A secular article that reviews how the "Prosperity Gospel" is fairing during these economic times:
In times of record-high foreclosures and Treasury Department scrambling to shore up loan-refinancing initiatives, the Prosperity Gospel can sound as if it comes from preachers who live under rocks, not in mansions: “God wants to give you your own house,” big-cheese pitchman Joel Osteen announced in 2007's Your Best Life Now, which he penned in an economic Indian summer of a bull market and excited homebuyers. "'How could that ever happen to me?’ you ask. ‘I don’t make enough money.’ Perhaps not, but our God is well able."
June 15, 2009 - Family Time Eroding as Internet Use Soars The study points out that more than 24 hours a week are spent online in the average American household, and that doesn’t include the many, many hours watching TV. In contrast to hours a day spent consuming media, the average American Christian spends 8 minutes a day praying.
Don’t gloss over that statement. Stop for a moment, mull it over, digest it. The “greatest threat” to children today—despite what most authorities tell us—is not obesity, or gang violence, or online predators, or drug abuse, or alcohol, or suicide, or sexual abuse. It’s selfish parents and adults.
Sept 15, 2008: The Persuaders - PBS VIDEO (documentary)
In light of the increased influence that commercialism has on our world, it is important that Christians not be ignorant of the facts. With companies who are actually worth more and have more employees than a number of countries, it would be foolhardy to dismiss their impact, especially when you consider how they intend to grow market share further (outlined in the video).
Each year, legions of ad people, copywriters, market researchers, pollsters, consultants, and even linguists—most of whom work for one of six giant companies—spend billions of dollars and millions of man-hours trying to determine how to persuade consumers what to buy, whom to trust, and what to think. Increasingly, these techniques are migrating to the high-stakes arena of politics, shaping policy and influencing how Americans, among others, choose their leaders.
July 30, 2008: Consuming Kids - The Commercialization of Childhood
June 26, 2008: "Salad Bar" Religion (USA Today): Religion today in the USA is a salad bar where people heap on upbeat beliefs they like and often leave the veggies — like strict doctrines — behind...
