Strange interview with televangelist Kenneth Copeland

Copeland is among a group of mutimillionaire "pastors" who preach "the gospel of prosperity". These people fly around in private jets and own lavish vacation homes. Copeland's net worth is most likely around $500 million. Estimates vary from 300 to as high as 800 million dollars. You can't get an accurate figure because much of it is hidden. Copeland claims he's actually a billionaire. But, he claims, it's not his money. It's God's.

Despite being under investigation, Kenneth Copeland refused to submit financial information about his ministry, saying “You can go get a subpoena, and I won’t give it to you. It’s not yours, it’s God’s and you’re not going to get it and that’s something I’ll go to prison over. So, just get over it.”
Source


These guys must have some friends in high places, because regulators have been calling them out for over 30 years, to no avail.
Televangelists investigated

Their multimillion dollar "ministries" not only provide jobs for their families and friends, but allow for endless 'associate' businesses. Everything from merchandise sales, to media production, to landscaping businesses can be spun off the parent ministry.

Here's the interview. This is like something off South Park or the Simpsons! The first thing I noticed was his crazy eyes.

Direct YT link

The interviewer describes the interview:

Direct link

Copeland brags that he's a billionaire as his disciples cheer:

Direct link

Saw this video a while back. His eyes did look pretty crazy.

In any case, I can instantly tell that this dude is one of those who has made a huge profit off of religions like this which people still follow.

No existence has been proven for the existence of a deity, this guy likely knows that and doesn't care because he's making $$$ from being in his position.

The same dudes who run for President could probably start up their own profitable ministries (bar Trump - don't think the fella could memorise bible verses)...

a reply to: ColeYounger

I wonder how much of the money that comes to him, finds it’s way into political campaigns or straight up bribes and kickbacks?

Did he buy the jet with untaxed money? Does he operate his business with untaxed money?

I can’t see how an operation that large and with assets into the millions, can get away with being tax exempt.

Surely in this day and age, nobody thinks Stuart Copeland is actually a good person. His suit prob costs as much as a new car. He is a gangster for jesus.

a reply to: Woodcarver

LOL, Stuart Copeland was the drummer for the Police. But We.. Are.... Spirits..... in a Material World

and I am told I am crazy...

originally posted by: MRinder
a reply to: Woodcarver

LOL, Stuart Copeland was the drummer for the Police. But We.. Are.... Spirits..... in a Material World

Listen you! It was an innocent mistake!

Am I the only one that thinks the guy is on something? His eyes are like piss-holes in the snow and the smile just can't seem to keep itself off his face.

ETA He also comes across as bat# crazy.

a reply to: ColeYounger

Yeah, saw that video a few weeks ago. I think what really got me was how he went from this kind of evil look to all smiles. A true manipulator.

Preachers have long been pimps. This is not to say that there aren't some who truly believe they are doing God's work and in it for selfless reasons, but for many it is just a hustle.

I work in mortgage business and thus have seen the financials of some of these hucksters. They hide money, take cash, etc. We haven't even gotten into them sleeping with all the women in the church.

This is one of my favorites. A deposition of another guy who was blowing millions of the church money....

Religion and charity organizations can apply for a tax exempt status. The Church of Scientology is another to take full advantage of this. The Clinton Foundation all so has tax exempt status as a charity organization. Really is just a form you have to fill in and send off.

a reply to: LightSpeedDriver


I know! Look at this photo:

The Prosperity Gospel is a lie.

I'll only say this... the outrage over televangelist earnings strike me as conveniently narrow criticisms at best. The CEOs of multiple non-profits rake in the same huge figures as the middle tier televangelists do and, let's be brutally honest here, career politicians rake in the same type of figures as the upper tier televangelists do.
www.thestreet.com...

If some dipsnip from Topeka is dumb enough to believe they can buy their salvation via voluntary donations to a jackass with $250,000 worth of dental implants, hair plugs, and a suit that cost more than the donor's annual paycheck, who am I to judge either side? Not my circus, not my monkeys, not impacting me in the least, really.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

This part I agree with.

The part that annoys me is that these clowns are a favorite excuse for people to take potshots at Christianity as if this is all it is.

But you absolutely right that non-profits can be a profitable if you dig into them. Lots of fat living to be made as the upper echelon of a non-profit.

originally posted by: ketsuko
The part that annoys me is that these clowns are a favorite excuse for people to take potshots at Christianity as if this is all it is.

I don't disagree, but at least they're not out there calling for the death of infidels or teaching their congregation how to properly afix explosives to the inside of everyday garments.

originally posted by: burdman30ott6
I'll only say this... the outrage over televangelist earnings strike me as conveniently narrow criticisms at best. The CEOs of multiple non-profits rake in the same huge figures as the middle tier televangelists do and, let's be brutally honest here, career politicians rake in the same type of figures as the upper tier televangelists do.
www.thestreet.com...

If some dipsnip from Topeka is dumb enough to believe they can buy their salvation via voluntary donations to a jackass with $250,000 worth of dental implants, hair plugs, and a suit that cost more than the donor's annual paycheck, who am I to judge either side? Not my circus, not my monkeys, not impacting me in the least, really.

I think for many the criticism is seeing people being blatantly taken advantage of by these hucksters. But yeah, stupid is as stupid does...

People literally giving their last dimes to these charlatans....

I get annoyed because there is a disproportionate amount of these guys in the black community. If they weren't buyi ng Lambos but instead actually doing things to improve the community, it wouldn't bother me so much. The two things you find in every ghetto.... Liquor stores and churches.

Creflo Dollar asked his congregation to buy him a private jet...

Creflo Dollar Jet

a reply to: Edumakated

A fool and their money will soon be parted. I don't think people should be protected from their own idiocy. If someone gets taken advantage of, then they should wear it and move along, hopefully learning their lesson (within reason... I think some laws like false advertising, for example, are good to have on the books).

If granny can't refrain from giving some crackpot on TV the retirement egg gramps left behind, then granny probably should have been placed in a home long ago and lost legal authority over the account to a power of attorney.

People like this.....


I don't even wanna say it. I'm sure we're all thinking it....


Damn walking casino - in this case, nobody wins - everybody loses.

As an aside, I don't think all of the famous preachers have been scumbags over the years. Billy Graham, for example, always seemed to be a pretty upstanding man. Robert Schuller also seemed to keep his behavior appropriate and upstanding.

originally posted by: ColeYounger
a reply to: LightSpeedDriver


I know! Look at this photo:

In his own words...

It takes MILLIONS of dollars to bring people to the LORD....

He don't wanna fly with demons.. You know... Normal people. Gotta have his own jet.

What would Jesus, the LORD say about that?

He contradicts himself every other statement in the video. 5 minutes alone... Just gimmie!

a reply to: Edumakated

Creflo Dollar asked his congregation to buy him a private jet

A black guy I once worked with called money "creflos". We saw a new Porsche, and he said "That baby cost some creflos!"