Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption Church: Televangelists

John Oliver did a 20-minute bit last night about Churches that take advantage of the "non-profit" status they are granted.



He covers how "church" televangists get uber-rich by preaching for donations. He spoke to a tax attorney who helped him establish his own "church" - and it was perfectly legal.

There are too many points for me to cover in the OP (I'll look for a transcript, but I'm kinda brain-weary this afternoon so it might be a while.)

The bottom line is that people who buy into Televangelist bull$#it are sending money to these preachers who are buying jets, and more jets, and "parsonages" that look like Hollywood stars' homes.

He spent 7 months in a "correspondence" with Tilton - and the shenanigans are outrageous - he even has the letters there to prove his point.

All you "Christians" into the "Prosperity Gospel" and "Seed-Faith" stuff need to watch this. And, of course, anyone else who wants to be 'enlightened' by the sham that is modern "evangelical Christianity."

These people are scum, you guys!!! STOP sending them your money!!

Anyway - maybe not too many are interested in this, but it needs to be posted here for those of you who wonder "why all the Christian-bashing threads?! We're so persecuted!" Rein in your own. Step up to the plate and acknowledge the corruption in your 'churches'. And most of all - stop sending money to these people! They are carpet-baggers, snake-oil-salesmen, charlatans!

And think, really think, about what the message of "Jesus" was when (if) he was actually alive.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs
I'm laughing too hard. I don't think I can post anything coherent at the moment.

ETA: It has been a long time ago, but I actually sent money to a ministry a few times, and he's right about the mail you get back.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

BUzzyWigs, thank you for sharing this - it is truly saddening to know that so many people throw their money away to liars and cheats like this. Some of the donors are elderly couples that have very little to spare as it is!

This is very eye-opening. I hope this information gets to some of the people who need it - unfortunately, I don't think ATS will have a whole lot of people who send money to televangelists (but who knows?). I think I should share this info on facebook since a lot of my elderly family members might see it and become informed. Thank you again BuzzyWigs

a reply to: Klassified

I don't think I can post anything coherent at the moment.

Take your time, my friend.

a reply to: FamCore

My pleasure. (Or, pain, if you will). Thanks for reading/watching.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Televangelists that prey upon the disenfranchised and lost are without the scum of the earth, and should be revealed and banished for what they are: money generators at the expense of the ignorant. The mercantile way they conduct business raises plenty of red flags with both believers and non, and to exploit those seeking answers in exchange for money is revolting to me.

That being said, why is it the responsibility of Christians with no affiliation with these scammers to "rein in your own"? If corruption is readily acknowledged by Christians and non-Christians alike, and has absolutely no bearing in relation to one's faith, why put the onus on the many not involved? Or is it simply guilt by association?

That line of thinking is similar to seeing thugs assaulting others or destroying property and attempting to make others sharing their ethnicity or nationality answerable for the thugs activities.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs
In all honesty, it is such a shame that we the people are so damn gullible when it comes to soulless creatures like these people. I'd like to blame the government, but I really can't. If people weren't supporting these grifters, they wouldn't have two nickels to rub together. The worst part is, whoever goes against these scam artists will get massive backlash from those who support these "ministries".

I have a few clients who actually send money to Copeland. I'd love to tell them the truth, but they'd never listen.

Even the zealous Christians I know dislike the televangelists (putting it nicely). That's saying something..

I consider them full blown heretics.

Has there ever been a good study of the demographics of those who give to them? It boggles my mind that most of them are on TV in the first place, much less raking in gobs of money.

It seems to me though, non profit status tends to be exploited heavily across the board.. I feel that attaining non profit status should be based on contributions to the community that would have otherwise cost taxpayer money.

Of course, this would be exploited as well because "humans." But it seems like a more solid determining factor in whether or not an organization should be exempt from taxation, instead of being based in claimed beliefs. Plenty of churches would still easily qualify, as well as opening the door a bit more for secular organizations.

a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

That being said, why is it the responsibility of Christians with no affiliation with these scammers to "rein in your own"? If corruption is readily acknowledged by Christians and non-Christians alike, and has absolutely no bearing in relation to one's faith, why put the onus on the many not involved? Or is it simply guilt by association?

well, wouldn't Islam be more accepted here if there weren't the extremists poisoning the whole pot?

I remember a few years ago asking a Muslim, "How are we supposed to tell the difference between those of you who are extremists, and those of you who aren't? With a 'wink wink nudge nudge' question?"

We were telling those Muslims saying that Islam was the answer that they needed to rein in their extremists unless they wanted the whole world to judge them by that 'propaganda' that besmirches them!

These things are not the work of God.

This is the work of Satan.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

I much prefer giving money to those who are in real need, in person (I am even cynical about most charities). You don't have to look far.

God doesn't need the little that I have. He already 'owns' everything.

But there are always others in need whom I can help.

originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

That being said, why is it the responsibility of Christians with no affiliation with these scammers to "rein in your own"? If corruption is readily acknowledged by Christians and non-Christians alike, and has absolutely no bearing in relation to one's faith, why put the onus on the many not involved? Or is it simply guilt by association?

well, would'nt Islam be more accepted here if there weren't the extremists poisoning the whole pot?

I remember a few years ago asking a Muslim, "How are we supposed to tell the difference between those of you who are extremists, and those of you who aren't? With a 'wink wink nudge nudge' question?

We were telling those Muslims saying that Islam was the answer that they needed to rein in their extremists unless they wanted the whole world to judge them by that 'propaganda' that besmirches them!

I understand your line of reasoning, but at the same time feel it's a pretty broad brush to paint an entire group of people with. Extremists of all stripes that value violence, extortion, and preying upon the weak and impressionable are of concern to all, not just the affiliated in name only. Policing your own is spurred on by those within who seek to eradicate extremists from perverting tenets to fit a dark agenda, not due to blame or onus put on the whole by the actions of the few.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

James 4
You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Mathew 6
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

People should actually read the bible then they would know that prosperity teachers are charlatans.

Both the teachers and their disciples have received their rewards. They such expect nothing from God.

a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

feel it's a pretty broad brush to paint an entire group of people with.

Yes, it is. I am offering the "not-like-that" Christians an opportunity to present their side. To convince me that they actually don't want a theocracy. And don't want to go to war again/still, and don''t want to prevent those in need from having help like housing and food, and retirement benefits like Medicaid and Social Security......rather than what their political "heroes" are saying.

Extremists of all stripes that value violence, extortion, and preying upon the weak and impressionable are of concern to all,

And they are the most vocal. The squeakiest wheels. The ones the media sites point out as well.

not just the affiliated in name only. Policing your own is spurred on by those within who seek to eradicate extremists from perverting tenets to fit a dark agenda

Precisely.

Now....the Extremist Religious Right are people like in the OP video. They aren't "moderate" or reasonable or respectable - they want to bring on a Theocracy.
"Normal Christians" aren't doing that. They are minding their own business and living up to their beliefs as best they can.
It's the Holly-Rollers who are trying to take over - and they are legion.

Active Theocrats: The New Apostolic Reformation and The Seven Mountain Dominionists

a reply to: Isurrender73

People should actually read the bible then they would know that prosperity teachers are charlatans.

Both the teachers and their disciples have received their rewards.

And that I will not deny, but I think that type of "Christian" is:

a) someone who studied "Jim and Tammy" and learned a God-based sales pitch and is getting rich off of:

b) people who are ill equipped (too lazy, or not bright enough, or too frightened to doubt the word of the "preacher", etc) to use sound judgment.

The Bible seems to many millions to be nonsense.
To millions of others it is perceived only through the rantings of their 'pastors' and 'preachers' so they think they don't "need to" actually read it. Which is how this whole thing is orchestrated......

As Plato pointed out: Not all people are equipped mentally to discuss philosophy.

Plato also believed that an ideal state, embodying the highest and best capabilities of human social life, can really be achieved, if the right people are put in charge. Since the key to the success of the whole is the wisdom of the rulers who make decisions for the entire city, Plato held that the perfect society will occur only when kings become philosophers or philosophers are made kings. (Republic 473d)

Only those with a philosophical temperament, Plato supposed, are competent to judge between what merely seems to be the case and what really is...

Source

Having said that, here is an interesting thing I found this morning:

People Aren't Smart Enough for Democracy to Flourish, Scientists Say

The democratic process relies on the assumption that citizens (the majority of them, at least) can recognize the best political candidate, or best policy idea, when they see it. But a growing body of research has revealed an unfortunate aspect of the human psyche that would seem to disprove this notion, and imply instead that democratic elections produce mediocre leadership and policies.

The research, led by David Dunning, a psychologist at Cornell University, shows that incompetent people are inherently unable to judge the competence of other people, or the quality of those people's ideas.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Thanks for clearing up from the original post. All too often I have had to wipe poo slung at me in the defense of those included by association of nefarious sects. To me, organized religion subverted by man's interpretation is the cause of wars, genocide, and suffering. Televangelism is but another example of skewing the words of a persons faith for personal gain, and should be exposed for the sham it is.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Yes and pornographers take advantage of freedom of speech. So what's your point?

In every class there are people who abuse the laws to their advantage and make all the others in that class look bad. But to remove those laws is to allow the rotten apples to remove freedoms that are vital to our country.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

I agree.

We need to keep our money.

Now if I could only get you to treat government the same as televangelists, we'd be on the same page!

Death to religion!

*woot woot!*

a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

No problem

Still, for me (a "not Christian") to try to bring this stuff up just gets me lots of mud and condemnation. There are some members here who share my critical views, but there are others who despise my posts. I'm aiming to give a voice to those who acknowledge that the Holy-Rollers are dangerous AND running for the presidency.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

I missed the televangelist running for President. Huckabee was a pastor, yes, but not a televangelist in that sense.