Religion
Related: About this forumMegareverend John Oliver from "Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption" makes pastor have a sad.
http://www.alternet.org/belief/christian-pastor-lashes-out-false-reverend-john-oliver-mocking-predatory-televangelists-0http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/watchman-on-the-wall/51097-false-reverend-attacks-kenneth-and-gloria-copeland
No, I don't endorse manipulative sermons with the sole purpose of wringing pennies (thousands of them) out of your pocket. I see the abuses. But I do believe in the concept of seed faith. I do believe God wants us to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2). I do believe in supernatural debt cancellation. And I don't believe we should mock so-called prosperity preachers, even if we don't believe they hear from God. Nor do I believe we should insinuate that God is cursing at them, as Oliver did.
Oliver used some extreme examplesand some of them were so far out of context that they manipulated reality. He also showcased people who were hurt because they (or someone they loved) didn't get the miracle they believed for when they sowed into the Copeland's ministry. But I've never heard Kenneth or Gloria Copeland promise anyone that if they sowed enough money God would heal them, as Oliver hinted.
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That said, we have to be careful not to paint everyone who believes for an airplane or sows a seed to get out of debt as a heretic.
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1. I wonder how many supernatural debt-cancellations she has witnessed. Then again, maybe the very existence of supernatural debt-cancellations is less important than believing in supernatural debt-cancellations.
2. If you don't get a promise that God will solve your problem in exchange for your seed (say, a supernatural debt-cancellation), what's the point of giving a seed?
She believes in seeding. Does she promise miracles in exchange for money? She says, she's against that. So, what's the point of giving her a seed then??? If there is no point in giving her a seed, why does she believe in seeding?????
Her attitude strikes me. She witnesses evil masquerading as Christianity, she refuses to take part in this abomination, and yet she pleads to not denounce and mock those charlatans and deceivers, paving the way for even more Christians to fall victim to these false prophets.
No, it's better to write an article how revealing the existence of these money-lenders in the temple to the wider public has hurt her feelings because it was done in a mocking tone.
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)The concept of "seed offering" is a fraud, and ought to be prosecuted as such. It constitutes selling financial instruments not approved by the SEC. The "reverends" stand in front of the flock and make specific promises about rate of return, specific benefits, etc. This is illegal.
A Little Weird
(1,754 posts)They should not be sad when it gets called out.
Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)Several regulars here are way more concerned about making sure the few non heinous churches don't get associated with the fleecers and the kiddy diddlers, than they are by their church's victims.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)Is in the wording.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)If people are too gullible to see it, oh well. They talk of the shepherd tending his flock- well, shepherd do fleece sheep.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)Now cue the apologists in 3,2..
mr blur
(7,753 posts)Is it Lent again already?
Or perhaps the tide is turning.