Comments on: The Prosperity Gospel Preys on Poverty http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/11/opinion/the-prosperity-gospel-preys-on-poverty/ Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:15:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/11/opinion/the-prosperity-gospel-preys-on-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-1859 Michael Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:47:57 +0000 http://www.newuniversity.org/?p=10400#comment-1859 This type of toxic salesmanship is a distinct part of the American experience. When you have a culture that is based on the bottom line, the acceptance of fraudulent promoters who promise wealth, and every other kind of nebulous form of bliss to its legion of zombies, is always close by. in 1972, the documentary 'Marjoe" followed a former child preaching prodigy named Marjoe Gortner, as he reentered the preaching circuit, and exposed the practices that his parents, and peers taught him. It gives a fairly transparent view of how these prosperity hucksters function. The documentary was not distributed in the South due to fear of controversy. One wonders how popular the 80's televangelist crooks would have become if that film had garnered wider distribution and attention. These modern day televangelists are a bit more savvy than the ones that ran their racket in the 80's, but their subtle manipulations are ever apparent. The Olsteen's of the world feed on the insecure, and weak minded. The "prosperity" that is being generated is primarily their own, and detached, uncultured Americans swallow it whole. The reality is, when you base your world view on the premise that a benevolent ghost in the sky is watching over you, then it's quite easy to be fooled by just about anything. This type of toxic salesmanship is a distinct part of the American experience. When you have a culture that is based on the bottom line, the acceptance of fraudulent promoters who promise wealth, and every other kind of nebulous form of bliss to its legion of zombies, is always close by.

in 1972, the documentary ‘Marjoe” followed a former child preaching prodigy named Marjoe Gortner, as he reentered the preaching circuit, and exposed the practices that his parents, and peers taught him. It gives a fairly transparent view of how these prosperity hucksters function. The documentary was not distributed in the South due to fear of controversy. One wonders how popular the 80′s televangelist crooks would have become if that film had garnered wider distribution and attention.

These modern day televangelists are a bit more savvy than the ones that ran their racket in the 80′s, but their subtle manipulations are ever apparent.

The Olsteen’s of the world feed on the insecure, and weak minded. The “prosperity” that is being generated is primarily their own, and detached, uncultured Americans swallow it whole.

The reality is, when you base your world view on the premise that a benevolent ghost in the sky is watching over you, then it’s quite easy to be fooled by just about anything.

]]> By: Don in Texas http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/11/opinion/the-prosperity-gospel-preys-on-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-1320 Don in Texas Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:58:32 +0000 http://www.newuniversity.org/?p=10400#comment-1320 Your analysis is so shallow. You focused entirely on money. Is that all prosperity means to you? What about healing (Jesus did a lot of that you know.) and about peace in your spirit. What about forgiveness and letting go of the past -- which is a common theme among this movement. And why do you say that the prosperity gospel emphasizes material success in the hear and now, as opposed to the next life. Can you not perceive both? People see the world through their own eyes, meaning that they think everyone is like them. Apparently, God is blinding you to this message, perhaps because you would abuse it and indeed it would lead to your destruction. Your analysis is so shallow. You focused entirely on money. Is that all prosperity means to you? What about healing (Jesus did a lot of that you know.) and about peace in your spirit. What about forgiveness and letting go of the past — which is a common theme among this movement. And why do you say that the prosperity gospel emphasizes material success in the hear and now, as opposed to the next life. Can you not perceive both? People see the world through their own eyes, meaning that they think everyone is like them. Apparently, God is blinding you to this message, perhaps because you would abuse it and indeed it would lead to your destruction.

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