Paula White has a history of soliciting money for other people. She's part of a Christian celebrity culture rife with exchanging favors, endorsements, and power.
Her message is not unique - it is a con that exploits fear, uncertainty, and turmoil so people want to give.
Her message is not unique - it is a con that exploits fear, uncertainty, and turmoil so people want to give.
The con artist sets people up to want to give away their money away by convincing them of a problem that can only be solved by accepting the con's solution.
The most outrageous display I’ve seen is in this video taken at TD Jakes’ The Potter House.
The most outrageous display I’ve seen is in this video taken at TD Jakes’ The Potter House.
The deception is not just in the offer of prosperity, but in the elaborate and serpentine set up.
Such deceivers are dangerous, not only because they steal, but because they rely on misfortune, fear, and uncertainty - the very things they say God wants to rescue people from.
Such deceivers are dangerous, not only because they steal, but because they rely on misfortune, fear, and uncertainty - the very things they say God wants to rescue people from.
I'll add that these same principles of manipulation -
promising supernatural blessing in exchange for a tithe, or warning of some kind of supernatural harm if you don't tithe
- are not unique to the televangelists.
Take this for example:
promising supernatural blessing in exchange for a tithe, or warning of some kind of supernatural harm if you don't tithe
- are not unique to the televangelists.
Take this for example:
In this video people are told that giving their "first fruits"(10% of income) to the church (God), will result in the rest of the fruit (90% of income) being blessed.
And that God will supernaturally work against you if you don't give.
vimeo.com/87916585
And that God will supernaturally work against you if you don't give.
vimeo.com/87916585
This preacher uses the analogy of donuts to suggest that when you give one of your ten donuts to the church, then that donut becomes sacred, which somehow makes the other 9 sacred as well.
vimeo.com/104713744
vimeo.com/104713744
Too much Christian teaching on giving produces fear and anxiety.
People are deceived into thinking giving will alleviate that pain.
But manipulation will only produce more pain, more fear, more uncertainty, more anxiety - more of the stuff con artists use to steal your money.
People are deceived into thinking giving will alleviate that pain.
But manipulation will only produce more pain, more fear, more uncertainty, more anxiety - more of the stuff con artists use to steal your money.
