Meditation 914
Critique of Religious Faith
Religious Beliefs Are Harmful (Part 4)
by: Fred Leavitt
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Faith (of Others) is Definitely Beneficial to Some
The founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, once said "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." Most religious leaders are charismatic figures whose opulent lifestyles depend on encouraging others to keep the faith.
- Religion has been very good to televangelist Pat Robertson. Some estimates put his net worth at 140 million.
- Trinity Broadcasting Network founder Paul Crouch and his wife earned close to one million dollars per year in salary alone. They also owned very expensive property.
- The Reverend Bill Graham is a highly successful businessman. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association became an incorporated company in 1950 and spawned numerous subsidiaries over the years, including the Billy Graham Evangelistic Film Ministry, the Grason Company (a publishing company for books, records, and music), World Wide Publications, and the Billy Graham Center (a museum dedicated to the study of evangelism).
- The Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon parlayed religion into a multibillion dollar business. In 1994, evangelist Jerry Falwell accepted $3.5 million from Moon.
- Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life has sold over fourteen million copies since October 2002, making it the bestselling hardback nonfiction book in history.
- Following is a very incomplete list of other people who have convinced the multitudes to part with large sums of money: Joel Osteen, Juanita Bynum, Rodney Howard-Browne, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, Paula and Randy White, Mike Murdock, Rev. James Eugene Ewing, and John Hagee.
- Statement from the Economic Report of the Holy See for 2000: For the eighth consecutive year, the operating statement for fiscal year 2000 for the Holy See closes with a net gain of 17.720 billion, equal to $8,516,000 US at the exchange rate at the end of the year of 2,080.89 lire per dollar. The total expenses were 404.378 billion and the total income was 422.098 billion. Compared with the previous fiscal year, the income was more substantial, having increased by 64 billion.
"If God existed as an all-powerful being, He would not need the money that faithful believers donate to their churches." Donald Morgan
Televangelists, rabbis, priests, and mullahs are not the only ones who benefit from the faith of others. Karl Marx called religion the opiate of the masses. Opium reduces both physical and emotional pain. Opium induces pleasant dreams. The rich and powerful can rest more comfortably when the downtrodden dream that acceptance of their terrible existence is a small price to pay for eternal salvation.