John Oliver Exposes Shady Televangelists Fleecing Americans For Millions

[RKP5637]

So absolutely true!!! Millions of Americans are so naive and desperate, and these charlatans rake in millions from them.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/17/john-oliver-exposes-shady-televangelists-fleecing-americans-for-millions.html?google_editors_picks=true

And, since they run a “church,” the Copelands can live in a $6.3 million mega-mansion tax-free, since it’s designated a “parsonage.”

“This is about the churches that exploit people’s faith for monetary gain,” Oliver announced.

Yes, in 2015, televangelism is still thriving in America. Back in March, The Daily Beast reported on Creflo Dollar, a pastor who’d thoroughly convinced his loyal congregation that God wanted him to own a $65 million private jet, and wanted them to foot the bill.

Joining Dollar in his pursuit of the high life is Mike Murdock, a televangelist who shamelessly bragged in front of his congregation about purchasing not one, but two private jets with straight cash. And Kenneth Copeland, a televangelist who—along with his equally opportunistic wife, Gloria—calls his private jet a “preaching machine” that he uses only for church activities, yet was revealed to use it to fly to luxury ski resorts and gaming trips to India to hunt exotic animals.

All of these televangelists and more preach “The Prosperity Gospel” that, Oliver says, “argues that wealth is a sign of God’s favor, and donations will result in wealth coming back to you. That idea takes the form of ‘seed faith’—that donations are seeds that you will one day get to harvest.”

“If she went to a doctor, it was a sin,” Beach told the AP. “You didn’t believe enough if you did. She just wrote: ‘God heal me. God heal me. God heal me.’”
Last Week then played a series of damning clips of televangelists requesting “seed” money on their programs, including Murdock convincing those deep in credit card debt to donate $1,000 to his church in order to sow a “seed” to God that will eventually wipe out said debt.

Even the IRS admits that its regulations concerning churches and religious entities are “purposely broad” and “a little vague.” In the IRS Tax Guide for Churches & Religious Organizations, “the term church is found, but not specifically defined” and the “IRS makes no attempt to evaluate the content of whatever doctrine a particular organization claims is religious, provided the particular beliefs… are truly and sincerely held… and the practices… are not illegal.” The IRS also rarely audits churches to prove their validity, examining just two churches in 2013 and one in 2014.

And, since they run a “church,” the Copelands can live in a $6.3 million mega-mansion tax-free, since it’s designated a “parsonage.”

[kimbutgar]

2. The message on the phone number he gave out is hilarious

Basically begging you to send him money, he needs the money.

[Liberal Veteran]

3. Prosperity gospel is a heresy that deserves all the derision that can be piled upon it.

I don't understand how people fall for it. I know one can cherry pick the bible, but it doesn't take more than a cursory review of the words of Jesus in the bible and realize that he preached the exact opposite of prosperity gospel.

[roguevalley]

7. it's among the worst heresies

[erronis]

14. A "worst" heresy almost sounds like a wonderful deed.

Of course a thing is a heresy depending on the POV of the articulator. I think I've been accused of many by various girlfriends, wives - sometimes within the same day!

<smiley_face>

[Oneironaut]

31. Most Christians don't care what's in the Bible.

Most haven't read a word of it. They go by what their preacher told them, or parrot talking points heard in the media.

[DirkGently]

4. Oliver is crushing it with his new show.

Not much out there I feel like I don't want to "miss." Last Week Tonight is one.

[lonestarnot]

8. He is doing a very excellent job. I love his show. I can't say that anyone right now is doing a

better job.

[aggiesal]

37. I like his show ...

The only thing I request is that he stop dropping "F-bombs".

He doesn't need to use them to get his point across and he's still
just as funny and informative without them.

[lonestarnot]

40. Oh f that.

[4lbs]

5. As Thomas Tusser said "A fool and his money are soon parted." nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. exactly what I was pondering when I read this

[femmocrat]

9. That was an outstanding show last night!

"Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption"

http://www.ourladyofperpetualexemption.com

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. The fine print on that site says

any $$$$ donated will go to Doctors Without Borders!

[femmocrat]

22. Wonderful!

[Enthusiast]

10. K&R! People are so gullible.

[PufPuf23]

11. Churches should be taxed. Benefits to clergy shoould be taxed.

Donations to churches should be taxed unless directed to specific charitable programs (soup kitchens, shelter, etc but not evangelical and other purposes to build the church).

Churches and clergy should show their faith regards to finances by not being exempt from taxes.

The use of money does not appear to reflect Jesus and the New Testament at all.

[LynneSin]

26. I actually disagree with that

Because not all churches are the same.

There are churches out there every day that are struggling to make ends meet yet reach out everyday to raise money that in turn goes back into the community to help those in need. Unfortunately those are the churches we rarely hear about because no one gives the pastor a microphone. But if someone comes to them hungry they get fed. If they need clothing they find clothes to wear. They live by the words of Jesus which is to help others.

I just think there gets to be a point where these pastors lose site of what a Church is about and take advantage of the generosity of others or use the pulpit in order to sway voters into a political agenda (the only political agenda any church should truly have is to remind their voters to vote).

To tax all Churches is to say all people must turn in the guns. It's a blanket statement that assumes everyone associated with this group is batshit crazy. But in reality it's just a small group of people who have done some very serious harm to make everyone else in this group look bad. We really just need to revisit these laws to reign in those who have abused their privileges.

[lostnfound]

29. The proposed carve out for charitable programs should suffice

Even charities pay property tax while churches are often exempt even from that. They use services, like roads and police and firefighters.

[PufPuf23]

32. I am being an absolutist today, pardon the blanket statement.

How can we judge who has and hasn't abused the privileges?

Also churches change and personalities change.

Many churches and individual's associated with churches clearly cause harm by poisoning minds, obtaining funds under false pretenses, mixing in politics, etc

Seems to me that the only way to readily and fairly administer is to enact a blanket rule and then define exemptions (food kitchens, etc). This approach would turn status quo inside out and establish a new baseline.

My druthers are that people should be able to have their own spirituality (and have the guns they want too).

Easy for me as I have no specific spirituality (and have no interest in guns save for family heirlooms).

My solution regarding guns would be 100% control of ammunition (every bullet tracked), though obviously some individuals should lose the privilege and some guns -- machine guns, bazookas, tanks, etc -- have no business in private hands. Again turns status quo inside out and easiest to administer.

I do not believe that many individuals and institutions guiding our society want solutions that are fair and easy to administer.

My solution regarding LE abuses would be to de-militarize and de-weaponize police forces.

Geez I just made my first gun post ever at DU (in response to one of the kindest people on the site).

[LynneSin]

33. Why do I sense a scene from Goodfellas

Paul Sovino, Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci are all going to slap you on your back, stuff $100 bills into your pocket and congrats you on 'popping your cherry' on making your first gun post at DU



Just don't be a regular in the Gundeon - it's a slippery slope down there. And don't let me fool you, I'm hardly the nicest person here at DU. They use to show you how many people have you on ignore and I think at one time it was up to 25 people I can piss off the best up them!

[PufPuf23]

35. Never read Gundeon, never jury there either.

I barely post at DU (this is my 2nd account, was first on DU 2005) and stay away from most of the hot issues because I don't like to squabble.

The bullies here piss me off.

[LynneSin]

36. I accidently was a forum host for Israel/Palestine for one term

I came to conclusion it would be safer to actually live in that area than to be a forum moderator of that forum. This was before the Jury system. It made the Gundgeon look like a safe children's play area.

[Initech]

12. Here's the video:

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, RKP.

[L0oniX]

15. Wolves among the sheep.

[SoapBox]

17. Well, People is STOOPID!

[jwirr]

18. Evangelicals have been doing this for ages. Television is just their latest

tool. I wonder if they have caught onto internet yet?

In the 80s we were clearing my grandmothers house out after she went into the nursing home. All over the house were envelopes tape to something. They each held $100 bills for Billy Graham. Our side of the family wanted them used for something for her. The other side of the family won the argument - they took them all and sent them to the man with a $200,000 home in Minneapolis.

And I think a lot of the people they fool today are also elderly people living alone.

[A HERETIC I AM]

19. One thing about Kenneth Copeland not mentioned by Oliver.....

is that not only does he have an airplane or two, he has his own airport!

His "ministry" bought a former Marine Corps Air Station north of Ft. Worth

Here's the Google map satellite shot;

https://www.google.com/maps?ll=32.977222,-97.488333&q=32.977222,-97.488333&hl=en&t=h&z=14

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Copeland_Airport

yeah...he lives high on the hog, alright.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

20. People believe they can buy their way into heaven.....

After all,...the gates are made of gold.

[valerief]

21. Brilliant show, as usual. I made a donation, since it goes to Doctors w/o Borders.

It was fun writing a check to Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption.

[LynneSin]

23. I'd say about how Jesus said it was easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle....

but one of these bozos probably shot and killed that camel on one of their exotic big game hunting trips.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

24. "Gimme all yo money"

I remember kids in school in the 1960s making fun of the televangelists back then and their constant demands for money. Anyone who still gets snookered by these crooks is asking for it as their MO has been known by the general public for years.

[Deadshot]

25. Every church exploits its congregates' beliefs and faith for monetary gain.

But I agree that the tax laws need to be changed when it comes to churches.

[Cleita]

27. That was disturbing.

If I knew how easy it was to found a church, I would have done it years ago. The only problem is I would have had a genuine bout of conscience about fleecing poor people of their money. Maybe I should found a church for rich people. I wouldn't mind fleecing them so much, but hasn't Scientology beat me to that little gold mine?

[RKP5637]

28. Yep! Too late!!! n/t

[Oneironaut]

30. Prosperity gospel is so obviously bullcrap that I'm surprised people fall for it.

The only reason that it isn't a pyramid scheme is because the church doesn't give any of it back. They are literally more useless than pyramid schemers.

[RKP5637]

34. It's a great example of propaganda at work today that anyone should be able to see

through yet huge numbers flock to it. It's actually a little frightening that so many can be that easily swayed.

[phantom power]

39. The frauds are the symptom, not the problem.

I don't know what it is, but these people allow themselves to get fleeced over and over and over. Frequently by the exact same grifters to get caught, and then come back again later.

Giving all their money to these frauds is meeting some deep need they have. The frauds are the symptom, not the problem.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

38. He forgot Benny Hinn

The king of televangelist grifters
https://m.