How sad.

Seriously - what are people thinking! Sad all the way around.

Man I ABSOLUTELY LOVE James Rhandi!!!

BTW > I can hear the comments now - "He's just one guy giving Christians a bad name..." Etc. etc. But Gary's (somewhat harshly worded) question "how can they be so dumb?", still remains.

I don't think they are dumb, like I think stockholders who were swindled by Enron aren't 'dumb'. If someone is out to get your money, knows how to manipulate you (or the books), it's going to happen. If they are willing to prey upon something sacred inside of you, like Popoff, it's even more likely.

I find a lack of empathy here on Gary's part. Nothing insidious, just a little lack of empathy. Which is weird, because the empathy I've seen from you for Julia's family was just one of the greatest things I've 'witnessed' in my life.

The lady interviewed in the clip's husband was disabled. They were desperate. That's an easy word to say but think about it: I mean really, pit in the stomach, probably tears before bed every night, last chance in hell, pleaaaase God let this work, desperate. I don't know if you or I, Gary can relate to that feeling. $4500 riding on the line, this is it, surely God will hear us. That's a tough situation to be in. If the right con-man comes along, no one is safe. Not even you Gary. You could be conned. And you are not dumb.

How can they be so dumb?

Health and wealth are extremely powerful motivators–I'd say perhaps among the most powerful drives we have (along with sex and love). It is the reason people buy lottery tickets, engage in fad diets, dump money into risky investments, buy anything with an "organic" label, and give money to preachers promising healing or prosperity.

I wouldn't say they are dumb–perhaps simply naive and/or have clouded judgment.

I'm confused why you say they are "nice" and "well-meaning" while also saying they are "dumb" and "silly". Can someone be all of those things?

Amen (no pun intended) to James Randi... I read his website every week... some of the best debunking on there! I learned a lot about debating creationists and other irrational supernaturalists from him!

Dumb isn't an indictment or a judgement in that context above. It's coming from a point of frustration. These people - MOST OF ALL cannot afford to give this guy money! And to watch them dance around all happy when they just got fooled by a hidden radio transmitter - yes that is dumb. Dumb to not wonder if there is a wizard behind the curtain.

Stupid is repeating the same mistakes. Dumb is turning off your ability to discern deliberately. Watching innocent people get preyed on is very very hard to watch. But they have a responsibility too.

Oh forgot to address "silly". They are silly because they're dancing around with their hands over their heads doing cartwheels - while the guy is listening to his wife talking to him.

A polar bear riding a tricycle is silly. So is doing cartwheels in front of a crowd of people after someone just pushed on your forehead and you fell on the ground jiggling like jello.

At least when we send money to Gary we get some sort of product that actually works!!!

ranthar I just split my chapped lips laughing too hard!!!

This CROOK will have his day in court, in the highest court when GOD sends him to HELL!

He is as bad as any murderer. Lyeing and decieving millions from people, he will get his and soon! I would like to know why he is not being investigated by the District attorneys office where he is and who backed him to get back in the business of ripping people off? Everyone associated with the false profit is in big trouble.

A polar bear riding a tricycle isn't silly–it's awesome! Especially if he's wearing a little hat.

I'd say the blame is split–85% to the preacher, 15% to the people.

And how do we know they are well-meaning like you said? (btw, where'd the text go?) If someone is looking to "get rich quick" or "get well quick", I'm not sure they are well-meaning.

I think that all religious organizations should pay income taxes, and have their books opened to public scrutiny. Poporr is an extreme example, but how many other religious organizations collect money under false pretense, such as stopping world hunger?

Even though you may not be a practising christian or an atheist, you pay (US) around $925.00 a year on your income tax to support religious organizations. 20 - 25% of real estate is owned by religious organizations. Church donations, according to the IRS, rake in over $19 billion a year. This does not include profits from businesses, stock holdings, bond holdings, etc. The Mormon Church alone collects at least $4.3 billion a year from its members, and another $400 million from its other businesses.

The churches own $1 billion dollars worth of tax-exempt real estate in Texas, and $1.3 billion in Los Angeles county alone.

Historically, churches had been allowed to not pay income taxes with the clear understanding that the church would relieve th state from social and welfare responsibilities by providing for the poor with whatever monies and property is accumulated. Any excess monies would be used for this purpose only, not to be accumulated.

The Catholic Church preaches against birth control. One of the Vatican's biggest investments for profit is in the pharmaceutical firm that manufactures birth control pills.

Popoff's rip-off is small change compared to types like Benny Hinn, and many others.

Churches should be responsible citizens and pay income taxes.

Richard - I'm interested in the idea of churches not paying income taxes because it was understood they would help the poor. It's brilliant. Can you point me to more info?

I'm away on a business trip 'til next Saturday, so one of my reference books is not with me. Write me on richardj8@yahoo.com. When I come back, I'll give you the references.

Sweet. Thanks, Man.

"20 - 25% of real estate is owned by religious organizations"

That's the most ridiculous thing I've seen/read on this post. Richard, I challenge you to either back that statement up with some hard facts or retract it.

$925 of income tax to religious orgs? Baloney. That would be roughly 3% of every household's (or 10% of every taxpayer's) tax burden.

Churches were added to the IRS's list of tax-exempt institutions in the 50's under Johnson. Some large charitable organizations (think salvation army) started as church/christian initiatives in the 19th century. You can remove their tax-exemption but organizations whose mission is to help people will keep doing it. And, swindlers like Popoff will still be swindling.

Like it or not, church and faith-based organizations do much more good than harm–both in the US and globally. Faith-based organizations provide at least 30% of the health infrastructure in sub-saharan Africa.

Its such a shame that the (relatively) few fraudulent preachers and churches get the majority of the headlines and thus turn people off. It's like people who are afraid to fly in an airplane because the media only reports when the planes crash.

Many of you are great writers. Especially you Jarrett.

erikdungan-Read what I wrote to JarrettGreen.

Faith-based (all faiths, btw, not just Christians) are doing a lot, so are non-religious ONGs that are doing much more. Some of the faith-based organizations are also bringing the "word of God" to people in need, the viewpoint of the religion, of course, talibans, included.

In some cases, help will be denied if christianity is not accepted by the people receiving aid. This was part of a report following the tsunami catastrophy. Mind you this method has not changed since the first missionaries rode piggy-back with discoverers.

As far as preachers, it's safe to say "the blind leading the blind".

Ever wonder why America is the biggest producer of telepreachers and faith-based scammers?

So Erik, do you believe that church organizations should pay income tax? Should their books be opened to public scrutiny?

Thanks, Gary. I'm actually working on a book as we speak. I've been working on it....... I watched you get write, edit, and get 'Snaps' out the door while working on mine..... yeah, you suck ;) IT'S HARD!

that's awesome. Writing is such a creative outlet. I know yours will be interesting - most important thing I've found is - get a good editor. Makes all the difference in the world.

In fact, why not let Hellbound Frank edit your book? And then give it to Lightinspiration for the 2nd polish LOL that would be a short book haha.

LOL. We've worked on a number of book jackets at my agency. I've got some good leads for an Editor. But I like you're idea. :P

Gary,

i share your frustration - it SO hard to believe that there are still people in the 21st century so gullible and/or greedy to fall for these people. do they also live in a cave like all the people falling for the nigerian email scams?

someone going to a faith healer for prayers/healing i would have empathy for.

I really can't feel sorry for the ones who are sending money to Popoff, he was revealed to be a hypocrite and a fraud along time ago, and anyone who follows him has some serious problems. I don't think large television ministries would be hurt that bad from paying taxes, but the small local churches which are the backbone of Christianity would be devastated.

Richard your claim that 20% to 25% of real estate is owned by religious organizations is preposterous. Your claim of around $925.00 a year on your income tax to support religious organizations is another ridiculous claim on your part, the truth is that the local church provides free counseling, feeds the poor, many times provides transportation for the poor and elderly, and is also responsible turning the lives of many criminals around for the good which actually saves the government money, which far offsets any resources provided by the government. Do you think taking limited resources away from the local church and giving it to the government with all of it's bureaucracy the right thing to do? The local church has something that no government agency has, and that is an army of volunteers willing to help people in need.

No one is forced to give to any ministry, so why all the concern over what ministers make anyway. However we are forced to pay the salaries of government officials, and I don't see any accountability there, and now we hear that many of our leaders in government have been getting sweetheart deals for their home mortgages. Who knows what else the are getting.

Tim, as I said above, I'm away from my notes on this matter, and I will get back on this with the source, once I get back home (Montreal) I'm in Texas, right now. Remember that when we say "religious organizations" we do not only mean christian religious organizations. There are many religious organizations.

For that matter, how much of the US economy is owned by Saudi Arabia, and other arab states, do you think?

We can't be so much concerned about small and local churches. I'm sympathetic to those efforts. We're talking about large religious organizations that bring money in and use it for something else than helping people in need, such as lifestyle expenditures for the executives or even evangalization as an end in itself, instead of genuinely helping people with basic needs such as food, clothing, and a roof on their heads.

It would be nice to know what percentage dollars go to the infrastructure of the organization, and its administrators versus to people in need. Transparency would be something to have, especially from large religous organizations.

As far as income taxes, the more you make, the more you pay. If you're non-profit, then you pay very little if nothing at all. If you're a small religious organization, then you would pay less, and it would probably not break you.