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What's the biggest spiritual/religious phenomenon of our time? How about Oprah Winfrey's ten week, ninety minute on-line course "A New Earth?" She and best selling author Eckhart Tolle of the book of the same name as the course, are collaborating. The course is free; there's a workbook to download; and 700,000 folks have signed on. That's right 700,000!
In my estimation this may well represent a shift in public religion. Not only does this phenomenon operate outside the realm of institutional religion, it gives permission (by Oprah) for that shift to be okay.
Many say Oprah's become America's leading spiritual guide. It's her authority that legitimazes a freelance "spiritual teacher" such as Eckhart Tolle. In Oprah there's a huge cult of personality operating for a large number of persons willing to be influenced. The World Wide Web takes these infuences and creates a virtual community (church?).
In an age of traditional religion's slow decline as well as shifting affiliations, Oprah's Virtual Church and her imitators will be a phenomenon to be reckoned with.
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I've not even looked at the book this course involves, but I have to say that her allegiance to "The Secret" has turned me off to the idea of considering Oprah as a spiritual guide. I prefer to consider her as morning entertainment while I clean house and fold laundry.
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