Another Thing About Oprah

I am not a fan of Oprah Winfrey. In fact I am always glad when her efforts to market nonsense to gullible people are exposed.

Today we have to thank Salon for revealing the latest insanity from Oprahland. It is a land ruled by a cult leader. She rules by entertaining people and using the resulting happy feeling to sell stuff that no one really needs. That is pretty much what every other CEO does.

She differs because she is selling the intangible. If you buy a car that turns out to be a lemon, you swear not to buy from that manufacturer again. If you buy an idiotic idea that is perceived as being positive, the lemon qualities are a little harder to discover.

Change is easy in Oprahland. Just change your thoughts and presto, you have more money, love, or muscle mass. Of course everyone's experience is just the opposite. If change were easy we wouldn't need rehab, AA or Weight Watchers. Thank goodness we have them but unfortunately their very existence inspires stupid people to think that every issue in life can be resolved with a few positive thoughts.

Books like The Secret, the current cult leader favorite, are extremely dangerous. They teach that misfortune is our fault. Poverty, illness, and family problems only exist because we don't have the right thoughts. These are especially dangerous ideas to sell to black people. We have less because our ancestors were never compensated for their labor and because racism hasn't disappeared.

White people aren't buying property more often because their thoughts are positive. They buy property because their families have more wealth. If mom and dad hand you money for a down payment, it doesn't really matter if your thoughts are positive, negative or in between.

The Secret even lies about the bible, telling us that it promotes prosperity.

Mat 19:16
And behold, one came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?"
Mat 19:17
And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
Mat 19:18
He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19
Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Mat 19:20
The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?"
Mat 19:21
Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Mat 19:22
When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23
And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Oh well, so much for The Secret. Oprah couldn't do the damage she does if American weren't so stupid. Any practicing Christian should know the story of the rich young man. Jesus didn't tell him to think positive and get more cash. He told him to give it all away and follow Him.

I'm guessing that The Secret doesn't mention this story.