Cashing in on Christ

I came to pen and paper ready to write an essay about a cult religion that is so far out there on the wacko scale that such organizations as the Amish almost begin to make sense; but not now. Now my thoughts take a detour and travel of their own volition down the bumpy little lane of things we don't talk about;" where religion becomes a career choice and the cash cow is the individual church-goer.

During the chaotic rise of the Christian Charismatic movement, Evangelical Television Preachers like Jerry Fallwell saw the potential in global network coverage. Faithful Christians were willing to give away their kid's college funds, forfeit their medications and even risk losing their electricity by not making payments on their utility bills for a glimpse of even the smallest of miracles. The majority of congregations were filled with average to low income people typically trying to overcome lives full of poor choices, heartbreak, violence, addiction, sex, rebellion and any one of the seven deadly sins. These were people openly admitting to have been living at the bottom of the deepest darkest hole until they "got the Holy Ghost," or found religion in other words. Apparently these people were so moved by the theatrics of charismatic preachers that they were not only compliant and willing to abide by every word that came across the pulpit but they were also willing to give up their hard earned money.