These people are in the business of marketing hope and god. But are they also exploiting vulnerable people? Granted, there are some who are sincerely doing God's work (I refrain from saying, if only they knew better), as illusory as that may be. But recently there has been an explosion of such ministries especially in the USA, but also in other parts of the world now. These people are raking in millions from contribution from their congregations and live luxurious lifestyles at the expense of their ministries (Benny Hinn comes to mind). I cannot help but feel sorry for the congregants. In my less charitable state, I say that should serve them right for being so credulous and gullible.

What happened to the following;

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of god.

I have heard of instance where people have given away their life's saving and work to such ministries. Why are such people rarely expose? Why do they have such huge following. Is it not obvious to these followers that they are being fleeced?

Take the case of Peter Popoff who was caught redhanded by James Randi fraudulently feigning receiving messages from god in the 1980. His ministry suffer and he declared bankruptcy following that exposure. But guess what! He is back again on TV fleecing some more gullible people.


Others have had disreputable financial and sexual records - Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggard, Ted Haggard.

There is a Kenya minister by the name of Gilbert Deya, who is also in the business of scamming he poor congregation by claiming to lead childless couples to pregnancy. This has been investigated by the authorities in the UK and Kenya and has been found to a fraud - surprise surprise, surprise. There is current an extradition warrant out on his head from the Kenya authorities to face charges of child-trafficking.

When are people going to stop being so credulous and gullible. Hence my appeal for an education in rationalism and scepticism.

Watch the following videos to see the extend of these frauds.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGmLFSPkyhs&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly-LZ6MGnj4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKCVyEhIoHg&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcbcabspeOc&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-oKCi2jolA&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg9dWVXyAZU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXOEAz46vMk&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLV4zjfwQxY&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4no1-uec3N8&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6I0jcG2pCs&feature=related



=====================================================================================================

Some of my other threads


The Dangers Of Religious Fundamentalism To Intellectualism
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=110955.msg1929006#msg1929006

Only For Those Who Know Their Bibles And Some History: Who Was Jesus?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112697.msg1954632#msg1954632

Only For Those Who Know Their Bibles: Old Testament Stories
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112679.msg1954426#msg1954426

Human Sacrifice In The Bible: Lev 27: 29 & Judges 11
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112584.msg1953340#msg1953340

Please, Please, Please: Christians - Read Read Read Your Bibles
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112578.msg1953311#msg1953311

When Was Jesus Crucified?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112557.msg1952665#msg1952665

On Conversion To A Religion (christianity Or I-slam)
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112547.msg1952353#msg1952353

Faith-healers And Tele-evangelists
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112398.msg1950528#msg1950528

Where Did Sin Originate?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112377.msg1950291#msg1950291

For The Non-beleivers Only, 1
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112262.msg1948957#msg1948957

Would Christains Be Criminals And Offenders If They Were Not Christians?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112259.msg1948919#msg1948919

On The Authenticity Of The New Testament, Part 1
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112240.msg1948631#msg1948631

Has Atheism Got Principle? No
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112216.msg1948180#msg1948180

It Is Biblical To Have Sex (and Lots Of It) Before Marriage
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112139.msg1946940#msg1946940

Should The Old Testament Laws Be Observed In The Modern Era?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112114.msg1946682#msg1946682

Founding A State or Nation On Religious Principles
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=112086.msg1946268#msg1946268

Great Books About Non-belief
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111928.msg1943935#msg1943935

Who Are The Self-declared Non-believer? Resources For You
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111806.msg1942137#msg1942137

Beware of a Simplistic Interpretation of Jesus's 2nd Coming Passages
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111677.msg1939992#msg1939992

Archbishop Cause Furore Over Sharia Law In The Uk
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111645.msg1939155#msg1939155

Eminent Christian Scientist (francis Collins) Explains The Evolution Of Humans
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111482.msg1936158#msg1936158

Please, Help Me Out With Your Knowledge Of The Bible
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111474.msg1936099#msg1936099

Why Biology Is So Important To Our Modern World
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111466.msg1935975#msg1935975

Genesis Vs Genetics
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111227.msg1932655#msg1932655

Jesus Genealogy
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111222.msg1932616#msg1932616

£300 (three - Hundred Pound Sterling) Essay Competition
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=111143.msg1931508#msg1931508

Beware Of Religious Fundamentalism In Your University Campuses
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=110965.msg1929160#msg1929160

====================================================================================================

Anyone watched these video and care to comment?

Anyone knows about any corrupt, manupulative and exploitative preachers? Why don't you give you life story here?

I hav nt watched any of the videos bt must say dat am nt in d ministry of "critscms" bt propagtn The Gospel and D Good news,

Certainly no man of God is PERECT, dat is why the tite "MAN" comes b4 "GOD",
Nw, dis is nt 2 say there are no FAKES arnd bt we shld be more concernd abt those who r helpn Humanity(Benny Hinn comes 2 mind) than those who are nt,

Looking critically at those who hv ben blessed,healed and restored in ways dat cn only b termed as DIVINE by these "FAith Healers" over the years, ranks in2 MILLIONS!(Oral Roberts inclusive),

Lets pray 4 them than critiscise their good efforts, After all they r still men and r still vulnerable 2 errors, Who isn't?

P:S and if u need clearification abt their actions why nt write to their ministeries and get a beta understandn of why they do wat THEY DO, and if nt satisfied, talk 2 GOD abt it, It is nt right 2 speak abt wat u dnt understand completey.

No offence, I still lv u,

Any healing experiences to report?

@ Therationa

Pretty soon, no one is going to read your posts anymore, You know why? You are becoming boring with your hackneyed attacks on Christianity. Perhaps you should do some research on the great religion for a change abi you dey fear? Get a life Bro!!!

Reptyle:

@ Therationa

Pretty soon, no one is going to read your posts anymore, You know why? You are becoming boring with your hackneyed attacks on Christianity. Perhaps you should do some research on the great religion for a change abi you dey fear? Get a life Bro!!!

I would attack any form of superstition (christian and non-christian). I happen to have been raised a christian; so I know more about xian than any other religion, having experienced the xian life. My knowledge of i-slam and the koran is not that good so I cannot attack it as thoroughly as I would like to.

therationa:

I would attack any form of superstition (christian and non-christian).

we here the same escapist drivel all the time. Funny enough we don't see any atheists writing books about M'ohammad or Is'lam . . . everyone is focused on bashing Christianity. there used to be 2 websites (skepticsanotatedko'ran.com and skepticsanotatedbible.com), while the later is still on stronger than ever, the former has since been yanked off the internet by cowards like you who love to preface their 2-faced deciet with that classic line of urs.

therationa:

I happen to have been raised a christian; so I know more about xian than any other religion, having experienced the xian life. My knowledge of i-slam and the great book is not that good so I cannot attack it as thoroughly as I would like to.

We've had the same excuse before. You havent read a jot of the bible before just like u've never read a jot of the ko'ran but u seem to be more intent on plagiarising websites to lampoon christianity.

Perhaps its because we don't issue fatwas too. We don't need to, 2000yrs of attacks and yet christianity remains even stronger than ever. Cry from now till next yr, we aint going no where.

4Him:

we here the same escapist drivel all the time. Funny enough we don't see any atheists writing books about M'ohammad or Is'lam . . . everyone is focused on bashing Christianity. there used to be 2 websites (skepticsanotatedko'ran.com and skepticsanotatedbible.com), while the later is still on stronger than ever, the former has since been yanked off the internet by cowards like you who love to preface their 2-faced deciet with that classic line of urs.

We've had the same excuse before. You havent read a jot of the bible before just like u've never read a jot of the ko'ran but u seem to be more intent on plagiarising websites to lampoon christianity.

Perhaps its because we don't issue fatwas too. We don't need to, 2000yrs of attacks and yet christianity remains even stronger than ever. Cry from now till next yr, we aint going no where.

Information is information; whether it comes from a website or not; if it is factually correct it remains so, in spite of the source.

I was indeed raised a Catholic, then a Seventy-day Adventist. 7SA are particularly sticklers for the bible and read the bible almost cover2cover.

All atheists authors I know have attacked ALL the religions, but most books in Western circulation are written by people who were raised in a Christian tradition. so they know more about that tradition than the m-slim tradition. A book publish last year called the Atheist Manifestor by Michel Onfray is particularly scathing about i-slim.

Two other critiques of I-slam are Ign Warraq, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. They have got books out.

therationa:

Two other critiques of I-slam are Ign Warraq, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. They have got books out.

and we both know how free these people are eh?