The wife of televangelist Benny Hinn has filed for divorce from the high-profile pastor, whose reputation as an advocate of prosperity gospel has attracted millions of followers and criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups over his lavish lifestyle.
Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Superior Court on Feb. 1, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note the two separated on Jan. 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.
“Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice,” Benny Hinn Ministries said Thursday in a statement. “Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavored to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice.”
Hinn is one of the best known advocates of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime.
His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly every day. He travels the globe in his ministry’s plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls “Miracle Crusades” that include spiritual healings.
Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family.
Over the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money only to enrich himself.
He is one of six televangelists under investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether he complied with IRS rules for nonprofits. Hinn has said on his Web site that external auditors ensure his compliance with IRS regulations and that in 2008, 88 percent of the money he collected was spent on ministry.
Benny Hinn Ministries is based in Grapevine, Texas, and operates a church and television studio in Aliso Viejo in California’s Orange County, according to its Web site.
Sorrell Trope, the attorney with the law firm representing Suzanne Hinn, did not return a call for comment. A woman at his office said the firm does not comment on divorce filings without the client’s approval.
J. Lee Grady, contributing editor of Charisma, a news magazine on the Pentecostal community, said Hinn’s divorce is the latest in a string of high-profile ministry divorces and moral failures among the Pentecostal leaders, beginning with Ted Haggard’s fall from grace in 2006.
Haggard, who is married and has five children, admitted to receiving a massage from a male prostitute and buying drugs from him, but denied allegations he paid the man for sex.
Grady said in an e-mail Thursday that Hinn’s followers will want an explanation for the divorce because of the high profile the couple had.
“It will be devastating to the people who have supported Benny Hinn’s evangelistic work around the world,” Grady said.
“Obviously because their ministry has been very public, they will need to issue a statement to their supporters to explain how this happened,” he said.
[The Washington Post Thursday, February 18, 2010] Initial info by LT Blogger Chapwa
Sad day indeed but what can we say,they are human beings.Let every man be a liar and God be true.
The devil is at work and will do everything possible to bring men of God down. He is targeting them and once they fall then the people who trust this man of God will lose faith and fall as well. Pray for the man of God and his wife so that they reconcil.
indeed you can laugh so many things happening in world, on the otherside today Tiger woods made his first public statement and apology over his selfish and unfaithfulness behavoir to his wife Elin cheating with 16 women, after 2 months since the scandal broke out.:)>-:@)>:)
This benny hinn chap is a criminal and not a man of god. The man lives a very lavish lyf style while his followers wallow in poverty. If u dnt believ me go to google and type th words”benny hinn corrupt” and u will be shocked wit th results of this criminal masquerading as a man of god.
We are all sinners. All glory be to Jesus. Prayers for Pastor Hinn and his wife. There is nothing wrong with having money because we have been broke in Zambia this we think a pastor should be hungry. The Bible says the love of money not money is the root of evil, read people read. I am a sinning Christian that repents.
it does not say they split because of money? what could be the real reason.
:(( oh this is sad news.I pray that they shall sort out their differences.The wife was probably tired of always been left alone while he goes preaching.Men give your wives attention!
No woman No cry. Its Sad but we all know that the strongest Man in the World was Messed by a Woman. Not to blame women as such as we await the actual facts for devorce.
Please all the beuatiful ladies of Zambia and world over I ask for your pardon in advance- Kuti bafulwa
Sad for Benny.its a disgrace.I thought divorce must only be because of death or adultery on either part & Benny Hinn’s wife surely knows this..we will know the truth soon…I am sure Benny Hinn is another Tiger Woods..lets wait and see…
Too bad .Maybe the Guy was always too tired because of his ministry work such that he was always anable to ride his bicycle during the long lonely nights, making the wife to start looking at him like a stranger.Anyway lets pray for the dude i guess he now needs more of our prayers than he is able to give us:-?
Am i surprised? NO not even a bit. God in his mercy gave each one of us sense of reasoning, to distinguish truth from rubbish. Am a christian up-to the neck but this guy has never come across me as a man of God, NEVER. He’s been a businessman cum conman through and through and never a pastor, healer etc. Only small minds would be stressing over this, hey! by the way dont even compare him to Tiger Woods. Tiger never abused God’s name, this man does, Tiger even apologised this man will never.
Just another Dan Pule……….here we go.
It is not unusual for men of influence in Christendom to be attacked through their consorts. Samson said, If you had not ploughed with my heifer…’ Satan will try every possible tact to get at us, even through family, and spouse. John Wesley too suffered at the hands of his wife. Now, those in ministry, learn to have your spouses also in the same calling and limelight. But gate of hell will not win. Amen!
When God said his name should not be used in vain, he meant it and actually wasnt asking but commanding as it it clearly writen in the bible. We are not to judge but decerning what is spiritual and not is what every Christian should do. God exposes hipocricy and whether this man is a true man of God or not, his works and deeds are seen and known by the one he serves coz he is never asleep
Man of God , Pastor, Prophet, Evangelist, Born Again, Christian Nation…only a fool will be duped with this nonsense! Please use your Brain faculties…..We are rational Beings!
May the almight God be with Pastor Benny Hinn
Is this the same Hinn who’s weakness is brothels and prostitutes? Or wifey is just bored of fiddling the same old tweno since donkey years! Just another fake take!!!
Seven times shall a righteous man fall and seven times shall he rise again. Let us not rejoice when others are brought down, rather let us pray for them. We know that ALL things work together for good to them that fear God and serve him with all their hearts. A man is just a man – and Benny Hinn is a man.
# 10 Lol……ati unable to ride his bicycle.=))
Fikulu bacitile a wife of 30yrs does not just file for divorce on trivial issues.
I just came about this news and this will indeed make some news considering that its a big time paster involved. Of course everyone has their fair share of problems and trials but the better question would be if the couple took effort to prevent the divorce from taking place.
Unmasked…..Benny Hinn
Compiled by Neil Richardson – UK
and Philip Powell – NZ
Editorial Comment by Philip Powell:
Frequently when presenting the following and similar facts about Benny Hinn we encounter the statement: “Yes but Benny Hinn has repented and so it’s wrong to dig up the past.” However the Bible position regarding serious sin (heresy is a serious sin) is that it carries consequences. Furthermore the Bible clearly teaches that true repentance results in a change of behaviour. We publish this article with a deep sense of compassion and concern, especially for the large numbers of Christians who are confused or deceived but also for Mr Hinn himself and for those who endorse, sponsor or promote his meetings. Those who deceive are frequently deceived themselves. We must…
Two of the Scriptures to consider when dealing with this man, and others like him, are: Gal 1:7-8: “There are some who trouble you and want to perfect the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach any gospel to you other than the one we have preached to you, let him be accursed;” and 1 Tim 2:1: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men”.
The main objective of this article, then, is to warn the body of Christ of false teachers and false teachings and to show from the Bible how to “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor 10:5). The secondary aim is to move the reader to pray for people like Benny Hinn and those whom he…
Benny Hinn- the man
Pastor of the Orlando Christian Centre in Florida. Congregation: 12,000.
Regular televangelist on Trinity Broadcasting Network with programmes like This is your day; Benny Hinn, Praise-a-Thon and Praise the Lord; Potential viewing figures: 16 million.
Author of blockbusting bestsellers Good Morning Holy Spirit, This is your day for a miracle, The Blood, Rise and Be Healed, Lord I need a miracle, Welcome Holy Spirit and The Anointing. Sales: upwards of one million (exceeding those of Charles Swindoll and James Dobson combined)
Born and raised in Israel, which leads many to believe that he has command of authoritative Biblical Hebrew (he doesn’t). He claimed his father was Mayor of Jaffa (he wasn’t).
“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their…
Benny Hinn- What is he up to and with whom does he associate?
He appeared at Earls’ Court, London in August 1996 with international evangelist Morris Cerullo and Kensington Temple (London) pastor Colin Dye among others, where he made claims of bringing a greater revival to England than it has ever seen (one that the apostles Peter and James wish they could be at), in which the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace would be shaken. He also relieved the very willing audience of a vast amount of cash (in buckets), assuring the people that they would receive a great (financial) reward, physical healing, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, deliverance from the devil, and so on. The author of this piece was present and can testify in truth that what characterises Benny’s crusades is not…
In a Crusade conducted in Rome in late 1996 he so incensed his Pentecostal promoters by his public support of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church that the interpreter refused to interpret his preaching, the musical group refused to perform and later the sponsors signed a declaration of non-association with Benny Hinn, indicating that they would never invite him to Italy again. The Italian Assemblies of God had previously refused to be involved in the Crusade.
At the 1997 National Assemblies of God Conference in Adelaide Benny Hinn again eulogised the Pope and told of his meeting with Cardinal Sin of the Philippines and their private agreement that Sin would promote Hinn and that Hinn would encourage Roman Catholics to return to and remain in their Catholic faith and Church…
Shocking facts about Benny Hinn…
Benny Hinn is a Roman Catholic mystic, who is taking the Pentecostal and Charismatic Church down the ecumenical road towards Rome. This has been known for some time. For example the Italian Assemblies of God refused to endorse his crusade in Rome (1996), sponsored by the independent Pentecostals, who themselves were shocked when Mr Hinn failed to once open his Bible on the first night of the Crusade. On the second night the interpreter refused to interpret Hinn’s favourable comments about the Pope and the Catholic Church and the music group refused to sing. The up-shot was that the organisers signed a document of “non-association” with Benny Hinn, and promised never to invite him to Italy again. Despite this he was invited as guest speaker to the…
Danny yakumbuyo sung a song ati Baka kwafwa musunge bwino, on the other hand we are all sinners but lets not abuse God’s name
The most disturbing feature was that no one at the Australian Assemblies of God Conference raised public objection to Hinn’s comments. Now Benny Hinn has been invited to conduct a Healing Crusade in Auckland on June 13, 1998. Those endorsing the Crusade include Wayne Hughes, Senior Pastor of the Takapuna Assembly of God, Ian Bilby, Senior Pastor of the Auckland City Elim Church, Paul de Jong, Senior Pastor of the Christian Life Centre, Auckland, Hamish Divett, Senior Minister of the Christian City Church, Auckland and Peter Mortlock, Senior Pastor of the Bays Christian Fellowship, New Life Churches of New Zealand. (Letter dated 4th March, 1998 issued by the New Zealand branch of the Benny Hinn Ministries (PO Box 24377, Royal Oak, Auckland – phone 09 521 0133; fax 09 528 7185; mobile 025…
CWM alerted Wayne Hughes to the fact of Benny Hinn’s documented necromancy in late January or early February ’98. Despite this he has continued to endorse Hinn and his ministry, although it is rumoured that he is concerned that he might be doing the wrong thing. For the record we have published a copy of the relevant email. Our strong recommendation to all Christians is that you do not participate in any supportive way – by means of donations or otherwise – in the Benny Hinn Crusade or to the Benny Hinn Ministries.
John the apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ wrote: – “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do…
Evidence that Benny Hinn practices necromancy…
Further documented proof is supplied in the book – “THE CONFUSING WORLD OF BENNY HINN” obtainable from your nearest CWM Office at $25 each including post. (This book has been enlarged to include a chapter on Hinn’s necromancy. Authors include a USA, AOG pastor. Increased price mainly due to the need to get more books from USA by air mail. We also recommend the two videos”THE SIGNS & WONDERS MOVEMENT EXPOSED” – Part 1 – MIRACLES and Part 2 – MONEY – at $30 each including post.)
The following was supplied by Michael Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries, HAWAII on Philip Powell’s request following a report that Benny Hinn had caused a great deal of trouble in the islands following his Honolulu Crusade in March, 1998.
Taken from…
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to tell you something right now. The Lord showed me a vision about – goodness it’s almost been a year now. And – (I) can tell you I sense now the time has come when this vision is gonna be fulfilled. I had a vision of the night. What I saw, myself walk into a room. I’ve shared this before but just in case you – you’ve not heard it I want you to hear it. I saw myself walk into a room and there stood Kathryn Khulman.
And I’ve not seen Kathryn in a dream or a vision [in] years. Uh, when she died, the day she died, the morning she died, I had a dream what I – what I saw in a – in a – in a – in a casket with a white dress. And when I woke up in – in the morning, I knew she had died and it was on the news that same morning. And so it’s been many years…
“Well, anyway, in this one, in this vision that-that I saw-saw Miss Khulman. And she said, ‘Follow me.’ That’s all she said. And I followed her to a second room. In that second room stood the Lord. When the Lord, uh-when-when I saw the lord, Kathryn disappeared. She was just gone [Hinn snaps fingers]. And now the Lord looked at me and said, ‘Follow me.’ And I followed him to a third room. In the third room sat a gentleman – I still remember his face. I can tell you, I still remember the man’s face. And the man sat in this wheelchair in that third room. There was a big hole in his neck. A tube down his throat. He was crippled on that wheelchair. And he had tubes down his body. Totally crippled, totally para-totally, of course, paralyzed. The Lord laid His hands on this man and as He…
Interpretation of the “vision”:
“When I woke, when I got up, when I came out of the vision, I was trembling and perspiring from head to toes. I know exactly what that vision means. It was Kathryn Khulman who took me, who introduced me to the Holy Spirit. That is the meaning of that first room when she said, ‘Follow me.’ But when Kathryn was gone, Jesus was there. Kathryn did her job and was gone and the Lord said, ‘Follow me’ into a third room. And there was this man. I believe I’m about to enter that third room. [Audience applause.] I’m telling you I feel it. I sense it. I believe that room speaks of a dimension, a new dimension in the Spirit. I believe I’ve been in that second room now for the last seven years. What is amazing to me, what’s amazing to me is God works or…
“Can I tell you something? I’ve never shared this. Never! I was in prayer one day and a man appeared in front of me. Happened for two days in a row, twice one day and the next day. The same man appeared. I’ve never told this, never. … This is recently. I’m not talking about a long time ago. He was about six feet two. Old man. Had a beard. … Glistening white beard. His face was somewhat thin, but very bold! Eyes – crystal blue. He had on a white garment, whiter than my shirt could ever get. On his head was a shawl, like a – like a covering. He looked like a priest. Every part of him glistened like crystal. And I spoke out and I said, ‘Lord, who is this man I see?’
I know you may – you may think I lost my mind, but the lord said, ‘ELIJAH the prophet” …Seven and half years…
‘Cause it’s in the Bible! You say, “Show it to me.” Jesus saw Moses and Elijah who came to talk to Him about His passion on the cross! Ladies and gentlemen, there’s way more than you know about God! And the reason I’m telling you all this? The Lord said to me only a few days ago, He said, “You’re – you’re about to come into a new level. Get ready!” And I’m already feeling the rumblings in the heavenlies. Somebody is about to talk to me again. Something is about to happen again. I don’t know what it is. But I – I’m so excited, I feel butterflies in my tummy. I feel something. I’ve had three prophets lately, absolute people that know the voice of God, that have said to me, “You’re about to walk into a new inheritance in the Spirit.” I don’t know what it is, when it is, but…
“One of the strangest experiences I had a few years ago [was] visiting Aimee’s tomb in California. This Thursday I’m on TBN. Friday I am gonna go and visit Kathryn Khulman’s tomb. It’s close by Aimee’s in Forest Lawn Cemetery. I’ve been there once already and every so often I like to go and pay my respects ’cause this great woman of God has touched my life. And that grave, uh, where she’s buried is closed, they built walls around it. You can’t get in without a key and I’m one of the very few people who can get in. But I’ll never forget when I saw Aimee’s tomb. It’s incredibly dramatic. She was such a lady that her tomb has seven-foot angels bowing on each side of her tomb with a gold chain around it. As-as incredible as it is that someone would die with angels bowing on each…
I knew that some one will mention the catholic Church, why cant you just look at the individual and his behaviour and not cheap propergander here. If you have never sinned be the first one to throw a stone on HINN
This might help some of u to know the truth about the man of God
Benny Hinn is a known conman whose miracles have been proved to be false many times. I remember the one special they had on him on NBC where he was telling old ladies they are cured and stop taking their medication which in turn led to their deaths Search for the many faces of benny hinn on youtube . I always find it funny how delusional christians think every time the dirty linen of their pastors is shown then it’s the devil at work. Might I remind you delusional christians that it’s not the devil that brings false prophets to their demise but The creator himself. The reason why these pastors are being shamed is because their true colours are being exposed to the masses, but then delusional christians still follow such people
Look to God and not man for these are indeed end times beware of TBN, i won’t say much.
(Acts 17 : 11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so
Let us be very careful and follow scripture.
[Deuteronomy 18 : 22] When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Benny Hinn–Orlando Christian Center, Dec. 31st, 1989.
“The Spirit tells me – Fidel Castro will die – in the 90’s. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God.”
Benny Hinn–Orlando Christian Center, Dec. 31st, 1989.
“The Lord also tells me to tell you in the mid 90’s, about ’94-’95, no later than that, God will destroy the h-o-m-o-s-e-x-u-a-l community of America.But He will not destroy it – with what many minds have thought Him to be, He will destroy it with fire. And many will turn and be saved, and many will rebel and be destroyed.”
Jordan River Water
While in the Holy Land recently, Pastor Benny was able to visit the actual place on the Jordan River where our precious Lord Jesus was baptized and was personally able to collect river water from that site. We are providing that same water to you in a beautiful bottle with a certificate of authenticity. You are sure to treasure this memento from the Holy Land.
$30.00 per bottle
#44 msana wanzili
That is very sad i have checked his site and it is true.Sad sad.God help us.:((:o
This is sad news indeed. I ‘ve personnally watched Pastor Hinn’s preaching & teaching on Zambian Television…I did also attend a huge crusade that was held by him in Ndola, Zambia several years ago. To say the least, I was blessed listening to this preacher of the Gospel. He has been coming to preach here in the UK at the London Excel Centre with thousands of believers (& non believers alike attending). So far, I have found no problem with the man or his teaching. But like other bloggers like:
#1 Shimaster
#5 Mwanawakwitu
#7 Nurse
#13 The Saint
#18 Nine Chale have all rightly observed, Benny Hinn is at the end of the day, mortal man. And as such what he & his family needs most at this moment in time is the prayers of people who call themselves christians. All else is vanity!
Its very unfortunate indeed, i never expected such to happen to people like him, sad sad indeed!!!!
Well , there should be no prayers for this charismatic charlatan….. He should go to hell..!.
The crazy thing is that there are still many more like him out there still drawing in the crowds in their thousands, and their hard earned money…..:o
GOOD. Let him lose millions of dollars. He’s a wolf in sheepskin clothing.
Imwe mwebantu, why should we judge? look, its his wife who has filed for divorce, not him. they have their own reasons, maybe this man spends too much time doing God’s things. maybe something else, why must we rejoice over such news. Only the Devil and his agents must rejoice, so if u r happy, then u know wat am talking about. Elo, we must first get the facts straight before commenting. Pa last we all human and we have feelings and affections. We go through alot of things and sometimes we fall, but we get up! Lets pray for this man and his family.
People be care with these men of god my sister died and left a will with her pastor but he has refused to show to the family causing a lot of pain to many people.
open your eyes and test the spirit-TO THE LAW AND TO THE TESTIMONY IF THEY DO NOT SPEAK IN LINE THEN THEY HAVE NO LIGHT IN THEM
Ive beaten my wife twice from the time we married (2 years ago) am so soory about it , my fear is that my father did beat mom on several occassions, how can i come out of this beahaviour. in case you ewant to know the two occasions i have beaten her is when we argue and out of her anger she says “`nowonder you are alone nor father no mother ,brother or sister““` this on its on awakens the beast in me ………i dont waant to continue beating please help.for any advice please skype me on willy.phiri
Let God judge!!! mwalalenga abantu belapepa…………. lets follow what they preach and not what they do full stop
The story makes a sad reading.Much needs to be done to serve Marriages.
Dear Pastor Benny Hinn.
Dear Paster Benny Hinn & Wife & Childrens
I’m shock to hear this sad news the answer is in the new testament. However, you should not be upset she will be back to you the power of new testerment. Be cool and listen only to jesus’ words. And love your wife more than your life bec: she and you as per the new testimony one. leave it to time.she will give you answer shortly: I wish you and your wife and all childrens Happy Easter God Bless You Guy From U.A.E.
1. Groups of theories on the origin of religion:
There are two broad groups of theories about the origin of religion.
Faith-based theories: According to David Barrett et al, editors of the “World Christian Encyclopedia: A comparative survey of churches and religions – AD 30 to 2200,” there are 19 major world religions which are subdivided into a total of 270 large religious groups, and many unique faith groups. 1 Among this great religious diversity, there are probably hundreds of different religious creation stories which describe how humans, other species of life, the Earth, and the rest of the universe came to be. Many of these stories describe the origins of their particular religion. It was typically based on revelation from one or more deities — mainly gods and goddesses.
Groups of theories on the origin of religion:
There are two broad groups of theories about the origin of religion.
Faith-based theories: According to David Barrett et al, editors of the “World Christian Encyclopedia: A comparative survey of churches and religions – AD 30 to 2200,” there are 19 major world religions which are subdivided into a total of 270 large religious groups, and many unique faith groups. 1 Among this great religious diversity, there are probably hundreds of different religious creation stories which describe how humans, other species of life, the Earth, and the rest of the universe came to be. Many of these stories describe the origins of their particular religion. It was typically based on revelation from one or more deities — mainly gods and goddesses.
1. Secular-based theories: Anthropologists, evolutionary biologists, and other researchers have reached a near consensus that humans of the species homo sapiens evolved from a species of proto-humans who originated somewhere in Africa. (This statement probably upsets any white supremacists who are reading this essay. That can’t be helped; scientists consider the evidence to be conclusive; ultimately, we are all descended from Africans.) These proto-humans walked upright, and had an opposing thumb and little finger. Their internal brain structure represented a major advance over those of previous animals in terms of its flexibility, its ability to reason, and its ability to plan for the future. This gave proto-humans an improved ability to pass on their accumulated knowledge to their…
The following essay will deal with the science based theories of the origin of religion. If you are interested in faith-based theories, we suggest that you do a search on Google with a search string like: origin Christianity
Secular-based theories of religion:
Nobody knows with accuracy how the first religions evolved. By the time that writing had developed, many religions had been in place for many millennia and the details of their origins had been forgotten. However, there is speculation that the first religions were a response to human fear. They were created to give people a feeling of security in an insecure world, and a feeling of control over the environment where there was little control.
1. The developing abilities of proto-humans were a double-edge sword:
On the one hand, they aided their chances of surviving in a cruel and unpredictable world. They helped each successive generation of proto-humans to build upon the knowledge base of their ancestors.
This increased mental ability led to a terrifying piece of knowledge: personal mortality. For the first time, individual animals on earth became aware that their life was transient; they would die at some point in their future. This knowledge produced an intolerable emotional drain.
During their evolution from proto-human to full human, they developed questions about themselves and their environment:
What controlled the seasonal cycles of nature — the daily motion of the sun; the motion of the stars, the…
1. the passing of the seasons, etc.
What controlled their environment — what or who caused floods, rains, dry spells, storms, etc?
What controls fertility — of the tribe, its domesticated animals, and its crops.
What system of morality is needed to best promote the stability of the tribe?
And above all: what happens to a person after they die?
Living in a pre-scientific society, people had no way to resolve these questions. Even today, with all of our scientific advances, we still debate about the second last question, and still have no way of reaching an consensus on the last. But the need for answers (particularly to the last question) were so important that some response was required, even if they were merely based on hunches. Some people within the tribe started to…
1. invent answers based on their personal guesses. Thus developed:
The first religious belief system,
The first priesthood,
The first set of rituals to appease the Goddess,
Other rituals to control fertility and other aspects of the environment,
A set of behavioral expectations for members of the tribe, and
A set of moral truths to govern human behavior.
These formed an oral tradition which was disseminated among the members of the tribe and was taught to each new generation. Much later, when writing was developed, the beliefs were generally recorded in written form. A major loss of flexibility resulted. Oral traditions can evolve over time; written documents tend to be more permanent.
Unfortunately, because these belief systems were based on hunches, the…
1. the various religions which developed in different areas of the world were all different. Their teachings were in conflict with each other. Because the followers of most religions considered their beliefs to be derived directly from God, they cannot be easily changed. Thus, inter-religious compromise is difficult or impossible. Also, because religious texts are often ambiguous, divisions developed within religions. Different denominations, schools, or traditions have derived different meanings from the same religious texts. Thus were laid the foundations for millennia of inter-religious and intra-religious conflict.
Evolution of religion:
The first organized religions appear to have been based on fertility. They were focused on the worship of the great Earth Goddess. Religion…
A monotheistic religion, in which a single male god is worshipped, or
A henotheistic religion — a religion which recognizes a single main deity, but which recognizes other gods and goddesses, heroes, or saints as facets or manifestations or aspects of that supreme God.
Most religions teach that they were directly revealed by their deity/deities to humanity, and are unrelated to other world religions. However there is considerable historical evidence from ancient times that religions in the area from India to the Middle East shared many religious beliefs. One example of this are:
The many passages in the Hebrew Scriptures which contain concepts or passages taken from Egyptian, Babylonian and other nearby Pagan religions.
Many of the…
1. Religions were originally based on the particular beliefs of their founders and prophets. Thus, there were few points of similarity among the various spiritual paths:
In terms of their belief about supernatural being(s), various faith traditions have taught Agnosticism, Animism, Atheism, Deism, Duotheism, Henotheism, Monism, Monotheism, Panentheism, Pantheism, Polytheism, Trinitarianism, and probably a few that we have missed. It is obvious from these conflicting ideas about deities that almost all religions are just plain wrong.
Few agreements exist among the world’s religions about religious beliefs, sacred ritual, organizational structure, optimum family structure, limits on ***ual behavior, ***ual orientation, the roles of women and men, other moral topics, the afterlife, etc…
1. Religions’ traditional teachings in the area of science differ greatly from each other and from the findings of scientists. Examples from Judaism and Christianity are: how the universe was formed, where rainbows came from; the world-wide flood; talking animals; the sun standing still in the sky; the cause of epilepsy, deafness, blindness, and mental illnesses; virginal conception, demonic possession, walking on water, resurrection from the dead, ascension into the sky, etc.
Religions today:
Some observers believe that modern-day religions are largely a response to human fear.
Their main function is to provide their followers with a feeling of security while living in a dangerous environment in which a person can be injured, killed or murdered at any time due to natural causes,…
accidents or human hatred and intolerance.
John Shelby Spong, retired bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA has written:
“Religion is primarily a search for security and not a search for truth. Religion is what we so often use to bank the fires of our anxiety. That is why religion tends toward becoming excessive, neurotic, controlling and even evil. That is why a religious government is always a cruel government. People need to understand that questioning and doubting are healthy, human activities to be encouraged not to be feared. Certainty is a vice not a virtue. Insecurity…
Insecurity is something to be grasped and treasured. A true and healthy religious system will encourage each of these activities. A sick and fearful religious system will seek to remove them.”
David C. James, rector…
the Bible is strictly a man-made collection of mythology. The Bible was not handed to mankind by God, nor was it dictated to human stenographers by God. It has nothing to do with God. In actuality, the Bible was VOTED to be the word of God by a group of men during the 4th century.
According to Professor John Crossan of Biblical Studies at DePaul University the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (274-337 CE), who was the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity, needed a single canon to be agreed upon by the Christian leaders to help him unify the remains of the Roman Empire. Until this time the various Christian leaders could not decide which books would be considered “holy” and thus “the word of God” and which ones would be excluded and not considered the word of God.
Emperor Constantine, who was Roman Emperor from 306 CE until his death in 337 CE, used what motivates many to action – MONEY! He offered the various Church leaders money to agree upon a single canon that would be used by all Christians as the word of God. The Church leaders gathered together at the Council of Nicaea and voted the “word of God” into existence. The Church leaders didn’t finish editing the “holy” scriptures until the Council of Trent when the Catholic Church pronounced the Canon closed. However, it seems the real approving editor of the Bible was not God but Constantine! “Therefore, one can easily argue that the first Christian Bible was commissioned, paid for, inspected and approved by a pagan emperor for church use.” Constantine ordered and financed 50…
copies of the new “holy scriptures.” It seems with the financial element added to the picture, the Church fathers were able to overcome their differences and finally agree which “holy” books would stay and which would go.
The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authorities; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion. Th bible is no more the word of god than the Mahomedans calling the Koran the Word of God makes the Koran to be so. The Popish Councils of Nice and Laodicea, about 350 years after the time the person called Jesus Christ is said to have lived, voted the books that now compose what is called the New Testament to be the…
of God. This was done by yeas and nays, as we now vote
It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine, and murder; for the belief of a cruel God makes a cruel man. That bloodthirsty man, called the prophet Samuel, makes God to say, (I Sam. xv. 3) `Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.’
You believe in the Bible from the accident of birth, and the Moslems believe in the Koran from the same accident, and each calls the other infidel. But leaving the prejudice of education out of the case, the unprejudiced truth is, that all are infidels who believe in falsehood, whether they draw their creed from the Bible, or from the Koran, from the Old Testament,…
Quite simply, the findings of Science from the fields of Astrophysics, Geology, Archaeology, Anthropology, and Literary Criticism have concluded that the Bible is _not_ the word of God, this precious hard-won scientific knowledge constitutes The Forbidden Knowledge on the Bible’s Pre-biblical Origins (please click here for a very fine article on what constitutes “forbidden knowledge” according to the Wikipedia). The “forensic evidence” (physical evidence) unequivocally _contradicts_ (refutes, denies and challenges) the witness’ (Bible’s) testimony regarding the age of the Universe and of the Earth, how life came into being, and when this occurred. For some conservative Catholic Scholars the earth and the universe was created 5199 B.C. while some conservative Protestant…
understand this event was in 4004 B.C. _CONTRA_ these dates (being derived from the Bible’s internal chronology), Astrophysists understand from data compiled by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope that the earth is 4 billion years old and the universe is 14 billion years old. If the Bible has the age of the earth and universe wrong what else does it have wrong? Archaeology and Geology reveals there never was a Garden of Eden or Adam and Eve, nor was there ever in the earth’s geologic history a universal Noah’s Flood, and the Exodus -as portrayed in the Bible- is fiction according to the findings of Archaeology. The discipline of Literary Criticism has established that Moses did not write the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, in the 16th or 15th century B.C. as claimed…
Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions, the texts were composed in the 7th or 6th century B.C. The counterclaims of Christian Apologists are investigated and their “flawed methodologies” are noted (They claiming that Satan and his Demons have “misled” and “duped” the Scientists and that the Bible is a reliable witness).
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PPL, now i can connect the dots. My head is in the thinking mode again. Do you remember when Chiluba declared Zambia a christian nation and invited benny him for a crusade at independence stadium. Are you sure the guy did not use our had erned tax payers money to consult this star con on the best and overt way to scam us, considering what happened under his misrue. Now the truth is coming out.Bible conmen have mashroomed so much in our country because it is lucrative business. Zambians beware!!! YOU SNOOZE YOU LOOSE!!! Abash religion and that B***S gabbage book
#29VJ- While I respect your views, I feel sorry for you for your hatred for the Catholic Church. Benn Hinn’s Ministry is not the only one formed by a former Catholic. All Christian Churches in the world came from the Roman Catholic for various reasons which I respect very much.Belonging to a sect, church etc is a choice made by an individual and as such must be respected.Even some of our evangelists here in Zambia are from the Catholic Church.
There are two things the world hates the most. Religion and Black people. ITs a Fact. This discussion you people have here will never end. Like the Russians say,” let us live on and see for ourselves” who was really right.
# 79 Yebo tonga girl-kasimbi kasune ino wamboolanzi awa?, Ndilakuyanda mebo. On a serious note.
what are you comminicating here?. Yes the Russians were right, The waited until they lost and they are a superpower no more and this also applies to you for you will wait and eventually be proven wrong. Black ppl, perhaps yes but youre lacking specifics. No one hates the bible. it hates itself because it`s a fasehoold founded on falsehoods
Deja Vu # 27. Hey! What`s up men? in one of your lines you said, “even some of our evangelists here in Zambia” Are you sure you are in zambia. That surely doesn`t look like a Zambian Flag
Deja Vu # 78. Hey! What`s up men? in one of your lines you said, “even some of our evangelists here in Zambia” Are you sure you are in zambia. That surely doesn`t look like a Zambian Flag
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