Cult News

The so-called “Kabbalah Centre” run by religious guru Philip Berg and popularized by 1980s rock diva Madonna has often been called a “cult” and criticized as little more than a business, by Jewish scholars and leaders.

Never mind.

Extra, a Hollywood TV show that features celebrities has now apparently determined Berg’s group really “isn’t a cult,” but instead infers that it represents “a set of 4000 year-old teachings, predating all religions.”

At best this statement is misleading.

But of course when religious scholars need a definitive explanation about a controversial group like the Kabbalah Centre, what better source to rely upon than Extra?

Seriously, such a proclamation carries little weight amongst experts, but it may influence the public’s perception. And celebrities like Madonna seem to call the shots at shows such as Extra, which cater to stars for face time.

If such a program reported something critical about a celeb’s favorite “cult” it just might end up on the star’s list marked for no more interviews. And this may mean lower ratings for celebrity-driven shows like Extra.

So rather than focusing on the facts, Hollywood TV shows often produce puff pieces that soft focus on a subject in a way that pleases celebrity patrons.

Warning the public about a potentially dangerous group and possibly preventing someone from being hurt does not appear to be a concern for such programs. Instead, they seem to care more about a bump in their ratings, which the cache of an icon like Madonna often delivers.

In this sense these Hollywood shows frequently serve as convenient free advertising for whatever trendy guru or “cult” a star wants to promote, from Scientology to Philip Berg.

However, if you are interested in substance rather than fluff read what one religious authority has to say about something called “scanning” taught to students like Madonna at the Kabbalah Centre.

“This practice of scanning is pure and utter nonsense,” says Rabbi Ariel Bar Tzadok at the website Kosher Torah.

“Scanning” is the practice of viewing pages of religious text without the ability to read the words, that never-the-less somehow provides a supposed “spiritual” benefit, according to the Kaballah Centre.

Despite Extra’s apparent endorsement Madonna’s version of the Kabbalah doesn’t appear to be Kosher. And more serious reporters have actually ridiculed it as “McWisdom.”

But don’t expect Extra to change its format any time soon. Instead, the program will likely continue to allow celebrities such as Madonna to present little more than infomercials about their favorite “cults” in a seeming exchange for face time.