Oprah, Rob Bell, And Faux Self-Empowerment For The Self-Centered

Oprah Winfrey has long been the leader in American guru aggregation, rounding up doctors, psychologists, planners, soothsayers, do-gooders, pastors, rabbis, and emotive specialists from all corners of life. Yet amidst the seeming diversity and specialization, the overall themes are rather predictable.

Look inside yourself. Be yourself. Improve yourself. Launch yourself. Love yourself.

And love others, too, I suppose.

Yet lo and behold, Oprah’s Big-Tent Self-Helpism is about to expand its posts once again. This fall, Oprah will rally a handful of preferred prophets and “tastemakers” to embark on an eight-city weekend tour, “The Life You Want,” a celebration aptly titled for the self-obsessed.

Though a tour of this variety is a first for Enterprise Oprah, and despite the booming promise of the promotional trailer — “Oprah like you’ve never seen, heard, or experienced!” — the aim and agenda are rather routine as far as upper-middle-class heart-tingling goes. All the way down to the $99–$999 price tag.

The tour will push themes of “empowerment, resilience, and authenticity,” we are told. Oprah will share her inspiring rise from poverty to media glory, followed by a series of talks by “hand-picked thought leaders” such as “spiritual teacher” Iyanla Vanzant, mind-body wizard Deepak Chopra, pastor-turned-surf-churcher Rob Bell, and all-around me-seeker Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love. “The goal is to live the fullest, highest expression of yourself as a human being,” Oprah declares.

Swoon. Tingle. Tear. Repeat.

More...

http://thefederalist.com/2014/04/07/opra...-self-centered/

Quote: ThirstyMan wrote in post #2

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“The goal is to live the fullest, highest expression of yourself as a human being,” Oprah declares.

Some very unwelcome advice I am sure
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" Mt 16:25,26

Jesus left that last question unanswered so we don't know the answer to "what will it profit?"

Consequently we are left to grope around with goofy talk show hosts and spiritual imposters, wandering in the dark like Shenandoah, seeking "the highest expression of ourselves."

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Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #4

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consider the following samples from Bell’s recent interview with Oprah herself:...

Wow, that is some deep theology. My mind reels even as my stomach turns.

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