Televangelist as they are called, are a very strong influence on the political scenario here in the US. The Church even though technically seperate from the state, wields power that is scary.
The Senate finally is catching on to the class act of scamming poor folk out of millions and millions of dollars all in the name of Christianity. Whatever happened to the monks of old who lived basic lives and went about their way without drumbeating the word of “the lord, almighty god” into the ears and eyes of the people. [via]
Acting on tips about preachers who ride in Rolls Royces and have purportedly paid $30,000 for a conference table, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said Tuesday he’s investigating the finances of six well-known TV ministers.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said those under scrutiny include faith healer Benny Hinn, Georgia megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar and one of the nation’s best known female preachers, Joyce Meyer.[link]
Now before you get ready to defend these “people of God”, lets look at their earthly acquisitions. Private Jets, vacation homes, convertible Bentley’s, $ 30K conference rooms and a $ 23K toilet with marble seat. Now that’s some lifestyle. Dosent the bible preach one to live humbly?
This is not the first time that televangelists are in the public eye for their misdemanours.
The investigation promises to shine new light on the kind of TV ministries that were crippled by sex and money scandals in the 1980s. Experts also say it stands out as an unusual case of the government probing the inner workings of religious organizations.
A commenter by the name of Uncle Dave says it well…
Probably when scam artists stop using religion to fool the people like the guy in the article, the religious right stops trying to force their beliefs into legislation that affects everyone and so on. We here on the blog only talk about how antiquated and damaging religion is and wish people would think for themselves which is which is a whole lot less harmful than what many in the religious community are doing.
As I’ve pointed out before, religion is an opinion which should be defended as any other. We in this country have the right to condemn or support pretty much any view they want. And everyone else has an equal right to debate them and make them defend it. Religion is no different. It just happens that the prevailing view of the editors here is on one side of the issue.
For centuries the finances of the Church have been a secret. The Vatican raises untold amounts of money through charity but there is no accountability. It is surprising that a religion that has structure and order built into it would not be open to public scrutiny. Something to think about when we rail against other religions, eh !!
This article somehow brings to my head, the lines of the song “Son of a Preacher Man”
And the only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes he was, he was, oh, yes he was
He was the sweet-talking son of a preacher man
I guessed he was the son of a preacher man
Sweet-lovin son of a preacher man
Technorati tags: televangelists, bible, church, christianity
