about all of this stuff:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Maureen has a question many people want answered: “[My family puts] our faith in God, and it seems that The Secret teaches you to put your faith in yourself. And so I was wondering, is God anywhere in this?”

Michael says The Secret involves the laws of the universe and they, in turn, describe the nature of how God works. “[Jesus] said, ‘Pray believing that ye have that ye may receive.’ That’s The Secret in a nutshell,” he says. “Pray believing and feeling and sensing that you already have it, and then you’re available to receive it.”

Michael says The Secret isn’t about contradicting religion—it supports it. “It actually goes underneath the culture and explains to you the sacred laws that these wonderful teachers have brought to us,” he says. According to James, The Secret is about supporting the great spiritual traditions in a more modern form. “It really is just putting Christianity, Judaism, all the great teachings into a current vernacular,” he says.
 
And here is an other subtlety:

As a Christian, Maureen says she believes in heaven and hell, and she’s concerned that The Secret’s promotion of free will and personal choice imply that you do not face a final judgment.

James says that while he honors Maureen’s Christian belief system, he suggests looking at the concepts of heaven, hell and judgment in a different way. “Jesus the Christ said the kingdom of heaven is within. He didn’t say it was out there somewhere—[he said] within. And so is it possible to consider that the kingdom of hell is within as well?” he says.

“The kingdom of God is actually in us, and what comes out of your mouth, what you think about, how you express—you’re either participating in the realm of ever-expanding good or you’re cutting yourself off from the realm,” Michael says.

Michael suggests that instead of living a life preparing for some ultimate reward, you should live in the now. “When you’re anticipating some future good, you’re preventing that good that is all around you from expressing through you,” he says. “[Don’t] put life on the layaway plan and try to anticipate that it’s going to get good in the future.”
 
One of the messages fr Oprah!

http://boards.oprah.com/WebX/?31@@178de3@4**I can’t wait Oprah - Ask, Believe & Receive!
**Posted by: soulangel - A life unexamined is not worth living!
Posted on: 02/13/2007 at 1:34pm (3 of 7336)

Hello all you “The Secret” Believers…

Well I asked 'my genie" for another Oprah show on “The Secret”(in fact a series with each “The Secret” teachers taking on an Oprah viewer as a student with follow-up shows through out the year and a final show in a year to see each viewers/students results! You guessed it - I asked for myself to be a student - Ask, Believe and Receive!)

Then I asked again on these message boards for allof the above and ta-da…my wish is granted for this coming Friday - another Oprah show on “The Secret”!

And yes, I sent in my “Secret” question. Here it is for you all on the “O’s” message boards - Any advise you have would be appreciated

Here’s My Question regarding “The Secret”: I am an overweight, single - never-married, unemployed for the third time in 4 years, and on government assistance 46 year-old woman who is looking to change careers who has always lived in rental apartments, but who wants to financially improve her bank account in order achieve her goals to own her own home, have savings for retirement and travel.

So what do I focus on first - Career? Getting any job? Abundance of funds? Healthy relationship with a life long partner? Health and feeling whole?

Where does a woman start with -what area of her life? Teachers do tell???

Cheers! Dianne Jacques

PS I now re-phrase my needs and desires to the positive - “I am a healthy and whole, intelligent and attractive woman who is successful in all areas of my life and love myself and my creative life and those I come in contact with everyday!”
 
I’m wondering where Jesus said “the kingdom of heaven is within?” I thought he said “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Two vastly different statments. I don’t know every verse in the bible so I could be wrong, but I’ve never heard that before.

The issue is that this is being touted as complementing Christianity, and it does not, in any shape and form. Again, just because Oprah says its so, doesn’t mean it is.

I think the fact remains (and most of the posters here realize this) that we need to gather our facts, and our forces and get our stories straight so that we can go out and spread the word that these things are not from God.
 
Shoshana said:
Dianne Jacques on Oprah Message Boards said:
So what do I
focus
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on first - Career? Getting any job? Abundance of funds? Healthy relationship with a life long partner? Health and feeling whole?

Where does a woman start with -what area of her life? Teachers do tell???

Cheers! Dianne Jacques

PS I now re-phrase my needs and desires to the positive - “I am a healthy and whole, intelligent and attractive woman who is successful in all areas of my life and love myself and my creative life and those I come in contact with everyday!”
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Notice Dianne’s question? Notice her answers? :hmmm: Is that a sign of a Christian? :ehh:

We all know that our focus should be on Jesus FIRST. If God decides to give us a good career that’s up to Him. If we have a healthy relationship that is also up to God, BUT it should be with your spouse and not with a “life long partner.” Of course our spouse should be our life long partner but if a spouse is what this woman meant then she should’ve put “spouse” instead. These days with cohabitation you never know what some people mean when they say “life long partner.”

I don’t know about this “abundance of funds” either. We all know what is said about “rich” people and not being able to enter Heaven. I know that God makes it possible for people to have money, but I only see that to be good if those people share their money with the poor.

This business of “feeling whole” sounds strange as the way that I think she means. We walk by faith and not by sight or “feelings.” For instance; Jesus being there at the altar is not contingent on how one feels a particular day at Mass. He’s there no matter how anyone feels. I thank God for that.
 
AlegreFe said:
For instance; Jesus being there at the altar is not contingent on how one feels a particular day at Mass. He’s there no matter how anyone feels. I thank God for that.
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and even if you feel “negative” on that day, Jesus is there for you. Even if you go to mass (and I know it happens to all of us) grumbling the whole way because you wanted to stay in bed, Jesus is still there. What a beautiful thing for all of us.
 
fnz2thrght said:
I’m wondering where Jesus said “the kingdom of heaven is within?” I thought he said “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.
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RSV-CE; NAB; ESV; NASB; KJV; NKJV
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

ASV
Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Douay-Rheims (I really like this one because it says to do “penance”)
“Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

NIV
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

NLT
“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."

NIRV
“Turn away from your sins!” he said. “The kingdom of heaven is near.”

HCSB
“Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

CEV
“Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”

YLT :ehh: huh?
Reform ye, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens.

Darby
Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.

I have no idea where this guy got his bible. :ehh: But I don’t see “heaven is within” anywhere in any of those versions. He made us his own verse to suite his analogy. And we all know what God says about people who make up their own verses and translations.
 
AlegreFe said:
I have no idea where this guy got his bible. :ehh: But I don’t see “heaven is within” anywhere in any of those versions. He made us his own verse to suite his analogy. And we all know what God says about people who make up their own verses and translations.
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thank you! Thanks for doing the research.
 
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