Author Topic: Joel Osteen  (Read 42880 times)

mrpercentage

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Joel Osteen
« on: September 06, 2015, 06:33:11 PM »
I won't go to church anymore but it comes to my living room. Love watching Joel. Don't care if it makes me a dork. Love Joel. Highly recommended

forummm

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2015, 06:35:11 AM »

Gumbo1978

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2015, 07:57:44 AM »
Osteen's net worth is $40 million and he and his wife share a 17k square foot house.  He absolutely preaches the prosperity gospel which completely contradicts the actual gospel.

mrpercentage

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2015, 06:09:23 PM »
Never once had him ask me for money or tell me to charge a seed on a credit card. Joel is bigger than that. I have read the bible cover to cover 5 times. He preaches encouragement and redemption, forgiveness not condemnation, self improvement not judgement of others, and faith not self pity. I think Joel is pretty close to the mark. That said, nobody is perfect

sol

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2015, 07:48:21 PM »
I think Joel Osteen is clearly a fraud who exploits people of faith.  Other Christians generally think he's a heretic, because the focus of his religion is always himself (and that yours should be you) rather than about God.

Anybody who amasses a net worth north of $50 billion (and counting) by claiming to preach Jesus's message is so far removed from the Bible that there is no redemption available to them.  He's a camel trying to pass through the eye of a needle.

mrpercentage

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2015, 08:21:11 PM »
I would make that claim against 99% on TV Sol but not Joel. He is the only reason I hear any message at all. Tired of churches who obviously follow their elders beliefs because they write the biggest checks. Most churches sell out or excel at judging others and love to point out how their interpretation of interpreted documents from thousands of years ago is absolutely correct. I also like the Pope. I'm probably a heretic but the only stones I will cast are at those who threw first.


milesdividendmd

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2015, 08:41:40 PM »
Evangelists. Blech. They all make my skin crawl.

sirdoug007

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2015, 09:20:28 PM »
Is it still a church if Jesus is never mentioned?  Osteen preaches a church of Joel Osteen more than a church of Christ.


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mrpercentage

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2015, 09:09:00 AM »
Okay. You don't have to watch him but the thing that is clear from every comment is that none of you have. Except Miles, he has a good excuse. I feel the same way about 99% of the churches Miles

FLA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2015, 09:15:49 AM »
I think Joel Osteen is clearly a fraud who exploits people of faith.   
Anybody who amasses a net worth north of $50 billion (and counting) by claiming to preach Jesus's message is so far removed from the Bible that there is no redemption available to them.  He's a camel trying to pass through the eye of a needle.

exactly this.  so much for a vow of poverty, but they probably don't do that in his "religion".  The only way I would take him seriously is if he gave all that he has to various charities and lived a modest life the way Jesus teaches. Otherwise, good luck with that needle, Joel

FLA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2015, 09:19:02 AM »
oh and I HAVE watched him, I would not comment in that way without experiencing him for myself. If you can explain why having extreme wealth is ok while espousing the teachings of Christ, I would love to hear that

HipGnosis

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2015, 11:44:46 AM »
oh and I HAVE watched him, I would not comment in that way without experiencing him for myself. If you can explain why having extreme wealth is ok while espousing the teachings of Christ, I would love to hear that
Have you ever seen pictures of the Apostolic Palace where the Pope lives and says mass?

sol

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2015, 11:48:36 AM »
oh and I HAVE watched him, I would not comment in that way without experiencing him for myself. If you can explain why having extreme wealth is ok while espousing the teachings of Christ, I would love to hear that
Have you ever seen pictures of the Apostolic Palace where the Pope lives and says mass?

Technically, the Pope owns almost nothing.  All that wealth belongs to the church he temporarily leads.

MandalayVA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2015, 12:17:27 PM »

Have you ever seen pictures of the Apostolic Palace where the Pope lives and says mass?
[/quote]

The current pope doesn't live in the Apostolic Palace, but in a two-room apartment.  The papal car is a Ford Focus.  He's actually kind of ... mustachian.

sirdoug007

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2015, 12:23:12 PM »
Okay. You don't have to watch him but the thing that is clear from every comment is that none of you have. Except Miles, he has a good excuse. I feel the same way about 99% of the churches Miles

Do you dispute that he almost never mentions Jesus much less the crucifixion and resurrection?

Here is one datapoint: http://pulpitandpen.org/2014/07/18/joel-osteen-likes-god-he-just-doesnt-like-jesus-a-twitter-survey-of-joelosteen/

"Just for kicks I did a quick survey of all Joel Osteen tweets in the last year. I can’t go further back, so we’ll stick with going back to July 8, 2013, which is a little more than a year ago. Out of Joel Osteens 806 tweets, not including any of his replies to other people, he mentions “God” 334 time.

Want to guess how many times he mentioned “Jesus”?

Once.

One time.

I figured that number seemed a little, so I exchanged the word “Jesus” for “Christ”? And know how many times Christ was mentioned?

Twice.

Two times."

Cougar

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #15 on: September 09, 2015, 01:08:32 PM »
I won't go to church anymore but it comes to my living room. Love watching Joel. Don't care if it makes me a dork. Love Joel. Highly recommended


the possters are right here that joel is a prosperity preacher. its all going to be good, things are going to be better tomorrow, etc.

not that there is anything wrong with that, but thats not all the bible is about. there's real suffering and sacrafice for many who swayed even a little from the path.

joel's okay but could not hold a candle to his father, john osteen; imo; a real traditional preacher; but then i like john hagee; so i go for traditionalists.

FLA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #16 on: September 09, 2015, 01:21:05 PM »
beat me to it! Are you really comparing Osteen to the Pope???  this is the first pope that I find trying to make any headway, I don't agree with him 100% and that's ok, he has done good work so far.  The Pope has made tons of negative references regarding wealth, here's one article:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/10/living/pope-notes-prison/

did same search on Osteen, this came up second:

http://www.wnd.com/2014/12/enquirer-joel-osteen-caught-in-financial-scandal/

why he won't apologize for his wealth:  Osteen also told Morgan that he doesn't feel "guilty" about his personal fortune, noting his belief that it signifies "God's blessings on my life. And for me to apologize for God's – how God has blessed you, it's almost an insult to our God".

What? You are blessed by God if you are enormously wealthy? A Christian leader saying what he says? That is disgusting and not at all Christ-like. How do you think Jesus would live among us today? Would he live in a 10 million dollar home with a net worth of 40 million?  And say he must be blessed by God to have all that and to apologize for it would be an insult to God?  My Jesus sure as shit would NOT be doing that, he would put that money to good use to help others and he probably would live in some inner city tear-down house. How can Osteen not see that God does not bless people with wealth, humans accumulate that all on their own. How can he have so much, yet share so little?

 "Osteen says he gives millions of dollars away each year to charity, he just doesn't make it public. And he visits and prays regularly for patients of a nearby Houston medical center."  I find it suspicious that a man so public about his wealth is virtually silent about how much and to whom he gives. And I don't think he does not disclose this information because he is humble and wishes to give anonymously.  He refused to answer Give.org's questions so that his "charity" could be listed as one that meets Give.org's standards.  Give.org gathers charity info and let's the public know details about an organization to make sure they are donating to a true charity. Why, if your Osteen and could get many of your followers to donate large amounts to a charity, would you not disclose info so it can be verified it is on the up and up? Osteen is not on their list, hmmm, sounds a little fishy.

The second part of his charity work is visiting and praying for one Houston Hospital. He's freaking Joel Osteen, he wants to be recognized for his goodness yet refuses any disclosure on his charity and the other charitable work he does is what any leader of a Christian Church would do, visit the sick in hospitals.  He goes to and prays for ONE. My priest visits 4 hospitals and visits people at home, I can call him in the middle of the night for a dying patient and he will come and give Sacrament of the Sick immediately.  My priest is trying to run two churches in two different towns, he is old and tired but if he is needed, he comes. Osteen visits one hospital. He can barely do any less than that.  He should be embarrassed just by this, but never mind, he's busy practicing fitting through the eye of that needle carrying as much money as possible..... 

I don't know about you, but I am 100% certain that Jesus would not resemble Osteen.  And neither does the Pope. Amen.



FLA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #17 on: September 09, 2015, 01:24:28 PM »
 
[/quote]

Do you dispute that he almost never mentions Jesus much less the crucifixion and resurrection?

Here is one datapoint: http://pulpitandpen.org/2014/07/18/joel-osteen-likes-god-he-just-doesnt-like-jesus-a-twitter-survey-of-joelosteen/

"Just for kicks I did a quick survey of all Joel Osteen tweets in the last year. I can’t go further back, so we’ll stick with going back to July 8, 2013, which is a little more than a year ago. Out of Joel Osteens 806 tweets, not including any of his replies to other people, he mentions “God” 334 time.

Want to guess how many times he mentioned “Jesus”?

Once.

One time.

I figured that number seemed a little, so I exchanged the word “Jesus” for “Christ”? And know how many times Christ was mentioned?

Twice.

Two times."
[/quote]

I wish I had seen this before writing my novella of a post. This sums it all up

mrpercentage

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #18 on: September 09, 2015, 05:37:04 PM »
Wow  lol.

First I never said Joel was Jesus or the Pope.

Second I don't know how any mustachian could knock a guy for amassing wealth. If you had millions you might not live the the same as a hundred thousandnaire

I think there is a huge difference between Joel and the likes of the entire Trinty Broadcasting Channel.

Joel writes books and stuff. It's not like all of his money is from passing a bag around or continually telling people to tithe. I Have never heard of read him telling people to give him money, so I fail to see any victims here. I think a positive view point is much better than the fire and brimstone judge thy neighbor and your gay cousin is going to hell stuff. I will never step into a church for those reasons. Might go to a Catholic Church. They know what not to say for the most part.
Never read the chapter that says what must be discussed in church or the manner in which it should be. I do see Joel mention Christ every show. But he is not for everyone I guess


pbkmaine

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #20 on: September 09, 2015, 08:07:45 PM »
I don't know anything about Joel Osteen or John Hagee, but I did spend two years studying the Bible intensively. It's true that Jesus never said he was God.

mrpercentage

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #21 on: September 09, 2015, 08:14:15 PM »
I might have opened a can here. Hopefully no one is really offended.

My intention was just that if you don't like going to church and like to feel good Sunday morning then Joel Osteen is a good option. Still highly recommended.

pbkmaine

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #22 on: September 09, 2015, 08:15:31 PM »
Oh, don't worry about it. We have lots of opinions here and love expressing them.

Gumbo1978

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #23 on: September 10, 2015, 06:29:15 AM »
I might have opened a can here. Hopefully no one is really offended.

My intention was just that if you don't like going to church and like to feel good Sunday morning then Joel Osteen is a good option. Still highly recommended.

No worries.  I agree with your 2nd point, I just wouldn't consider his teachings biblical.  Jesus would have never approved of one of his disciples/teachers living in a $10.5 million dollar mansion with all the poverty/suffering in the world.  Doesn't sound like Joel gets a lot of his sermons from Jesus's teachings (how could he?) so this sounds like more of a feel good Sunday get together.

mrpercentage

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #24 on: September 10, 2015, 08:56:16 AM »
I don't think God requires people to be poor. The poor you will have always. I think he just doesn't want someone using their fortune as leverage in a nefarious manner against the less fortunate.

If you want to examine beliefs do you believe ultimate authority comes from appolostolic succession being taught and passed down in direct succession from Peter to the current Pope, or do you believe in the Lutheran declaration of solo scriptum?

We could go further and decide if the bible the Catholic Church handed the Protestants was an accurate representation before Protestants removed several books and after Constantine edited what he wanted to. Is that book accurate and meaningful in the English language 2000 years in the future?

Exactly where does the Holy Spirit come in and by what he to be restrained in proclaiming his message. Or hers. Was Jesus a glutton for accepting the perfume that Judas thought should have fed the poor. Was it wrong for Jesus to have his feet washed and dried with the hair of a beautiful female?

Do Muslims have claim that they come from the same God through Haggar before Sarah chased her away? You must have more knowledge than I because Joel passes my test. I like him a lot

sol

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #25 on: September 10, 2015, 10:31:09 AM »
Joel passes my test. I like him a lot

I don't dispute that he is charismatic and entertaining and likable.  He's just also a fraud.

That's okay, though.  Houdini was a fraud too, yet people flocked to him despite knowing it.

FLA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #26 on: September 10, 2015, 12:20:31 PM »
 
[/quote]

I don't dispute that he is charismatic and entertaining and likable.  He's just also a fraud.

That's okay, though.  Houdini was a fraud too, yet people flocked to him despite knowing it.
[/quote]

Joseph Smith, too, and broadly, he was a magician first. If you have charisma and direct it towards religion, great things can happen (to you- wealth beyond compare) and to the people who attend your services.  I'm just saying perhaps it's a good idea to scratch below the surface to make sure the person you follow is what you believe him to be

sirdoug007

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #27 on: September 11, 2015, 12:12:21 PM »
My intention was just that if you don't like going to church and like to feel good Sunday morning then Joel Osteen is a good option. Still highly recommended.

If you just want to feel good on a Sunday morning I would recommend the Sunday morning Gospel set from New Orleans radio station WWOZ.  All their sets are done by volunteer DJs who live in New Orleans and they are amazing!

I think it is 8-10am central.  Great stuff!  You can live stream them from their website anywhere in the world  wwoz.org  (or on http://tunein.com/radio/WWOZ-907-s23833/)

forummm

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #28 on: September 11, 2015, 01:32:55 PM »
My intention was just that if you don't like going to church and like to feel good Sunday morning then Joel Osteen is a good option. Still highly recommended.

If you just want to feel good on a Sunday morning I would recommend the Sunday morning Gospel set from New Orleans radio station WWOZ.  All their sets are done by volunteer DJs who live in New Orleans and they are amazing!

I think it is 8-10am central.  Great stuff!  You can live stream them from their website anywhere in the world  wwoz.org  (or on http://tunein.com/radio/WWOZ-907-s23833/)

When I like to feel good on a Sunday morning I avoid anything religious :)

FLA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #29 on: September 11, 2015, 10:31:58 PM »

[/quote]

When I like to feel good on a Sunday morning I avoid anything religious :)
[/quote]

+1

kite

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #30 on: September 14, 2015, 07:09:42 AM »
For the OP, it's wonderful for someone homebound to get their religious fix on TV, and there's no shortage of options.  But there is lots to be said for communion, and the coming together with others on the journey. (People could do yoga alone, too, but get plenty of benefit from doing it in a group and/or under the eye of a teacher.)  We specifically chose to buy a home where we could walk to our church.  In older communities, people built churches close to where they live so they could do exactly that, so it's not as if we had an especially original idea.   Our church has piano & trumpet player at the sunrise service and I'm amazed every single week by it.  I don't have words to even express how awesome it is, but for me it's lightyears better to catch Beethoven's Ode to Joy, performed live in a venue specifically designed for acoustics than to spend Sunday sleeping in or get it via the TV.

Within a congregation, there is (in my opinion) a need for personal interaction between congregants and the one whose job it is to minister to their needs.  My beef with any TV preacher or head of a mega church is that he/she doesn't know you, and you are entitled to, and better served by, a minister, deacon, rabbi or priest who does.



kendallf

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #31 on: September 14, 2015, 08:21:28 AM »
For the OP, it's wonderful for someone homebound to get their religious fix on TV, and there's no shortage of options.  But there is lots to be said for communion, and the coming together with others on the journey. (People could do yoga alone, too, but get plenty of benefit from doing it in a group and/or under the eye of a teacher.)  We specifically chose to buy a home where we could walk to our church.  In older communities, people built churches close to where they live so they could do exactly that, so it's not as if we had an especially original idea.   Our church has piano & trumpet player at the sunrise service and I'm amazed every single week by it.  I don't have words to even express how awesome it is, but for me it's lightyears better to catch Beethoven's Ode to Joy, performed live in a venue specifically designed for acoustics than to spend Sunday sleeping in or get it via the TV.

Within a congregation, there is (in my opinion) a need for personal interaction between congregants and the one whose job it is to minister to their needs.  My beef with any TV preacher or head of a mega church is that he/she doesn't know you, and you are entitled to, and better served by, a minister, deacon, rabbi or priest who does.

Great post.  I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian church, but I am not a believer.  The only thing I miss about churches is the social interaction and sense of community that the better ones can foster.  I would love a secular alternative that would do these things.  Various charity, sports, and hobby groups fill part of this niche, but not completely.

LiseE

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #32 on: September 14, 2015, 10:04:37 AM »
I listen to Joel on Sirius radio on the drive to and from work.  I also attend my protestant church regularly and am active in our church family.  I listen to Joel as a positive thinker with a Christian foundation.  When I get to work I have a positive attitude and feel good about life and work.  Nothing wrong with that.

I also don't think he shouldn't have to apologize for his wealth/success which largely comes from his books.  He hasn't taken an oath of poverty has he?  Should I have to apologize for living above the poverty line?  Have I been fortunate and blessed?  Damn right and I'm grateful for it everyday.

Also, while he may not mention Jesus as often as God, aren't they one and the same? Trinity?

Those who think he's a fraud have listened to him.  Non believers I've spoken to also think Billy Graham is a fraud (i.e. any evangelist on TV = slimy fraud) when clearly this is not the case.

As a Christian we have eyes and ears of discernment .. we actually have a heightened awareness for those who preach falsely.  Joel is the real deal.  A little heavy on the prosperity message but it's a positive message and listeners should take it as such.

kite

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #33 on: September 14, 2015, 07:18:16 PM »
For the OP, it's wonderful for someone homebound to get their religious fix on TV, and there's no shortage of options.  But there is lots to be said for communion, and the coming together with others on the journey. (People could do yoga alone, too, but get plenty of benefit from doing it in a group and/or under the eye of a teacher.)  We specifically chose to buy a home where we could walk to our church.  In older communities, people built churches close to where they live so they could do exactly that, so it's not as if we had an especially original idea.   Our church has piano & trumpet player at the sunrise service and I'm amazed every single week by it.  I don't have words to even express how awesome it is, but for me it's lightyears better to catch Beethoven's Ode to Joy, performed live in a venue specifically designed for acoustics than to spend Sunday sleeping in or get it via the TV.

Within a congregation, there is (in my opinion) a need for personal interaction between congregants and the one whose job it is to minister to their needs.  My beef with any TV preacher or head of a mega church is that he/she doesn't know you, and you are entitled to, and better served by, a minister, deacon, rabbi or priest who does.

Great post.  I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian church, but I am not a believer.  The only thing I miss about churches is the social interaction and sense of community that the better ones can foster.  I would love a secular alternative that would do these things.  Various charity, sports, and hobby groups fill part of this niche, but not completely.

You might like this....

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97320958

I think there is more to music and singing together than our human minds have yet to grasp.  It's a constant across cultures  (religious across and secular) across socio-economic groups and ages. 


Rosy

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #34 on: September 14, 2015, 10:05:54 PM »
Quote
I might have opened a can here. Hopefully no one is really offended.

My intention was just that if you don't like going to church and like to feel good Sunday morning then Joel Osteen is a good option. Still highly recommended.

He's enjoyable to listen to and I like his upbeat positive style. I find him inspiring - probably the last vestige of my extreme roman catholic upbringing:) Go figure.

I agree with the OP he makes me feel good too:)
He's charismatic and reminds me of the young priest who was supposed to teach us religion in school and danced the twist on the table for fun.

I don't take the bible literally and I had the nerve to visit the local townhall to officially declare myself a non-believer - in order to be freed from paying 10% of my salary to the roman catholic church. In case you are wondering, I lived in Germany, which has no separation of church and state - so if you say you are Christian you will find 10% deducted from your paycheck. For all my bravery that day, I thought God might strike me dead as I left the building:)
I was 22 and had just decided that misogyny has its roots in religion established by men. (As good a theory as any:) So why should I support a bunch of women haters who don't even want to acknowledge my right over my own body or "allow" a woman to use birth control. Screw you Mr. Pope the times they are a changing.

Living in a small, extremely religious (yup, we even had a real live witches tower where they once interrogated witches) I had heard one too many times that it was all Eve's fault - the original eternal sin. People seriously believed that shit - all women are evil. It may have been the day I embraced the glory of being a woman.
Took me years to shed most of that extreme roman catholic mindset.

As far as the witches tower, the last witch trial was about 100 years ago, my grandma told me all about it. Very interesting:) A few years ago I followed up on that history. It so happened that 300 years ago a regional catholic bishop burnt so many women as witches that women became scarce. Unbelievable, yet true.
It was a man from my hometown who led the rebellion together with other men who feared for their wives and finally brought a halt to this insanity.
   
Back on topic: Why the hell would Joel have to be poor to be a good Christian or a good preacher? That's utter nonsense. To me he is just another example of "if you're good at something you make a lot of money". No, I wouldn't give money to his church and I don't remember him ever asking for any. I choose my own charities.

He's built an empire - I think of him as a successful entrepreneur who just happens to deal in positive religion versus guilt or fire and brimstone.
There is none of that bigoted, hateful crap you find elsewhere. There is no glorification of being poor or holier than thou thinking.

His message is hopeful and joyful and helpful to many. I don't know what constitutes a fraud here - he delivers a message, does it well and collects good money in the process. To me he is a breath of fresh air and I couldn't care less how often he mentions Jesus. There is no law that says he has to live or act like an old time man of the cloth. There were some that were wonderful human beings who did a lot of good, but most of them that I came across were sanctimonious, righteous a holes that made me want to pummel them senseless.

So all you Joel haters out there, back off my boy:) I enjoy him every so often on late night TV, but as far as religion goes, that is another matter entirely.

kendallf

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #35 on: September 15, 2015, 08:02:23 AM »
Great post.  I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian church, but I am not a believer.  The only thing I miss about churches is the social interaction and sense of community that the better ones can foster.  I would love a secular alternative that would do these things.  Various charity, sports, and hobby groups fill part of this niche, but not completely.

You might like this....

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97320958

I think there is more to music and singing together than our human minds have yet to grasp.  It's a constant across cultures  (religious across and secular) across socio-economic groups and ages.

I do like that; I grew up singing in choir and playing in the band.  Live performance, good or bad, gives us a way to relate to each other.

fiveoh

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #36 on: September 15, 2015, 09:46:13 AM »
100% agree with you OP.  I like watching him on Sunday mornings when I can.  When my kids are older I plan on seeing him in person sometime.  God blessed Solomon and lots of other kings with riches and that didn't make them "frauds".

milesdividendmd

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #37 on: September 15, 2015, 09:55:20 AM »
So who blessed all of the frauds and douches with riches?

gt7152b

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #38 on: September 15, 2015, 01:11:05 PM »
All I know about him is that my wife was invited by a friend to come hear him speak. My wife asked me if I minded her going to see this preacher speak. I told her "no problem, I'll watch the kids." Then she says it costs $30 to attend (or something like that) and we had to put on the brakes. Why does a dude with $40million need working joes to pay for this venue so he can spread the gospel?

Bob W

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #39 on: September 15, 2015, 01:17:47 PM »
Okay. You don't have to watch him but the thing that is clear from every comment is that none of you have. Except Miles, he has a good excuse. I feel the same way about 99% of the churches Miles

Do you dispute that he almost never mentions Jesus much less the crucifixion and resurrection?

Here is one datapoint: http://pulpitandpen.org/2014/07/18/joel-osteen-likes-god-he-just-doesnt-like-jesus-a-twitter-survey-of-joelosteen/

"Just for kicks I did a quick survey of all Joel Osteen tweets in the last year. I can’t go further back, so we’ll stick with going back to July 8, 2013, which is a little more than a year ago. Out of Joel Osteens 806 tweets, not including any of his replies to other people, he mentions “God” 334 time.

Want to guess how many times he mentioned “Jesus”?

Once.

One time.

I figured that number seemed a little, so I exchanged the word “Jesus” for “Christ”? And know how many times Christ was mentioned?

Twice.

Two times."

Works for me --- I was raised Catholic though so there was very little mention of the bible or Jesus.   Joel is obviously the Donald Trump of evangelicals.   (use broad strokes and let people fill in the blanks)  Seems like a classic winning strategy.   My mom loved him and I gotta admit that when I have watched him I liked him too.   

happyfeet

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #40 on: September 15, 2015, 04:08:05 PM »
Joel Olsteen Justs creeps me out.

  If I want to listen to an Evangelist it would be Ann Graham Lotz or her dad, Billy.

Joel=Creepy the hair the smile the attitude yuck

Typing on this iPad mini excuse typos

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #41 on: September 16, 2015, 04:46:12 AM »
Joel's a smoker. Stuck behind his convertible once in Houston, had to switch to internal air. Take from that what you will.

2Birds1Stone

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #42 on: September 16, 2015, 05:56:51 AM »
I would bitch slap this guy if I ever saw him in person.

Bob W

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #43 on: September 16, 2015, 12:22:05 PM »
Joel's a smoker. Stuck behind his convertible once in Houston, had to switch to internal air. Take from that what you will.

According to Joel he doesn't smoke ---"Osteen also told Morgan he does not drink or smoke, never dated a woman other than his wife, and that he votes regularly."

Seems odd if he did.  Even odder if he did in public in a convertible.  Of course I would respect him much more if he did smoke and drink and chase women.  His paradise on earth concept is kinda lame without tobacco,  booze and babes. 

One thing I never get is why people that make 5 million a year drive their own car.  That seems very weird.   You know for under 100K you can have a driver 24/7.   I realize that in his case he may want to appear common but for many celebrities it is always weird that they are caught driving drunk or even driving at all.  Don't they know they can get cabs?

I really think Joel should consider Uber. 

forummm

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #44 on: September 16, 2015, 03:34:42 PM »
One thing I never get is why people that make 5 million a year drive their own car.  That seems very weird.   You know for under 100K you can have a driver 24/7.   
Americans feel like it's a constitutional right to drive and a lot of them like it. I guess if your driving experience isn't like being stuck in traffic for an hour twice a day (like my commute) you like it more.

mrpercentage

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #45 on: September 18, 2015, 07:48:14 PM »
All I know about him is that my wife was invited by a friend to come hear him speak. My wife asked me if I minded her going to see this preacher speak. I told her "no problem, I'll watch the kids." Then she says it costs $30 to attend (or something like that) and we had to put on the brakes. Why does a dude with $40million need working joes to pay for this venue so he can spread the gospel?

My guess is that when you rent a stadium so 50,000 people can come see you its not free. Just guessing.

gt7152b

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #46 on: September 23, 2015, 07:50:39 AM »
All I know about him is that my wife was invited by a friend to come hear him speak. My wife asked me if I minded her going to see this preacher speak. I told her "no problem, I'll watch the kids." Then she says it costs $30 to attend (or something like that) and we had to put on the brakes. Why does a dude with $40million need working joes to pay for this venue so he can spread the gospel?

My guess is that when you rent a stadium so 50,000 people can come see you its not free. Just guessing.

Good guess. I'm guessing it doesn't cost $1.5M.

FLA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #47 on: September 23, 2015, 09:28:52 PM »
OMG, people pay $30 to attend a religious event by Osteen?  And none of his followers see the problem with that and his fortunes?  You really can't call this religion, can you? He may be an uplifting, inspiring speaker but he is the opposite of Jesus, no matter how you spin that he can't help the wealth he accumulated and all that BS.

Johnez

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #48 on: September 24, 2015, 10:09:52 PM »
All I know about him is that my wife was invited by a friend to come hear him speak. My wife asked me if I minded her going to see this preacher speak. I told her "no problem, I'll watch the kids." Then she says it costs $30 to attend (or something like that) and we had to put on the brakes. Why does a dude with $40million need working joes to pay for this venue so he can spread the gospel?

My guess is that when you rent a stadium so 50,000 people can come see you its not free. Just guessing.

Good guess. I'm guessing it doesn't cost $1.5M.

Wonder if it costs any rock band, who'd charge twice to ten times that much, any more to rent that stadium.

Regarding Joel Osteen, there are far worse out there, I can name quite a few-Benny Hinn being way up there.

FLA

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Re: Joel Osteen
« Reply #49 on: September 25, 2015, 04:28:51 AM »

[/quote]

Wonder if it costs any rock band, who'd charge twice to ten times that much, any more to rent that stadium.

Regarding Joel Osteen, there are far worse out there, I can name quite a few-Benny Hinn being way up there.
[/quote]

So we compare a "religious" event by Osteen to a rock concert.  That's actually quite fitting.  Cult of personality.

Just because there are worse people than you, does not make you any better, i.e.: Pol Pot, "at least I'm not Hitler!" ok, got it