It's like... "Give me money. Hallelujah praise Jesus." And bam you got some money.\n\nOr if you stand at an altar and tell everyone lies and strange dreams you had, or that 1,000 people at another church were blind/crippled but can now see/walk because of Jesus, they would buy your DVDs even if you don't have any actual proof of your claims.\n\nWhy so gullible?
210769
Whoa there. It's not like just anybody can stand up in front of a congregation and twist Scripture! That takes a special kind of talent, when you have to convince people NOT to look it up for themselves. \n\nAsk the F.B.I. Everybody thinks they're so smart, but why are so many people falling for scams and fraud every day? It isn't just when you add "God" or "Jesus," it's when you can say it in a way that persuades and reassures people that you know better than they do.
634788
Meaningless gibberish. That's all that speaking in tongues is.\nIt's yet another example of Pious Fraud. Nothing more.
658221
The bible was written by human beings, so who is to say that any of it is true? Show me something tangible, and not just something that is written down by people, who for all we know, could have just been yankin our chains. As for priests, pastors and the like, every one of them has their own interpretation of the bible, so if you believe, why in the world would you need someone to be a "relay" from you to god??? I don`t know how many times I have heard the saying, "god hears all prayers", so why go to church to have the priest or whoever, tell you what is what, when you could do it in the privacy of your own home, and I will even answer that as well, $$$$$$$, have any of you ever checked out how much the catholic church is worth, tunzamoney, thats how much, not too mention the real evil types, the televangelists, who rake in who knows how many millions a year, and look at all the trouble they are constantly getting into, and yet, there are so many Gullible people that still continue to send them money.  Religion=Money, and none of it is intended for your benefit.
318826
Doesn't it seem as if people cling to their beleifs so hard, they will refuse to acknowledge anything that might question that? I mean, what if you found out that your Mom was a crackwhore for the first half of her life and you were the offspring of her pimp? (no offense to any mothers. This seems to be the case. besides, those 2000 year old beleifs, were the beleifs for 2000 years. This Da Vinci schmuk has just surfaced as a new beleif that can be considered by the mases. Or is it... global warming? I haven't read the book nor seen the movie, but I am familiar with the subject matter through schooling. When in school, or watching a movie that makes you think, it is enlightening. If we did not question things, there would be no need for Jesu, right? Why stop questioning now. I apologize, but it seems this Da Vinci controversy has surfaced the weakest of humans and found great fault in religion just by questioning it, whether true or not. The uproar confirms this. And for the twist... I agree with the author of this question, maybe not in the exact same sense. But I am God folks, not the one you all know, but my own. Think about this concept! What does God do for you? What is his purpose? Can these things be accomplished by yourself? It can be done.
599014
I agree with you 100%, and I am a Born Again Christian myself.  Whenever I visit a Christian book store, I am sickened by the barrage of pseudo-Christian mumbo jumbo that's foisted upon us.  Having said that, I readily admit there's alot of really helpful stuff out there.  As with any purchase, the buyer should use common sense.  There's really no need to own a jewelry box full of "The Passion of the Christ" necklaces and stick pins.  \n\nBut theres nothing wrong with a person buying at least three translations of the Bible, a concordance and books containing solid theological teachings.  Oh -- and at least one "Jesus Fish" for your car (yes, I have one).\n\nAs far as televanglism, I go by one rule of thumb:  if he or she asks me to "sow a financial seed" so I can receive future blessings, I turn the channel and never watch that person's broadcast again.
169999
OK, this is just a thought. But I got into the same thing when I studied John Wesley's concept of "second blessing holiness." [By the way, I used to live near a congregation that was a part of your denomination. You ain'y scary. ;-)] For what its worth, this is what I came up with, and its just my opinion. Sometimes a person reads a verse or section of scripture that REALLY says something to them. Something maybe no one else has ever noticed. The reason for it is that God is trying to show THEM something they need to know. It may nat apply to anyone else. But they miss that part and in trying to share it (which is OK) it becomes something else. It becomes "THIS is the way it is and its this way for everyone!" rather than what it was meant to be, which was "THIS is for YOU, if I wanted everyone else to see it I'd have shown it to everyone else." And its not that God is showing respect of persons in a case like this because I honestly believe that this type of thing is availabe to everyone. No respect of persons there. Its just that different people need to see things in a way that THEY can understand it and so grow closer to God. That's all it is. God dealing with people where they are. But, human ego being what it is, folks make something else out of it. And then theres the other thing where people just try to make it (the Bible) say all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff it doesn't because they want attention and money. And of course there is always ignorance, but that's another topic. But, hey, you can get that at Wal-Mart too. ;-)
661764
Most people want their fifteen minutes of fame or power, and with the gullibility of 95% of the population, what better way to get it than to promote some nebulous image and label it as a religious icon. There are so many folk out there willing to believe anything. On the one hand there is a desperate need for proof of a divine being and all that it entails even if it shows up on a potato chip. On the other there is such a vice grip of blind devotion that to deny anything that may even come close to being a true depiction of God's presence would be tantamount to blasphemy.
297879
Far to often I probly fall prey to these strawmen.  It is sometimes hard to tell the blind faithful apart from the fakes.  To bad there is not some sort of christian detector.\n\nThe worst part is when either the blind or the fakes get into the media.  Then they realy bring down how the world looks at your religion.
649040
Everyone that says it takes money to pay for the materials to make a book is stupid. After a week you have made enough money to pay for a ton of materials. The fact of the matter is a bible probably only cost about a buck to make. They sell them for way more because they want to make money off of faith, just like televangelist charge heck of money to listen to "the word" and christian musicans charge a bunch for their concerts and CDs it is not about God here it is about green.
179696
:}\nBelieving and practicing Christians have already received more than they deserved from G-d. Most are more interested in how to serve him than what he will bring on Christmas.\n\nI admit there is the prosperity theology movement afoot but then there is always going to be a mixture of error\n\nThe call is to pick up the cross an follow him. I would like to see everyone do that but I would caution them that there is a cost that should be considered. Christians are often called to suffer.
484696
...I don't know why that is (that few TV preachers are backed by or held accountable to any denomination or overseeing authority); some to be sure are money-grabbers. If one is accountable to no one, it can easily lead to abuses of many kinds.   I watch for doctrinal errors especially, lavish lifestyles, and endless pleas (and gimmicks) to get your money.  There are crooked evangelists and ministers, who have been caught in lies and criminal activity, but not all are crooked.  There are bad apples in every profession.\n...A biblical congregation should be led by male elders who are subject to God and each other.  I will not be part of a church which has no such elder board.\n...That is a warning sign to me.  Those who subject themselves to no one, are in danger of leading many astray, as in a cult following.  \n...Our pastor, re: any of his messages - he  encourages us to "check him out", to prove what he teaches.  The Berean Christians were commended in Acts 17:11 - "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Scriptures with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so."\n...Don't be afraid to check them out - in fact, do check them out - examine the Scriptures daily, to see whether the things they teach are so.\n...God does know how to "clean house" too, that is, He is fully capable of removing people who dishonor His name. And in the end, Romans 14:12 says, "Each of us shall give account of himself to God."  They will not escape.
157008
This is why I am agnostic.  There were just too many unanswered questions for me.  And there was a lot of hypocracy, especially in my congregation.  What's the point of *saying* you believe something when you actually don't?
143079
I think it is wack.  The guy who invented it used to say that if you wanted to get rich in today's world, invent a religion,  Then a few years later, he did it.\n\nOne way they hook you is, they charge you for every thing you do.  What other religion does that?\n\nThe other way they really hook you is, they ask you to 'cleanse' yourself by telling them whatever you may be ashamed of, secrets, whatever.  Then they can just use this against you later to blackmail you with.  Standard operating procedure over there.\n\n  So they make it very hard for you to leave (Michael Jackson is one of the few who have done so successfully -- either he wasn't weird enough, or too weird),leaving you no option but to stay, then they charge you for each level of advancement or step towards it.\n\nOne other thing: I read a book about Hubbard, the founder. \nThere are a million examples of him being full of shit. One time a bunch of cronies went with him to a movie.  They all liked it, and afterward he said, "Oh yeah, I wrote it" which later proved to be total BS but shows you the type of guy he was.  He was a total scammer from the word go.
510569
Don't be deceived my friend by the DaVinci Deception....\nThe Scripture foretold of deceptions like these....\n\n" Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy..."(1Tim.4:1)\n\nBut there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who shall privately bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, bring swift destruction upon themselves". (2 Peter 2:1),
120323
I'm not totally sure that these people's actions are fully from God. Not to be like anti-God or anything please don't assume, but Satan also has powers that influence people and can eventually take over their lives. Being a Christian, I don't believe that these men are really doing what you think they are, but I'm not speaking for the whole Christian body, just for me. On the counter, there's nowhere in the Bible that says, "miracle healers are fake," but I can't believe that this is true. There is a passage in the Bible that talks about weak Christians (people who believe that they have to wear a certain thing, look a certain way, do certain things, etc. not saying that they aren't Christians, they are) and strong Christians, (who believe that we can come to Jesus as we are and that He is the sacrifice for our sins.) I think that these miracle healers are the weaker Christians and the strong Christians must help them see that they don't have to do that. They think that they have to heal and touch people to make them well, when really the miracle is from God. I hope that you can make sense of all this. This is a very difficult passage of Scripture to understand.
224405
Yep - me too. The difference between the preacher at your local church and these guys is money and power. As Dante said, power corrupts & absolute power corrupts absolutely. So unfortunately, if a preacher has good intentions when he starts it is almost guaranteed that he will become corrupted by the money, power & fame of televangelism (with one exception - Billy Graham). But I don't worry too much about the people you named - people will believe what they want to believe. It's frustrating at times, but Jesus is the message. And the people who seek Him will find Him. That's why God uses the local church to save the lost & minister to the community. May God bless you & your friends.
134149
Yep, more than likely.  Can you imagine people embracing a man who claims to be Jesus, can perform on the spot miracles , rose from the dead, etc?  Not many people would take a word of it seriously and would chalk it off to the ravings of a lunatic.\n\nFor all we know Jesus HAS been alive, walking our streets and being ridiculed.  People are so firm in their belief but refuse to entertain the possibility that a man who supposedly can do such miraculous deeds is unable to be alive today.  Those same people look to their priest or pastor and have no problem believing that god spoke to them in order to pass along his message(s).  Who made the rule that god can't speak to just regular people?\n\nAs for you saying that god spoke to you, if that is your truth, then that's the truth!  You just have to be careful in who you decide to tell.