Posted on 08/08/2003 9:37:48 PM PDT by scripter
Dr. Laura Schlessinger, one of the nation's most popular radio talk-show hosts and the most successful on-air counselor, is no longer practicing the rituals of Judaism – a religion she converted to a decade ago in her 40s.
''Almost 10 years ago, I talked on the air about becoming a convert to Judaism,'' she told her listeners last week. ''I was open on the air at that time about that evolution. Well, I would say within the last year I have had a de-evolution.''
Where is she now spiritually?
''Nowhere exactly,'' she chuckled. ''Suspended animation. I still see myself as a Jew. But the spiritual journey in that direction – as hard-core as I was at it – just didn't fulfill something in me that I needed.''
Schlessinger grew up in New York, the child of a Jewish father and a Catholic mother. She was a life-long atheist, who, in her 40s, began exploring and practicing Judaism.
''I felt that I was putting out a tremendous amount toward that mission, that end, and not feeling return, not feeling connected, not feeling that inspired,'' she told her radio audience. ''And trust me, I've talked to rabbis, I've read, I've prayed, I've agonized, and I came to this place anyway, which is not exactly back to the beginning, but more in that direction than not.''
Schlessinger, known to millions as Dr. Laura, says she is still ''very committed still to all my moral issues, and the charitable issues. I mean that hasn't changed. My putting out hasn't changed. My identifying with this entity and fulfilling the rituals, etc., of the entity – that has ended."
During the past month, Schlessinger has been increasingly offered more personal insights into her life, as well as her spiritual journey.
A recent column for WorldNetDaily offered a glimpse of what a day in the life of Dr. Laura is like. The reaction to these personal glimpses has been interesting, she said.
''By and large, the faxes from Christians have been very loving, very supportive,'' she said. ''They'd say, 'We're praying for you.' 'We hope you can attain this because of the work you do.' 'We can see how committed you are.' 'You are doing God's work.' 'It's a shame you haven't been able to feel. ...' really supportive, nice stuff. From my own religion, I have either gotten nothing, which is 99 percent of it, or two of the nastiest letters I have gotten in a long time. I guess that's my point, I don't get much back. Not much warmth coming back. It's intellectual, argumentative and angry. If anything, that's all solidified me where I am.''
Schlessinger said she has envied her Christian friends who talk about their relationship with God.
''I have envied all my Christian friends who really, universally, deeply, feel loved by God,'' she told her listeners last Tuesday. ''They use the name Jesus, in referring to God. My Christians friends generally talk about Jesus when referring to God. That was a mystery, feeling connected to God. To me that was a mystery, and I was very sad about that and very envious of my friends.''
Schlessinger, the best-selling author of several books focused on successful relationships, parenting ideas, morality and personal ethics, is now working on a new one, ''Bad Childhood, Good Life.'' In researching that book, she said, she is more convinced than ever that religion is the most powerful force in turning people's lives around.
''Any of you who 'dis' religion and say: 'It's just a matter of sheep following' or 'It's all nonsense,' you are deluded," said on her program. ''You're in denial, and you're unreasonably hostile. The beauty that I have heard on this show and read in these letters over the last 25 years I've been on the air, for the people who've been able to feel connected to God and feel loved no matter whether they say 'God' or 'God Jesus,' no matter what it is they use as the term, it has been the saving grace. That is not to be disrespected.''
The ''Dr. Laura Show'' is heard on some 300 radio stations with an estimated 12 million listeners, making it the second most popular radio talk show to Rush Limbaugh's.
See Dr. Laura's WorldNetDaily column archive.
She genuinely admires true Christian men.
I dod not hear of those. Has he been arrested or something? She might have talked about him on the air. All teens have problems: real or self-manufactured I suppose. Has her son been in the news?
As I see it, that's all the more reason to keep her in prayer. She's going through a transition and could certainly use our support.
I'm a lukewarm guy, liable to be spat out myself...but I find the "not feeling return" thing odd. Seems to me your faith should be, well, a matter of faith- not a matter of investment/return.
Limited understanding/conviction I have is: There is a God that created me, and expects me to do right. I will be called to account one day, and will have to depend solely upon his mercy- and that mercy is not dispensed according to good deeds/bad deeds, but my faith in that mercy.
Not a theologian, and not interested in argument- I'll find out whether I'm right or wrong in the end.
For now, I'll take it on faith.
What are you talking about? And how do her 'problems' with her son detract from the value or validity of what she says on the air? Are you saying that only problem-free people may counsel or advise?
She's done her homework and understands the root causes of her callers' problems. She's heard it all before. Believe me, after a while, one can predict what a person is going to say in defense of sick behavior, down to the smaller details.
Amen. She is unlistenable. While her intent is good, gads, her dripping "moral authority" is sickening.
I have listened to Schlessinger since the early 90s, and not once have I ever heard her say anything that could remotely be construed as dangerous. However, I've heard many, many "fruitcakes" on the other end of the phone lines. Apparently they have access to these boards as well.
Dr. Laura speaks with moral authority because she is grounded in the defining truth that there exists Right and Wrong, Good and Evil; and that not only is that knowledge attainable, it is absolutely imperative.
Hmmmph, now there's a social oddity...
Perhaps you don't like someone being quite that convinced, and a flip-flopping weenie-shrink is more to your liking. Pardon me, but your moral relativism is showing.
Conservative talk radio flourishes, conservative TV fails. Radio listeners have to listen and think. TV watchers have to be entertained. Not too many examples outside this formula. Hannity and Colmes, O'Reilly sometimes, George Will on Sunday. Hey, it's demographics. I should know, I'm a talk radio junkie who watches TV now and then.
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