Religion is Big Business
17 October 2006 by Stardust
We have discussed this subject several times before, and I hope that I am not being overly redundant, but it has become a great irritation to me since a huge country-club-type church was recently built on a large parcel of land a few blocks from where I live. While a private home owner in my town pays more than $5,000 in taxes for a postage-stamp sized lot with a modestly-sized house, this luxurious church building with its massive paved parking lot, beautifully landscaped grounds which needs massive amounts of water to keep “lush”, and sits on ten acres is tax exempt.
Why does religion survive in these modern times of high technology, science and reason? Because Religion is tax exempt BIG BUSINESS and those churches who know how to market make the most profits and prophets.
I have always said, even when I was a xian, that religion was big business. While most pastors, ministers, and priests are looking for a comfortable salary and benefits, there are too many, like those who head big churches and megachurches, televangelists and the like who are always looking for a way to get rich, to gain and hold power.
Here is an article from the website True truths: Helping people find the truth about religion.
Excerpts:
1. Find an existing demand and/or create a demand
Bingo! Religion gets an A+ for this one. First of all, many people seem to have an internal need for believing in some sort of supernatural, all knowing, all-powerful being. I don’t know if people are born with this need or if it just becomes part of them from their life experiences, but regardless of how the need got there, it’s there. That’s the existing demand. But where religion has really succeeded is the corollary – creating a demand. Look what they’ve done. They’ve taken old writings, written some new ones, and have crafted a compilation of “inspired” writings – the Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad-Gita, and many others. In these books people are told how they should act, how they should believe, and what they should do with their money and belongings. In Christianity, they have created a scenario where the demand for the product – forgiveness, eternal salvation, and the love of God – is both an internal demand and an externally created demand.
2. Be one of the major suppliers of a product in demand
Microsoft is a great example of becoming a major – almost the exclusive – supplier of a product in demand. For all practical purposes, Microsoft is the only supplier of operating systems for personal computers. Religion has also done a good job here. A large percentage of people in the world are believers in some faith, and for many their religion is the exclusive supplier for their faith-based demand. To be sure, there are some atheists, agnostics, and other non-believers, but there certainly is a large market of ‘believers’. What religions must do is figure out how to attract a sufficient portion of the ‘believers’ to support their cause. Almost every religion will try to convince its followers and the masses that its religion is the one and only true religion, that only by believing in their god, and practicing their faith, can one be saved. One example in religion is Christianity’s claim that only by accepting Jesus Christ as their savior can people be saved. If in fact this is true, then Christianity is the exclusive supplier for those who want to go to heaven and escape the fiery flames of hell. Other religions make the same claim.
3. Convince people they need your product – something good will happen if they have it
Obviously, religion has done a great job here as well. Many people believe that they need religion, they need to be saved, they need forgiveness, they need the guidance of their religious faith and leaders, and they need eternal salvation. Many are convinced if they get baptized, if they go to church, if they follow the teachings of the Bible, and if they tithe to their church, they will receive forgiveness from God and entry into the gates of heaven where they will enjoy eternal bliss with other believers.
4. Convince people that if they do not have your product that something bad will happen
This is the opposite of number 3. If you do not have the product – in this case Christianity and all that goes with it – you will go to hell and burn for eternity. God also may make you suffer or do bad things to you while you are here on earth. Christianity’s done a great job here – either you believe as they tell you, or you will burn in hell forever – not a pleasant thought.
Other section titles are:
5. Insure a healthy profit margin – revenue exceeds expenses
6. Create a product that produces a continuous stream of profits with numerous repeat customers
7. Have a marketing plan to increase sales
8. Employ an effective sales force that is efficient and has responses prepared for anticipated objections
9. Limit overhead costs
The church can limit costs tremendously because they are not taxed on revenues and because many staff volunteer their time and talents to the church. Not many businesses can be run as inexpensively as the church.
10. Build an infrastructure that will continue the business far into the future
11. Have powerful, persuasive, enthusiastic, credible, dynamic leadership
As in business, most, if not all, successful religions and individual churches have great leaders. Whether it is Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Billy Graham, or the local priest or preacher, a dynamic personality is required to build and sustain a successful church. Just as a successful business must have a dynamic CEO, a church must have dynamic leaders.
As Bolder Landry of Truth Seekers states:
Your property taxes go up each year because church property is tax-free. Will our national leaders do something about this? No! will believers stop giving money to priests? No! How about revolutionary expropriation? Yes, this is possible but not until sleepy Americans are educated enough to shake off their shackles of superstition.
Church financial power has become an economic colossus at our expense. The only way to destroy this inequity is to attack and expose it.
17 October 2006, on 6:23 pm
Not only are they not taxed, they can do business in ways that ordinary citizens and companies can not. Examples: They can cook and serve food without a license from the board of health in many places. They can even offer food for sale that is prepared in private kitchens for “charity donation events”. Building codes? No problem. Has anyone ever heard of a church cited for fire code violations? Handicap access? Unsafe child care areas? Unsafe church buses? I suppose it happens but I would bet that instead of being locked down on Sunday they are passing the collection plate for cash. Which brings up another thought – Who varifies the cash donations on Sunday as legitimate tax write-offs? If I say I give $100 cash to my church every Sunday does anyone say “Prove it” at the IRS? How about the holy rollers who tour like rock stars from church to church and pass the plate to cover expenses – do they actually claim cash as income? (I wouldn’t, but hey, they ARE holy rollers!)
I could go on but I need to go now and apply for my online doctor of divinity papers so I can start amassing wealth from all the suckers I can tap…
17 October 2006, on 7:36 pm
There’s a little op-ed in the New York Times on some of this shit and a blatant misuse of the pulpit(okay, any use of the pulpit is a misuse)by Pastor Mac Hammond for that self-professed “Fool For Christ”, Minnesota 6th Congressional District Repiglickin’ Candidate, Michele Bachmann.
The good news, I suppose, is that folks are starting to pay attention to these breeches and evasions. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has already filed a complaint with the IRS about Pastor Mac(wait, didn’t he write Dr. Zhivago?) And, in other only tangentially related news, the GOP National powers-that-be have bailed on incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine(R-OH) because they think he’s likely to lose. Good times, ain’t we lucky we got’em?
17 October 2006, on 7:38 pm
In Michael Parenti’s History as Mystery , he has a chapter that highlights how, actually, the Catholic church-as-landlord was just as despised and hated by European peasantry as any secular noble master (and hey, these were the same noblemen dickheads, from the same families, whether they were “men of the cloth” or not). Tithes were just as rigidly collected as taxes, and peasants did not differentiate the two, and hated both.
Moreover, the use of colonial tax revenue to in-part support the Church of England, whether one belonged to said congregation or not, circa 1776, inspired and angered more than a few North Americans, too. The same scenario was played out in microcosm in the individual colonies with an “official” church, etc.
Right in my hometown, the secular, civil authority of Stafford, Tx is seeking to block any further church development in their city limits–the city is having a hard time supporting so many tax-exempt entities and getting nothing in return.
So much for “render unto Caesar”, eh?
17 October 2006, on 7:40 pm
This is a timely post given that this morning began the trial of our good friend Mr. Kent Hovind, who’s facing several federal charges for tax exemption and fraud. He’s been operating a business off of his hallowed ground for years (Dinosaur Adventure Land). It will be interesting to see the result of this trial.
paz
17 October 2006, on 8:33 pm
All the taxes not being payed by churches means less money for police departments, fire departments, schools, welfare and more money being sqeezed out of the middle class and poor. This is the shit that makes me want to round up all the christians to a confind area and force them to live by their own rules under the watchful eyes of their own churches and watch them cannibalize themselves.
Hey, a gal can dream can’t she?
17 October 2006, on 9:30 pm
Stardust, RDZ
I was doing a post on this ass well. This shit really pisses me off. More about Michelle Bachman here;
Living Word Christian Center clearly held a partisan event to promote Michele Bachmann. Several potential tax law violations ocurred while a tax attorney and candidate for Congress talked about being a tax attorney. The church should be aware of these laws; the IRS has a booklet especially designed to help churches avoid tax problems during elections times. All the quotes I cited from the IRS come from this booklet.
Still, Pastor Mac Hammond attempts to defend the event:
I said important that we put men and women of God in office in our government. I don’t want any more letters about church and politics don’t mix. If that’s your opinion then you need to get saved, because the bible makes clear that we are to have an effect on the world in which we live.
http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=524
The above link is to the complete article of their tax status being challenged because of their law breaking. How can anyone trust a representative who does not abide by the law?
17 October 2006, on 9:45 pm
I read an article by Peter McKnight titled “No God, no good. When it comes to intolerance, America’s a match for Afghanistan” in the Vancouver Sun, April 1, 2006. In it he mentioned how the Humanist Association of Toronto was able to acquire tax-exempt status, which it got after a lengthy battle with the federal government. People keep saying that atheism is a religion (they’re wrong), but at least we’re starting to get tax-exempt status too! In Canada, anyway…
17 October 2006, on 9:56 pm
I don’t want any more letters about church and politics don’t mix. If that’s your opinion then you need to get saved, because the bible makes clear that we are to have an effect on the world in which we live.
They say they want their religion in our government but don’t want to support the government with tax dollars.
One thing that someone brought up to me after posting this is if churches are made to pay taxes, then they would use that to justify their demands to interject their religion into our public schools and institutions. However, many churches are abusing the tax exempt status for their own gain. It’s an extremely complicated issue.
Austin Cline has a good article about this at About.com
Religion, Politics and Taxes
Excerpt:Religious exemptions from taxation is no trivial matter. It is estimated that churches and other religious bodies may own anywhere between twenty and twenty-five percent of all of the land in the United States. This represents a huge portion of the possible tax base and billions of dollars in potential revenue which could be used to fund schools and other portions of the social infrastructure upon which the churches depend, just like the rest of us.
But like I mentioned above, how much influence will the religious expect to have in those schools and other portions of the social infrastructure if their tax dollars are going to support them?
17 October 2006, on 10:01 pm
This is a timely post given that this morning began the trial of our good friend Mr. Kent Hovind, who’s facing several federal charges for tax exemption and fraud. He’s been operating a business off of his hallowed ground for years (Dinosaur Adventure Land). It will be interesting to see the result of this trial.
paz
Paz, do you have any links about this? And is Hovind the guy who didn’t get a building permit for his dinosaur eden, and was caught for that, or is that Ken Ham? YOu know, you’ve seen one rightwing Christian evangelical a–hole, you’ve seen them all.
17 October 2006, on 11:09 pm
In Australia we have the unfair situation that a company that is owned by Seventh Day Adventists called Sanatarium produces food products. Weetbix is one of their breakfast cereals that is a huge seller, as ironically it is low in sugar and high in fibre. They do not pay tax on their profits which gives them an unfair advantage over other manufacturers.
It gets better, as they rope in some of our leading sports teams, such as the socceroos (soccer team), cricketers (baseball on valium)to promote their wholesome product (sarcasm alert). These sportsman are people that are considered role models by a lot of children.
I wonder how many parents would buy their products if they realised the profits are going to support a non mainstream religion. Not to mention they are ripping of our society by taking business from legitimate companies that do pay tax on thier profits.
The soooner we make our politicians realise we are ticked off by paying taxes that subsidise religion the better. I will cross my fingers for the utopia where atheists are in a majority and it is their votes that win elections. When that day comes, bring on no more tax exemptions for hokey religions.
As I was writing this post, I was reminded of politicians in our government doing guest speaker spots at the Hillsong church. (an evangelistical church where they teach that God wants you to be rich) At the lst election it was the votes of the Hillsong congregation that allowed our government to win the marginal seat that encompasses people that go to Hillsong.
Our government elections work on a preferential system. Ie you have to win more than 50% of the vote to win a seat. But what occurs, is that say person 1 gets 40% of the vote, person 2 – 35% and person 3 – 25%. Because nobody attained over 50% of the vote, person 3 is ruled out and their votes are distributed to the other candidates. Where the preferential votes come in, is that the voter numbers each candidate from 1 to 3.
Once the candidate with the least votes is eliminated we look at how their preferences are to be distributed. So say for the eliminated candidate they were numbered 1 with 25% of voters. Those 25% of voters all listed candidate 2 as their second choice. With the distribution of these preferences, candidate 1 stays on 40% and candidate 2 wins the election because their percentage is now 60%.
So for our current govenrment they have a lot to gain by being in bed with religious groups, as they get their preferences.
This is only one of our houses of parilament. The senate is a different story. For those of you I lost with this convoluted explanation my apologies. You are not alone in not understanding the Australian electoral process, as the majority of Australians do not know we have a preferential voting system, let alone how it works.
18 October 2006, on 12:05 am
One of my always ready to be ‘unsheathed’ comments, even with my ‘friends’ [or associates?] who may even be believers, when passing a Religious Structure is:
“Religion is the oldest RACKET ever invented by man!” I then, usually point to the fancy house accompanying the associated sprawling Mosque, Temple, or Church; etc…pointing out how foolish people are to WILLINGLY give 10% [the oft suggested amount] of their hard-earned cash for its maintenance. Just imagine having…oh, say…100 people who make $50,000/year giving you 10% of that…Yikes!…that amounts to, if my math is correct, $500,000/year…TAX FREE?…Holy Shit!
[Hey, it’s only a model!]
And just think…it’s so that some Rabbi/Priest/Imam/[OK…Just Plain Asshole?], who most of the time sits on his ass [I’m assuming, male!] dreaming up which selections of over used ancient bullshit will end up in the next weekly sermon. Of course they’ll be SO emotionally uplifted by the wafting smell of it!
Yeah…Religion may not be the oldest “Profession”…we all know what that is…[Cock fighting?…NO?…Sorry!]…but it’s coitenly, by far, the oldest RACKET ever invented by humans.
Priesthoods and Shamans and Wizards [Oh, My!] have always held hands with the Chiefs of whatever tribes those poor, unsuspecting, humans found themselves skulking in!
[Early Religion scene:]
“Yes, my dearest peons…go out and do all that hard, sweaty, stinky, “Dirty Job” labor…but, by all means… bring back all the BEST of those wonderful yummies y’all gather, fuss over…and make so well.
Oh, and of course…don’t forget the fatted calves, choicest fowls, warm fuzzies…NO, not ‘Chewbacca’!
But, perhaps, MOST importantly…Thou Shalt absolutely NOT forget to offer up for the most Sacred Sacrifice to the Loving Lawd…your very own…um…well…maybe NOT so fatted…
YOUNG VIRGINS!”
“PRAISE THE LAWD”…
“HALLELUJAH!”…
[and ONLY after the crowd leaves]…
I WANT THAT MONEY!” [Yeah, as exclaimed in “The Producers”]
18 October 2006, on 2:21 am
We need to set up an atheist equivolent of Freehold, Iowa and have a mega-whatevertheatheistequivolentofachurchis type of building there. Then we could be tax exempt AND self-righteous.
18 October 2006, on 2:33 am
I suggest going to a chuch and stealing from the collection plate. Go with several friends and all sit in a line. This way no one will see the person in the middle taking out the money. Especially if the people near the ends of the line lean forward or stand up and do anything to screen the theft.
Anyone hear about Mike Tyson and Don King endorsing Michael Steele republican congressman of Maryland? In King’s words, Steele “cares about Jesus”. Mindblowing. A convicted rapist who is now talking about wanting to fight a female boxer is campaigning for a religious right candidate. I guess its really not that surprising. It’s the republican way – rape and beat a woman on saturday, church and football on sunday, back to white collar crime on monday.
18 October 2006, on 4:21 am
Hi
Religion the first profession.
18 October 2006, on 8:02 am
Just saw this today…I would call it a sort of a “counter market” against religion. Cool!
Is God dead? Atheism finds a market in U.S
CHICAGO (Reuters) – A fresh wave of atheistic books has hit the market this autumn, some climbing onto best-seller lists in what proponents see as a backlash against the way religion is entwined in politics.
18 October 2006, on 8:19 am
If you really want to see how much religion is big business, watch TBN or INSP for an hour(if you can take it). There is always a number on screen, waiting to take your money, er, I mean, your “seed”. It cracks me up when some evangelist is shouting and going ape shit and then they pause to remind people to go the phones and “sow their seed”.
And of course, there are all the books and tapes and “annointing oils” and conferences that they’re constantly pimping.
18 October 2006, on 8:57 am
These fancy-shmancy, big-pink-haired, make-up-faced, jewelry-laden, fancy television fundie programs reminded me of this song that came out at the start of my doubting period:
“Would Jesus Wear a Rolex”
Woke up this mornin’, turned on the t.v. set.
there in livin’ color, was somethin’ I can’t forget.
This man was preachin’ at me, yeah, layin’ on the charm
askin’ me for twenty, with ten-thousand on his arm.
He wore designer clothes, and a big smile on his face
tellin’ me salvation while they sang Amazin’ Grace.
Askin’ me for money, when he had all the signs of wealth.
I almost wrote a check out, yeah, then I asked myself
Would He wear a pinky ring, would He drive a fancy car?
Would His wife wear furs and diamonds, would His dressin’ room have a star?
If He came back tomorrow, well there’s somethin’ I’d like to know
Could ya tell me, Would Jesus wear a Rolex on His television show.
Would Jesus be political if He came back to earth?
Have His second home in Palm Springs, yeah, a try to hide His worth?
Take money, from those poor folks, when He comes back again,
and admit He’s talked to all them preachers who say they been a talkin’ to Him?
Just ask ya’ self, Would He wear a pinky ring,
Would He drive a fancy car?
Would His wife wear furs and diamonds, would His dressing room have a star?
If He came back tomorrow, well there’s somethin’ I’d like to know:
Could ya tell me, would Jesus wear a Rolex,
Would jesus wear a Rolex
Would Jesus wear a Rolex
On His television show-ooh-ooh?
18 October 2006, on 11:02 am
When I used to go to church, the pastor would gave a sermon on tithing to your church. It cracks me up thinking about it, because it was really just a sales pitch, very remniscent of a sales meeting when I worked at Starbucks, lol. Funny how this sky-father, who supposedly created the entire world, somehow needs your money to increase the “Kingdom of Gawd.”
Turns out the pastor was having financial trouble around the time of the sermon.
18 October 2006, on 11:28 am
Hi
Religion the first profession.
And it’s about as noble as another thing that claims to be the oldest profession. I suspect the latter is more fun, though.
18 October 2006, on 11:33 am
Travdawg – A pastor of one of the churches I attended when I was a xian was dipping into the church funds for this or that and didn’t even have approval from the board of trustees. The last thing I knew about that he did dishonestly was to order an overabundance of urinal blocks in order to get the free tool set for placing a big order. The trustees were really pissed about that (pun intended
) We wonder how many other things he was getting for himself with the congregation’s money. (They have enough urinal blocks to last into the next century)
18 October 2006, on 12:26 pm
Catherine,
I often get the two (Ken Ham and Kent Hovind) mixed up. Ham’s the asshole Aussie exploiting Steve Irwin’s death. Hovind is the asshole American exploiting tax exemption.
But here’s your link:
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061018/NEWS01/610180337/1006
18 October 2006, on 12:35 pm
If you really want to see how much religion is big business, watch TBN or INSP for an hour(if you can take it). There is always a number on screen, waiting to take your money, er, I mean, your “seed”. It cracks me up when some evangelist is shouting and going ape shit and then they pause to remind people to go the phones and “sow their seed”.
I actually saw the lady (with pink hair) from TBN at the doctor’s office once. I took my mom in for an appointment and waited in the lobby. This lady shows up at the office with a 3 person entourage and in stretch limousine. I’m sure it what everyone had in mind when they donated their money.
18 October 2006, on 12:44 pm
How do these Jeebus followers get around that text in their gospel story, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s…”? Such hypocrits!
I love that idea from Jimmy Dean of attending church with atheist friends and helping ourselves to the money in the donation plate. Then we could use the money to buy copies of Richard Dawkins’ book “The God Delusion” and donate them to our local libraries. Ha!
My only worry would be that they call the police and we end up costing tax-payers more money.
18 October 2006, on 12:45 pm
King Spirula – One commenter, in response to the article you provided the link for stated: When someone donates money to a church/ministry, it becomes God’s money and God’s money should never find it’s way into the hands of the government.
If xians who say this were intelligent and honest, they would admit that “Gawd’s money” is actually CLUB money which is used mainly for enhancement of the club which includes material items, “entertainment” costs, building and lawn maintenance, and for the comfort and enjoyment of “club members” while a teeny-tiny portion of gawd’s money that is left over goes to token charities, homeless, starving people, etc. Most of the people who benefitting from this money are more than well-fed and already well off financially. (They call it being “blessed.”)
18 October 2006, on 12:51 pm
How do these Jeebus followers get around that text in their gospel story, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s…”? Such hypocrits!
Lynda, they interpret that the way they want to. As one commenter from the link King Spirula provided tried to explain it:
The Lord told us to “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s” When someone donates money to a church/ministry, it becomes God’s money and God’s money should never find it’s way into the hands of the government. Churches/Ministries can be set up to give God’s money back to ministry laborers in the form of gifts (just make sure to vary the amount and the frequency….otherwise it could be construed as a salary). Gifts have never been taxable!
Religious folks are masters in verbiage manipulation of their holy texts.
18 October 2006, on 12:57 pm
I actually saw the lady (with pink hair) from TBN at the doctor’s office once. I took my mom in for an appointment and waited in the lobby. This lady shows up at the office with a 3 person entourage and in stretch limousine. I’m sure it what everyone had in mind when they donated their money.
Mark – But these people see this pink-haired, jewelry-wearing whore-looking bitch on television, and they keep sending in their money. The stage sets look like palaces, crystal chandeliers, grand background sets and furnishings, etc and they still write those checks and call in and give their credit card offerings. I mean, why are people so stupid to keep giving when it is so obvious where their money is going?
18 October 2006, on 1:21 pm
Ha ha, check this out, click the link for the rest of the crazy article. Give us your money!
http://www.believers.org/believe/bel122.htm
Tithing is worship of the Lord.
Tithing is worship. It has always been more than just a tax. Tithing is recognition and worship of the One Who created and actually owns all. Worshiping God in a prescribed manner has existed since the Garden of Eden. Cain and Abel knew the correct way to worship God, but one of them chose not to worship that way. The correct way involved giving up something they owned in recognition of God in a prescribed manner. Worship cost them something then, as true worship always does.
If we do not worship God with our money, we do not really worship God. Job, Abraham and his descendants, and others living before the giving of the Law, knew that worshiping God involved sacrificing of their substance.
Any Christian who loves the Lord should desire to give everything to Him. We can and should give more than ten percent (a tithe). Tithing is just a starting place — not a maximum limit. The tithe is like a birthday gift to a wonderful spouse, just a token reminder of their importance to you. Actually, they deserve much more — more than it would be possible to give. Jesus is like that. He deserves more than you could possibly give. Tithing is only a reminder to you, and to Jesus, of the intent of your heart, and the place of importance He has in your life.
Some may say they could show their love better by giving whatever they felt like, instead of a set amount such as ten per cent. However, the attitude behind that approach is wrong. Since the Garden of Eden man has been trying to do things his own way — instead of the way God prescribed — and man’s way has always caused trouble. God said the tithe was His (Leviticus 27:30). He showed us through the Old Testament Law (and never said otherwise in the New Testament), tithing was acceptable worship. Why try to invent a new method?
Giving based on need is not Biblical tithing but giving of alms. (It is not worship but a good work.) Tithing is not to meet God’s need (or the church’s needs), but to worship God: to put Him in His rightful place: first!
Which is more important: Jesus or money?
18 October 2006, on 1:32 pm
>Any Christian who loves the Lord should desire to give everything to Him. We can and should give more than ten percent (a tithe). Tithing is just a starting place — not a maximum limit.
Gosh sounds
Yuck that sounds just like those Amway CDs
18 October 2006, on 1:37 pm
Tithing is worship of the Lord.
Ancient folks knew that gawd is for suckers, too! LOL!
It’s always about the money.
18 October 2006, on 1:58 pm
Stardust says:”If xians who say this were intelligent and honest…”
See, right there’s your problem.
18 October 2006, on 2:08 pm
King S – Yes, it is the problem. Honest xian is an oxymoron.
18 October 2006, on 3:53 pm
xians can be honest, but like all other religious people they can not be rational.
There is judicial precident in the US that atheist originization be treated like any other “religous” orginization when it comes to “special privlidges”.
18 October 2006, on 4:44 pm
Really big churches are annoying. There’s one twenty minutes away from me that is so big they have police officers directing traffic every Sunday morning. Glad I don’t live down that way any more; it was a bitch trying to get through traffic. It’s also a weird church. I went once to the youth service, and a bunch of kids were crying and stuff, as a normal practice. Too emotional for me.
Tithing is a practice of giving to the church. Nothing more. I don’t remember reading in the Bible that you should give money to your church.
18 October 2006, on 5:06 pm
I went once to the youth service, and a bunch of kids were crying and stuff, as a normal practice.
I find this puzzling. They are supposed to be happy, happy little xians, yet they go through the theatrics of behaving as if they are in the depths of sorrow. The “seizure” things on the floor are pretty theatrical, too. Benny Hinn is all a production too and people just do what the other sheeple do…Benny taps on their forehead and they fall backwards in a faint. I actually saw a couple of people start to fall backwards before his hand even got halfway up. I had an old aunt who smoked like a fiend and had the foulest mouth and was the biggest gossip. She was a catholic converted to Pentecostal and invited us to her church once when we were kids and I remember her laying on the floor shaking in the Lawd, speaking in tongues and crying and all that crap. Then she came to our house afterwards, smoked two packs of cigarettes and polluted the air and was saying goddam this, and sonofabitch that, and fuck this and shit on that. We thought she was such a spectacular hypocrite. She’s with Jeebus now.
18 October 2006, on 5:25 pm
From YouTube and Phil Collins & Genesis
TBN – Circus or Church?
18 October 2006, on 5:45 pm
[...] I posted this link in the comment thread for Religion is Big Business, but thought it should go on the main page to be more visible. This goes along well with what we have been talking about recently. How can so many be so blind as to how they are being ripped off in the name of gawd? [...]
18 October 2006, on 7:29 pm
Most organized religions = big business
That’s what shepherds are supposed to do: “fleece” their sheep (or in religion, “sheeple”)!
18 October 2006, on 8:13 pm
Every Sunday morning and afternoon there are at least two police cars in front of the mega-church by my house directing traffic because of the congestion caused by Sunday services. I sure hope the city is charging them for traffic control services because they ain’t getting it through taxes.
And you know, seeing as so many Christians are intent on telling us that atheism is a “religion” or “faith” just as much as Christianity is, then we should be able to set up an atheist meeting place and get automatic tax-exempt status too. I’m sure that would go over just fine with the IRS.
18 October 2006, on 8:37 pm
Bruce, my husband’s brother lives in Louisville near one of those megachurches where police direct traffic. He calls it “Six Flags Over Jeebus.”
19 October 2006, on 6:15 am
Stardust: thanks for the vid–”Church or Circus”. If not for Phil Collins and Genesis, I would have turned it off immediately. Those people and their antics turn my stomach…
The finale, with the wolf was priceless!
Naomi
19 October 2006, on 4:30 pm
Stardust: thanks for the vid–”Church or Circus”.
Naomi you are welcome
You can find anything on YouTube!
Yes, the finale was great.
20 October 2006, on 4:04 pm
“Six Flags Over Jeebus!” *snickers*
8 January 2007, on 4:17 pm
WHILE IT IS TRUE THERE ARE THOSE IN MINISTRY THAT ARE GREEDY AND IMMORAL,
it certainly is true all too often
THAT DOES NOT ALTER THE FACT THAT THERE IS A GOD
where is your proof? In your imagination maybe?
THAT DOES DESIRE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CREATION.
if you have a personal relationship with an invisible imaginary friend, you are delusional
HOW DO I KNOW THIS. BECAUSE 30 YEARS AGO
continues to give his “testimony” about finding jeebus
SINCERELY, JEFF SCHLIP ORE.
Jeff you should have read the comment policy about witnessing.
WHY DO YOU XIANS ALWAYS TYPE IN CAPITAL LETTERS AS IF YOU ARE SHOUTING ALL THE TIME? MUST BE BECAUSE OF ALL THAT SHOUTING FROM YOUR RED-FACED PASTORS AT YOUR WEEKLY BRAINWASHING SESSIONS.