You hit the nail on the head, Rachel.  She is all about moral relativism.  I have greatly enjoyed some of her shows throughout the years, and I have a lot of respect for the things she has accomplished and for some of the things she stands for.  But in recent years, she has become too new-agey for me.  It’s rare that I watch her shows now.  Every week I go to her website to see what topics are going to be on, and if there’s a topic that interests me, I read the transcript on her website.  If it’s something I really want to see, I will DVR it.  But I watch her far less than I did in the old days.

Thanks for the summary and review, Rachel. Due to all the severe weather in our area yesterday afternoon, they could not broadcast the show. I used to watch her show years ago, but then children took over. (often I felt her content was not suitable for children to hear, and my duties were more important anyway). Still, I agree with what you said—she is very articulate and presents things very well. I also think she is very creative, and has had some wonderful and often charitable ideas over the years. Maybe now, she will have some time in her life and maybe she will hear the Truth! I have often wondered (and prayed!) that she would—because I feel she would be an incredible influence—more than she already is—if she did.

Amen, Rachel! I used to love Oprah but now, as I look back, I realize that my love for her waned with my increase in faith. I believe that is no coincidence. There is, however, one piece of advice from one of her shows that I have carried around for years. She probably picked it up from someone else along the way, but I heard it on her show. It is (and I’m sure this is a paraphrase) “you cannot control what other people do or say, you can only control how you react to them.” I used to take everything personally, but, since that show, I have tried to remember that nugget of truth.  That being said, I’m glad to see her show end. It’s gone on far too long.

I agree. I find this carries over to her magazine too.  While I like the decorating and style sections, I can’t stand the new-agey stuff.

Thanks for the review, Rachel. I would watch Oprah from time to time through the years, but recently have thought that she has become way too powerful of an influence on our country. I agree with Mary Therese. However, if she did finally find Truth and speak of it, not many people would purchase her brand.

Thanks Rachael for your thoughts.  I too was initally very happy for Oprah who appeared to be this poor girl grow up in this environment of rejection, then by the grace of God seem to become a corner stone in her adult life.  I actually have come to have many doubts about Oprah being genuine.  Unlike what we’ve seen with many great individuals in our time who exhibit a true sense of humility about their character, this is not something that suddenly becoming popular, or in authority makes them lose.    Oprah put out mega bucks to help get someone elected as president purely based on his ethnic background, and she was totally unconcerned about his antichristian standings on various issues.  Supporting someone based on their ethic background is just as racist is not supporting based on race.  Sorry but I certainly didn’t see Oprah exhibit any “fear of the Lord” when it came to doing this.

I totally forgot about it. But I haven’t watched her show regularly in years. But I heard that she thanked Jesus for her success. So with that as her end she put the name of Jesus Christ in millions of American homes. God does use everything for His glory.

I think that Oprah has made a lot of positive contributions to our society and to our world.  Think what she might have accomplished for Christ if she only accepted that Truth.  I haven’t watched her in years. I think like others, as my faith has grown, my desire to watch her show diminished.  But I do recognize the incredible accomplishments in her life. And truly, the sense that I overwhelmingly get when I think about her or hear of something she’s done, is how much she really does care about people, especially the poor and the disenfranchised. 

I think this is just a reminder to me to pray for her because if she ever truly decided to use her gifts, talents, and wealth in service to the One, Holy, God, well, watch out world!

What has always disappointed me about the Oprah Winfrey show is that with all the discussions of taboo and controversial topics that Oprah brought to attention with grace and compassion, she chose not to include a show which looked objectively at the effects of abortion on women and children and families.  She has always been a voice for those without a voice or those who needed validation.  She could have been an outspoken hero as a voice for the unborn and given Glory to God and His precious creation.

I know that Matty Stapanek, the wonderful little boy who died, certainly made quite an impact on Oprah. (Matty’s mom was recently on EWTN talking about his devotion to various saints.)

I bet that Matty is asking our Lord for Oprah’s conversion!

I always had a sense that she believed in God, but that he really was not the center of her life, just a “part” of it. Thus the new age things that made there way into her thinking…

I think it must be hard to be Oprah.  She has no peers.  She’s got Gayle and it seems like she is a good friend to her.  She has Steadman for companionship I suppose.  I don’t envy her.

it just irritated me that Oprah is allowed to “get away” with “giving God the glory” and speaking directly about faith in God. If a European-ethnic white woman tried that, she would be banned from the mainstream air waves! just sayin’.

I have enjoyed reading all these comments as much as I enjoyed reading Rachel’s post… which was a good post by the way!

I have watched Oprah for years, but probably not so much in the past five to ten years due to time. I absolutely agree. She carries a lot of truth and does a lot of good, but I think what she is missing is that Truth is a Man. You cannot live and walk in absolute truth unless you know the Man of Jesus. i do hope and pray that He becomes her all in all as she enters this new phase of life.

Unfortunately no matter how “good” a person seems to be, and all the “good” the seem to do for others, as Oprah has, it all get undone by the “New Age” teachings and beliefs she holds to be true.  This is when we should have all stopped watching any of her shows, except the ones when she had on the Sisters from Mary the Mother of the Eucharist, who in fact were there to Evangelize her and try and help her rediscover the Absolute Truth in Jesus Christ.

She is a product of our times.