When will people stop falling for this right-wing, hate ridden, rubbish, dressed up as religion?AT THE height of his power, Bishop Eddie L. Long would pack tens of thousands of people into his mega-church in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.
With his well-cut suits, liking for Bentleys and dynamic, accessible preaching, he quickly climbed the list of the nation's most powerful religious leaders.
He built his ministry, which stretches to Kenya and other countries, on a strong message of conservative Christianity that included promises of prosperity and attacks on homosexuality.
But life inside Bishop Long's home had long been crumbling. And on Sunday, members of his dwindling congregation heard the news they had braced for.
Their charismatic bishop, who in May settled with five young men who accused him of sexual coercion and who has fought a series of other legal battles, said he was temporarily stepping away from the pulpit to try to save his marriage.
The announcement came after his wife, Vanessa Long, 53, issued a series of conflicting statements on Friday, first announcing that she was going to divorce him, then recanting after ''prayerful reflection'' and, finally, saying she did intend to end their marriage of 21 years. They have four children.
''Vanessa and I are working together in seeking God's will in our current circumstances,'' Bishop Long, 58, said in a statement issued by the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
During Sunday services, he told congregants he was still their senior pastor and would continue to provide direction but he needed time to take care of ''some family business''.
Members attending services pledged support and said they would stay until his return.
''He needs to be with his family,'' said Marilyn Arnold, a business manager. ''When he comes back, we'll be here.''
But not everyone remains a believer. Valencia Miller, a property manager, said she left the church after the young men who accused the bishop of sexual impropriety came forward.
''A lot of us left. I mean, a lot,'' she said in an interview.
Like others, she hopes Bishop Long turns this temporary break into a permanent one.
''The church needs a cleansing,'' she said. ''I'm real disappointed. He was a man we all looked up to.''
Bishop Long took over the congregation in 1987 when it had only a few hundred members. He built a following of 25,000, according to the church's website, and reached millions more on television.
Just after Easter, he settled a lawsuit in which young men claimed that the pastor offered gifts, trips and emotional and spiritual guidance that eventually led to sexual relations. One of the young men, Maurice Robinson, said in court records that his relationship with Bishop Long began when he was 15 and that on a trip to New Zealand the two engaged in sexual acts.
Bishop Long initially vowed to fight the charges, proclaiming his innocence and comparing himself to David who fought Goliath in the biblical story.
''I have five rocks and I haven't thrown one yet,'' he said when the charges were revealed.
But there have been other legal battles. Ten former members who attended church investment seminars are suing him, claiming he coerced them into investment deals that cost them their retirement savings. He recently reached a settlement in a lawsuit over a $US2 million ($1.95 million) bank loan, much of which went unpaid after a real estate deal that went bad.
In 2007, Bishop Long was one of six ministers whose tax-exempt status was investigated.
Support for the bishop continues to shrink. Just before the sex coercion settlement was announced, the Reverend Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King jnr, left the church.
On Sunday, a small group of anti-gay religious protesters stood outside the church urging Bishop Long to step down permanently. They planned to return every month until he left.
''He has a serious moral character flaw,'' said Isaac Richmond, 73, the minister at the Church of Human Development in Memphis.
''It's a moral question and he's a religious figure.''
The Reverend Timothy McDonald, a Baptist minister in Atlanta and chairman of African-American Ministers in Action, said attendance at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church had dropped to 4000 from about 8000 at one stage this year
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/bishop-step ... z1fh3sWCFA
Another one bites the dust..
Another one bites the dust..
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Another one bites the dust..
Beware of anyone preaching the "prosperity Gospel"
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: Another one bites the dust..
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Another one bites the dust..
The most interesting aspect of these guys is the psychology of their followers.
Conduct, appearances, and mannerisms that to most people absolutely scream, "PHONY!" are no deterrent to some segment of the population. The list of such charlatans is endless. They can he white, black, Korean, Indian (India), or anything else - these characters just seem to have something that draws gullible people.
Conduct, appearances, and mannerisms that to most people absolutely scream, "PHONY!" are no deterrent to some segment of the population. The list of such charlatans is endless. They can he white, black, Korean, Indian (India), or anything else - these characters just seem to have something that draws gullible people.
Re: Another one bites the dust..
I fully agree Dave. It would be interesting to get a snapshot demographic of the suckers members of these charismatic "preachers" congregation.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Another one bites the dust..
Another interesting aspect is that it's not just the "ignorant unwashed" that get pulled in by these hucksters...
Supposedly intelligent professional people, with good educations, (teachers, doctors, lawyers, CPA's etc.) frequently fall under the spell of these snake oil salesmen as well.
I remember "The Bhagwan Shree Rashneesh" specialized in getting well heeled professional people to turn over their lives savings to him....
Supposedly intelligent professional people, with good educations, (teachers, doctors, lawyers, CPA's etc.) frequently fall under the spell of these snake oil salesmen as well.
I remember "The Bhagwan Shree Rashneesh" specialized in getting well heeled professional people to turn over their lives savings to him....
Re: Another one bites the dust..
I enjoy reminding my sister to this day, that in years gone by she sent money to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker 
"The dildo of consequence rarely comes lubed." -- Eileen Rose
"Colonialism is not 'winning' - it's an unsustainable model. Like your hairline." -- Candace Linklater
"Colonialism is not 'winning' - it's an unsustainable model. Like your hairline." -- Candace Linklater
Re: Another one bites the dust..
But Jesus loves her now, and she's guaranteed a place on god's right hand!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Another one bites the dust..
I used to love that skit!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Another one bites the dust..
It's not always about Jesus Strop, and it's not even always about God...(See Erhardt, Werner)But Jesus loves her now, and she's guaranteed a place on god's right hand!
It's about folks who have a sense of something missing in their life...
And con artists who have sense of how to zero in on that need, and how to exploit it...
It's not about ideology either...(the ideology is pretty much incidental; Jim Jones was a respected mover and shaker in lefty politics in San Francisco before he moved his "People's Temple" to Guyana)
It's about two sets of psychologies;
That of the amoral malignant narcissist, who discovers he has the ability to charm the psychologically needy into believing that he can provide the sense of meaning, purpose, and belonging that they cannot find within themselves or from anything or anyone else in their lives...
And that of those psychologically needy folks who fall prey to their machinations....
Re: Another one bites the dust..
Lord Jim wrote: It's not always about Jesus Strop, and it's not even always about God...(See Erhardt, Werner)
When we are talking about religious charlatans Jim, (which we were,) Jesus and God provide the "jam tomorrow",used as inducements and authority by these scum, to manipulate the needy.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Another one bites the dust..
We sincerely thank you for your interest in supporting New Birth Ministries. Your contributions allow us to advance the Kingdom of God both locally and globally. For your convenience we provide several different options for you to give. You may support continuous on line giving by clicking below:
If you already have a account or would like to create one, click here to log in.
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S WAY OF GIVING
Tithe- The word “tithe” literally means tenth or 10%
God says: In Malachi 3:10 (NLT), “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
This is the only place in Scripture where God tells us to put him to the test. In other words, He is saying, “Go ahead. I dare you. See if you can out-give me.”
Offering– Sowing/Giving above the 10%
Jesus says: Luke 6:38 (NLT) Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.”
Your giving supports the advancement of the Kingdom of God in countless ways.
Love Offering– Gifts from the heart, freely given to the Shepherd/Pastor that labors in teaching and preaching the gospel.
1 Tim 17 (NLT) Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
Beyond Tomorrow –Sowing seeds for tomorrow. Leaving a legacy/inheritance for your children’s children that debt would be eliminated and savings laid aside for the future
Proverbs 13:22 (NLT) A good man leaves an inheritance to their grandchildren…
Tabernacle Offering - Receiving the offering for building the tabernacle and for God’s service
Exodus 35: 21 (NLT) Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord's offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments…
UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFITS OF ONLINE CONTINUOUS GIVING
· Online giving puts God first with your tithes and offering.
· Online giving provokes a cheerful giver because it is already done.
· Online giving allows you to give consistently…even when you are not in service.
· Online giving is worry free of check book, credit card or cash.
· Online giving helps cut cost in processing fees and overtime hours.
· Online giving is secure, safe and protected.
· Online giving can be discontinued at any time.
· Online giving history can be viewed at any time by you, the giver.
http://www.newbirth.org/make_a_differen ... a_donation
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Another one bites the dust..
THat's not what this guy was preaching at all these prosperity gospel cater to the upper middle class and above. their message is you're doing well because you believe in God and God approves of you don't worry about those less well off because their hardships are the result of not being "right" with god. it's because of assholes like these that Ayn Rand has such a large following amongst "christians" (I really hate using those quotes but I rally don't get how you can square Randian and Christian philosophies) THese guys make Jobs friends look sympathetic.
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: Another one bites the dust..
Yes, so as I say; " God provides the "jam tomorrow", used as inducements and authority ".
Or maybe it would be more correct to say, "other people's belief in God provides the "jam tomorrow", used as inducements and authority by these people ".
Or maybe it would be more correct to say, "other people's belief in God provides the "jam tomorrow", used as inducements and authority by these people ".
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Another one bites the dust..
More of a I get my Jam today fuck everyone else thing
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: Another one bites the dust..
I'm sorry, I apologize for attempting to broaden the discussion to look at the core, underlying issues...When we are talking about religious charlatans Jim, (which we were,)
I now return you to your "let's bash Christianity" thread, already in progress...
Re: Another one bites the dust..
LOL!!! 
You arse!!
You arse!!“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Another one bites the dust..
"A lot of religions - no names no pack drill - do go for the poorer type of person - face it, there's more of 'em - poor people, thieves, villains, poor people without no money at all - well we don't have none of that tat. Rich people and crumpet over sixteen can enter free: upper middle class quite welcome; lower middle class not under five grand a year. Lower class - I can't touch it. There's no return on it, you see. "all these prosperity gospel cater to the upper middle class and above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JKvJaJKPPk
Last edited by Lord Jim on Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Another one bites the dust..
I really wish I could figure out how to post Youtube vids...
I've tried right clicking on every option that comes up when I put the mouse on the vid, pasting it into my post and then putting it in the Youtube tags, and nothing works.
I've tried right clicking on every option that comes up when I put the mouse on the vid, pasting it into my post and then putting it in the Youtube tags, and nothing works.