God & Mammon

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February 2008
- NFL Nixes Super Bowl Church Parties
  
  Washington Post | Feb 1, 08 10:09 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The NFL is pulling the plug on big Super Bowl parties—complete with halftime prayers—that have become a popular tradition at many churches, saying the churches violate copyright law by showing the game to the flock on large-screen TVs. Current law bans public exhibitions of the game on screens larger than 55 inches. "Doesn't the NFL have enough money already?" one disgruntled pastor quipped to the Washington Post . More »
January 2008
- Two More Televangelists Quit ORU Board
  
  Associated Press | Jan 11, 08 6:31 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Two more televangelists have stepped down from the board of regents of Oral Roberts University, under pressure from a congressional probe into misuse of funds. Benny Hinn and IV Hilliard are two of six preachers under investigation for living lavishly on their congregations' dime and violating their ministries' tax-exempt status. More »
December 2007
- The Good Book Is Good Biz
  
  Los Angeles Times | Dec 25, 07 9:19 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - In the thriving business of Bible publishing, the lone calligrapher in his scriptorium has been superseded by marketing execs armed with PowerPoint. About 25 million Bibles were sold this year in America, reports the Los Angeles Times —that's 11 million more than the latest Harry Potter installment. But since the content stays the same, the dressing has to keep changing. More »
November 2007
- God to Roberts: You're Fired!
  
  Associated Press | Nov 29, 07 4:14 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Oral Roberts University president Richard Roberts told the school's student body yesterday that he didn't want to resign, but God insisted on it. Roberts, son of school founder Oral Roberts, faces a lawsuit accusing him of spending extravagantly while the school was in financial straits. He said God spoke to him on Thanksgiving and ordered him to resign the next day. More »
- Big Churches Do Bigger Business
  
  New York Times | Nov 23, 07 9:41 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Megachurches all over the country are extending their already-considerable reach by operating business, the New York Times reports. With an eye to both boosting local economies and bringing in converts, they're running credit unions, sports centers, office complexes, and limousine services. At least 10 own shopping malls; many are invested in housing. More »
- Sweatshop Crucifixes Stir Up Unholy Mess for Church
  
  Newsday | Nov 21, 07 2:13 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Revelations that crucifixes in their gift shops are made in a Chinese sweatshop has shocked officials at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity Episcopal Church, who removed the crosses from stores, reports Newsday . Young workers at the crucifix factory reportedly work 15-hour days in poor conditions for only 26 cents an hour. The $1.40 crosses sell for $17.95 at St. Pat's. More »
October 2007
- Jesus 2.0: GodTube Is a Smash With Believers
  
  Los Angeles Times | Oct 21, 07 8:12 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - GodTube, one of the fastest-growing sites on the web, is drawing masses of the Christian faithful to its user-generated videos, social-networking tools and the "GodCaster," which offers live video presentations. It's not a church, the LA Times reports, but a for-profit business backed by a "who's who" of ministries, megachurches and Christian retailers. More »
September 2007
- Moonie Scion Is Gun Magnate
  
  Portfolio | Sep 22, 07 3:20 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The son of aging messianic leader Reverend Sun Myung Moon is the frontrunner to take over the Unification Church. Meantime, he’s built Kahr Arms—which makes some of the smallest and most lethal guns. One of 13 children, young Justin Moon was encouraged to be violent, Portfolio reports, and parlayed a Harvard degree and family money into a successful weapons business. More »
August 2007
- Your Credit's Good With God
  
  Boston Herald | Aug 27, 07 1:41 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Franciscan friars have another deep question to ask their congregation: Paper or plastic? The brothers of St. Anthony's Shrine in Boston have installed a wireless kiosk allowing their flock to make contributions with credit or debit cards. The service is provided by SecureGive.com, created by a Georgia minister and his wife in an effort to keep up with cashless times. More »
July 2007
- Look Out, Barbie: Here Comes Moses
  
  BBC | Jul 30, 07 4:05 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Faith-based action figures will soon compete with the latest Bratz and Transformers dolls on the shelves of a Wal-Mart near you. Tales of Glory figurines, including Samson, Jesus and Daniel (complete with the Lions’ Den), are being promoted as "God-honoring toys" in a market full of figures that "glorify evil, destruction, lying, cheating." More »
- Are Finance Charges In Islam's Interest?
  
  Washington Post | Jul 28, 07
  
  The prohibition on charging and paying interest is a cornerstone -- along with withholding investments from trades such as alcohol and pornography -- of the rapidly emerging industry known as "Islamic finance." There are about 270 Islamic banks with more than $265 billion in assets, according to sponsors of the International Islamic Finance Forum, a semiannual industry conference that meets in Switzerland this fall. Most of the banks are found in wealthy Muslim nations, such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai and Malaysia. In addition, many Western banks, such as industry giants Citibank and HSBC,...
May 2007
- Ascending in healthcare; Roman Catholic Ascension Health has made a Fortune 500 name for itself with business acumen, risk-taking and efficiency
  
  Modern Healthcare | May 14, 07
  
  Ascension Health saw an offer too good to refuse when a rival cancer hospital offered $20 million for its safety net hospital in east Detroit....The tentative sale underscores how Roman Catholic-affiliated Ascension has grown in less than 10 years to become a financial and commercial powerhouse within healthcare. At a time when not-for-profit healthcare faces criticism for its care of needy and vulnerable patients, Ascension's market-friendly approach stresses innovation, efficiency and financial strength with an urgency that would impress Wall Street....But Ascension's financial savvy, strategic...
August 2006
- WWBD?(Buddhism as a marketing tool)
  
  Newsweek | Aug 14, 06
  
  This spring, four bastions of serene extravagance--Buddakan, Buddha Bar, Megu Midtown and Moksha--opened in New York alone. Om, in Cambridge, Mass., just opened its doors, with aromatherapy cocktails and specially commissioned Buddhist art from a master painter in Nepal. Tao opened a Las Vegas playground last September. What would Buddha do? Drinking liquor, eating meat and, in general, spending huge sums on sensual indulgence would seem to conflict with the core Buddhist tenets of simplicity, vegetarianism and moderation.