Bill Maher New Rules - When Did Christian Values Change From Love Thy Neighbor to F*ck Off & Die

[WhoIsNumberNone]

[ruffburr]

1. The scam -

Has been running for centuries , But over the last few decades the well off have conned the lay man to think that that is "God's" will to punish the lazy poor and infirmed , GEE I wonder who profits on that plan,The sheep just follow.

[rurallib]

2. maybe it is time for Jesus to come back

and close a few of the franchises that aren't selling the right merchandise - er - message.

[Saviolo]

3. It's a religious idea, that...

I think it's mostly a Lutheran idea that those who are rich are being rewarded for being devout. The successful are such because god loves them more, because they're more devout. The idea has spread through much of protestant thought.

This works in two ways:
Number one, it tells the protestant that those poor and unfortunate individuals have become destitute (or sick, or mentally ill) because they just weren't good enough in god's eyes. They weren't devout enough, or they sinned, or they just didn't live the right kind of life. Pat Robertson even told someone recently that if they were tithing to their church properly, they wouldn't have the medical bills that she's trying to pay off (and in fact decide between paying them and tithing).
Link to that here:

The corollary to that, of course, is that those super-rich folks are -so beloved- by god. They must have unassailable devotion.

Number two, it really helps keep poor and devout people down. Every setback they face in their lives, from corporate downsizing and outsourcing to unexpected medical bills and emergencies can be explained as a lack of devotion to god. Never mind building a safety net for people, or calling corporations on the carpet for their ethics (or, god forbid, their taxes), those setbacks were placed before them by god to test them for being so undevout.

[SnowCritter]

5. I think you may be wrong about it being a mostly Lutheran idea

I'm a Lutheran and I've never heard this expressed in church or at any church gatherings by anyone. Of course, I can't vouch for all Lutherans everywhere - just in my neck of the woods. I certainly don't take stock in the idea.

I thought the idea came from the Calvinist offshoot of protestants - but I could be wrong.

[Saviolo]

8. Yes!!

You're right, I've completely mixed up my protestant sects. Absolutely I meant Calvinist, not Lutheran. Apologies!

[kenfrequed]

6. Calvinism

It really is more akin to Calvinism. They believed that prosperity was caused by gods grace or whatever.

[Saviolo]

9. Yes! Sorry!

I totally meant Calvinist, not Lutheran. My mistake!

[yeswecanandwedid]

7. LOL, that pat robertson video..

Must have the worst captioning I've ever seen. I think I spotted like three different spellings of "tithe" at least. Hilarious.

[hrmjustin]

4. Christian values have not changed.