How's That God Thing Working Out For Ya?

My post today is late because I have been debating on whether or not to write about the death of Tammy Faye Bakker Messner.

It is easy to either let things go, or disingenuously say, “Rest in Peace” when somebody like her dies, but even though it was sad to see her ravaged body during another ghoulish and irrelevant Larry King interview, I cannot let my true thoughts pass.

Yes, I was sad to see her so very ill. I hate to see anyone ill, but I just cannot ignore my feelings of disgust and anger over the fact that she and her husband raped the bank accounts of so many people, particularly the older folks in our country. I acknowledge, that I am not by any means a pillar of morality, but I do not intentionally harm anyone, especially by playing on one’s faith.

She and her husband deceived millions of God-Fearing people into passing on their savings, their pensions, and their trust, in order to feed the greed, avarice, and vanity onto the Bakkers. Can I really feel bad for Tammy Faye after all of this? No.

I laugh at people like Ron Popeil or Billy Mays who sell their less than effective wares on their latest infomercials. I do not, however, find it all that funny when certain “religious” figures and evangelists sell the hope for eternal salvation to people who long to meet the Almighty. At least with Popeil and Mays, the purchaser receives something tangible whereas only the evangelists receive something tangible within their transactions.

I thought that maybe after the PTL scandal, and the Jimmy Swaggert affair there would be an end to the funding of Biblical rip-off artists, but indeed I think it has grown. Cable TV has offered an expansive 24 hour altar for 21st Century charlatans. In fact, we now have the following:

Rod “I saw two lesbians engaged in perverted sex” Parsley of the World Harvest Church who sells “anointed prayer handkerchiefs”.

Joyce “And you know I have beautiful clothes” Meyer, who owns several houses and a jet.

Paul and Jan “My favorite time is at night sitting in the gazebo having snacks and cocktails with friends” Couch, who own TBN, the flagship station for salvation in exchange for your generous “love gift”.

There are many just like them. Benny “Where in the bible does it say I have to drive a Honda” Hinn…Jesse Duplantis, and TD Jakes…crooks all of them.

So while it was rough seeing Tammy Faye in her last hours, I have problems feeling any sort of sadness. I guess if there is anything good that comes of her passing is that Jerry Falwell will have someone to dance with tonight. In fact when all of the aforementioned folks pass, there is going to be one hoppin’ and infernal Devil’s Ball down in the nether regions.

Cheers!!