Great episode. Wonderful example of how disgusting and evil prosperity gospel is.

Its hilarious. Watched it yesterday.

I'm thinking of joining Our Lady of Exemption. Anyone heard anything about their services?

I agreed with most except for the tax crap. The IRS and federal government is more corrupt than the televangelist. They don't give you a choice. So I don't think taxing these guys would make a difference.

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I agreed with most except for the tax crap. The IRS and federal government is more corrupt than the televangelist. They don't give you a choice. So I don't think taxing these guys would make a difference.

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Yeah, knowing what I know of the irs, I don't like these guys getting tax exempt status, but I like a whole lot less having the irs making a lot of close calls on this.

A separate and more interesting question in my mind is: what do these guys believe? Maybe it's case by case. There's different kinds of televangelists. Some are so fraudulent I have to think they don't even believe in God at all.

Shouldn't someone crack down on these guys though?

Yes. Public exposure to their lies is the best method so I fully support this guy's segment. Just don't agree with the tax oart. Crooks taxing crooks.

They should be taxed if not outlawed.

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They should be taxed if not outlawed.

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How would you determine that? Theology? Or just tax every non-profit?

Theology. Plus they're con men who take advantage of the poor.

You want the government determining proper theology? No thanks.

They already do by picking which religions get favored tax status. I guess it's okay though as long as the crooks aren't going after your team

Actually I'm advocating against the government by picking winners and losers. That's why I don't think the answer is to tax these guys.

The issue I have is having some biased Lois Lerner official taking it out on legit churches. It's disturbing to know this goes on. But there has to be a solution too. The solution is corrupt irs officials shutting this down. And that's not good.

Maybe the answer is having the FCC shut them down. Exposing them won't help. The same people who get conned into this are not watching John Oliver, and if they do happen to see it they will just think he's some Atheist who is attacking their holyman.

This is getting attention because using religion to defraud people (a) seems bad to religious people and (b) confirms what a lot of non-religious people think about religion.

But the fact is that TV is used to scam people all the time. And scam artists in general tend to manage to evade justice pretty well.

Look at the lives being lived by Jordan Belfort and Danny Porush. Those guys live huge and haven't paid restitution. The feds have chased Kevin Trudeau for 20+years. I think he's in jail now. But his infomercials still run.

Atheists shouldn't be any more upset about this than they would be your typical securities fraud case. This is an issue really only truly religious people have standing to be upset about. For the non-religious, this shouldn't be and isn't different than any other fraud case.

Unfortunately, you just can't fix stupid.

I think that these predator preachers are a terrible sham, and I fully support every ounce of investigative reporting that anyone ever does on how crappy they are.

But, the people that send these snake oil salesmen their money would probably just have wasted their cash on scratch offs or lottery tickets, which are selling the exact same bull****, but sanctioned by the state.

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This is getting attention because using religion to defraud people (a) seems bad to religious people and (b) confirms what a lot of non-religious people think about religion.

But the fact is that TV is used to scam people all the time. And scam artists in general tend to manage to evade justice pretty well.

Look at the lives being lived by Jordan Belfort and Danny Porush. Those guys live huge and haven't paid restitution. The feds have chased Kevin Trudeau for 20+years. I think he's in jail now. But his infomercials still run.

Atheists shouldn't be any more upset about this than they would be your typical securities fraud case. This is an issue really only truly religious people have standing to be upset about. For the non-religious, this shouldn't be and isn't different than any other fraud case.

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You are correct. I think what pisses people off about televangelists more than just garden variety scam artists is that everyone hates a hypocrite. Televangelists are hypocrites and scum. It reminds me of the incident a few years ago where Joel Osteen and his wife were flying to Aspen, CO (IN FIRST CLASS) and his wife slapped a flight attendant for not cleaning up a spill fast enough. Seems real Christian of them. Of course given what we just watched, maybe the Osteens should be praised for being "frugal" by: 1) Flying on an airline and not on a G6) and 2) Only going to Aspen and not St. Moritz.

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Joel Osteen and his wife were flying to Aspen, CO (IN FIRST CLASS)

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Since you only bolded this part, am I to assume that you think this is bad enough, even without the slap?

Do you think its ok if you ride first class?

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Joel Osteen and his wife were flying to Aspen, CO (IN FIRST CLASS)

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Since you only bolded this part, am I to assume that you think this is bad enough, even without the slap?

Do you think its ok if you ride first class?

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Everyone is different. I do think it is bad even without the slap. They beg for money, then live the high life. It is a free country so if you and others are OK with donating your hard earned money so they can ski in Aspen, more power to you.

Do I think it is OK if I ride first class? Sure. But I haven't asked a bunch of poor schmucks to give me money in the name of the Lord. And BTW, the only time I have ridden in first class was when I volunteered to get bumped and they upgraded me for volunteering to wait for a later flight.

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You want the government determining proper theology? No thanks.

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They already do this when it enters their domain. And conning people is in their domain.

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Everyone is different. I do think it is bad even without the slap. They beg for money, then live the high life. It is a free country so if you and others are OK with donating your hard earned money so they can ski in Aspen, more power to you.

Do I think it is OK if I ride first class? Sure. But I haven't asked a bunch of poor schmucks to give me money in the name of the Lord. And BTW, the only time I have ridden in first class was when I volunteered to get bumped and they upgraded me for volunteering to wait for a later flight.

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I'm curious why people hold pastors to standards they themselves aren't willing to follow. Theologically, all your money is God's right? So, you will be held accountable the same the pastor will be held accountable for his actions. Why do you think you get a pass?

I don't believe that the ends justify the means, so I'm not making any comments towards how they raise money or anything.

Ezekiel 34

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?

Back in 2007, Senator Chuck Grassley and the US Senate Committee of Finance launched an investigation on several tax-exempt status mega TV ministries. I think only half of them complied with the Finance Committee's request in releasing their financial information. I don't think anything ever came of it, and to my knowledge the IRS never indicted any of them based on the findings. Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen, Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland and the likes of them are leading many people to hell.

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I'm curious why people hold pastors to standards they themselves aren't willing to follow. Theologically, all your money is God's right? So, you will be held accountable the same the pastor will be held accountable for his actions. Why do you think you get a pass?

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James 3:1

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

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Atheists shouldn't be any more upset about this than they would be your typical securities fraud case. This is an issue really only truly religious people have standing to be upset about. For the non-religious, this shouldn't be and isn't different than any other fraud case.

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Disagree - This particular brand of fraud is terribly psychologically manipulative and damaging. It preys on the weak and ignorant in a very deliberate and unforgiving way. Believers and non-blievers should be equally disturbed.

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Atheists shouldn't be any more upset about this than they would be your typical securities fraud case. This is an issue really only truly religious people have standing to be upset about. For the non-religious, this shouldn't be and isn't different than any other fraud case.

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Disagree - This particular brand of fraud is terribly psychologically manipulative and damaging. It preys on the weak and ignorant in a very deliberate and unforgiving way. Believers and non-blievers should be equally disturbed.

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Get rich claims do too.

Fraud is fraud. Hell, at least these guys aren't calling you at home. Talk about manipulative.
No reason for you to be any more upset about this than that.

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Atheists shouldn't be any more upset about this than they would be your typical securities fraud case. This is an issue really only truly religious people have standing to be upset about. For the non-religious, this shouldn't be and isn't different than any other fraud case.

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Disagree - This particular brand of fraud is terribly psychologically manipulative and damaging. It preys on the weak and ignorant in a very deliberate and unforgiving way. Believers and non-blievers should be equally disturbed.

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Get rich claims do too.

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And believers and non-believers should be equally bothered by these get rich claims. As you say above, fraud is fraud.

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Atheists shouldn't be any more upset about this than they would be your typical securities fraud case. This is an issue really only truly religious people have standing to be upset about. For the non-religious, this shouldn't be and isn't different than any other fraud case.

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Disagree - This particular brand of fraud is terribly psychologically manipulative and damaging. It preys on the weak and ignorant in a very deliberate and unforgiving way. Believers and non-blievers should be equally disturbed.

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Get rich claims do too.

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And believers and non-believers should be equally bothered by these get rich claims. As you say above, fraud is fraud.

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Right. But this isn't anything more manipulative than online scams that try and convince your computer has a virus so they can sell you their malware.

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Right. But this isn't anything more manipulative than online scams that try and convince your computer has a virus so they can sell you their malware.

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I don't understand what point you are trying to make. Con artists are bad and disgusting no matter what the con is.

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Disagree - This particular brand of fraud is terribly psychologically manipulative and damaging. It preys on the weak and ignorant in a very deliberate and unforgiving way. Believers and non-blievers should be equally disturbed.

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Moreover, it is a complete distortion of God and the gospel.

Acts 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."