Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2010 Getty Images
An all-powerful being who sets out rules for mere mortals to follow, who lives in a kind of magical palace, whom followers believe is the source of wondrous gifts, and who commands an “Angel Network” — you know, it’s surprising that the idea of Oprah-as-religious-icon doesn’t get floated more often. (Although usually the story is that Oprah is not traditionally Christian enough.) Kathryn Lofton’s book, Oprah: Gospel of an Icon, says that Oprah preaches a “Gospel of You,” which Lofton describes as “your discovery of yourself as the source for change — in yourself and in the world …”Gospel is a word that means ‘good news,’ [and] Oprah says that the good news is ‘you.’” Amen, Oprah! [NYP]
