[quote=FlyerInHi][quote=flyer]As has been discussed, the prosperity gospel is definitely big business but, according to the terms of most organized religions, you don’t receive the benefits without complying with the terms, so, per that premise, taking advantage of the benefits may or may not work out work out for those who don’t comply with the terms.
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If God bestows earthly benefits/prosperity before full compliance then she’s a pretty gullible dealmaker.
There should be reincarnation for the prosperity gospel to make sense. But reincarnation is not part of Christianity.[/quote]
i think you misunderstand prosperity gospel. the wealth you have is a sign in itself that G-d loves you and is pleased with you. the more money you have, the more G-d thinks of you. Wealth is a tangible marker that you are on the right path, not a reward.
So, for instance Donald trump goes to his pastor, a prosperity Gospel huckster, and Donald is assured that G-d is pleased with him because the proof is clearly in the evidence; he’s rich.
G-d wouldnt give trump all this money if he weren’t an awesome individual. And it’s not that far from mainstream Christianity; prayers get answered, blessings on the faithful, etc. Donld of course enjoys this cynical take on Christiantiy because it affirms him and because, of course, he believes in absolutely nothing but money, and prosperity gospel’s extreme take on Christianity allows him to snicker to himself that of course everyone is as full of crap as he isand that at the end of the day, this blessed are the poor and help the downtrodden crap is just a bunch of malarkey, and that rich people in fact are the preferred of G-d.
of course, the notion that G-d intentionaly gives specific blessings to specific people based on merit in the form of cash prizes is just a concrete example of the Power of Prayer, a nice sentiment, taken to an extreme view, and it sounds crazy, but then again, all religious doctrine, from the outside, sound like the ramblings of an insane person.
as the old atheist says:
“I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
…Stephen F Roberts
or, as ricky gervais out it:
“I don’t understand how you don’t believe in God” < Well, you know how you don't believe in Zeus? Like that.
