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Whether you are religious or not, this should sicken you. The difference between a religious scam and a non-religious scam is that religious organizations don't

Whether you are religious or not, this should sicken you. The difference between a religious scam and a non-religious scam is that religious organizations don't pay taxes and have close to zero accountability financially (at least in the US). They can peddle snake oil with no repercussions. On top of that, there is a special kind of betrayal when a spiritual leader abuses his follower's trust. Others may feel differently, but to me these scams are more sinister than QVS promising 'science-proven results' or a 'Nigerian prince' email spam.

umvi 7y ago
It is indeed sickening. But it's difficult to just address these abuses of the system when people are so quick to grab their pitchforks against all religion. I assume you were referring to my comment. To be frank, I always feel a little threatened by these types of stories because so many people end up using it as leverage to question the value of freedom of religion (a freedom I hold dear). Perhaps you may have felt the same defensive instinct when a popular response to the sickening display of racism or hate is to call into question the value of freedom of speech.
- lostmsu 7y ago
  I don't think it is difficult. Just require full public report on the expenses.
- zamadatix 7y ago
  What does tax exemption and financial regulation have to do with freedom of religion? It certainly doesn't have anything to do with freedom of speech.
steve76 7y ago
Today's default foreign policy is to leave dictators alone. That yes it's horrible they nerve gas hundreds of thousands of kids and shoot down passenger airliners because they are corrupt murderers who pack attack their own people. Yet they know something about their country that you don't. There are two ways to earn $20,000 a year: Earn $400 a week, and only live on that. Live on $0 and save up $19,000 and a penny, and get a thousand dollar discount on what you want to buy. Don't think little of rural people. They are smarter than you think. That car there is a shakedown. Hey, you just scratched it. Give me $100. Dumping millions of dollars on drug addicted college students really is more moral? How about a few hours south of SF? No one ever OD'ed in Hollywood, right? Also what happens if you do go down there, and get religion actually working? That's the real scary thing and avoidable grave matter behind the data, the humanism in it.
fredgrott 7y ago
one little note..sarcasm on...people actually trust someone who wants to differently than Jesus(ie Jesus is said to have stated give money to government and give time-effort to religion)? Is it fraud if the meek person is in fact suffering fromm lack of thinking?..sarcasm off ..
maxlybbert 7y ago
Honestly, I didn’t feel any insight from the article. As far as I can see, the point was that they found Americans who admitted to having been duped, and since they didn’t also profile Britains who had been duped, clearly the American system is backwards. Articles in the 1980s about televangelists at least mentioned the use of television. Articles about nondenominational megachurches make some effort to show that they’re different from other large churches. Articles about the Holy See can discuss the history of when the Vatican became an official country (more recently than I thought). This article amounts to “religious Americans are idiots.”

umvi 7y ago

It is indeed sickening. But it's difficult to just address these abuses of the system when people are so quick to grab their pitchforks against all religion. I assume you were referring to my comment. To be frank, I always feel a little threatened by these types of stories because so many people end up using it as leverage to question the value of freedom of religion (a freedom I hold dear). Perhaps you may have felt the same defensive instinct when a popular response to the sickening display of racism or hate is to call into question the value of freedom of speech.

lostmsu 7y ago
I don't think it is difficult. Just require full public report on the expenses.
zamadatix 7y ago
What does tax exemption and financial regulation have to do with freedom of religion? It certainly doesn't have anything to do with freedom of speech.

steve76 7y ago

Today's default foreign policy is to leave dictators alone. That yes it's horrible they nerve gas hundreds of thousands of kids and shoot down passenger airliners because they are corrupt murderers who pack attack their own people. Yet they know something about their country that you don't. There are two ways to earn $20,000 a year: Earn $400 a week, and only live on that. Live on $0 and save up $19,000 and a penny, and get a thousand dollar discount on what you want to buy. Don't think little of rural people. They are smarter than you think. That car there is a shakedown. Hey, you just scratched it. Give me $100. Dumping millions of dollars on drug addicted college students really is more moral? How about a few hours south of SF? No one ever OD'ed in Hollywood, right? Also what happens if you do go down there, and get religion actually working? That's the real scary thing and avoidable grave matter behind the data, the humanism in it.

fredgrott 7y ago

one little note..sarcasm on...people actually trust someone who wants to differently than Jesus(ie Jesus is said to have stated give money to government and give time-effort to religion)? Is it fraud if the meek person is in fact suffering fromm lack of thinking?..sarcasm off ..

maxlybbert 7y ago

Honestly, I didn’t feel any insight from the article. As far as I can see, the point was that they found Americans who admitted to having been duped, and since they didn’t also profile Britains who had been duped, clearly the American system is backwards. Articles in the 1980s about televangelists at least mentioned the use of television. Articles about nondenominational megachurches make some effort to show that they’re different from other large churches. Articles about the Holy See can discuss the history of when the Vatican became an official country (more recently than I thought). This article amounts to “religious Americans are idiots.”