If you’re anything like me, you take a lot of the emails that are forwarded to your inbox with a grain of salt. Most email aficionados know to always verify “factual emails” with Snopes or any other Urban Legend Email website. However, one group of emails that has been going around to millions of people has literally persuaded America into thinking something that is absolutely false.

Did you know Barack Obama has admitted that he is NOT a Muslim? Did you know that Obama also believes in Christ as his Lord and Savior? And did you also know that Obama has nothing against putting his hand over the Bible? Well, if you don’t believe those last few statements, then you’re probably a believer in an email that went around, started by a Jason “Molotov” Mitchell. Wired Magazine just wrote an article recently on how they figured out who was behind the smear campaign of Obama being a Muslim and hating the Bible. They also uncovered some disturbing emails and websites that include false facts about Senator Obama and there was even encouragement to “forward these emails to as many people as possible.” Little does it surprise me, it came from the right side of the political spectrum.

What makes this a bit scarier to me, though, is how many people STILL believe that Obama is a Muslim because of some false email or video that has circulated around the globe. Yet, even when he’s asked, people will still refuse what he says to be his truth. When did America become this type of non-believing society? Granted, I must give everyone the benefit of the doubt because there are a lot of emails and photoshopped pictures out on the web. And yes, people aren’t always truthful, especially in politics. But how can people believe in a smear campaign and at the same time they won’t believe the words out of the accused’s mouth? As a Christian, what upsets me even more is the majority of these attacks seem to be coming from churches all across the country. It really saddens me. And yes, let me make sure I say that not ALL churches or Christians believe this filth. Thank Jesus for that!

So what are your thoughts? Do you generally do your civil duty and check every email that’s forwarded to you on its integrity? Do you mindlessly forward emails to “countless others” without thinking it may make a difference in the way people perceive a certain subject? I know I’ve been guilty of it. But I realize the power of the web and I realize the power of social media, so I’ve made a pledge to myself to really be a fact checker before spewing out mindless drama or untrue “facts.”

I tend to not write about religious things because, to be honest, I don’t find it moxie.  However, I feel compelled to discuss this latest craziness.  As many of you know (my “A New Earth” post is one of the most visited), Oprah chose a book for her book club that is stirring up a lot of controversy.  She also is conducting (with the author Eckhart Tolle) an 8-week webclass that has hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of students participating in this book’s study.

I was recently told to “be careful” since I was a student in this class and reading the book.  Why?  Well, it seems a few organizations, media outlets and churches are condeming Oprah for “sponsoring” this book. They’re claiming A New Earth is New-Age, un-Christian, full of lies and deceit and that Oprah is (and I quote) “the Anti-Christ… lying to millions of her followers so they will drop Christianity out of their own, confused lives.”

Really?  Wow.  That’s a strong statement.  So naturally, I did some digging and found a few interesting points.  The most watched “anti-Oprah” on YouTube regarding this book and her title as “Anti-Christ” is sponsored by some guy named Islm13.  It has over 5 million views.  This guy’s video was produced by a church claiming that all Christians need to unite against Oprah and Eckhart Tolle and to not be fooled by this “new-age”, “evil” book.  The interesting thing about his videos… they don’t slam Oprah just on the book.  They then make it political and say “she’s also supported Obama as President, which we all know is an evil Muslim who is destined to destroy America…“  REALLY?  Well, that right there told me that this is definitely politically-motivated… and when you get politics involved, truth and reality seem to be thrown out like garbage.

I searched all of the webcasts (again I’m a student taking this class every Monday night) and I found an interesting clip, from the mouth of Oprah herself (gasp!!!  Who would have thought to actually ask the source???)

Here it is… you decide.  Do you think Oprah is giving up her Christianity?  I sure don’t.  She states that her belief in God and Jesus are NOT JUST defined by the scriptures.  She doesn’t put God in a box.