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Did Christianity Cause the Crash?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Crabtownboy, Dec 27, 2009.

  1. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Did the prosperity preachers help cause the financial meltdown?

     
  2. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Wow! Here's an article that didn't blame Bush for once! Seems they've found a new scapegoat--preachers.

    I do not believe that "prosperity preachers" helped cause the U.S.'s financial problems. There are more important powers that be that orchestrated the whole thing.
     
  3. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    There's a difference between asking "did Christianity cause the crash" and "did prosperity gospel cause the crash". The objective answer to both, however, is no.
     
  4. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I would say "yes" IF over 50% of the citizens of this country made contributions to prosperity preachers. However, I'd guess the number is significantly less than that.
     
  5. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    Probably of the same ilk that blames Chrisitanity for the evrionmental issues of today. They love to quote the verse where Adam is told to "subdue" the earth.
     
  6. CF1

    CF1 New Member

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    If people want to look for cultural signs of change with the most significant impact, the rise in gambling has probably been a more telling sign of the times. Gambling is far more pervasive in todays culture than prosperity preachers.

    Too many financial people viewed and still do view their work as not too dissimilar to that of the gaming (gambling) industry. Regulators, accounting auditors, and others who did see the problem should have brought it to a halt by involving ethics into their judgements.

    When states made gambling legal outside of only Las Vegas, it became much more a part of the culture. You can buy lottery tickets at most gas stations. You see billboards for the lottery. Casinos are in many locations. Speculation, luck, and deception are practiced and honed in people's mindsets daily. Our government reflected the wishes of a democratic people.

    As is the case with all deceptive "bubbles", consequenses are only a matter of time.

    However, there is often a grain of truth in many criticisims. If people wish to blame Christianity for economic problems, they might complain that Christians are not evangelizing the true Good News, which would lead us to Christ and His suffering, which would also compel us to live more godly lives. Too often we fall prey to seeking to gain market share by watering down the Gospel. The prosperity gospel is indeed one of many watered down examples.

    Rather than growing in depth, we grow or maintain numbers, but at a cost of being superficial and offering a "cheap" gospel.

    Matthew 21:12 (New American Standard Bible)
    12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
     
  7. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Here is an article I wrote on one of my old blogs about this subject.
    While the Prosperity Gospel cannot be totally blamed for the crisis, I do feel that it contributed.


    And BTW, I consider the Prosperity Gospel a false form of Christianity and a message that comes straight from the pits of Hell. I consider this heresy more dangerous than anything else Christians are going up against at this time in history. It feeds on the pride and selfishness of humans, and convinces people they are saved... NOW GIVE ME MY MONEY!..


     
    #7 tinytim, Dec 29, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 29, 2009
  8. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Not necessarily. It's an unfortunate fact of life that, in times of bad economies, the use of vices goes up (gambling, drug and alcohol abuse, pornography, etc). Their rise is a result of the economy, not a cause of the economy.
     
  9. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    Yes.

    The Christians also burned Rome and were the reason the Goths sacked it.
     
    #9 Aaron, Dec 29, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 29, 2009
  10. David Michael Harris

    David Michael Harris Active Member

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    I would say it was the bankers greed and corruption that caused it all I guess.
     
  11. David Michael Harris

    David Michael Harris Active Member

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    Is your middle name Nero? The Christians burnt Rome. :) Calvinists did not exist then.
     
  12. CF1

    CF1 New Member

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    Thank you. Good points to be aware of.
     
  13. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    I assume you were being sarcastic.
     
  14. David Michael Harris

    David Michael Harris Active Member

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    I think he was serious.
     
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