Evangelists.

[MWB]

Why do people give money to evangelists on TV?

[andy-hughes]

Because they believe the evangelists spread the Word of God, which is a cause worth financing.

There is a sub-text involving a bigger likelyhood of a high place in heaven if a financial investment is made closer to home.

[MWB]

But what do they think, (or rather not think) when they see the evangelist buying huge mansions for themselves & expensive holidays & cars, etc, etc?

Then the too often "caught with their pants down" scenario?

[andy-hughes]

I think in a bizarre way, they see it as the 'representative-on-earth's reward for all the 'hard work' that they do.

The drugs and prostitutes are just 'proof' that we are all really 'sinners', and need to be redeemed.

It's a win-win situation really.

I'm an atheist, so I have no problem with this at all.

[naomi24]

Could it be that they're just religious nuts? I really don't understand how anyone can take these people seriously - let alone support their luxury lifestyles.

[123everton]

Different Countries and cultures express faith differently, although evangelism is not for me (especially TV evangelism) it obviously works for them.
Faith is a funny thing Pilsudski locked himself away from everyone as part of the national novena before the battle of Warsaw.
His plans that formulated out of this became known as the miracle on the Vistula, what place did faith and prayer muster in this instance, every able bodied man called up to fight and 100,000 women, children and old men marched forth in prayer, hope and desperation. It unified the people.
Slightly off thread I know but the point I'm trying to make is faith brings many people happiness, and the sermons they see on these channels make them happy which is why they fund it.
Similarly people who watch "Big Brother" (another mystery to me) phone in with their numerous votes, without it the show would be off air in a shot.
To each their own.

[Octavius]

It beats me why they do it.
I was going to use the same analogy about TV voting (Celebrity Does Whatever, and Big Brother etc) but Everton beat me to it.

Do you think that people voting on X-Factor are mindful of Mr Cowell�s vast empire of wealth and luxury every time they pay their phone bill?

[andy-hughes]

I think that is a slightly different thing Octavius.

SC has parlayed his undoubted skill and business acumen into a multu-million pound empire, and I for one do not begrudge him a penny of it.

Evangelists however are simply playing on the fear and need for comfort of millions of people, which they parlay into a multu-million pound empire based on their ability to manipulate people.

One is a businessman who makes no apology for the money he aearns, the other is a charlatan who adds a double dose of hypocracy into the mix.

[Octavius]

�One is a businessman who makes no apology for the money he earns, the other is a charlatan who adds a double dose of hypocrisy into the mix.�

Sorry Andy you lost me. Which one is which?! :o)

No really, I do agree with you, but I was just saying I am equally bamboozled by both scenarios.

[naomi24]

I can understand why people vote for the X-Factor, or Big Brother - it's entertainment. It's no different to paying for a concert ticket, or to see a film. People who vote know that by doing that they're adding to the wealth of celebrities - but they like them, they want to see them, and they're entertained, so in effect they're paying for a service. Perhaps people who pay for the evangelists extravagent lifestyles feel that these people are offering them something in return for the money - although if they gave it a little rational thought they could get the same service for free at their local church.

[Octavius]

Re: BB and XF. If people gave it a little rational thought they could get the same �entertainment� for the price of a pint at their local pub�s karaoke night.

I can agree with you that funding evangelism is misguided, but not about the other stuff being entertaining. It really is each to their own innit. I suppose many would also think that paying to watch say, Everton FC, play football and see the players earn oodles of cash and drive fancy cars whilst believing they can actually achieve something was irrational and not very good value for money. And I would have to agree. Not Arsenal though, that is quality entertainment and real VFM.

Therein lies my own misguided type of evangelism.

[naomi24]

I wouldn't find it entertaining either, but there's no doubt that some do. They wouldn't be voting otherwise.

[123everton]

You can afford to say that Octavius after the good Lord in his infinite wisdom smiled upon Van Persie's boot in the 94th minute, just as my radio packed up (I'm on nights) so I thought we'd won.
Mumble grumble groan.
It is entertaining (I imagine) to the people who watch evangelists, no accounting for taste.

[Octavius]

See Everton, that just goes to prove that prayer works. Especially for Catholic Arsenal supporters. We are the blessed ones.