This makes me sick!

[seeviewonder]

Using a religion to make money off of fear and hope. This is disgusting!

<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32432565/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/>

[Loge23]

1. Nothing new there...

The Catholics, and other "mainstream" sects, have been doing this for centuries.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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[MercutioATC]

2. Agreed.

...but you do realize that's what organized religion has been doing for the past few millenia, don't you?

[seeviewonder]

7. I am an atheist myself

but it is appalling that they can just get away with this. If this were to happen in the real world (meaning outside of a church), someone would probably go to prison. It seems like a form of extortion to me, but I could be wrong. Even though I do not believe in Christianity (or any other lie) it is atrocious to think that these preachers are using their gullible and poor congregation to line their pockets so they can buy jets and yachts.

[madmax]

3. Religeon is mostly propaganda,

is used as such and I call myself a Christian. :hide:

[rd_kent]

4. Why are you surprised? This is religions modus operandi.

[ZombieHorde]

5. The following cut and paste from your article is fun.

Even in an economic downturn, preachers in the “prosperity gospel” movement are drawing sizable, adoring audiences. Their message — that if you have sufficient faith in God and the Bible and donate generously, God will multiply your offerings a hundredfold — is reassuring to many in hard times.

The preachers barely acknowledged the recession, though they did say it was no excuse to curtail giving. “Fear will make you stingy,” Mr. Copeland said.

-----------------

Not being anti-Christian is a psychic martial art now a days. It is like trying to be open minded about Scientology or Om Supreme Truth.

[seeviewonder]

8. That cut and paste pretty much sums up the article!

Someone should stop them from being able to do this. And the best part for the preachers is that the donations can't be taxed!

[Warpy]

9. A cousin's kid got sucked into one of those places

Fortunately, the extended family doesn't run to stupid children, and it took them about six months to realize the only prosperity happening was the preacher living large as hell on 10% of everybody's gross income.

That pretty much says it all about a lot of those Dispensationalist mega churches.

[MineralMan]

6. Isn't that what religion is, essentially?

Here, join our church. We'll help you live forever and keep you out of the "eternal fires of hell."

Buy this indulgence, and you'll get granny out of purgatory.

Donate to our building fund so we can build a new sanctuary for the "Glory of God."

Donate to our ministry to stop gays from marrying and your children won't "turn gay."

Just buleeve and click the DONATE button and you'll be set.

People are made fearful of Hell and hopeful of living forever in Heaven.

What a deal!

[Strong Atheist]

10. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[seeviewonder]

11. Thank you!

[Strong Atheist]

13. You are welcome! enjoy! nt.

[LAGC]

12. I know a Baptist preacher in Arizona along the Mexican border...

He drives this really nice car while all his flock of his small little church live in squalor, many without cars at all.

I never understood how he could so flaunt his economic status while the rest of his congregation propped him up, but he'd always just reply: "Its God's will."

[DeSwiss]

14. A sheeple and his money are soon parted.....

- And it's parted over and over again.

K&R

[Chulanowa]

15. My mom and dad used to turn on Kenneth Copeland every Sunday morning

even as a child it annoyed the shit out of me.

My mother's grown out of it. My dad... I don't know. He seems the type to get his news from Pat Robertson

[GeorgeGist]

16. GOD FEARING fools.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[OneBlueSky]

19. years ago, there was a tv preacher whose entire spiel was the godliness of wealth . . .

he wore the most expensive clothes and watches, drove Cadillacs, and basically preached that God wanted everyone to be rich . . . and, of course, you could help ensure your own road to riches by contributing to his ministry . . .

does anyone recall this guy's name . . . he was an African-American, late 30s or so, and was always blinged out years before bling was even a word . . .

[charlie]

20. Reverend Ike? n/t

[OneBlueSky]

23. Bingo! . . . Reverend Ike it was! . . .

or, as his mama knew him, Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II . . .
(thanks for recalling the name) . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverend_Ike

Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II was born in Ridgeland, South Carolina, and was of African American and Dutch-Indonesian descent. He began his career as a teenage preacher and became assistant pastor at Bible Way Church in Ridgeland, South Carolina. After serving a stint in the Air Force as a Chaplain Service Specialist (a non-commissioned officer assigned to assist commissioned Air Force chaplains), he founded, successively, the United Church of Jesus Christ for All People in Beaufort, South Carolina, the United Christian Evangelistic Association in Boston, Massachusetts (which was his main corporate entity), and the Christ Community United Church in New York City.

Known popularly as “Reverend Ike,” his ministry reached its peak in the mid 1970s, when his weekly radio sermons were carried by hundreds of stations across the United States <3>. He was active on the Internet and in a syndicated television program.

He fully restored and owned the Christ United Church (“Palace Cathedral”) in Manhattan's Washington Heights section, formerly the Loews 175th Street movie theatre. Restorations included the seven-story high, twin chamber Robert Morton organ). The “Miracle Star of Faith,” visible from the George Washington Bridge, tops the building’s cupola. He was also the “chancellor” of the United Church Schools, including the Science of Living Institute and Seminary (which awarded him, his wife, and his son Doctor of the Science of Living degrees); the Business of Living Institute (home of Thinkonomics); and other educational projects.

- more . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverend_Ike

[piratefish08]

21. it's been going on for 2K+ years. nothing new here.

[jenerize]

22. Organized religion is the downfall of today's society...

Disgusting, revolting and inhumane! As many have stated this has been going on for centuries. Let's kill people because they don't agree with our religion, for the color of their skin, how they dress or who they love all in the name of God. Let's steal people's money and property, torture, oh and then kill them. Let's exterminate entire races because, well it's God's will because they are heathens. These people call themselves Christians?? I thought Jesus was about love??
Organized religion from the inception of this country has set us up for failure unless we do something about it. Puritans and their beliefs are thriving in our country today. They along with other religions have instilled eternal fear and greed in our society. We have been their prey! They should be taxed and treated like any other business in this country and around the world. Imagine what that income would do to "stimulate" the economy
How hard is it to be a "good" person. Be kind to others, respect others, and learn to share. Funny that's what my kindergarten teacher always said!