In what ways have you observed Religion and Faith being abused in order to obtain some Secondary Gain?

Answer 1

I have seen so many religious organizations 'abuse' the very religion they re propagating for monetary gain. It happens so many times. I am sorry to say that has been going on since the advent of religious organizations. For instance, Roman Catholic religion, the wealth it has accumulated over 1000's of years is enough to feed all the hungry and destitute over the next 1000 years and still have something left over. So I understand they cannot simply give it away like that. However, if Jesus was here now, he would not hesitate to go and distribute it's wealth. And the poor and destitute would they support Jesus and follow his teachings? YES they would. In fact I have seen many 'evangelist' organizations contributing their time and money to help many people. (Katrina for instance). When was the last time we personally helped out these victims?
So let me summarize here. On the one hand I admonish those who abuse their own religion for financial gain, I applaud the efforts of the devout followers who dedicate their time and money for the well being of others. They sincerely believe in what they do. I am not endorsing any religious organizations here. I dislike 'religious organizations'. I belong to a Buddhist organization myself but I will not endorse that either. What I WILL endorse is the dedicated efforts of ALL people who give their time and money of ALL religions. It has always been about that and not about the propagation of the organization itself.
There is a warning from the high priest of a Buddhist sect that says.."Do not follow even the high priest if he goes against the Buddha's Law and propounds his own views"

Enough said.
Sorry to be a bit long. It is a sore spot for me. I will continue to speak out against such corruption.

Thank you for reading till the end.

Answer 2

many ways

flip to any channel hosting a televangelist and you can clearly see that religion is being abused for monetary gain.

as a matter of fact i remember flipping though channels at some crazy hour and coming upon some televangelist on one of the christian networks. he had on a very nice, expensive looking suit, the chairs and couches and trinkets in the background were all covered in gold and what not and just a junkload of other unnecessarily expensive looking items.

similarly i can remember watching a televangelist that was asking the congregation for money...they would walk up...put their money on the stage and walk away....like something out of 1984 or something...they sure as hell didnt have smiles on their faces i can tell you that. sortof a nondescript look though....piles of money on the stage too.

i watched for a few minutes then chuckled to myself and changed the channel..

all-in-all id say televangelists are the prime example of exactly what youre talking about.

Answer 3

Richard Dawkins getting a 501(c) non profit status organization to pay no taxes and drive a lease Mercedes for his own personal use as the Chairman of the Organization.

Answer 4

While in college, I knew someone who worked a couple of days through a temp agency. She was working for a televangelist's organizaton, and she would open mail, sort out any cash or checks, and throw away the letter and envelope.
It actaully made the papers back east, and he said he"prayed" over that days trash all at once".

quite a scam.

Answer 5

Aside from the obvious financial or political actions that other people have noted, I've seen parents abuse it just to get control over their children. They'll enforce things they don't really believe themselves just because they think that's what their child needs to keep in line.

And for the record, I'm over 30 and no I don't hate my parents.

Answer 6

I laughed when Al Gore was giving a speech and when asked his favorite Bible verse, he said, "John 16:3, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son..."

John 16:3 says: "They will do these things unto you, because they have not known the Father or me."

Mwahahahahaaa!

Answer 7

How approximately: 4. we are saved by ability of religion on my own, yet overlook of works does impair our relationship with God. Salvation is by means of faith that Jesus Christ - God interior the flesh - died in our stead. jointly as salvation is by means of faith on my own, our works DO rely. Our relationship with God is a 2-way highway. We shouldn't purely get saved then sit down decrease back and don't something. we ought to continually draw closer to God. we ought to continually to desire to Him, compliment Him, believe Him, and rely on Him. we ought to continually witness to non-believers and proportion the Gospel, and stay healthful lives, putting an occasion for others. we ought to continually try to be Christ-like. those issues are not mandatory for salvation, yet our relationship with God will go through if we don't do them. AND we can be judged by ability of our works. some persons who've served God quite properly will reign alongside Jesus. Others could have many times occurring jobs a pair of rungs down the ladder in God's authorities.

Answer 8

Lets see, healing for money, praying for money, telling people God wants to give them a cadillac, good job, health, etc...using guilt and fear to manipulate people into giving money, time, etc...using the Bible to subjugate and oppress women. Too depressed to go on...

Answer 9

Bush claiming that God told him to go to war in Iraq.....'nuff said. Even the bishops of his own Methodist church publicly blasted him on that one saying, "we elected him as President -- not priest of the nation".

Answer 10

The propogation of religious mythology is, in and of itself, an "abuse".