Do you watch Oprah? If not, who is someone close to you that watches The Oprah Winfrey Show?

Oprah didn’t feel right about God being Jealous, but Avartari suggests that God’s jealousy is not the same as human jealousy. What were the reasons Avatari gave?

Could Jealousy ever be used for good? How so? What analogy did Avatari give?

Could Jealousy ever be used for good? How so? What analogy did Avatari give?

Avartari shares that God’s jealousy is combined with God’s love? What are some characteristics that Avartari says she discovered about God’s love?

Oprah believes that there are many paths to what you call God. She doesn’t believe that Jesus is the only way. What biblical teaching might contract this thinking?

Read John 14 and Acts 4. How do you think Oprah would respond to these two chapters?

How does Avatari define religious pluralism? Avatari makes a distinction between two types of pluralism? How do they differ?

Avatari mentioned that even though the “new religious pluralism” is touted as open-mindedness, it’s rather just another type of exclusivism? How is that possible?

Oprah and Eckhart seem to indicate that beliefs are not important. What did Jesus in the New Testament say about the relationship of salvation and belief?

Avatari shows that even though Oprah claims to be very “open-minded”, she really is “close minded” in some ways. What are some clear examples that Avatari makes reference to? Can you think of any other examples of things that Oprah is closed minded to?

Avatari gives what she says is a good definition of truth. What is it?

Avatari talks about self-defeating statements. What is a self-defeating statement?

How would you respond to the following quotations:

Maria indicates that there is some doctrine in the beliefs of Oprah and Eckhart? What are some of those doctrines? Do agree or disagree?

Have you read Rhonda Byrne’s book, The Secret? If so, what did you agree or disagree about the teachings?

In The Secret, the reader is supposed to declare, “I think perfect thoughts. I see only perfection. I am perfection.” Do you think that this message is consistent with the Apostle Paul’s teaching on sin?

Do you think God could ever use suffering for good purposes in the end? Why or why not?

How does Avatari define pantheism? How does it differ from Theism?

What are some quotations that indicate that Rhonda Byrne, Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle hold to some form of pantheistic thought? Can you think of any other popular examples of pantheistic religions such as celebrities or movies?

What do you think about the way that Avatari responds to some of Lindsey’s questions? Would you respond the same or differently?

Avatari shares that some of the philosophy of Norman Geisler helped her to understand that pantheism was self-defeating. What was the example that Geisler gave?

Avatari quoted C.S. Lewis suggesting some reasons why pantheism has been so popular for thousands of years. What did he say?

Avatari said she felt lonely and abandoned by her family for following Jesus. Has following Christ ever made you feel abandoned by anyone? What happened and what did you do?

What got Avatari’s attention in believing that the God of the Bible was the Real God?

Oprah’s spiritual teachers Eckhart Tolle and Marianne Williamson say that sin is an illusion. What are some of the logical problems with this idea?

If every law has a lawgiver? Why does it make more sense that God is the one who determines moral laws rather than people or societies?

Read Romans 2:14-16. What does this verse indicated about natural law (the objective moral law revealed apart from Scriptures)?

Paul, the apostle of the New Testament wrote in 1 Corinthians 1 that Christ’s death on the cross was “stumbling block to the Jews” and “foolishness to the Greeks.” Even though the spiritual teachers that Oprah Winfrey recommends think that Christ’s death is foolishness, why does the Christian faith say that it necessary?

Avatari admitted that she wanted to know Jesus not only as some distant ancient religious guy, but as a real person in history who overcame death. Do you know Jesus? If so, when did you come to know him?

What specifically do you believe about the afterlife?

Do we have any evidence for an afterlife?

What’s some of the reasons we believe Jesus died on the cross historically?

Lindsey says many weird cult people have died for the lie? What’s so unique about Jesus’ followers dying for their beliefs?

Christians are definitely not perfect and sometimes they are inconsistent. In your own personal life, what are some things that you can do to grow in your relationship with Jesus?

Sometimes it’s difficult for us to forgive. Lindsey and Avatari had to forgive their parents. Have you forgiving everybody that you can think of? Have you received God’s forgiveness?

Has your beliefs about Oprah Winfrey’s spirituality changed through reading this book? Why or why not?

Should Christians watch Oprah? Why or why not?

Do you spend more time watching Oprah or reading good books exploring the Christian faith? Something to consider: Will you take up the “Read 10 page a day” challenge?

Please check out this new YouTube clip: One Minute Apologist with Dave Sterrett

Last weekend, I (Dave) did a book signing outside of Houston, in Beaumont. Here’s some photos of Josh and me at our Plano book signing at the release of our book a few weeks back. These were taken by Katherine Robertson.

“O God has been chosen as “Book of the Month”  during November, by Michael Catt, at Sherwood Baptist Church. Michael Catt has served as senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, since 1989 and is executive producer of the popular Facing the Giants and Fireproof films that originated from the congregation. He also authored Prepare for Rain and Fireproof Your Life and is founder of the ReFRESH revival conference. Michael and his wife, Terri, have two children. To learn more about Sherwood Baptist, please go to this link Sherwood Baptist

We are receiving lots of encouraging emails from students…Here’s one from Ashley, a senior at TCU. She kindly gave me permission to share it with you.

Dear Mr. Sterrett,

I just got finished reading your book “‘O’ God: A Dialogue on Truth and Oprah’s Spirituality,” after hearing your radio interview discussing it, and I wanted to thank you for writing the book that needed to be written to our culture.

Our culture is in desperate need of Truth, and I thank you so much for providing a tool for people like me to help bring light into the darkness. This book has given …more

Oprah has recently invited Sarah Palin on her show. Check out this article and share your thoughts Oprah invites Sarah Palin on Show

Just got done reading your book…and wow. I couldn’t put it down for one second, read it all in one sitting ha ha. Thank God for you and this book, seriously, it was thought provoking and encouraging as a Christian. My mom is going to read it and I am definitely going to tell everyone about it. May God use it and use you to see millions saved! AMEN.

In “O” God, we warned about the dangers and implications of the teachings of “The Secret.”

Here’s another article from the New York Post

Love, peace — and homicide?

The deaths of two New Age hippies in a sweat lodge at an Arizona retreat run by a self-help guru who has appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” are being looked at as homicides, cops said yesterday.

…more

News Alert from AP!!!

By FELICIA FONSECA

PRESCOTT, Ariz. — An Arizona sheriff investigating the deaths of two people during a sweat lodge ceremony led by self-help expert James Arthur Ray says the fatalities are now being investigated as homicides.

Yavapai (ya-VUH’-pye) County Sheriff Steve Waugh said Thursday that the deaths of 38-year-old Kirby Brown of Westtown N.Y. and 40-year-old James …more

Kathleen Farah

A spiritual guru linked to a philosophy endorsed by Oprah Winfrey is facing possible criminal charges in the deaths of two and the hospitalization of 19 in a ritual “spiritual cleansing” at an Arizona resort.

The victims were participating in a sauna-like “sweatbox” treatment while attending a program run by James Arthur Ray, who appeared in a DVD version of “The Secret,” a New Age book authored by  Rhonda Byrne that was heavily promoted by Winfrey.

…more

By Whitney Von Lake Hopler
Crosswalk.com contributing writer

Oprah Winfrey reaches millions of viewers every weekday through her popular TV talk show, and even more through her magazine and other parts of her vast media empire. She often discusses a topic she says is close to her heart – spirituality – and proclaims her Christian faith. Known for her acts of kindness and generosity to people in need, Oprah says she’s passionate about serving God. But Oprah’s idea of God is far different than the One the Bible reveals.

So well-known apologist and best-selling author Josh McDowell and …more