Your post makes sense to me.  In church the same thing happens.  RW sells his MPIP classes. (MASTER PASTOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM). People think they are studying at a legitimate school.  The credentials are not transferable to any other school.  It really is a program to get you to pay to voulunteer.  People are not allowed to be a Pastor until he decides to do a Timothy class.  Nine more months of Randy BS!  Then you have to wait until he decides to ordain you.  Great gimmick for a guy who got a “C” on a internet corospondence school.  These people know the loop holes.  When they give you their cd’s for a donation instead of a set price.  They do not have to pay taxes! It costs how much to buy blank cd’s at a store?  THis is a huge money maker for them too.  Same thing but in church!  All get rich schemes.  As long as you follow these people and sow a significant seed you cannot be rich like them.  Mathmatically it cannot work.

think - 09 November 2007 11:45 PM

I guess I have a hard time understanding the people who follow these preachers because I’m a very logical person.

I’ve had friends who wanted to buy one of those get rich quick programs that are sold on infomercials. I ask the logical question of why would somebody sell the information if they knew how to make money? According to the infomercials, the seller made big money and wants to “share” how with everybody, for a price. If he made so much money, why does he need yours? If he’s doing it because he wants everyone to be rich, why not give it away? The only logical reason for selling the program is that it’s the way he makes his money. The only person his program makes money for is him, when he sells it!

Religion requires some suspension of logical thought and taking a follower role. Apparently those more willing to forgo logic and reason and follow can fall victim to the con artists.

Faith and trust are the life’s blood of charlatans and the hallmarks of fools

I think, think, is a skilled thinker.

In the “real” world of “Mother Nature”, the not so bright or physically fit get eaten by those who are.

Please take a moment to think about my issue.
Since the bible is the story of man since the creation of the heavens and the earth.
How did Noah get those dinosaurs to behave themselves on the ark?

They were baby dino’s

rippedoff - 09 November 2007 11:52 PM

Your post makes sense to me.  In church the same thing happens.  RW sells his MPIP classes. (MASTER PASTOR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM). People think they are studying at a legitimate school.  The credentials are not transferable to any other school.  It really is a program to get you to pay to voulunteer.  People are not allowed to be a Pastor until he decides to do a Timothy class.  Nine more months of Randy BS!  Then you have to wait until he decides to ordain you.  Great gimmick for a guy who got a “C” on a internet corospondence school.  These people know the loop holes.  When they give you their cd’s for a donation instead of a set price.  They do not have to pay taxes! It costs how much to buy blank cd’s at a store?  THis is a huge money maker for them too.  Same thing but in church!  All get rich schemes.  As long as you follow these people and sow a significant seed you cannot be rich like them.  Mathmatically it cannot work.

I’m just glad there is an investigation at this point to begin to bring to light the true way these ministries work.

ripped off - 10 November 2007 01:52 PM

One layer at a time! Oh yeah!

Hey if you are going to be me you need to change your signature.

While some may be caught with the hand in the cookie jar, I pray that there will be those proven innocent and will stand as an example for the rest.  Consider the following:

http://www.joycemeyer.org/Mass/financialtransparency.htm?WT.mc_id=20070631a

jarmur05 - 10 November 2007 02:36 PM

While some may be caught with the hand in the cookie jar, I pray that there will be those proven innocent and will stand as an example for the rest.  Consider the following:

http://www.joycemeyer.org/Mass/financialtransparency.htm?WT.mc_id=20070631a

Yes, I hope you’re right.  Maybe w/ the inquiry though, some of the spending on extravagant fixtures, etc. may be curtailed, which certainly wouldn’t hurt.  Time will tell.  I would think there will definitely be some reforming, at the very least. That may be a good thing.

hmmm - 10 November 2007 02:41 PM

jarmur05 - 10 November 2007 02:36 PM

While some may be caught with the hand in the cookie jar, I pray that there will be those proven innocent and will stand as an example for the rest.  Consider the following:

http://www.joycemeyer.org/Mass/financialtransparency.htm?WT.mc_id=20070631a

Yes, I hope you’re right.  Maybe w/ the inquiry though, some of the spending on extravagant fixtures, etc. may be curtailed, which certainly wouldn’t hurt.  Time will tell.  I would think there will definitely be some reforming, at the very least. That may be a good thing.

Indeed, a very good thing!  But we shall wait and see.  One thing for sure, the church of the living God will not be harmed but will only grow stronger--You know, the gates of hell shall not prevail thing, as well as, “the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the Rock”!!

While they are investigating this “church”, they need to get back in to investigating the “Ellrons” who have completely taken over Clearwater.  Sure, they are legit!

ByFaith - 10 November 2007 12:24 PM

They were baby dino’s

Man you are funny!
If I had some Tyrannosaurus bones left I would season a pot of soup with them and break some bread with you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosaurus
good eating, yes indeed!

mdipietra - 06 November 2007 09:48 AM

Christians don’t have a monopoly on financial monkeyshines in the name of religion. 

What about the Church of Scientology?  It has made a lot of money, using hard sell techniques and giving no informed consent.  And it never gives financial reports of any detail to its own parishioners.

What about that Super Power building downtown Clearwater that they’ve been raising funds forever to build?  They started building in 1998 and it’s STILL not done, but Scientology, Inc. has sure bought a lot of property around the world in the past decade.

What if Scientology had to pay taxes on the property it owns?  How much has Clearwater lost in property tax income since Scientology moved in under a false name in 1997?  And now Scientology is being investigated for criminal activity in Belgium. 

Doesn’t matter if it’s a religion or not, if it’s hurting people and abusing the law.
Why *shouldn’t* churches have to answer questions about finances from the entity that is allowing them to operate tax-free?

Amen brother!  People need to educate themselves for sure.

http://www.xenu.net
http://www.whyweprotest.net/

Expect us on June 14th 2008!

People who are members of churches have to demand an accounting of how money is handled.