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The number one bizz op

By Arthur Webster of Ask Old Coot

One of the most vital aspects of a successful business is that it should be disseminated virally with exponential results.

There are not many business types that have stood the test of centuries to reward their initiators and their successors. Apart from some banks, there seem to be very few examples of business longevity with one very notable exception. . . . .

Churches!!!

Ever since man first became aware that death is his final destination, he has sought comfort. The earliest churches probably encouraged the worship of Guaia or Mother Nature since this was a deity that could be understood and studied on a daily basis. The cycle of life was there for all to see, birth, death and corruption. Only the section between birth and death could be seen as real. The fear of what happened after death created the very first business opportunity.

Throughout recorded history there is one common denominator - those who preached a religion were influential and wealthy. This tradition subsists to this day with the established churches holding so much wealth that all the Gods must be cringeing in their heavens.

In the western world, the most successful and obscenely wealthy of all the churches is the one that claims to be Christian. Looking at some TV evangelists, I often wonder how their money-grubbing ways can be reconciled with a God who preached against avarice. Where do these churches carry out the proclaimed work of God? Admittedly, they do a wonderful job of preaching to the choir in magnificent edifices furnished to the very highest standards which consume the Christian charity of the congregation. Many church buildings are so in need of money to be spent on them that no money at all from the congregation finds it's way into the good works that the church espouses. The life-style of many priests should really make the congregation pause for thought.

Am I the only person who finds this shocking?

All of the established churches suffer from the same sickness - the vainglorious attitudes of the priests towards building up wealth and political influence on Earth.

Looking at the Christian church, simply because it is the one with which I am most familiar, why did it start to build physical churches? Jesus, in His life on Earth, told Peter that he would be the rock upon which his church would be built. The church would carry on the traditional teaching methods of Jesus, himself, using any available accommodation to deliver His message. Jesus made it perfectly clear that He had no desire to see a repetition of the pagan habit of building 'houses' for Gods. He preached that "where two or more of you are gathered in my name, there shall I be".

In his life on Earth, Jesus never sugested that God wanted to have a permanent dwelling place. God, He taught us, lived within us, within the air that we breathed and in any aspect of the temporal world that we could appreciate. Jesus taught from the ancestral memories that were sung and recited as a traditional entertainment. Never once did he refer to any of the 'books' that the Christian church has seen fit to include in what has been accepted as the Bible.

Jesus did not preach that non Christians should be put to the sword. Nor did He teach that the accumulation of wealth was either desirable or laudable, indeed, he taught that it is easier for a poor man to enter into the kingdom of heaven than it is for a rich man's camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Admittedly, this particular lesson did not say that a rich man could NOT enter the kingdom (camels regularly negotiated the eyes of needles but with difficulty if heavily laden) but maybe it was this particular lesson that the aspirants to priesthood used to justify their greed.

In 2000 years, the Christian church has created the most efficient affiliate network that has ever been seen. I can only wonder at the charisma of the early Christian preachers. Maybe God really did inspire them to captivate the souls of their audiences. I can only despair at the modern day priesthood that seems to deny all that Jesus is said to have taught.

Jesus was an evangelist but He has been turned into a money making opportunity. Look at the other religions and you will see that the Christian church follows the same template as almost all the others.

Mankind is seeing the return of evil - isn't that the price of failing to maintain faith with God?

Why are so many people surprised that He seems to have abandoned us? The priesthood abandoned Him nearly 2,000 years ago.

Contributor's Note

It is unfortunate that I was not around (as far as I know) in the time of Jesus. This means that the only source I have for information about the teachings of Jesus is the Bible. My personal belief is that the Bible is more akin to a computer programme designed to 'automatically' spread the message and achieve the highest possible financial rewards. It is also my belief that if Jesus came to Earth today, He would not recognise the Christian church as anything to do with His teachings.

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You have a way of tackling the tough subjects, Arthur. To the best of my knowledge, my grandfather, who lived to be 102 years of age, never entered a church. He had 7 children, and outlived 2 wives.
He didn't swear,drink or smoke to access, or chase women.
His word or his handshake was all that was needed to seal any deal.
I would like to believe that he has eternal life, if there is one.
Keep up the good work.
Best to you.
Frederick

Hi, Frederick,
Your Grandfather is an excelent example of living according to christian ethics while not, necessarily, being a Christian. The God I believe in would certainly accept him as worthy of Heaven.
My father believed sincerely that God was in His heaven but he could not tolerate priests. Strangely enough, he did insist that us children go to Sunday school, at least.
Like me, he attended many funerals in his lifetime and his parting words were always "See you later". If he had believed in marking graves, I would have put those words on his marker.

I did read that the Church of England was one of the biggest landowners in the country. And, judging by the pomp and circumstance surrounding the pope's visits around the world, as well as the collection of artworks in the Vatican I don't think the catholic religion is exactly impoverished. I think there are a number of reasons churchgoers have become disaffected with mainstream religion. Some catholics choose to accept what the pope decrees about contraception, abortion and so on whilst others do their own thing. Priests and child abuse cases which have been swept under the carpet. The Anglican church has its own problems such as women vicars/priests which is causing a huge split. No wonder many are turning their back on so-called Christianity.

Hi, Geoff,
Never mind the size of the land holdings of the C of E - look at the locations!
The Church of Rome, of course, is its own independent state with its own army (though, fortunately, not as beligerant as it once was) and its own legislature.
One of the vows of most Catholic priests is "poverty" - since many of them can't keep that, why do we expect them to keep the vow of chastity?
It is interesting that 95% of internet sharketers fail and about 95% of the western population is ambivalent about religion.

I just like that you tackle thought provoking issues and challenge us to examine them. Keep writing. I am Catholic There was a time when grace could be purchased,( maybe it still can be) and the Vatican is very wealthy. Happy Thanksgiving.

Hi, Nora,
The sale of indulgences was a bit like an internet sharketing up-sell. For anybody who could afford it, a priest or a bishop could guarantee a passage to Heaven for a particular individual.
I'm quite sure that anybody being generous to the (a) church could get the same guarantee - especially from a television evangelist!

Another well thought out article, Arthur. You're always the one for the hard subjects! You should hear my partner on the topic of religions........

Hi, Jean,
Maybe I should. I love to hear other opinions.

Hi, Andrew,
They are certainly a comic turn BUT I wonder how many poor people make stupid sacrifices in order to 'buy' some of their wares.

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