# religious hucksters **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 20, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863 "2000-09-20T13:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/21 "2000-09-22T14:37:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*Oh yeah, I remember Mike Warnke the former “satanist”. > I read his books and loved them, til I found another book by 2 christians who exposed him for not being a former satanist after all, and his 4 marriages, et al. > Theres a really good cite called the Bob LArson Fan Club, which is also funny and exposing of good ol Bob for the money hungry pastor he is. \*\* Yeah. I saw him back in 1979. He told funny stories and was entertaining. I had to listen to a couple of bands first. A good buddy of mine was going through a religious phase. A year later, we saw him again. He sucked! He was a preachy asshole whose only jokes he told the year before. ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/22 "2000-09-22T14:39:39Z")
Those 2 christians who exposed him are part of a group. Many of them live communily. It is not a cult though, totally voluntary, you keep your day job. No stockpiles of weapons. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/23 "2000-09-22T19:12:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LonesomePolecat \* > \*\*I’ve noticed the fundies sometimes pick up tricks from the neo-Pagans and the New Agers from time to time. \*\* Yep, it’s true but just try explaining that to the ones who are doing it! Usually, _they_ are the very ones who are the most vocal in condemning witches, witchcraft, Pagans, New Age-types and the like! ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/24 "2000-09-22T19:13:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\* > Theres a really good cite called the Bob LArson Fan Club, which is also funny and exposing of good ol Bob for the money hungry pastor he is. \*\* If Bob Larson weren’t such a money-grubbing moron, he would be frightening. Imagine living with that man–he sees Satan everywhere he goes! Maybe it’s more a reflection than a vision, huh Bob? ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/25 "2000-09-22T19:24:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > \*\*Oral Roberts is the guy who was sent on his mission by a 900 foot tall Jesus, then threatened with death at the hand of God if he didn’t come up with the money, fast. \*\* And lest we forget, he didn’t come up with the money, and yet God failed to kill him. Bad God! No Biscuit! ---
**Author:** ![More\_Cowbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@More\_Cowbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/More_Cowbell)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/26 "2000-09-22T20:06:39Z")
Occult practices and new-age thinking is all the rage with certain aspects of Christianity. Anyone know about the suposed “revival” going on in Pensecola, FL? Sheryl Crow even mentions it one of her songs. That whole movement (also referred to as Brownsville and an offshoot of a church from Toronto) is ripe with new-age practices and ideology. I believe they claim to have about a million people come through there the 7 years or so they have been having services, so it’s no small movement. Apparently the addage “if you can’t beat them, join them” can be applied here. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2000, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/27 "2000-09-23T06:40:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jmullaney \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > > \*\*Oral Roberts is the guy who was sent on his mission by a 900 foot tall Jesus, then threatened with death at the hand of God if he didn’t come up with the money, fast. \*\* > > And lest we forget, he didn’t come up with the money, and yet God failed to kill him. Bad God! No Biscuit! \*\* But THAT’S because he had to stick around to warn us of the evil, gay Tinky-Winky. How could a loving God leave us unprotected? :rolleyes: **Vanilla?** That “tan guy” is Benny Hinn, and just seems _reptilian_ to me. Yurgh. What I can’t believe is how many _thousands_ of people show up at his presentations. They make the Super Bowl look like a backyard picnic. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2000, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/28 "2000-09-23T08:48:24Z")
I guess it was Jerry Falwell on that Tinky-Winky thing. In which case, I withdraw my defense of God, and agree with **jmullaney** wholeheartedly. They’re all nuts. There, I said it. I am so toast. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2000, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/29 "2000-09-24T01:05:27Z")
I propose that the Official Straight Dope name for these losers---- **Funda-Looneys**. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2000, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/30 "2000-09-24T07:52:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mayor Quimby \* > \*\*Apparently the addage “if you can’t beat them, join them” can be applied here. \*\* Well, it certainly worked with most of the holidays! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2000, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/31 "2000-09-24T10:08:31Z")
Check out the documentary film ‘Marjoe’, 1972. Marjoe Gortner, b movie actor, was once a child evangelist/faith healer. When he got into his 20’s, he became disgusted with his and his families’ hucksterism and invited a film crew to do a behind the scenes self-expose’. Great film. Should be at your local video place. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2000, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/32 "2000-09-24T20:13:16Z")
You might also check out “The Faith Healers” by James Randi. ---
**Author:** ![Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/33 "2000-09-25T01:40:01Z")
There is a religious group from Kansas that goes around the country protesting gays. [http://www.godhatesfags.com/home.html](http://www.godhatesfags.com/home.html) This group has gone to funerals and protested as well. The group was recently in Seattle to protest at a catholic church, they don’t like catholics either. I was always taught about a God of love and compassion, this group supports their views with scriptures outlining a vengeful God. It makes you wonder which is right, eternal love or eternal retribution. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/34 "2000-09-25T13:26:05Z")
Yes, I had already read The Faith healers. Excellent book. It gets me that lots of these “faith” healers wear toupees. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2000, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/35 "2000-09-25T19:27:55Z")
I seem to remember a dog track owner donating the remaining amount just before the deadline. I was upset at the time. I had been looking forward to hearing Roberts explain why the Lord hadn’t “called him home”. To me the interesting thing about faith healers, crystal healers etc is seperating the quacks(they knowingly deceive people for money) and the kooks(they really believe in their powers). The kooks museum was a great site for this. Sadly it has been shut down and only a fraction of it is online. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/36 "2000-09-26T13:09:44Z")
Even God doesn’t want Oral Roberts. ---
**Author:** ![jamesglewisf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a5b964/32.png) [@jamesglewisf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jamesglewisf)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2000, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863/37 "2000-10-05T16:03:27Z")
You can learn about most of these guys: Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, etc. at that Christian Research Institute site. Most of us Christians don’t like those guys either. So-called Christians aren’t the only hucksters that try to use Jesus for their cause. Did you hear about how PETA is using an image from the Shroud of Turin to promote vegetarianism? They claim that Jesus was a member of a Jewish sect that followed a strict vegetarian diet. It was in USA Today on 10/3/2000. They ignore the fact that he ate fish in Luke 24:42-43 in front of a bunch of people. He also served his disciples fish for breakfast in John 21:13. Add on top of that the feeding of the 5,000. For a strict vegetarian, he sure did eat a lot of meat. I guess PETA stands for People Eating Tasty Animals. LOL! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-hucksters/33863.md?page=1)