It's what happens when atheists run an xstian church...hehe..easy to fleece if you don't have the faith or scruples...not saying that being atheist means you don't have scruples, but if you are unscrupulous and don't believe, it is easy to take advantage of the fearful. I remember when the 'faithful' thought there was going to be a rapture, and hearing atheists say that they would love to have these people give them all of their worldly belongings since they weren't going to need them anymore. Similar thing. Preying on the praying. See what I did there?

I was also raised this way in the south. Sometimes in the 80's I think, it changed to the idea that you don't have to build wealth in heaven (jewels in your crowns/mansions on high) but that god would bless you financially here on earth. That ostentatious display of wealth that some folk would hide to appear more pious, became a badge of righteousness. The united pentecostal movement seemed to be at the forefront of that movement when I was a teen in the deep South. They drove expensive cars, had lavish homes, the women had their hair done once or twice a week and wore designer outfits. But NO MAKE-UP could be worn and TELEVISION was allowed in their homes. Though they had a vast radio presence everyday.

Seeing the true from the false is a major challenge. It is fundamental.

These are prosperity gospel idiots. What makes me scratch my head is that Jesus preached that being rich is a hindrance to their path to heaven.

I used to listed to Robert Tilton in my gullible days. As I was beginning to see the hypocrisy, a Primetime expose exposed his scam. He would get millions of dollars along with prayer requests. He was secretly recorded taking the money out of the envelopes and throwing away the prayer requests without even looking at them. What did he tell his flock? He told them that God already knew their prayers and that he didn't need to read them. And those idiots believed his nonsense hook line and sinker.

People can be such idiots.

I find Joel Osteen to be the worst possible example of someone associated with any god. His gods are green, and covered in dollar signs !

On Sunday mornings, he has his TV show - I dare anyone here to watch the whole thing without bringing up your breakfast ...

I grew up in a lot of different churches, Baptist, Assembly of God, Mormon, and Pentecostal. All of them have one thing in common. They all worship money. I don't care how small or how large the congregation is, the pastors all want to be very wealthy or they are wealthy. It is a scam. I mean if they are supposed to be like Jesus, they should live humbly, not like the priests of Egypt in biblical times. I just can't bring myself to believe in those fairy tales anymore.

Jim Baker From the PTL Club, has been around trying this Prosperty crap for years. Now he has new wife and church is on tv with his kids...its disgusting. Mostly crying about the end days. He was in jail for messing around with his Church's money...same ole schtick...

They're all hypocrites. Some more than others.

Oh, Joel Osteen is part of the "prosperity gospel" ministry, so he and his ilk consider their ostentatious lifestyles to actually be the supposed example for their parishioners. it's a huge scam, even by religious standards, that quotes some passage in the Bible that promises a reward many times over. They've spun this into financial reward, with the notion that the someone gives them the more they will get in reward (not in terms of nebulous blessings or heavenly reward, but actual financial return on investment). It's sick, but people will give their last penny for a chance to win that prosperity lottery.

No surprises there!!

The churches have been preying on the masses for centuries. An example - visit the vatican museum. And don't get me started on the US mega churches, and the like of Osteen. Just a license to steal.

Money and greed. Sad that others don't see that.

These preachers are grifters, plain and simple. Unfortunately, the people they swindle are either too simple or so invested in being fed easy answers that they are blind to the fact they are being used.

How can anyone see where he lives and still give money to his "church"? Its mind boggling.

Just another way to look at this...nobody forces people to follow these bad but very clever so-called men of god. Put some of the blame on the masses of idiots who choose to allow such men to proliferate.

Mega churches are profiting from a tax free, legal, money making fraudulent enterprise. The pastors are reaping in the profits. None of them practice what they preach. They claim that Jesus preached compassion and sacrifice and helping the poor, they live like kings, and are only in the business of enriching themselves.

Makes me ill to see the greed in their personal lives.

I’ve driven by that dude’s pad. He’s such a kook, needs to be removed from his ivory tower.

It is time for a remake of Elmer Gantry. I am amazed Hollywood hasn't yet done at least one. And, why doesn't TV have a reality series like Duck Dynasty but named Preacher Dynasty, complete with lavish spending, fucking in the choir loft, wigs & facelifts for Jesus, and child porn in the Sunday School? And of course, my personal favorite, a rendition of "God's Loophole"

"Delusional lunes" That made me laugh out loud. Joel Olsteen is a dirt bag and so is Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, The whole Graham family, James Dobson, Jim and Tammy Faye and the list can go on and on. If only there was a way to stop these "delusional lunes"

You are not wrong. These are men of manipulation and money. God is an illusion.

You are correct the greedy sloth preachers are hopelessly incorrect their gawd sounds out of their mouths are like cowbells leading the herd into the barn to be milked

Greed, greed, greed.

He follows a book of extraordinary hypocrisy so it's okay him to be extraordinarily hypocritical.