A number of American religious leaders have endangered their flock by
holding services – and by claiming the virus can be defeated by faith
in God
Kenneth Copeland, a Texas-based “prosperity gospel” preacher who once defended his ownership of three private jets on the grounds that commercial flights would require him to “get in a long tube with a bunch of demons”, told viewers of his Victory Channel in early March that coronavirus was a “weak” strain of the flu, and that fearing the pandemic was a sin.
From Montana, Chuck Baldwin – a pastor, former politician and purveyor of conspiracy theories about “Zionist influence” in the media – left the question of whether the virus was a hoax open in an online sermon.
Meanwhile, even where they disagree about the virus, religious leaders have found common ground on one subject: the importance of fundraising.
Kenneth Copeland, a Texas-based “prosperity gospel” preacher who once defended his ownership of three private jets on the grounds that commercial flights would require him to “get in a long tube with a bunch of demons”, told viewers of his Victory Channel in early March that coronavirus was a “weak” strain of the flu, and that fearing the pandemic was a sin.
From Montana, Chuck Baldwin – a pastor, former politician and purveyor of conspiracy theories about “Zionist influence” in the media – left the question of whether the virus was a hoax open in an online sermon.
Meanwhile, even where they disagree about the virus, religious leaders have found common ground on one subject: the importance of fundraising.
HEAVEN UNEARTHED (April 5) —
THIS “PLAGUE” is God's judgment upon the wicked.
Or it would be, if it existed.
To us Christian folks, it is a hoax
concocted by those who consider us jokes.
We'll laugh with Jesus as each of them croaks.
THE Christian mission is faith imposition.
When we are in advantageous position,
we berate Satans (all those who oppose us)
just like Jesus when he opposed Moses
and started his schism to end Judaism
and to confront pagan rationalism
practiced by Greeks — even some Romans,
taking a break from reading omens.
Our minds confined to dungeons and prisons,
we preach irrational superstitions
constructed of squirrely unlikelihoods.
We have more nots than we have shoulds.
Jesus is Savior. Faith is our bastion.
Where there's a prophet we quickly cash in.
Which, truth to tell, is really our passion.