Religious broadcaster builds $4M home despite layoffs at his ministry

[Neosutra]

Religious broadcaster builds $4M home despite layoffs at his ministry - USATODAY.com

Seriously, how are people still religious.

"Inspiration Networks has drawn scrutiny for up to $26 million in incentives it won from South Carolina to move from Charlotte to Indian Land, S.C., in Lancaster County. The network's revenues are expected to approach $100 million, largely donations from people who are told God favors those who donate."

"In addition to laying off workers, the newspaper reported, the ministry froze wages and stopped making contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts. The thermostat on the network's new building was cut to 65 degree during the winter."

"If they've got these kinds of assets, does the state really need to offer ... tax breaks?" asked Don Weaver, president of the S.C. Association of Taxpayers.

[Alleya]

I'll just go ahead and break down the rational argument before we begin the ritual mud slinging:

Let people believe what they want.

Don't make me fucking pay for it.

[Seraph]

Seriously, how are people still religious.

I generally just say those kind of people really aren't religious, just delusional. Definitely a difference between paying the bills and maintaining a reasonable facility versus churning out an insane profit.

Maybe it's really a $4,000,000+ homeless shelter. Right? Right!?!

[Dimmauk]

lolSouth Carolina

God wanted those people to give their money so the preacher could live a wonderful life. This made God happy.

[Alleya]

Not that it's anything new.

Bishops, priests, shamans, etc, have been building palaces while their "flock" starves for millenniums.

[Maxxthepenguin]

Not that it's anything new.

Bishops, priests, shamans, etc, have been building palaces while their "flock" starves for millenniums.

Some have, some haven't.

But I fully expect this to just be another OH FUCKING RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE TERRIBLE PEOPLE thread. Should I bother with counterexamples? Nah.

But in any case, to answer Neo's question "Why are people still religious?", it's because to most of them, this shit doesn't matter.

[Therin]

Big ministries like this are corrupt and have always been corrupt. There has been so much abuse in the past, I believe that even the most spiritual Christians should avoid tithing to any sort of ministry or fellowship if they're not 100% certain that their money is going to be abused.

Oh well, not everyone has common sense I suppose.

[Cephius]

You know how we look back on people who lived in ancient or medieval times and wonder how they ever lived without modern medicine, transportation, laws, etc?

People centuries from now are going to wonder how, in a time of scientific enlightenment, we ever lived in a time where people actually followed religions.

[ZarakiKujata]

YouTube - RELIGULOUS : Bill Maher Exposes Jeremiah Cummings

Should about cover the general jist of this shit.

[deft]

People centuries from now are going to wonder how, in a time of scientific enlightenment, we ever lived in a time where people actually followed religions.

Oh god I hope so.

[Alleya]

Some have, some haven't.

Again, I think the contention arises when the practice of religion claims absolute and final moral authority. Again and again religious leaders violate their own teachings, and yet we are the sinners for not adhering to their laws. In my view, the hypocrisy in this light is more bitter than the hypocrisy of a similar act by a secular figure, which also happens.

It is compounded by the fact that even a child can observe this pattern well enough to know that this person will not see the error of their ways and stop construction, or sell the house and put the money back where it belongs. Secularists will cry foul, religious people will act persecuted, and this person will go live in their mansion off the money given to them in good will.

[eunhye]

Isn't Obama a _____ oh nvm. Back to hating on the churches.

[Dimmauk]

Isn't Obama a _____ oh nvm. Back to hating on the churches.

WTF does this have to do with Obama?

[Kiro]

Religion is a good way to make money.


also dumb people.

[Seraph]

Am I the only one noticing a vast increase in the number of shit posts lately by double and triple digit post count posters?

[Maxxthepenguin]

Again, I think the contention arises when the practice of religion claims absolute and final moral authority. Again and again religious leaders violate their own teachings, and yet we are the sinners for not adhering to their laws. In my view, the hypocrisy in this light is more bitter than the hypocrisy of a similar act by a secular figure, which also happens.

Absolutely. It's frequently been an issue with the Catholic church throughout history, a problem with these vast megachurches now, and it will be a problem as long as humans are around as long as people trust authority of any kind and humans generally don't work very well without some sort of authority they trust. It's going to continue to happen whether it's religious in nature or not, the hypocracy is just a bit more delicious when it's from somebody espousing such strong contradictory rhetoric.

It is compounded by the fact that even a child can observe this pattern well enough to know that this person will not see the error of their ways and stop construction, or sell the house and put the money back where it belongs. Secularists will cry foul, religious people will act persecuted, and this person will go live in their mansion off the money given to them in good will.

And so the world turns.

Isn't Obama a _____ oh nvm. Back to hating on the churches.

Oh, please do state what you mean. Are you comparing Obama to a religious leader?

[alt]

In all fairness most moderate/modern religious ministries/denominations tend to distance themselves with this kind of televangelists.

All religions have the radicals, ultra-conservatives, and the corrupt, which tends to be what we mostly hear about. Kinda like how we know most Muslims are peaceful people, and yet all we ever hear about on tv are the terrorists.

[Plow]

Seriously, how are people still religious.

Because you don't have to align yourself with a church at all, let alone one like this, to be religious.

If you're asking why people would follow someone like this, well, people are dumb.

[Zilong]

In all fairness most moderate/modern religious ministries/denominations tend to distance themselves with this kind of televangelists.

All religions have the radicals, ultra-conservatives, and the corrupt, which tends to be what we mostly hear about. Kinda like how we know most Muslims are peaceful people, and yet all we ever hear about on tv are the terrorists.

I do prefer my religious fanatics to be killing themselves for their cause.

[Kuya]

RELIGIOUS PEOPLE!!