1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,660 I was raised as a Catholic, 2 00:00:02,690 --> 00:00:05,740 but I wouldn't really describe myself as religious today. 3 00:00:05,770 --> 00:00:07,690 I had never heard of things like 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:12,580 megachurches or televangelism or the prosperity gospel. 5 00:00:12,610 --> 00:00:16,460 That was until I stumbled across an infamous interview. 6 00:00:16,490 --> 00:00:17,340 How are you, sir? 7 00:00:17,370 --> 00:00:21,140 We'd just like to ask you about why you don't want to fly commercial. 8 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:22,780 You've got this journalist that is 9 00:00:22,810 --> 00:00:25,140 confronting this guy called Kenneth Copeland. 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:26,620 You said that you don't like to fly 11 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,340 commercial because you don't want to get into a tube with a bunch of demons. 12 00:00:30,370 --> 00:00:33,140 Do you really believe that human beings are demons? 13 00:00:33,170 --> 00:00:34,100 No, I do not. 14 00:00:34,130 --> 00:00:38,780 And don't you ever say I did get in a long tube with a bunch of demons. 15 00:00:38,810 --> 00:00:44,740 We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but principalities and powers. 16 00:00:44,770 --> 00:00:49,060 Copeland is being confronted about his purchase of a Gulf Stream jet. 17 00:00:49,090 --> 00:00:53,820 And it turns out that that jet is just one of a fleet of jets that he owns, 18 00:00:53,850 --> 00:00:58,060 along with a boat house, a mansion and his very own airport. 19 00:00:58,090 --> 00:01:00,740 This is a preacher that is supposedly 20 00:01:00,770 --> 00:01:04,410 worth hundreds of millions of dollars with an enormous following. 21 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,770 And you're telling me that he is just one of many? 22 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,410 This entire thing is a rabbit hole. 23 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,640 Pastor, what is now the largest church in America. 24 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,980 A weekly sermon watched by more than 10 million viewers on television. 25 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,490 The apostles were businessmen. 26 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,180 They were reaching in and had plenty of money. 27 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:21,900 I'm going to show you that Jesus was a welcome man. 28 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,540 Had put any money one of my chandeliers costs more than most people's house. 29 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,210 I got 22 chandeliers in the house. 30 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:27,340 They're extremely green. 31 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:28,540 They don't need mansions. 32 00:01:28,570 --> 00:01:29,660 They don't need jets. 33 00:01:29,690 --> 00:01:34,020 God told me to have that thing. 34 00:01:34,050 --> 00:01:36,680 Any religious leader who speaks the word 35 00:01:36,710 --> 00:01:42,570 of God, who has more than one suit while someone has no clothes, is a cop out. 36 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,900 Yeah, you know, Larry, I just don't. See it that way. 37 00:01:44,930 --> 00:01:46,900 For $54 million, I want you to. 38 00:01:46,930 --> 00:01:50,740 Imagine how many people could be fed. 39 00:01:50,770 --> 00:01:55,840 How many homeless could have places to sleep. 40 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,700 Fresh, fresh, fresh. 41 00:01:58,730 --> 00:02:02,640 Fresh, fresh, fresh. 42 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,490 Televangelism is still thriving in this place. 43 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:11,200 If you were willing to pay the price, you could talk directly to God. 44 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:15,780 When I remember my own personal 45 00:02:15,810 --> 00:02:22,760 experiences inside of a church, what comes to mind was definitely not this. 46 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:27,780 Times is like a concert. 47 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:29,380 And when the preachers come to preach, 48 00:02:29,410 --> 00:02:32,260 it's like a celebrity has just taken to the stage. 49 00:02:32,290 --> 00:02:35,100 Everyone is worshiping together. They're smiling. 50 00:02:35,130 --> 00:02:37,580 They're joined in their faith and devotion. 51 00:02:37,610 --> 00:02:40,940 What we're witnessing is something called a megachurch. 52 00:02:40,970 --> 00:02:45,420 By definition, a megachurch is just a church that has a larger than average 53 00:02:45,450 --> 00:02:48,340 congregation, normally of 2000 members or above. 54 00:02:48,370 --> 00:02:52,580 But when we think of spirituality or forms of it, there's normally a distinction 55 00:02:52,610 --> 00:02:56,100 between spiritual duty and materialistic desires. 56 00:02:56,130 --> 00:02:57,740 Now, I'm not a theologian, 57 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,740 and I'm not going to pretend to be one, but even I remember verses from the Bible 58 00:03:01,770 --> 00:03:04,380 when it came to wealth and building riches. 59 00:03:04,410 --> 00:03:06,980 That it wasn't viewed favorably upon. 60 00:03:07,010 --> 00:03:11,540 But if my memory is correct, then what was I witnessing in this 61 00:03:11,570 --> 00:03:15,020 interview with Copeland and moreover, some of these preachers? 62 00:03:15,050 --> 00:03:17,300 So you've got this preacher, Kenneth Copeland, 63 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,740 who founded the Kenneth Copeland Ministries, along with his wife Gloria. 64 00:03:20,770 --> 00:03:23,610 They own a $7 million home, a fleet of jets, 65 00:03:23,640 --> 00:03:27,610 and their Eagle Mountain International Church has a membership in the thousands, 66 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:30,420 not to mention their television and online broadcasting. 67 00:03:30,450 --> 00:03:32,020 Then there's Jesse De Plantis, 68 00:03:32,050 --> 00:03:36,380 who sat with Copeland as they both justified their purchases of private jets. 69 00:03:36,410 --> 00:03:40,900 Then the second one I purchased was in January 2004. 70 00:03:40,930 --> 00:03:42,720 Benny Him, who claims to be able 71 00:03:42,750 --> 00:03:47,220 to perform miracles, who fills up stadiums and broadcasts it on networks worldwide. 72 00:03:47,250 --> 00:03:48,610 I'll release it. 73 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:52,260 Joel Osteen, a very popular figure, especially in Houston, Texas, 74 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,900 where his church resides, who's authored books that have been 75 00:03:54,930 --> 00:03:58,260 on New York Times bestsellers, as well as hosting church services 76 00:03:58,290 --> 00:04:01,220 with celebrities like Kanye West Creflo's Dollar, 77 00:04:01,250 --> 00:04:05,240 who has created fundraisers for his private jets, whose ministry owns two 78 00:04:05,270 --> 00:04:08,180 rolled Royces and expensive real estate taboos. 79 00:04:08,210 --> 00:04:11,940 God is the gateway to the world of wealth. 80 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,120 There's this Instagram page which is called Preachers and Sneakers and it's 81 00:04:15,150 --> 00:04:19,100 literally just preachers next to the cost of the clothing that they are wearing. 82 00:04:19,130 --> 00:04:21,700 Something, something just isn't right. 83 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,580 I keep asking myself how, how is it possible to be this 84 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,740 braggadocious about your wealth as a preacher and have your followers who not 85 00:04:29,770 --> 00:04:33,340 only are okay with it, but help to fund it? 86 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:38,060 And that was when I found out about the Prosperity Gospel. 87 00:04:38,090 --> 00:04:42,380 What we're looking at is a movement that has seemingly found its way inside 88 00:04:42,410 --> 00:04:47,060 of America's biggest megachurches and being taught by its biggest preachers. 89 00:04:47,090 --> 00:04:49,500 The Word of Faith movement is its name 90 00:04:49,530 --> 00:04:53,500 and its teachings are often referred to as the Prosperity Gospel. 91 00:04:53,530 --> 00:04:54,860 It's a simple idea. 92 00:04:54,890 --> 00:04:57,220 God wants you to be prosperous through 93 00:04:57,250 --> 00:05:01,060 your finances, your health, your marriage and relationships. 94 00:05:01,090 --> 00:05:03,240 In fact, those are things that belong 95 00:05:03,270 --> 00:05:06,660 to you through your faith, if you are willing to receive it. 96 00:05:06,690 --> 00:05:10,860 The Prosperity Gospel often refers to its believers as little gods. 97 00:05:10,890 --> 00:05:12,580 The idea being that we were made 98 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,880 in the image of God and therefore possess a level of divinity within us that allows 99 00:05:16,910 --> 00:05:20,260 us to bring into existence the prosperity that we've been promised. 100 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:22,900 You are Gods, little g. 101 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,900 You are gods because you came from God. 102 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,540 And your DNA and Jesus DNA are exact. 103 00:05:29,570 --> 00:05:31,660 You're exactly like it. 104 00:05:31,690 --> 00:05:34,060 Sounds amazing. 105 00:05:34,090 --> 00:05:36,860 So how do I earn this prosperity? 106 00:05:36,890 --> 00:05:40,900 How do I access this divine power that I supposedly have? 107 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,580 Well, it starts with your faith. 108 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,580 But if you'll stay in faith, 109 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:50,100 there will come a point where God will say, enough is enough. 110 00:05:50,130 --> 00:05:51,340 It's payback time. 111 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:57,500 Bible says, I know you love the Lord, so you qualify for prosperity. 112 00:05:57,530 --> 00:05:59,860 Next, you have the act of tithing. 113 00:05:59,890 --> 00:06:04,260 The initial concept of tithing was this idea that you give one 10th of your wealth 114 00:06:04,290 --> 00:06:07,900 in some way, shape or form to a religious organization. 115 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,940 Most houses of worship are going to rely on the donation of their congregation 116 00:06:11,970 --> 00:06:15,260 in order to continue their operations, especially megachurches. 117 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:17,140 It's kind of like giving to a charity. 118 00:06:17,170 --> 00:06:18,940 But Tithing, through the teachings 119 00:06:18,970 --> 00:06:24,580 of the Prosperity Gospel, introduces a should we call it a plot twist. 120 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:29,780 Tithing lays the foundation for financial success and abundance. 121 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:35,300 Tithing is the way for recession or depression to bypass you. 122 00:06:35,330 --> 00:06:37,460 Here Stephanie from Maryland Rights. 123 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,620 I sent in my first Roots offering. 124 00:06:39,650 --> 00:06:44,780 Two weeks later I received, watch this $2,400. 125 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,820 So now it isn't just about donating your money to a church. 126 00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:50,620 It becomes a case where you're exchanging 127 00:06:50,650 --> 00:06:53,420 your money in return for actual prosperity. 128 00:06:53,450 --> 00:06:58,260 You'll often hear some of these prosperity preachers refer to it as sowing your seed. 129 00:06:58,290 --> 00:07:00,300 The implication is pretty obvious 130 00:07:00,330 --> 00:07:04,700 to anyone who is watching you give us some of your money and in return that value 131 00:07:04,730 --> 00:07:07,700 will be given back to you in some way, shape or form. 132 00:07:07,730 --> 00:07:08,980 It's the harvest. 133 00:07:09,010 --> 00:07:14,220 I want you to go to the phone or online and sow a seed. 134 00:07:14,250 --> 00:07:16,820 Now remember, somebody's son is going 135 00:07:16,850 --> 00:07:20,300 to be set free from alcohol because of your thousand dollars seed. 136 00:07:20,330 --> 00:07:25,300 And I'm going to ask you to sow an exceptional and uncommon seed of $1,000. 137 00:07:25,330 --> 00:07:29,740 Click on that donation button to sow $1,144. 138 00:07:29,770 --> 00:07:33,380 So God has given you the harvest and the harvest of the seeds you sow. 139 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:34,940 You can't expect to harvest if you don't 140 00:07:34,970 --> 00:07:38,860 sow seeds spiritual, physical or financial. 141 00:07:38,890 --> 00:07:44,420 It's surreal and it generates a lot of money. 142 00:07:44,450 --> 00:07:46,860 On January 12 of 2008, 143 00:07:46,890 --> 00:07:51,020 Kenneth Copeland Ministries took possession of a Gulf Stream jet which was 144 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,660 funded all thanks to the donors of his church. 145 00:07:53,690 --> 00:07:58,980 In fact, KCM wrote a blog post thanking their followers for helping them, quote, 146 00:07:59,010 --> 00:08:02,820 harvest the Gulf Stream, but our work is not done. 147 00:08:02,850 --> 00:08:07,020 To which the blog then proceeds to remind their followers that they still need 17 148 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,660 million more dollars, which will be used for the, quote, 149 00:08:09,690 --> 00:08:14,060 sewing towards the construction of a new hanger, upgrading the existing runway, 150 00:08:14,090 --> 00:08:17,380 and purchasing special Gulf Stream maintenance equipment. 151 00:08:17,410 --> 00:08:19,460 Or how about Chriflo Dollar's infamous 152 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:23,900 sermon to which he tells his congregation to help him fundraise towards a private 153 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,340 jet, all to the response of cheers and applause from the audience. 154 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:33,140 If I want to believe God for a $65 million plane, you cannot stop me. 155 00:08:33,170 --> 00:08:35,500 You cannot stop me from dreaming. 156 00:08:35,530 --> 00:08:37,980 See Copeland and Dollars, please. For money. 157 00:08:38,010 --> 00:08:41,580 They're not met with criticism and backlash from their congregation. 158 00:08:41,610 --> 00:08:43,580 It's celebrated and prosperity. 159 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,420 Preachers will obviously say that this 160 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:49,220 AIDS in their quest to spread their message across to different countries. 161 00:08:49,250 --> 00:08:53,820 If I flew commercial, I'd have to stop 65% of what I'm doing. 162 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:55,500 Conveniently, that message obviously 163 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,540 allows them to make even more in donations. 164 00:08:57,560 --> 00:09:01,140 But these preachers, they don't just live lavish, right? 165 00:09:01,170 --> 00:09:02,580 They put it on full display. 166 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,420 Do you think Jesus Christ would have rolled around in a Rolls Royce? 167 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,580 I think he would. Let's get a close up of Gloria's ring. 168 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:09,900 Where am I looking? Right here. 169 00:09:09,930 --> 00:09:11,840 You fly in a private plane? Yes, I do. 170 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,580 You're staying right now in one of the fanciest hotels you ever find. 171 00:09:14,610 --> 00:09:17,060 You wear nice, very nice clothing. 172 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:18,740 So money. 173 00:09:18,770 --> 00:09:20,520 Money. 174 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:29,380 The wealth of these preachers, they're not seen as gross or hypocritical. 175 00:09:29,410 --> 00:09:32,740 In fact, they're seen as proof that the teachings work. 176 00:09:32,770 --> 00:09:35,980 It's seen as them actually practicing what they preach. 177 00:09:36,010 --> 00:09:37,580 The extravagant lifestyle. 178 00:09:37,610 --> 00:09:39,780 That's not a mistake or a flaw. 179 00:09:39,810 --> 00:09:42,220 It's a feature of the prosperity Gospel. 180 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:43,660 Many of these preachers will say 181 00:09:43,690 --> 00:09:47,260 that the funds that they received are used only for ministry purposes. 182 00:09:47,290 --> 00:09:50,460 Osteen, for example, says that he doesn't receive any salary 183 00:09:50,490 --> 00:09:54,020 from his ministry and all the money he makes comes from his book sales. 184 00:09:54,050 --> 00:09:59,540 Look, in some ways, I don't really care if a ministry wants to buy a private jet. 185 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:04,180 It looks optically hypocritical, but I'd rather let theologians argue over 186 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,380 the contradictions that those actions have with actual religious texts. 187 00:10:07,410 --> 00:10:11,540 I'm more interested in how the money is generated, and it doesn't get more 188 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:15,140 unethical of a promise than it does with the prosperity Gospel. 189 00:10:15,170 --> 00:10:17,380 If you're accustomed of giving $10, 190 00:10:17,410 --> 00:10:24,380 go to 20, go up to 70, 8100, raise that amount and watch what God. 191 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:25,980 Will do, because don't you stop. 192 00:10:26,010 --> 00:10:27,140 Sowing offerings. 193 00:10:27,170 --> 00:10:29,060 Well, they won't let us go to church. 194 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,820 Well, email it in their text and give or something. 195 00:10:31,850 --> 00:10:33,620 You get that tithe in that church, 196 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,900 you get that offering in that church, and then you go home and you. 197 00:10:36,930 --> 00:10:40,060 Do what we're supposed to do. 198 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:45,080 This idea is no different than the Law of Attraction and Manifestation circles 199 00:10:45,110 --> 00:10:48,980 that claim that you can use your mind to manifest any desire that you want. 200 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,100 In fact, it's been argued 201 00:10:50,130 --> 00:10:53,780 that the prosperity theology does have similar roots to the new thought 202 00:10:53,810 --> 00:10:57,300 philosophy that became popular in America in the 19th century. 203 00:10:57,330 --> 00:11:01,660 When I look at Osteen, for example, I don't necessarily see a preacher. 204 00:11:01,690 --> 00:11:03,740 I see someone who's more akin to a self 205 00:11:03,770 --> 00:11:08,020 help motivational speaker that uses God as a proxy. 206 00:11:08,050 --> 00:11:10,220 I am confident. 207 00:11:10,250 --> 00:11:12,380 I am secure. 208 00:11:12,410 --> 00:11:14,620 I am talented. I am talented. 209 00:11:14,650 --> 00:11:17,820 Take a look, for example, at Osteen's New York Times bestseller 210 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,500 book, Your Best Life Now, which is filled with all of these kinds of ideas. 211 00:11:21,530 --> 00:11:25,020 So here's a quote from the very first chapter enlarging your vision. 212 00:11:25,050 --> 00:11:27,500 It's not God's lack of resources or your 213 00:11:27,530 --> 00:11:31,060 lack of talent that prevents you from prospering your own wrong. 214 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,700 Thinking can keep you from God's best. 215 00:11:33,730 --> 00:11:36,140 And the book is riddled with these similar 216 00:11:36,170 --> 00:11:39,980 messages of becoming what you believe and the power of your words. 217 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,740 It's a book. Like many others in the self help genre, 218 00:11:42,770 --> 00:11:47,460 the connection isn't really that hard to see, but it's this sowing your seed 219 00:11:47,490 --> 00:11:51,260 message in the prosperity theology, the idea that you can donate to a church 220 00:11:51,290 --> 00:11:55,100 and in return you can, you know, pay off your rent, pay off your credit card. 221 00:11:55,130 --> 00:11:57,540 That seems particularly stomach churning. 222 00:11:57,570 --> 00:11:59,580 And now this is a message that is being 223 00:11:59,610 --> 00:12:03,020 exported from America to Europe and Africa. 224 00:12:03,050 --> 00:12:05,200 So one of Nigeria's wealthiest pastors is 225 00:12:05,230 --> 00:12:10,020 this guy called David Oyadepo, who is said to be worth $150,000,000. 226 00:12:10,050 --> 00:12:13,260 We are not asking you to give so the church can be blessed. 227 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:15,540 We're asking you to give so you can be blessed. 228 00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:18,780 Some fellow said, okay, I was worth $150,000,000. 229 00:12:18,810 --> 00:12:20,180 That's an insult. 230 00:12:20,210 --> 00:12:22,340 $150,000,000, that's an insult. 231 00:12:22,370 --> 00:12:24,260 150 million too small. 232 00:12:24,290 --> 00:12:27,140 Do they know what they're doing? 233 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:31,160 A big part of me believes that Copeland and Dollar, they they truly believe their 234 00:12:31,190 --> 00:12:34,340 intentions are good, even for hundreds of millions of dollars. 235 00:12:34,370 --> 00:12:36,180 I can't imagine someone knowingly, 236 00:12:36,210 --> 00:12:40,300 deceive and hurt other people without just driving themself insane. 237 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:44,060 In the long run, that type of cognitive dissonance just seems too much to bear. 238 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:48,340 But at the end of the day, I'm never going to know what their intentions are. 239 00:12:48,370 --> 00:12:52,300 You know, I can only ever see what the consequences of their actions are. 240 00:12:52,330 --> 00:12:57,600 And trust me, you haven't seen the worst of it yet. 241 00:12:57,680 --> 00:12:59,580 Benny Hin. 242 00:12:59,610 --> 00:13:04,740 Hin is probably most well known for what he calls his miracle crusades. 243 00:13:04,770 --> 00:13:07,780 HYNN claims to be able to perform miracles. 244 00:13:07,810 --> 00:13:11,180 He'll bring people to the stage with all sorts of illnesses, 245 00:13:11,210 --> 00:13:15,220 and then with the touch of his hand, they will feel God's power running through 246 00:13:15,250 --> 00:13:19,060 them as they fall back, and these catchers will catch them as they fall. 247 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:26,660 You had Parkinson's for 15 years since. Who are you? 248 00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:28,140 People in the audience will cheer. 249 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,980 There are others who have stood there in awe with their hands raised in worship. 250 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,700 And Benny Hinn isn't the only one that does this right. 251 00:13:34,730 --> 00:13:38,700 This is a really common practice amongst the prosperity gospel circles. 252 00:13:38,730 --> 00:13:40,860 Glory to God. You're not bound to this chair. 253 00:13:40,890 --> 00:13:43,140 The day will come, you'll walk out of it. 254 00:13:43,170 --> 00:13:45,820 In the name of Jesus. 255 00:13:45,850 --> 00:13:48,660 What is it that we're really seeing here? 256 00:13:48,690 --> 00:13:52,400 Is this an actual miracle? 257 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:58,940 I would know that there were certain things that were completely deceptive. 258 00:13:58,970 --> 00:14:01,640 Costehen is the nephew of Benny Hin, 259 00:14:01,670 --> 00:14:04,900 and he's worked with his family, sometimes as a catcher himself. 260 00:14:04,930 --> 00:14:07,340 In 2017, Kostihan came forward 261 00:14:07,370 --> 00:14:10,780 with a testimony of his time spent in Benihan's ministry. 262 00:14:10,810 --> 00:14:16,860 The responsibility is to look really good, look really blessed, sell the narrative, 263 00:14:16,890 --> 00:14:20,100 make all the money, and say, look at my life. 264 00:14:20,130 --> 00:14:22,180 If you give to this, if you follow it, 265 00:14:22,210 --> 00:14:25,940 if you obey it, and if you do what I say, god will do it for you too. 266 00:14:25,970 --> 00:14:29,580 He described the lifestyle that he had whilst working with his family. 267 00:14:29,610 --> 00:14:32,180 We lived in a 10,000 square foot mansion 268 00:14:32,210 --> 00:14:35,780 guarded by a private gate, drove two Mercedes Benz vehicles, 269 00:14:35,810 --> 00:14:40,780 vacationed in exotic destinations, and shopped at the most expensive stores. 270 00:14:40,810 --> 00:14:43,700 Costa Hin really believed in what he was 271 00:14:43,730 --> 00:14:48,420 doing, but he only had doubts when he started finding contradictions in what he 272 00:14:48,450 --> 00:14:51,940 was teaching and what he was finding in the Bible. 273 00:14:51,970 --> 00:14:54,360 Grace Bruler was eight years old when she 274 00:14:54,390 --> 00:14:58,700 was featured on an episode of CBC's The Fifth Estate in 2005, 275 00:14:58,730 --> 00:15:02,380 an episode that was specifically investigating Hens ministry. 276 00:15:02,410 --> 00:15:07,200 If you could have a miracle, what would you want it to be? 277 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,640 They can look. 278 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,080 Just walk. 279 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:15,260 Is that what you want, Grace? 280 00:15:15,290 --> 00:15:17,280 Just to walk? 281 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:19,740 Just to walk. 282 00:15:19,770 --> 00:15:23,900 Grace's mother brings her daughter to one of Hinn's miracle crusades. 283 00:15:23,930 --> 00:15:27,680 And just as she's about to go to the stage, she's intercepted by what 284 00:15:27,710 --> 00:15:30,620 are called screeners who tell her to step aside. 285 00:15:30,650 --> 00:15:35,020 According to that documentary and an insider, the job of the screeners 286 00:15:35,050 --> 00:15:38,460 is to screen out the people that are severely sick and ill. 287 00:15:38,490 --> 00:15:40,260 There's the story of Justin Peters, 288 00:15:40,290 --> 00:15:43,940 who is an evangelist himself and was born with cerebral palsy. 289 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:45,660 During the Fifth Estates investigation 290 00:15:45,690 --> 00:15:49,340 into him's ministry, they attempt to get Peters to go on stage as well. 291 00:15:49,370 --> 00:15:53,020 And just like Grace, he is also intercepted by the screeners. 292 00:15:53,050 --> 00:15:55,220 Our hidden camera shows Justin being 293 00:15:55,250 --> 00:15:59,860 stopped by a screener watch as Henryhin whispers something to her. 294 00:15:59,890 --> 00:16:02,900 Then Justin is told to step aside. 295 00:16:02,930 --> 00:16:08,000 In another documentary from 2001, HBO were given full access to Hinsaville. 296 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,860 Events and were even allowed to follow 297 00:16:09,890 --> 00:16:12,620 several cases of supposed miracle healings. 298 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:14,160 These are people that actually managed 299 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,340 to get onto the stage and claim they'd been healed. 300 00:16:16,370 --> 00:16:20,320 In one instance, the crew follows a boy called Ash Neil and his parents as they 301 00:16:20,350 --> 00:16:23,340 are desperate to have their child healed by one of him's. 302 00:16:23,370 --> 00:16:27,480 Miracles. We expecting america. 303 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,460 The Prakash family are recent immigrants to America. 304 00:16:31,490 --> 00:16:34,700 Ten year old Ash Neil is their younger son. 305 00:16:34,730 --> 00:16:39,580 Two massive brain tumors have reduced him to a vegetative state. 306 00:16:39,610 --> 00:16:45,740 We believe in God, we have faith, and there's nothing impossible for God. 307 00:16:45,770 --> 00:16:48,900 Later in the documentary, Ashton's parents actually attend 308 00:16:48,930 --> 00:16:53,940 the crusade and they're brought on stage to have their child healed by him himself. 309 00:16:53,970 --> 00:16:56,180 Hin gets the crowd to raise their hands 310 00:16:56,210 --> 00:16:59,740 and then he places his hands on Ashley's face and says, expect the. 311 00:16:59,770 --> 00:17:07,010 Miracle, dear Jesus, the Lord's going to touch you, young boy. 312 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,380 Days after the event and Ashnil still wasn't healed. 313 00:17:10,410 --> 00:17:11,530 It didn't happen. 314 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,220 I was not even discouraged. I know. 315 00:17:14,250 --> 00:17:15,740 It's God's plan. 316 00:17:15,770 --> 00:17:17,900 I can stake my life on pasta. 317 00:17:17,930 --> 00:17:19,500 Many words. 318 00:17:19,530 --> 00:17:22,620 And God spoke to me last night 319 00:17:22,650 --> 00:17:26,860 at the Coliseum center where the crusade was going on, and he said, 320 00:17:26,890 --> 00:17:31,420 donate him another $2,000 and which I'm going to do it. 321 00:17:31,450 --> 00:17:32,860 I'm going to do that. 322 00:17:32,890 --> 00:17:35,700 Recently I watched an event from Kenneth Copeland's. 323 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:37,140 Eagle Mountain church, right. 324 00:17:37,170 --> 00:17:39,140 It's called miracles on a mountain. 325 00:17:39,170 --> 00:17:41,180 It's another miracle healing service. 326 00:17:41,210 --> 00:17:45,140 And in this instance it was hosted by this evangelist called Billy Burke. 327 00:17:45,170 --> 00:17:47,240 And at one point someone is brought out 328 00:17:47,270 --> 00:17:52,250 from the crowd and I thought, hang on, I recognize this guy. 329 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:53,530 It was Big Nick, 330 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,290 who for those of you that don't know, was an ex member of the popular social 331 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,810 media group the Vlog Squad, which is headed by David Dobrik. 332 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,180 At the event, Nick tells Billy Burke about his blind eye. 333 00:18:04,210 --> 00:18:06,420 I'm blind in my left eye as well. 334 00:18:06,450 --> 00:18:08,010 I know that you told me that. 335 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:14,570 Billy then attempts to cure his eye, loosen that after all these theatrics 336 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,500 billy then starts to wiggle his finger around and then nothing yet. 337 00:18:19,530 --> 00:18:20,500 Nothing yet. 338 00:18:20,530 --> 00:18:23,660 And Billy hears that and he continues, like trying to help him. 339 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:27,600 And then when he realizes it doesn't work, he then just tells Nick recite chapters 340 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,860 of the Bible every night for your eye to be cured. 341 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,460 So John, chapter nine, your confession, starting tonight and every night. 342 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:34,050 You hear me? 343 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,050 Tonight and every night before you go to bed. 344 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:38,180 Are you ready? 345 00:18:38,210 --> 00:18:40,290 I was blind and now I see. 346 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,180 I was blind and now I see. 347 00:18:42,210 --> 00:18:43,620 And the crowd Cheerss. 348 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,290 It's like the miracle actually happened. 349 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,290 Now it's been about seven months since 350 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,570 that event took place and I've looked through Big Nick's social media account 351 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,810 and there's no indication that his eye has healed since the event. 352 00:18:53,840 --> 00:19:00,000 So again, what are we witnessing when we see things like this? 353 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:03,770 If we are to believe that these people aren't just actors, 354 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:09,180 which I really don't think that they are what is actually happening. 355 00:19:09,210 --> 00:19:11,810 Consider this if what we're seeing is 356 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:16,980 really a miracle, why don't these people go to hospitals and heal people there? 357 00:19:17,010 --> 00:19:18,560 Why do they need the lights 358 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,250 and the cameras and the atmosphere and the theatrics to be able to do what they do? 359 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:27,420 In 2011, Darren Brown ran this TV special program called Miracles for sale. 360 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,140 In this special program, Darren Brown, 361 00:19:29,170 --> 00:19:32,220 who is this self described mentalist and illusionist, 362 00:19:32,250 --> 00:19:35,770 takes this ordinary individual called Nathan and attempts to turn him 363 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,330 into a faith healer, performing miracles in front of an audience. 364 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:41,700 The idea behind the program was to expose 365 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,980 the fact that what is happening here are not miracles, that it's just a product 366 00:19:45,010 --> 00:19:48,330 of psychology, the power of suggestion and misdirection. 367 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:51,700 Now, some aspects of faith healing are just pure trickery. 368 00:19:51,730 --> 00:19:55,140 A good example of this is the infamous leg growing trick. 369 00:19:55,170 --> 00:19:59,380 The preacher Todd White is well known for walking around the streets and finding 370 00:19:59,410 --> 00:20:03,010 individuals who supposedly have one leg that is shorter than the other. 371 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:04,140 And then, miraculously, 372 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,770 White will begin to grow out that person's leg right before our very eyes. 373 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:08,290 Thank you. 374 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:13,090 In Jesus name, left leg, I command you, grow right now. 375 00:20:13,120 --> 00:20:14,660 In Jesus name. 376 00:20:14,690 --> 00:20:19,620 Darren Brown teaches Nathan to do this exact trick because it's not a miracle. 377 00:20:19,650 --> 00:20:23,570 The leg growing trick is infamously used by charlatans throughout history. 378 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,620 In fact, a quick Google or YouTube search 379 00:20:25,650 --> 00:20:29,420 will demonstrate how it can be done in several ways, one of which involves 380 00:20:29,450 --> 00:20:33,700 shifting the other person's shoes to make it seem as though a leg is being grown. 381 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:37,810 If you speed up the Todd White clip of him performing this miracle and you just play 382 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:42,920 it back and forth, you can literally see what Todd White is doing. 383 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,800 But a big part of faith healing isn't just tricks like this. 384 00:20:46,830 --> 00:20:50,810 In fact, a lot of it is rooted in a deeper part of who we are as people. 385 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,740 By the end of Darren Brown's special, 386 00:20:52,770 --> 00:20:56,560 nathan is able to perform in front of a small audience of believers. 387 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,180 And you can see that he, too, is able to, with just the touch of his hand, 388 00:21:00,210 --> 00:21:03,810 bring people to fall back as though they were touched by God themselves. 389 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,800 To understand how Nathan, who is an ordinary guy, versus Benny Hinn, 390 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,740 who claims to be able to perform miracles, can do what they're doing, 391 00:21:10,770 --> 00:21:14,660 you have to understand the power behind what they're creating in their shows. 392 00:21:14,690 --> 00:21:16,660 From the very moment it begins, 393 00:21:16,690 --> 00:21:21,620 you're joined by a crowd of people united by a particular cause or belief. 394 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,010 There are those in the crowd who are 395 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:26,740 already in pain, who feel as though something is missing in their lives. 396 00:21:26,770 --> 00:21:31,420 When they are brought together, there is a sense of oneness of wholeness and unity. 397 00:21:31,450 --> 00:21:35,660 Just think about how powerful crowds can be and what it's like to be in one, 398 00:21:35,690 --> 00:21:38,940 especially when you're all joined by a united cause. 399 00:21:38,970 --> 00:21:41,420 You're then brought into this hypnotic or 400 00:21:41,450 --> 00:21:44,740 more specifically, a suggestible and open state. 401 00:21:44,770 --> 00:21:48,420 He wants to heal you because he loves you. 402 00:21:48,450 --> 00:21:53,140 You don't have to pay for it, just ask for it. 403 00:21:53,170 --> 00:21:56,500 The music rises and falls stirring a wave 404 00:21:56,530 --> 00:21:59,020 of experiences and emotions amongst the crowd. 405 00:21:59,050 --> 00:22:02,540 Then you begin to create the expectancy for what is about to come. 406 00:22:02,570 --> 00:22:07,740 All things are possible to him that believe it. 407 00:22:07,770 --> 00:22:11,090 You keep the crowd in this heightened, aroused state of mind. 408 00:22:11,120 --> 00:22:12,740 And as the crowd is ripened 409 00:22:12,770 --> 00:22:17,180 for suggestibility the faith healer acts almost like a conductor for the orchestra 410 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,090 of experiences that people are going through. 411 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:23,740 A leader amongst a crowd of people in a hypnotic trancelike state is 412 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,780 something that you cannot underestimate the psychological effect of. 413 00:22:26,810 --> 00:22:29,330 Then the healer begins preaching their message. 414 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,740 But don't look for the healing. 415 00:22:31,770 --> 00:22:34,330 Look for the healer whatsoever. 416 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:38,660 You shall ask what will I do? 417 00:22:38,690 --> 00:22:40,900 The crowd is full of ecstasy. 418 00:22:40,930 --> 00:22:45,020 The joy in the audience the deep feeling as though you're becoming a new person. 419 00:22:45,050 --> 00:22:48,020 You're connecting with that of which is above you. 420 00:22:48,050 --> 00:22:50,090 You expect that when the preacher lays 421 00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:54,500 their hand on you or shouts beggar you may feel God's touch with it. 422 00:22:54,530 --> 00:22:58,330 You've been suggested and primed to believe that that is the case. 423 00:22:58,360 --> 00:23:02,090 And in being so connected to the crowd around you the effects of social 424 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:05,700 conformity are bound to take place in this trance like state. 425 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,220 You go along with what the preacher's suggestions are. 426 00:23:08,250 --> 00:23:10,180 You do what you are expected to do. 427 00:23:10,210 --> 00:23:13,260 It's no different to what a stage hypnotist does. 428 00:23:13,290 --> 00:23:17,140 The more suggestible you are, the more belief you have, the easier it becomes. 429 00:23:17,170 --> 00:23:19,220 And what's even more interesting is 430 00:23:19,250 --> 00:23:24,220 that in this heightened state of emotions, of euphoria, of adrenaline it's very 431 00:23:24,250 --> 00:23:27,050 possible to feel symptoms being alleviated. 432 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:29,160 It's possible, even for someone who is 433 00:23:29,190 --> 00:23:33,050 in a wheelchair to momentarily be able to get up and walk around. 434 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:39,290 But what we are really witnessing is just a moment of mind over body. 435 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,860 The placebo effect is a well known phenomenon. 436 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:43,740 It's when a patient's condition changes 437 00:23:43,770 --> 00:23:48,050 after receiving a treatment that by no means should have changed their condition. 438 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:52,290 For example, if a patient expects a pill to do something and is told by their 439 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,660 doctor that it'll help them even if that pill is just a sugar pill 440 00:23:55,690 --> 00:24:00,090 that doesn't do anything it is possible for your own brain chemistry to cause 441 00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:03,290 effects similar to what medication might have caused. 442 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,810 The key word here is expect because 443 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:11,180 a placebo effect is mostly theorized to be caused by our expectations around a given 444 00:24:11,210 --> 00:24:14,900 treatment expectations that we derive from culture and society. 445 00:24:14,930 --> 00:24:16,980 That's why a placebo that is given as 446 00:24:17,010 --> 00:24:19,810 an injection rather than a pill can be more effective. 447 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:21,800 Or when you're given two placebo pills 448 00:24:21,830 --> 00:24:26,090 to take every day rather than one it can also be more effective because culturally 449 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:30,050 we perceive the latter of these treatments to have a bigger effect on us. 450 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,740 That belief and expectancy can be so 451 00:24:32,770 --> 00:24:35,780 powerful as to have physiological effects on our body. 452 00:24:35,810 --> 00:24:38,700 And what more powerful expectation can 453 00:24:38,730 --> 00:24:43,290 somebody have than one that invokes their very own belief in a higher spiritual 454 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:47,220 being like God, surrounded by others who share that very belief? 455 00:24:47,250 --> 00:24:49,330 What we are seeing is a placebo. 456 00:24:49,360 --> 00:24:53,440 This is why you'll never see any miracle healer or somebody that believes 457 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,900 in the law of attraction, be able to do anything that is beyond a placebo. 458 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,330 It's why you'll never see them be able to restore the limb of an amputee. 459 00:25:00,360 --> 00:25:03,260 And as I've watched your healing crusades, 460 00:25:03,290 --> 00:25:07,020 am I seeing anything that goes beyond placebo? 461 00:25:07,050 --> 00:25:10,020 I've wondered why sometimes someone comes 462 00:25:10,050 --> 00:25:16,980 in and comes out of a wheelchair, walks around, runs around, 463 00:25:17,010 --> 00:25:20,620 and hours later, they're back in that wheelchair again. 464 00:25:20,650 --> 00:25:24,380 The problem is, however, that those who attend the event 465 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,020 and whose problems and illnesses are not healed at the event or return after 466 00:25:28,050 --> 00:25:32,700 the event start to blame themselves that for some reason God didn't want 467 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:34,570 to heal them, that they didn't have enough faith. 468 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,290 Remember Ash Neal from the HBO documentary 469 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,290 seven weeks after attending Hynn's Miracle Crusade? 470 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:41,740 Expect the miracle. 471 00:25:41,770 --> 00:25:42,860 He passed away. 472 00:25:42,890 --> 00:25:47,330 Do you feel in any way that any hin has let you down? 473 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:49,120 No. 474 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:54,460 Did you ever, in some of your worst moments, think that you must have done 475 00:25:54,490 --> 00:25:57,140 something wrong in the eyes of God to deserve this? 476 00:25:57,170 --> 00:25:58,330 Yes. 477 00:25:58,360 --> 00:26:01,880 I know there's a generational curse. 478 00:26:02,120 --> 00:26:04,330 Maybe it originated from me or 479 00:26:04,360 --> 00:26:09,260 from my parents, because that curse lasts for three or four generations. 480 00:26:09,290 --> 00:26:10,900 Who taught you that? 481 00:26:10,930 --> 00:26:12,380 I hate it. 482 00:26:12,410 --> 00:26:14,050 From Pasadena. 483 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:15,700 It doesn't square with the Bible at all. 484 00:26:15,730 --> 00:26:17,050 It's a complete scam. 485 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:18,900 It's utter deception. 486 00:26:18,930 --> 00:26:21,420 Increase your faith, 487 00:26:21,450 --> 00:26:29,120 increase your seed, and store up for the future 488 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:36,220 so that when these tragedies hit on earth, you would be spared. 489 00:26:36,250 --> 00:26:40,500 It is a deception to a degree that I don't think I've seen before. 490 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:42,570 And you have to sit there and look at this 491 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,980 all and wonder, surely there's justice to this story. 492 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,940 Right? Surely somebody takes the fool. 493 00:26:47,970 --> 00:26:50,140 Surely there's a happy ending to it. 494 00:26:50,170 --> 00:26:52,040 Surely. 495 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:59,980 In September of 2019, benny Hin comes out with quite the astonishing announcement. 496 00:27:00,010 --> 00:27:04,740 And I'm sorry to say that prosperity has gone a little crazy. 497 00:27:04,770 --> 00:27:07,180 I think it's an offense to the Lord. 498 00:27:07,210 --> 00:27:10,320 It's an offense to say, give a think. 499 00:27:10,350 --> 00:27:15,760 It's offense to the Holy Spirit to place a price on the gospel. 500 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:18,460 I'm done with it. 501 00:27:18,490 --> 00:27:23,700 Many whom had decided to leave the prosperity gospel hallelujah. 502 00:27:23,730 --> 00:27:26,620 Right? One of the best lessons that I could give 503 00:27:26,650 --> 00:27:29,500 to people is say, watch what they go back to. 504 00:27:29,530 --> 00:27:33,090 Watch what they give up and watch what they go back to. 505 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:36,540 Okay? So it's time to give to the Lord's work. 506 00:27:36,570 --> 00:27:43,740 It's time to succeed in the Lord's work so God can bless you and reward you. 507 00:27:43,770 --> 00:27:46,900 Trust me. It's time to give to the Lord's work. 508 00:27:46,930 --> 00:27:51,660 Because giving guarantees our financial protection. 509 00:27:51,690 --> 00:27:55,660 The problem is, once you've generated the type of following and business 510 00:27:55,690 --> 00:28:00,620 and reputation that hin has, changing your ways becomes almost 511 00:28:00,650 --> 00:28:04,620 impossible, and more so because I genuinely believe that most of these 512 00:28:04,650 --> 00:28:07,900 prosperity preachers, they're not intentionally malicious, 513 00:28:07,930 --> 00:28:10,980 they've deceived themselves, even till today. 514 00:28:11,010 --> 00:28:14,860 I question, is this God or is this just me? 515 00:28:14,890 --> 00:28:17,200 The reality is that most of the preachers 516 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,620 that we've mentioned in this video are continuing their operations today. 517 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:22,940 And when they pass, there's going to be a wave of new 518 00:28:22,970 --> 00:28:25,420 prosperity preachers ready to take their place. 519 00:28:25,450 --> 00:28:28,090 The message is an easy one to spread. 520 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:31,020 It promises you health, wealth, and happiness. 521 00:28:31,050 --> 00:28:32,460 It makes you feel good. 522 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,290 And what's not to love about that, right? 523 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:35,700 Look at the comment section below. 524 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:39,320 And you're probably not going to be hard pressed to find someone defending him or 525 00:28:39,350 --> 00:28:41,940 Copeland or the Prosperity Theology overall. 526 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:45,500 You'll probably find people claiming that they have seen miracles happen or 527 00:28:45,530 --> 00:28:48,900 that by sowing their seed prosperity really was given to them. 528 00:28:48,930 --> 00:28:51,330 And I'm not delivering any new message here. 529 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:53,520 Prosperity Theology receives a lot 530 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:56,920 of criticism inside of Christianity and outside, and you. 531 00:28:56,950 --> 00:28:59,260 Know you're a piece of shit, right? You know? 532 00:28:59,290 --> 00:29:00,540 Right. 533 00:29:00,570 --> 00:29:02,480 They'll still get away with their 534 00:29:02,510 --> 00:29:06,020 teachings because their message isn't for people who are cynical. 535 00:29:06,050 --> 00:29:09,420 It's really difficult to stop their more deceptive actions. 536 00:29:09,450 --> 00:29:13,420 The only thing you can do is go to those that believe in it and steer them away. 537 00:29:13,450 --> 00:29:15,740 And until that happens, the booming business 538 00:29:15,770 --> 00:29:22,000 of Prosperity Theology and faith healing will continue to flourish. 539 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:26,620 I don't know what you feel about 540 00:29:26,650 --> 00:29:32,050 the Prosperity Gospel, the Health, wealth and Prosperity Gospel, 541 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:37,220 but I'll tell you what I feel about it hatred. 542 00:29:37,250 --> 00:29:42,180 It is not the gospel, and it's being exported from this country 543 00:29:42,210 --> 00:29:48,540 to Africa and Asia, selling a bill of goods to the poorest, of the poor. 544 00:29:48,570 --> 00:29:55,330 Believe this message your pigs won't die, your wife won't have miscarriages. 545 00:29:55,360 --> 00:30:01,780 You have rings on your fingers and coats on your back that's coming out of America. 546 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,500 The people don't ought to be giving our money and our time. 547 00:30:04,530 --> 00:30:07,140 John Piper is just one of the many 548 00:30:07,170 --> 00:30:11,330 preachers and ministries that actively try and combat the Prosperity Gospel. 549 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:13,480 And although Texas is home to some 550 00:30:13,510 --> 00:30:17,460 of the biggest megachurches, it's also home to the Trinity Foundation, 551 00:30:17,490 --> 00:30:21,330 a leading watchdog ministry founded by Oli Anthony that carries out 552 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,090 investigations into some of the conducts of the biggest televangelists. 553 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,500 It was Oli Anthony, founder of the East Dallas homeless 554 00:30:28,530 --> 00:30:32,860 Ministry, Trinity Foundation, who masterminded the investigation 555 00:30:32,890 --> 00:30:37,330 and helped expose some of the top televangelists in the country. 556 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:41,420 You know, faith and religion are powerful things. 557 00:30:41,450 --> 00:30:45,810 Seeing the sense of hope that it can fill a person with or the community 558 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,980 and the purpose that it can inspire towards good causes, 559 00:30:49,010 --> 00:30:52,980 I don't think anyone can look at those things on their own and say they're bad. 560 00:30:53,010 --> 00:30:54,020 A few months ago, 561 00:30:54,050 --> 00:30:57,090 I had burnt out from working, and when that happened, 562 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:00,460 I felt very cynical about everything that I was doing. 563 00:31:00,490 --> 00:31:01,620 What was the point? 564 00:31:01,650 --> 00:31:04,180 And what helped was having a sense of hope 565 00:31:04,210 --> 00:31:08,380 that those feelings would come to pass and finding purpose in what I was doing 566 00:31:08,410 --> 00:31:14,020 and spending time with my friends and family, hope, purpose and community. 567 00:31:14,050 --> 00:31:18,140 But hope, purpose and community can be exploited. 568 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:19,980 It can cloud your better judgment just 569 00:31:20,010 --> 00:31:22,660 because somebody dresses the part or sounds the part. 570 00:31:22,690 --> 00:31:24,380 And invokes the word God. 571 00:31:24,410 --> 00:31:28,500 If you're somebody watching this that is a believer in the prosperity gospel, 572 00:31:28,530 --> 00:31:32,980 I invite you to think over and really question, could I be wrong? 573 00:31:33,010 --> 00:31:35,180 A healthy skepticism, I think, 574 00:31:35,210 --> 00:31:39,660 only motivates someone to find the truth, not drift further away from it. 575 00:31:39,690 --> 00:31:44,290 Seek, and perhaps you will find it. 576 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:48,500 If you think the world of prosperity preachers and megachurches is crazy, then, 577 00:31:48,530 --> 00:31:52,090 my friends, you have to check out my documentary on New Age gurus. 578 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,020 It should be shown somewhere on the screen. 579 00:31:54,050 --> 00:31:57,660 That is arguably where all of this kind of began to form and originate. 580 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:00,180 And it is just a whole other rabbit hole in and of itself. 581 00:32:00,210 --> 00:32:02,810 But either way, my friends, it is great to be back. 582 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:04,940 As always. Hand to herd. 583 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:05,360 Salute.