Good. I hope this isnt lip service, I do hope something is actually done to stop all these con artists.

And a Republican from Iowa is investigating, no less. Can't get much more conservative than a Midwestern Republican.

Given that Creflo Dollar's World Changers mega-church is a local fixture (and blemish) of Atlanta, I'm glad to see this happening to him.  Most of his congregation are poor black people who are forced to make donation pledges and keep them up.  From what I've been told by former members the consequences of not sticking to your donation pledge every week/month is ostracisation for failing to support the faith.  Also frowned upon... not giving "enough" when you have the money to give.

This bastard fleeces the black community in Atlanta, draining savings, and preventing college funds starting or anything else that a person might do to better their families with some extra money.  All the while he drives around in shiny new cars, flies a jet to speaking engagements, wears the finest suits, owns multiple houses and mansions, and continues to preach the gospel of "God will provide prosperity to the faithful."

The only one being provided with prosperity is "Brother" Dollar, but by his people, not by god.

*rant mode off* I gets a little worked up by that prick.   I see the families that he rips off every day.  Thinking about what he's getting away with is like driving rage-nails into my skull.

Hey all -

Please e-mail your state's Senators - Dem and Repub - and ask them to support the investigation.

I've posted a how-to and a letter in Rational Activism.

http://www.rationalresponders.com/forum/the_rational_response_squad_radio_show/rational_activism/11054

It should take you a grand total of 5 minutes.

Done!  I'm actually moving states, so I emailed Senators from both states. 

This could actually be a big deal.  I know that more than six are guilty of this, and it would be nice to see the government actually regulate these crooks.   

I am all for capitalism, but I am also for honesty. It is dishonest for any private business or private church, in any case to conduct a scam. I do believe in the privacy of concious free from government interferance, even for the believer.

But when it is blatantly obvious that people who make claims about helping society are really helping themselves claiming not to be capitalistic but live like they are and ARE behaiving like a busness, that makes them liers.

It is not the fact that they believe in fiction and want donation to suport that fiction. It is that they pretend and lie and say that they are not in it for the money, but have decadent houses and giant plasma screens in the churchs while those who allow them to do this send them their last buck when they could be buing themselves food or pay bills.

6 billion people are not all going to be atheists. But noone should put up with liers who propigate scams who live off the backs of the poor. 

Megga churches are in it for the money and political power. They are no different than McDonnalds or Macys. If you behaive like a business, you should be taxed like a business.

Christians will cry pursicution but they are full of shit. This post where this theist agrees with me SHOWS that both the atheist and theist agree that lying to make a buck in the name of religion is immoral.

 WE ARE NOT OUT TO OPRESS RELIGION via government force. Our position that a deity by any name is made up. is a position that we are confident can be debated and defended through the free market of ideas. 

I thank this theist for standing with us against con artists.  These modern scams are no different than the "endulgances" of the middle ages.

To the people that prop up these "Jesus Incorperated Fortune 500" companies, your mouths need to be feed and your electricity needs to be on and your car payments need to be made. You need to keep that money for yourself. And for those with the spare cash, insted of giving it to them to make them rich, give it directly to the people in need. Next time you see a psalm on that giant screen, ask yourself "How many people could the cost of that feed if they hadn't baught it?"

Oscar Shindler saved lives and is a real humanitarian. Pat Roberson cares about one thing and one thing only, lining his pockets and playing politics. These are nothing but CEO's pretending to be holy.

Once again, to this theist, dispite our dissagreement  on the existance of a diety(seperate subject) THANK YOU for showing other  theists (Christians especially) that they are being scamed.

I once saw a documentary about Benny Hinn, and there was a 10 second footage clip of his financial office in Grapevine, Texas.

Guess what, his office is on my street ! I couldn't believe that a famously scandalous televangelist did work less than 100 yards from my home. I ocassionally see his yellow lambourghini around town, and I ocassionally walk by his office to look at the huge mural of Jesus plastered in the front lobby. I can never enter the building though, because they have armed guards standing at the gates 24/7.

"Without a doubt, my life is not average," Dollar said. "But I'd like to say, just because it is excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong."

I'm practically speechless. The fact that a lightning bolt didn't come down from heaven and kill this guy where he stands is just about proof that God doesn't exist.

Kenneth Behr, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), says Grassley is being very careful in his inquiry, not going into doctrinal issues and whether the prosperity churches are doctrinally sound. Behr, who has dubbed the probe "The Grassley Six," says the government has the right to be able to look into churches and their financial records and that they are all held to the same standard as other nonprofit groups.

Held to the same standard, except for the fact that they aren't required to file tax returns every year with the IRS like almost every other non-profit is.

Urm...why are we letting a theist post in the "Freethinking Anonymous" section?