Rather than religious leaders setting the cultural agenda, today, it's Oprah Winfrey

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A current survey shows that rather than religious leaders setting the cultural agenda, today, it's Oprah Winfrey setting what people should read, look for in life and believe....A recent survey shows people just rather take whatever is offered as a quick fix or comes easy as a belief and reject any real change in their life.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...eligions_N.htm

"...After the 9/11 attack, Oprah organized the official memorial service at Yankee Stadium, and while clergy participated, she was the master of ceremonies.

"The impact of Oprah is seen throughout this survey. She uses the language of Bible and Christian traditions and yet includes other traditions to create a hodgepodge personalized faith. Exclusivism (one religion has the absolute and exclusive truth) has gotten a bad name in America today," he says.

Political science professor Alan Wolfe, director of the Boise Center for American and Public Life at Boston University, says many people, despite their religious claims, "have no command of theology, doctrine or history, so it's an empty religiosity." Still, he finds "a very forgiving quality" to this non-sectarian, no-mention-of-sin view. "No one wants to think their spouse, friends or co-workers are mad or bad...."

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 0.6 percentage points for overall findings. The margin is a bit larger for subgroups such as "evangelicals" (26.3% of adults, who share strict ideas on salvation and common historic origins), mainline Protestants (18.1%, who share "a less exclusionary view of salvation and a strong emphasis on social reform") and historically black churches (6.9%, "shaped by experiences of slavery and segregation"). Among the highlights:

• 78% overall say there are "absolute standards of right and wrong," but only 29% rely on their religion to delineate these standards. The majority (52%) turn to "practical experience and common sense," with 9% relying on philosophy and reason, and 5% on scientific information.

• 74% say "there is a heaven, where people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded," but far fewer (59%) say there's a "hell, where people who have led bad lives and die without being sorry are eternally punished."

• 70%, including a majority of all major Christian and non-Christian religious groups except Mormons, say "many religions can lead to eternal life."

• 68% say "there's more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion."

• 44% want to preserve their religion's traditional beliefs and practices. But most Catholics (67%), Jews (65%), mainline Christians (56%) and Muslims (51%) say their religion should either "adjust to new circumstances" or "adopt modern beliefs and practices
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The link you posted is no longer working, Richard.
I learnt that Oprah's church has an attendance of 2 million people.

I think Richard posted by mistake an incomplete link.

Here is the complete link:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-06-23-pew-religions_N.htm

Thanks Darryl...

Rosangela,

Her influence has permeated many aspects of American life, if she says that she likes a certain book it goes to the top of the best seller list, if she recommends a place or product it sees a surge in people or sales, if she says vote for this candidate...well you can see where I am going....

Rick

This really nails what is happening...

“Satan is making the world believe that the Bible is a mere fiction, or at least a book suited to the infancy of the race, but now to be lightly regarded, or cast aside as obsolete.” —The Great Controversy, p. 557. “And to complete his work, he declares, through the spirits that ‘true knowledge places man above all law;’ that ‘whatever is, is right;’ that ‘God doth not condemn;’ and that ‘all sins which are committed are innocent.’ ” —The Great Controversy, p. 555.




“If there were no other evidence of the real character of spiritualism, it should be enough for the Christian that the spirits make no difference between righteousness and sin. ... Satan says to the world: ‘No matter how wicked you are; no matter whether you believe or disbelieve God and the Bible. Live as you please; heaven is your home.’ The spiritualist teachers virtually declare: ‘Everyone that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?’ Malachi 2:17. Saith the word of God: ‘Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.’ Isaiah 5:20. —The Great Controversy, pp. 556-557.

“It is true that spiritualism is now changing its form and, veiling some of its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise. ... While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible, it now professes to accept both. But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism, making little distinction between good and evil. God’s justice, His denunciations of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all kept out of sight.” —The Great Controversy, pp. 557-558.