Marianne Williamson

Marianne Deborah Williamson (born July 8, 1952) is an American author, speaker, and political activist. She began her professional career as a spiritual leader of the Church of Today, a Unity Church in Warren, Michigan. Williamson has written several self-help books, including A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles in 1992, which became a New York Times Best Seller. She rose to prominence through frequent appearances on Oprah Winfrey's show, and becoming known as her "spiritual advisor".<ref name="Axios" />

Williamson ran unsuccessfully as an independent for California's 33rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2014, finishing fourth with 13.2% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, eventually dropping out and endorsing Bernie Sanders.<ref name=whitehousecampend>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She ran in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries, challenging incumbent President Joe Biden.<ref name=sdutmar4 /> Williamson's presidential platform calls for an end to the war on drugs, a federal minimum wage increase, reparations for racial injustice, addressing climate change, and creating a U.S. Department of Peace. On February 7, 2024, she announced she had suspended her campaign after receiving 2.9% of the vote in the Nevada Democratic primary,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but on February 28, 2024, Williamson re-entered the presidential race after placing third in the Michigan Democratic primary, receiving 3% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, on June 11, 2024, Williamson suspended her campaign.<ref name="abcjune12">Template:Cite news</ref> On July 2, 2024, Williamson re-entered the presidential race amidst calls for Biden to drop out after his June 27 debate performance,<ref name="hilljuly2">Template:Cite news</ref> before later dropping out again on July 29.<ref name="yahoojuly29">Template:Cite news</ref> She announced her bid for DNC chair on December 26, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Williamson has been actively involved with charity work, founding such organizations as Center for Living in 1987, Project Angel Food in 1989, and the Peace Alliance in 1998. She sits on the board for RESULTS, a nonprofit group which is dedicated to finding long-term solutions to poverty.

Early life and education

Marianne Deborah Williamson was born in Houston, Texas, on July 8, 1952. She is the youngest of three children of Samuel "Sam" Williamson, a World War II veteran and immigration lawyer, and Sophie Ann Kaplan, a homemaker and community volunteer.<ref name=LATimes92>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=People92>Template:Cite news</ref>

Williamson was raised in an upper-middle-class family that practiced Conservative Judaism.<ref name=LATimes92/> Her family attended Congregation Beth Yeshurun.<ref name=JTA>Template:Cite web</ref> She learned about world religions and social justice at home and became interested in public advocacy when she saw her rabbi speak against the Vietnam War.<ref name=JTA/>

In 1965, after Williamson came home from school in the seventh grade, she recounted to her parents that her teacher supported the Vietnam War. Her father reacted by taking the family to Vietnam to help explain to Marianne why he thought that the war was wrong.<ref name="nyt_politco">Template:Cite news</ref> She has said that through travel she "had an experience, at a young age, that people are the same everywhere."<ref name="KQED" />

Williamson attended Houston ISD's Bellaire High School.<ref>"Meet the Class of 2020's Overachievers," New York, April 1–14, 2019, p. 13</ref> After graduating, she spent two years studying theater and philosophy at Pomona College in Claremont, California, where she was a roommate of future film producer Lynda Obst.<ref name="People92" /> In 1973, Williamson dropped out of college and lived "a nomadic existence" during what she calls "her wasted decade".<ref name="People92" /><ref name="JTA" /><ref name="Greensboro">Template:Cite news</ref>

Williamson moved to New Mexico, where she took classes at the University of New Mexico and lived in a geodesic dome with her boyfriend.<ref name="Greensboro" /><ref name="KQED" /> The couple broke up a year later. Marianne then moved to Austin, Texas, where she took classes at the University of Texas.<ref name="KQED" /> After leaving Texas, she went to New York City, intending to pursue a career as a cabaret singer; however, she has stated that she was distracted by "bad boys and good dope".<ref name="People92" /><ref name="LAMag">Template:Cite news</ref> Vanity Fair wrote that Williamson "spent her twenties in a growing state of existential despair."<ref name="VanityFair" /> In New York, Williamson suffered from deep depression following the end of a relationship.<ref name="LATimes92" /> She has said that this experience gave rise to a desire to spend the rest of her life helping people.<ref name="VanityFair" />

A Course in Miracles

Although initially uninterested due to her Jewish faith, Williamson developed an interest in Helen Schucman's book A Course in Miracles in 1976.<ref name="JTA" /><ref name=DailyRecord>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Elle>Template:Cite news</ref> She explored spirituality, metaphysics, and meditation as she began reading the Course "passionately".<ref name=LAMag/> She also reconciled the Course with her Jewishness; in her view, "A conversion to Christ is not a conversion to Christianity. It is a conversion to a conviction of the heart".<ref name=VanityFair/>

Williamson said the book was her "path out of hell", as she had been "mired in a series of unhappy love affairs, alcohol and drug abuse, a nervous breakdown, and endless sessions with therapists."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=ChiTrib>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=HouChron>Template:Cite news</ref> The Course has often been described as a religion or pseudoreligion.<ref name=Dream>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Themselves>Template:Cite news</ref> Williamson disagrees, describing it as a "spiritual psychotherapy" instead of a religion.<ref name="Maher">Template:Cite video</ref>

Career

Williamson, 2019

In 1979, Williamson returned to Houston, where she ran a metaphysical bookstore coffee shop, sang Gershwin standards in a nightclub, got married and divorced "almost immediately", and underwent a "spiritual surrender".<ref name=People92/><ref name=LAMag/><ref name=WaPost>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Greensboro/>

In 1983, Williamson had what she has called a "flash" to close the coffee shop and move to Los Angeles.<ref name=LAMag/> She got an apartment in Hollywood, where her roommate was 17-year-old Laura Dern. Dern has stated that Williamson "held prayer groups in our living room."<ref name=Elle/>

Williamson's teachings stemmed from an inspirational message: "Divine love is the core and essence of every human mind."<ref name=Keswick>Template:Cite news</ref> She saw this message as a remedy to misinterpretations of the Bible that, through an emphasis on sin and guilt, could lead to harm (e.g., slavery, depression, self-loathing).<ref name=Keswick/><ref name=VanityFair/>

As word spread about "the young woman talking about a God who loves you, no matter what," she had to rent church space to accommodate the demand to hear her speak.<ref name="VanityFair" /><ref name="LAMag" /> In 1987, she began lecturing monthly in New York.<ref name="VanityFair" /> Eventually, she was invited to speak throughout the U.S. and Europe. Williamson did not charge for her lectures but had a "suggested donation" of $7 and a policy of not turning people away for lack of money.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Williamson's style has been described as a "trendy amalgam of Christianity, Buddhism, pop psychology and 12-step recovery wisdom".<ref name="People92" /><ref name="LAMag" />

Unity Church Pastor

Williamson became the spiritual leader for the Church of Today, a Unity Church in Warren, Michigan, where she had 2,300 congregants and 50,000 television viewers.<ref name="DailyRecord" /> Her position also included administrative leadership; her actions as leader included booking Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, expanding the bookstore, and increasing the congregation's racial and sexual orientation diversity. As a result, the Church grew rapidly.<ref name="Keswick" /><ref name="LAMag" /><ref name="Restored">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Upheaval">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Unrest">Template:Cite news</ref>

Williamson resigned from the Church Renaissance Unity Interfaith Spiritual FellowshipTemplate:Clarify in 2003. For a time, she lectured at Methodist, Episcopal and Unitarian churches.<ref name="The New York Times 2019">Template:Cite web</ref>

Author

File:Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations Podcast - Marianne Williamson- A Return to Love.ogg Williamson has written 14 books Template:As of. Seven have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with four reaching number one.<ref name="USAToday">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> She has sold more than three million books.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Williamson's most popular work is A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles (1992). The book appeared on The New York Times bestseller list for 39 weeks in the "Advice, How To and Miscellaneous" category;<ref name="MotherJones">Template:Cite news</ref> it teaches that practicing love every day will bring more peace and fulfillment to one's life. The following quotation is the most famous quotation from the book (it is often misattributed to Nelson Mandela):<ref name="Vox2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Mandela">Template:Cite news</ref>

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.{{#if:|

|}}{{#if:|

— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries

}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}Oprah Winfrey said of the book, "I have never been more moved by a book than I am by this one."<ref name="Books">Template:Cite news</ref> Winfrey bought 1,000 copies and encouraged her audience to purchase it, telling them that after reading it, she experienced 157 miracles.<ref name="CTOprah157">Template:Cite web</ref> Williamson was a frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and became Oprah's spiritual advisor.<ref name="Axios" />

Political campaigns

2014 U.S. House of Representatives campaign

Williamson's 2014 congressional campaign logo

Williamson campaigning alongside Alanis Morissette

In 2014, Williamson ran as an Independent for California's 33rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Prominent elected and public officials endorsed her campaign, including Ben Cohen; former governors Jennifer Granholm and Jesse Ventura; former representatives Dennis Kucinich and Alan Grayson; and Van Jones.<ref name=Integrity/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Alanis Morissette wrote and performed Williamson's campaign song, "Today".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Williamson campaigned on progressive issues such as campaign finance reform, women's reproductive rights and LGBTQ equality.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=LAWeek>Template:Cite news</ref> She raised $2.4 million, of which she personally contributed 25 percent.<ref name=Integrity/><ref name=CouldWin>Template:Cite news</ref>

Williamson finished fourth out of 18 candidates, with 14,335 votes or 13.2 percent of the vote. Republican Elan Carr finished first in the primary with 21.6 percent of the vote, but went on to lose the general election to Democrat Ted Lieu.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2020 presidential campaign

Template:Main On November 15, 2018, Williamson announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee.<ref name="EC">Template:Cite news</ref> On January 28, 2019, Williamson officially launched her presidential campaign before an audience of 2,000 people in Los Angeles. She appointed Maurice Daniel, who served alongside Donna Brazile in Dick Gephardt's campaign for the Democratic nomination in 1988, as her national campaign manager.Template:Citation needed Williamson's campaign committee, "Marianne Williamson for President", officially filed on February 4.<ref name="Kaji">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="FEC">Template:Cite web</ref>

As of May 1, Williamson had a campaign staff of 20. A week later, she announced she had received enough contributions from unique donors to enter the official primary debates. Her campaign had raised $1.5 million (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year) in the first quarter of 2019, during which it received donations from 46,663 unique individuals.<ref name=CouldWin/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Williamson subsequently met the polling criteria, with three unique polls at one percent from qualifying pollsters, on May 23.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June, Williamson confirmed that she had moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in advance of the 2020 caucuses.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In response to the Iowa Democratic Party's proposed creation of "virtual caucuses" in the 2020 race, Williamson's campaign announced it would appoint 99 "Virtual Iowa Caucus Captains" (each assigned to a single county) to turn out supporters in both the virtual and in-person caucuses.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Later that month, Williamson participated in the first primary debate. The LA Times wrote that Democratic voters were "confused" and "transfixed" by Williamson, who declared that her first act as president would be to call New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and say, "Girlfriend, you are so on", a reference to Ardern's emphasis on building a country that treats its children well.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Williamson also received media attention for her closing remarks:

In the closing moments of Thursday night’s Democratic debate, Marianne Williamson looked straight ahead and told the audience that her plan for her candidacy is to harness the country’s love. “Mr. President, if you’re listening,” she said, addressing Donald Trump directly, “you have harnessed fear for political purposes, and only love can cast that out. I am going to harness love for political purposes,” she continued, raising her eyebrows. “And sir, love will win.”<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

On July 30, Williamson participated in the second primary debate. She was the most Googled candidate in 49 of 50 states and received the fourth-most attention on X, then known as Twitter.<ref name="MostGoogled2cdDebate">Template:Cite web</ref> The spike in searches was prompted by her reference to the Flint water crisis and her assertion that President Trump was harnessing a "dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred," which she later described as racism, bigotry, antisemitism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and xenophobia propelled by social media.<ref name=Megaphone/>

On the day of the third DNC debate, for which she did not qualify, Williamson did an interview with Eric Bolling and expressed further frustration with the media when she thought she was not being recorded. Among her unscripted comments was "what does it say that Fox News is nicer to me than the lefties are?"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 10, 2020, Williamson announced the end of her campaign and pledged to support the Democratic nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Many pundits treated Williamson's brief campaign as comic relief, often characterizing her as a novelty candidate due to her unconventional approach and spiritual rhetoric.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, some found her message persuasive and influential. After the July 30, 2019, Democratic debate, New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie wrote, "It feels insane to say this, but Williamson out-debated virtually everyone else on the stage. She gave a compelling answer on reparations and returned again and again to the most important issue for Democratic voters, beating Trump."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2024 presidential campaign

A Marianne Williamson 2024 logo

Williamson began "working on putting a machine together" to run for president in 2024, visiting South Carolina and New Hampshire in early 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On February 23, 2023, she confirmed that she would launch a run for president in the future.<ref name="foxfeb23">Template:Cite web</ref> She started her 2024 campaign on March 4, 2023.<ref name=sdutmar4>Template:Cite news</ref>

Williamson's 2024 deputy campaign manager, Jason Call, departed from her team on May 20, 2023, a week after her campaign manager, Peter Daou, had announced similar intentions. The two gave substantially different reasons for their actions than did the campaign.<ref>Marianne Williamson loses top 2 campaign officials in a matter of days Template:Webarchive, Politico, Brittany Gibson, May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.</ref> Earlier in 2023, a dozen former staffers from her 2020 campaign, who remained anonymous due to having signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), described working for Williamson as "toxic," "traumatic," and "terrifying". Williamson has been accused of throwing phones and shouting at staff so intensely they were reduced to tears. According to one account, her anger over logistics in South Carolina led her to strike a car repeatedly to the extent that she had to receive medical attention for a swollen hand.<ref>Marianne Williamson's 'abusive' treatment of 2020 campaign staff, revealed Template:Webarchive, Politico, Lauren Egan, March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.</ref> Williamson has denied the phone-throwing charge, admitted to the car incident, and acknowledged that she may have room for personal growth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

More staff left Williamson's team in June 2023, including her new campaign manager.<ref name="GibsonJune23">Template:Cite news</ref>

In July 2023, Politico reported that Williamson had contributed $220,000 to her own campaign and that the campaign's most recent financial disclosure showed $270,000 in unpaid debts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

She received 4% of the votes in the New Hampshire primary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the New Hampshire primary, she held a volunteer Zoom meeting where she announced a tentative decision to drop out of the race, but after the call was leaked to the X account OrganizerMemes, she decided to stay in, but she dropped out after receiving only 2.1% of the vote in the South Carolina primary<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 2.9% of the vote in the Nevada primary<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with no delegates.<ref name = GibsonFeb24>Template:Cite web</ref> After the Michigan primary, Williamson decided to reenter the race when she received 3% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Kansas primary, Greeley County experienced a tie between Biden, "None of these names", and Williamson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Williamson received approximately 500,000 votes in the primary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Williamson ended her campaign on June 11, 2024.<ref name=abcjune12/> She re-entered the race on July 2, 2024.<ref name="hilljuly2"/> Williamson also expressed interest in an open convention after President Biden had announced he was dropping out of the race.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 29, 2024, she ended her campaign for the final time.<ref name="yahoojuly29" />

2025 Democratic National Committee chairmanship campaign

On December 26, 2024, Williamson announced her candidacy in the election of the Democratic National Committee chairperson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On January 10, 2025, Williamson shared on X that the DNC Ethnic Council informed her that she would be excluded from their DNC candidate forum that day. Williamson responded with a letter to the DNC Ethnic Council denouncing her exclusion and said, "This elitist choosing who is allowed to speak and who is not allowed to speak dishonors democratic principles and Democrats."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 1, 2025, Williamson endorsed frontrunner Ken Martin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Political positions

Abortion rights

As a candidate for 2024 U.S. President, Williamson has stated her strong support for abortion access, services, and choice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has spoken in favor of the abortion rights that were guaranteed under the subsequently overturned 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Williamson has shared her belief that it is good to expand women's understanding of alternatives; however, eradicating or limiting women's options would not reduce the number of terminations sought. Instead, it would result in wealthier women having access to safe abortions while poorer women face risks to their health.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Animal rights

In 2020 and 2024, Williamson's presidential campaign published detailed policy proposals to protect animal welfare.<ref name="wapo-castro">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, Williamson stated that she supports a prohibition on the construction and expansion of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), also known as factory farms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She has stated that the mistreatment of animals is "damaging to the American soul."<ref name="wapo-castro"></ref>

Black American reparations

Williamson supports the distribution of $200-$500 billion in reparations for slavery, spread across 20 years for "economic and education projects", to be disbursed based on the recommendation of a selected group of black leaders.<ref name=M2020Reconcile>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=WhosRunning>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Perception>Template:Cite news</ref>

Climate change and energy

Williamson deems climate change to be "the greatest moral challenge of our generation." She claimed support for the Green New Deal, immediate re-entry into the Paris Climate Accords, and has stated that she would be willing to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership if it included greater protections for workers and the environment.<ref name=CFR>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=M2020Climate>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Williamson also supports the U.S. directing subsidies from fossil fuels, including coal, and re-investing them in the development of renewable energy, both in the U.S. and abroad, particularly in developing countries.<ref name=CFR/>

Gun control

Williamson supports gun control, and has described the issue as one personal to her. On November 4, 2018, she gave a keynote address to several hundred Muslim and Jewish women at the Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom conference in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, eight days after 11 Jewish people were murdered the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. A Jewish woman, she argued against fear being used as a political force and advocated for love in its place.<ref name=JTA/>

Health care and vaccinations

Williamson supports universal health care under a "Medicare for All type of plan".<ref name="Axios">Template:Cite news</ref> Williamson also supports independent regulation of the pharmaceutical industry to prevent what she has called "predatory practices".<ref name="Melber">Template:Cite videoTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

A "both-and" approach (both prayer and medicine) to physical and mental health has been attributed to Williamson.<ref name=GayDivide/> Williamson has said, "People who are prayed for get out of the emergency room faster," and "people who have been diagnosed with a life-challenging illness, who attend spiritual support groups, live, on average, twice as long after diagnosis".<ref name=LATimes92/><ref name="Maher2015">Template:Cite videoTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name=PowerToHeal>Template:Cite news</ref>

Williamson has stated her support for the necessity and value of vaccinations and antidepressants,<ref name="Noah">Template:Cite videoTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name=Cooper/> but has been criticized for her skepticism about the pharmaceutical industry's influence in setting guidelines for how they are administered, citing her belief that their profit motive could result in harm to patients.<ref name="Four">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Supporters">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="BigPharma">Template:Cite news</ref>

She has also criticized overprescription of antidepressants,<ref name="Melber" /><ref name="Maher2">Template:Cite video</ref> questioning whether antidepressants play a role in suicide, saying that the prescriptive definition between sadness and clinical depression is "artificial", and having called the process by which clinical depression is diagnosed "a scam".<ref name="Careful">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Cooper" />

During Williamson's presidential campaign, several excerpts of her past comments have conflated her skepticism of the pharmaceutical industry's trustworthiness with an embrace of anti-vaccination dogma. As a result, she has been accused of being "anti-medicine" and "anti-science". She denies such accusations, saying they "could not be further from the truth."<ref name="Magical">Template:Cite news</ref> Williamson has expressed frustration that her skepticism of the pharmaceutical industry has been equated with skepticism of the science of vaccines.<ref name="Melber"/><ref name="GayDivide"/><ref name="Megaphone"/><ref name="Noah"/><ref name="Cooper"/><ref name="Tweet2">Template:Cite web</ref> She has said, "Skeptical about vaccinations I have not expressed. Skeptical about Big Pharma in general I have expressed. And there is a big difference."<ref name="Megaphone" />

Immigration

Williamson does not support open borders, but calls for what she describes as a more humane approach to border policy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In June 2019, Williamson criticized then-President Donald Trump on his immigration policies after reports of children being separated from their families and being put in a detainment center; she called these acts "state-sponsored crimes".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After Trump's announcement that ICE would begin mass-deportations, she said it is "no different" than what Jewish people faced in Nazi Germany.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Williamson supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and expanding protections and naturalization to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other domestic issues

Williamson supports The Equality Act<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and an increase of the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and has called religion a map in which "the route isn't important. It's the destination that matters."<ref name="NeedHer">Template:Cite web</ref>

International relations and national security

Williamson supports the creation of a United States Department of Peace to aid in her proposed redesign, which also includes a plan to establish a Peace Academy modeled after military academies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Williamson supports military engagement when a NATO ally is threatened, when the United States is under threat of attack, or "when the humanitarian order of the world is at risk".<ref name=Megaphone>Template:Cite interview</ref>

Williamson supported safe withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan as soon as possible and would consider the use of a peace-keeping force, such as the United Nations, to assist with the transition.<ref name=CFR/> Williamson has said she supports the U.S. vigorously using its position, i.e., through CFIUS, to prevent China from buying strategically important companies, which she believes will help defend U.S. economic interests and human rights, as in the cases of the Uighurs and residents of Hong Kong.<ref name=CFR/> Williamson supports rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).<ref name=CFR/> Williamson criticized the Trump administration for elevating tensions with Iran.<ref name="foreign-policy">Template:Cite news</ref> Williamson supports a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.<ref name=CFR/><ref name="Axios"/>

Public image

Williamson in February 2019

Williamson has been referred to as a "New Age guru".<ref name="NYTimesMag">Template:Cite news</ref> The label has been associated with her for years, but she has long rejected such terms, calling them "outrageous".<ref name="WaPost" /><ref name="LAWeek" /> She has stated that she prefers to be called an author.<ref name="LAWeek" /><ref name="NYTimesMag" /><ref name="Oracle">Template:Cite news</ref> “and ‘activist’<ref>Self-disclosed by Marianne Williamson on her FB and Twitter (now X)</ref>and has been called ‘populist adult educator’,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and ‘philosopher’,<ref>E.g., in Rahe (1997). Rahe, E. (1997). Guru to America?: Philosopher Marianne Williamson says it’s time to extend her concept of spiritual activism all over this country. Sun-Sentinel, Apr. 3, 1997; and Fisher (2021), pp. 50, 114. Fisher, R. M. (2021). The Marianne Williamson Presidential Phenomenon: Cultural (R)evolution in a Dangerous Time. Peter Lang.</ref> and ‘mystic’,<ref>Excerpt from interview in Williamson (2017). Williamson, M. (2017). A response to the urgency of our time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bbNYJOmkWU</ref> she has “always viewed things through a mystical lens,” Williamson told a crowd during her 2020 presidential campaign, and invoked the David and Goliath biblical story as her own (with her followers) saying “We’re going to get him [Donald Trump] right between the eyes...his third eye”;<ref>Quoted in Broddess-Akner (2019). Brodess-Akner, T. (2019). The Gospel according to Marianne Williamson. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/magazine/marianne-williamson 2020.html</ref> she also self-identifies as a ‘metaphysician’<ref>Quoted from Williamson, M. (2019). Marianne 2020 Official Announcement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIBNOro0vks</ref> and concluded once declaring about the American population that “We’re hallucinating....a mass hallucination”<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> of a distorted reality.

In the context of her political campaigns, Williamson's image has polarized many, with some praising her as authentic and eloquent, while others have criticized her for lacking seriousness.<ref name="Vox">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Salon">Template:Cite web</ref> Her performance during the 2020 Democratic presidential debates received praise from a number of politicians, such as Democrats Jennifer Granholm and Ro Khanna, and media outlets like The Washington Post, for providing "surprisingly eloquent" and "meaningful" answers to questions on social issues.<ref name="Vox" /> Others have criticized her responses, including a writer for Vox who called her answers "extremely vague" and "deeply weird",<ref name="Vox" /> and a writer for Salon who called her answers "kooky".<ref name="Salon" /> Williamson's unorthodox style led to a large response across social media platforms such as Twitter, where she was the subject of various jokes and memes.<ref name="Salon" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

She made headlines when she criticized Vogue for its "insidious influence" when it did not include her in an Annie Leibovitz photo shoot of the 2020 female presidential candidates.<ref name="Vogue">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Omit">Template:Cite web</ref> The magazine responded that it only wanted "to highlight the five female lawmakers who bring a collective 40 years of political experience to this race."<ref name="LeftOut">Template:Cite news</ref> Williamson subsequently posted a fan-made picture of the Vogue photo with herself edited in.<ref name="Photoshopped">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BusIn">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="LeftOut" /><ref name="Gatekeeper">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Wintour">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life and family

Williamson's older brother, Peter, became an immigration attorney like his father. Her late sister, Elizabeth "Jane," was a teacher.<ref name=People92/><ref name=JHV>Template:Cite web</ref> Her father and her maternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants.<ref name=KQED>Template:Cite interview</ref> Her grandfather changed his surname from Vishnevetsky to Williamson after seeing "Alan Williamson Ltd" on a train.<ref name=VanityFair>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

She was briefly married in 1979 to a Houston businessman. She said the marriage lasted "for a minute and a half".<ref name=LATimes92/>

In 1990, she gave birth to a daughter.<ref name="People92" /><ref name="Skeptical">Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 2006, a Newsweek poll named her one of the 50 most influential baby boomers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2013, Williamson reported having assets estimated to be valued between $1 million and $5 million (not including personal residences).<ref name="Integrity" />

Template:As of, Williamson lives in Washington, D.C.<ref name = GibsonFeb24/>

Charity work

Williamson, 2014

Since the 1980s, Williamson has operated charities based on the principles of the Course.<ref name="Elle" />

Centers for Living

In 1987, inspired by a friend's struggle with breast cancer, Williamson launched the Center for Living,<ref name=VanityFair/> after a $50,000 donation from David Geffen. Williamson co-founded the organization with Louise Hay—a minister of the New Thought Church of Religious Science—who claimed to have healed herself of cancer.

The Center primarily assists people afflicted with HIV/AIDS, particularly gay men, who were openly welcomed when shunned and refused help by other organizations.<ref name="LAMag" /> The Center provided services such as housework, daily chores, meditation, massage, psychological counseling, and emotional support throughout the city and county of Los Angeles.<ref name="People92" />

In 1989, having received another advance of $50,000 (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year) from Geffen, Williamson opened a second Center for Living, this time in New York City;<ref name="VanityFair" /> this location was hampered by a conflict between staff and the board regarding Williamson's management style, which an anonymous former associate described as "very controlling".<ref name="LATimes92" />

Unlike in Los Angeles, the more secular New York had requested for Williamson not to pray, fueling a further disconnect.<ref name="Prophet">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="VanityFair" /><ref name="LATimes92" />

A few months later, after two of Williamson's board members told Vanity Fair that she wanted "to be famous," Williamson felt that she was being treated as "expendable". This notion would lead to the expulsion of several of her board members, including the then-head of the New York Center, as well as of film director Mike Nichols.<ref name="LATimes92" />

Williamson stepped down from her role at the Centers in the summer of 1992. The New York Center was able to remain open, following a donation from Cher.<ref name="Prophet" /> Williamson gave the organization an extra $50,000 check and left,<ref name="LAMag" /> but remained an advisor to the organization. The Los Angeles Times reported that Williamson was "losing trust" in several board members and "preemptively" fired them before her own potential downfall. She disputed this, claiming that she intended to "step down as President," wishing to provide her successor with a "clean slate".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Project Angel Food

In 1989, with the Centers' success, Williamson launched Project Angel Food (a program operated by The Centers for Living) to support HIV/AIDS patients.<ref name=Feuds>Template:Cite news</ref> By 1992, it had raised over $1.5 million and was delivering nearly 400 hot meals a day to homebound AIDS patients in Los Angeles.<ref name=People92/>

Williamson resigned from Project Angel Food in March 1992. Employees demanded the resignation of Williamson, reinstatement of her predecessor, and a replacement of the board, threatening unionization if Williamson did not resign.<ref name="LATimes92" /><ref name="Feuds" /> Stephen Bennett, a consultant hired to assess the situation, determined that there were more paid staff on hand than needed, but with a union vote pending, Bennett refused to lay employees off.<ref name="Feuds" />

Project Angel Food struggled for a time following Williamson's departure (Williamson had been the primary fundraiser) but remained operational.<ref name="Feuds" /> By 1998 it had over 1,500 volunteers and nearly 1,000 clients.<ref name="Solace">Template:Cite news</ref> As of 2018, with expanded food, nutrition and counseling services, it delivered 12,000 meals weekly throughout Los Angeles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of 2019, Williamson remains a trustee of the organization.<ref name="Integrity">Template:Cite web</ref>

AIDS work

Williamson has helped gay men who she said "were told that they weren't loved by their family and friends, employers, politicians, hospitals."<ref name=Enter>Template:Cite web</ref> She has officiated at funerals, driven men to their doctors, and paid for patients' AIDS medication.<ref name=MotherJones/><ref name=GayDivide>Template:Cite web</ref>

During her 2020 presidential campaign, Williamson was accused of telling gay men not to take medication for AIDS, of implying that they were "not positive enough" to counter the disease, of telling them that they "deserved" the disease, and of telling them to "pray the AIDS away."<ref name=GayDivide/> She has repeatedly denied these accusations.<ref name=GayDivide/><ref name=Cooper>Template:Cite videoTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Most of the accusations appeared to stem from excerpts or paraphrases of her 1992 book A Return to Love.<ref name=Time>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=TNR>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Peace Alliance

In 1998, Williamson co-founded the non-profit Global Renaissance Alliance (GSA) with Conversations with God author Neale Donald Walsch.<ref name=Keswick/> The organization established a network of "citizen salons" to pray for national growth, peace and liberal causes. According to Williamson, the GSA sat in small "Peace Circles" of fewer than 12 people every other week and prayed together.<ref name="GSA">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2004, the GSA's name was changed to The Peace Alliance and was given a new mandate focused on grassroots education and advocacy organization. The intended purpose was to increase U.S. government support for peace-building approaches to domestic and international conflicts. The Peace Alliance advocated for lobbying congressional representatives directly.<ref name="Kucinich">Template:Cite news</ref>

"Sister Giant" conferences

In 2010, Williamson launched "Sister Giant", a series of conferences to "start a new conversation about transformational politics" and encourage more women to run for office:<ref name=Elle/><ref name=Forbes>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2012, Yale University's Women's Campaign SchoolTemplate:Sndan independent, nonpartisan, issue-neutral political campaign training and leadership program hosted at Yale Law SchoolTemplate:Sndpartnered with the series, which focused on how to better address social issues like child poverty, campaign finance reform, and high incarceration rates.<ref name=HuffnPuff>Template:Cite news</ref>

RESULTS

For several years until 2017, Williamson was a board member of Results Educational Fund (RESULTS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity dedicated to finding long-term solutions to poverty by focusing on its root causes, and its sister organization, Results Inc., a 501(c)(4) "social welfare" organization that encourages "grassroots advocates to lobby their elected officials" and works "directly with Congress and other U.S. policymakers to shape and advance" anti-poverty policies. The organization has 100 local chapters in the U.S. and is active in six other countries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Huffington Post">Template:Cite web</ref>

Biographies and critics

Biographical and critical works on Marianne Williamson and her work are numerous. Oumano (1992) published the first, and primarily positive biography on Williamson.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Fisher (2021) published the first scholarly and journalistic analysis in an intellectual biography of Williamson,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> that brings out extensive critiques and recommendations for improving Williamson’s leadership style and approach to activist organizing and political campaigns. A critical discussion of Williamson’s approach to the presidential campaign and her philosophy in the context of politics appeared on the podcast called Integral Stage<ref>Layman Pascal (host) with R. Michael Fisher. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9FE5ObwcEs</ref> in 2023. There have been in recent years other, less extensive biographical works on Williamson.<ref>Young, Tim. (2019). 372 facts about Marianne Williamson (that probably aren’t true). Independently Published; Larson, Hubert (2023). Marianne Williamson biography: A journey of love and transformation: US Presidency in 2024. Independently Published; Anonymous. (2023). Marianne Williamson: The Iconic Biography of a Trailblazing Woman, a Spiritual Leader, a Self-help Teacher and a Political Icon. Iconic Press; Gragg, John. (2024). The Political Her is Just a Part of Her: The Diverse Chapters of Marianne Williamson’s Life. Independently Published.</ref>

Books

• A Return to Love (1992, Template:ISBN)
• A Woman's Worth (1992, Template:ISBN)
• Illuminata: A Return to Prayer (1994, Template:ISBN)
• The Healing of America (1994, Template:ISBN)
• Emma & Mommy Talk to God (1996, Template:ISBN)
• Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power of Intimate Relationships (1999, Template:ISBN)
• Imagine What America Could Be in the 21st Century: Visions of a Better Future from Leading American Thinkers (2000, Template:ISBN)
• Healing the Soul of America: Reclaiming Our Voices as Spiritual Citizens (2000, Template:ISBN)
• Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness, And Making Miracles (2002, Template:ISBN)
• The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for Living Your Best Life (2004, Template:ISBN)
• A Course in Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever (2010, Template:ISBN)
• The Law of Divine Compensation: On Work, Money and Miracles (2014, Template:ISBN)
• Tears to Triumph: The Spiritual Journey from Suffering to Enlightenment (2016, Template:ISBN)
• A Politics of Love: A Handbook for a New American Revolution (2019, Template:ISBN)
• The Mystic Jesus: The Mind of Love (2023, Template:ISBN)

External links

• Template:Official website