Michael Kress: January 2008 Archives

Biggest news on the spirituality rialto: Oprah’s book club choice in March will be Eckhart Tolle’s "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose." It’s the first time Oprah has chosen a book from the self-help/spirituality genre. "This is my boldest choice yet, not a novel, not a memoir," Oprah exclaimed on her show. "I’m over-the-moon excited."

But wait, there’s more.

In "a worldwide, groundbreaking event," Tolle, a gentle spiritual leprechaun with a soft German accent, will be co-teaching a 10-week free course on the book on Oprah.com with none other than Oprah herself. It’s a step forward in her mission "to lead people to their highest selves," and perhaps the first time Oprah has openly worn the mantle of spiritual teacher that many of us have already placed on her.

"I was so awakened by the message of this book that I wanted to share it with you," she said. "It really is about creating a new you from the inside out and a new earth that’s possible for all of us."

The course starts March 3rd. Stay tuned...

-- Posted by Wendy Schuman

This year's Beliefnet Film Awards are now live and waiting for your votes! As in past year's we've named five nominees in each of three categories: Best Spiritual Film, Best Spiritual Performance, Best Spiritual Documentary. To see who was nominated, watch clips, see what our panel of judges have to say about them, and vote, click here.

But first, watch a short video introducing many of this year's top nominees:

For the Beliefnet Film Awards homepage, click here.

Last week, Ellen Leventry reviewed Fox's new reality show "Moment of Truth"--wherein contestants answer questions while hooked up to a polygraph machine--and said she is unsure of the show's ethical implication. Here's video from one recent episode. What do you think of this concept?

Who knew? Jamie-Lynn Sigler, best known for her role as Tony's daughter Meadow on "The Sopranos," is Jewish--and recently visited Israel with the Birthright Israel program, which runs free tours of Israel for Jewish college students and young adults. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports:

"Everyone assumes I'm Italian," says Jamie-Lynn Sigler, 26, with a sigh, pausing over her hummus lunch at the open-air market in Jaffa, one of the stops on her birthright israel tour. "Even kids on the trip keep asking, 'Are you Jewish?'

Sigler, who played the daughter of Mafia kingpin Tony Soprano on the acclaimed HBO show "The Sopranos," grew up in a Jewish home in Jericho, N.Y., going to Hebrew school and having a bat mitzvah.

Her father's family immigrated to America from Greece and Poland. Her mother, who is Puerto Rican, converted to Judaism.

But it was only touring in Israel, during her recent visit to the country, that she said she felt a true spiritual and emotional connection to her roots.

"It's one of the most beautiful, inspiring places I've ever been to," Sigler said. "I now have a greater understanding and motivation about preserving my Jewishness."

Hesch would be proud.

Unlike some of my colleagues here at Beliefnet, I am not a huge music person. I've got my favorite tunes and artists, but I don't live and breathe music, there isn't a soundtrack to my life constantly playing at home or in the office or in between. And yet, occasionally, I come face to face with a reminder of what I am missing, a glimpse of the power of music to inspire. This happened most recently while sitting in a screening room watching the movie "U2 3D," opening in limited release over the next few weeks.

It's not a movie I would have expected to affect me. I like U2 a lot--they're among those few bands I do follow and whose music I generally listen to frequently--and their work is clearly spiritual and deeply meaningful. But "U2 3D" is, as the title suggests, a film of a U2 concert in Buenos Aires, shot in 3D--complete with 3D glasses--and aside from the cool factor of the 3D, I wasn't sure what to expect. (In the interest of full disclosure, one of the film's executive producers is Sandy Climan, who works as a consultant for us here at Beliefnet.)

Mark Oppenheimer has spent the past year reporting on Scientology, and his articles for The New York Times Magazine, Slate, and elsewhere are some of the most informative and balanced that you'll find anywhere. Mark has now turned his attention...

Finally, 'American Idol' is back, with its new season kicking off tonight. If you're a fan, check out our new 'American Idol' group to dissect the new season and talk about your favorite contestants from years past. Click here to...

When I wrote about my top 10 favorite Jewish television characters, the response was sharp and the debate robust. So, in these days of TV-strike doldrums, I figured it was time to come up with a list of the top...

Denzel Washington's "The Great Debaters" is still racking up critical acclaim and awards buzz, while seeking to build a bigger audience at the box office. The film tells the based-on-truth story of the debate team at a small African-American college...