Did Christianity Cause the Housing Crash

The Woodward Report ^ | November 2, 2009 | Hanna Rosin

[honestabe010]

America’s mainstream religious denominations used to teach the faithful that they would be rewarded in the afterlife. But over the past generation, a different strain of Christian faith has proliferated—one that promises to make believers rich in the here and now. Known as the prosperity gospel, and claiming tens of millions of adherents, it fosters risk-taking and intense material optimism. It pumped air into the housing bubble. And one year into the worst downturn since the Depression, it’s still going strong.

Like the ambitions of many immigrants who attend services there, Casa del Padre’s success can be measured by upgrades in real estate. The mostly Latino church, in Charlottesville, Virginia, has moved from the pastor’s basement, where it was founded in 2001, to a rented warehouse across the street from a small mercado five years later, to a middle-class suburban street last year, where the pastor now rents space from a lovely old Baptist church that can’t otherwise fill its pews. Every Sunday, the parishioners drive slowly into the parking lot, never parking on the sidewalk or grass—“because Americanos don’t do that,” one told me—and file quietly into church. Some drive newly leased SUVs, others old work trucks with paint buckets still in the bed. The pastor, Fernando Garay, arrives last and parks in front, his dark-blue Mercedes Benz always freshly washed, the hubcaps polished enough to reflect his wingtips.

It can be hard to get used to how much Garay talks about money in church, one loyal parishioner, Billy Gonzales, told me one recent Sunday on the steps out front. Back in Mexico, Gonzales’s pastor talked only about “Jesus and heaven and being good.” But Garay talks about jobs and houses and making good money, which eventually came to make sense to Gonzales:

[beefree]

A big fat no. It was moochers wanting more than they worked for. Blaming it on Christianity is a Saul Alinsky tactic used by Dems, Obama and other ‘community organizers’ like Sharpton and Jackson,to name a few.

[raybbr]

I was born in Israel and I have been going back for most of my life. Usually, I just go to Tel Aviv and visit my family, stay in the room where I lived as a kid, and do the same things I have always done.From here.

Okay, I believe Hanna is a Jew or, at least was raised a Jew. Why does she attack Christianity and not Judaism? Doesn't each temple hire a Rabbi and pay him for his services. To me that's an example of the capitalism she expressly attacks in this article.

If anyone believes this post is not appropriate ask to have it deleted. I, personally, am tired of people like Hanna attacking something they know nothing about but speak as if they are an expert.

[Nosterrex]

All of these health, wealth, and prosperity preaches will spend eternity in the pits of Hell. Joel Osteen and his wife have a special place provided for them right next to Judas Iscariot. I feel a deep sorrow for anyone that follows these charlatans.

[Tublecane]

“On the other hand, maybe there’s been a recent break-through in the development of the genetically engineered micro-camels or something.”

I think SNL did a sketch on this a while ago. Some fat cat was privately funding research into genetically engineering camels, and if that failed, building giant needles.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Honestly, what is this thing about all these articles starting with these blatheringly stupid questions? Is this what is being taught in journalism school now?

Why don’t these people ask things like;

Does the temperature on the sun influence the temperature on earth?

Does the ascension of a Marixst government influence the productivity of a nation?

Do turnips harvested on Thursdays suffer from self-esteem problems?

[beefree]

I am not defending the so called “Prosperity Gospel” or “Name it” crowds, I don’t know them or what they say, but the Bible does not compel believers to live in poverty, it IS God’s will that his children prosper. The camel reference, as I understand it, means you can’t take it with ya. In reference to tithing as God has asked us to do, he promises to provide back to us in abundance. Abraham was a VERY rich dude, as was King David and Job, all of whom He loved.

[Sloth]

Did Christianity Cause the Housing Crash

The "prosperity gospel" could be called a lot of things, but Christianity is not one of them.

[jagusafr]

Sure, what the hell, blame us for that, too!

Colonel, USAFR

[livius]

That’s ridiculous. They were trying to blame Rick Warren earlier today... and as overstated as I may think “Prosperity Gospel” preachers to be, Rick Warren and his followers had nothing to do with it, nor did whoever they’re trying to blame in this article.

There’s nothing wrong with optimism and faith in the future (which Christians have because we know God loves us and wants things to be good).

The thing that was wrong were Democrat policies that virtually dragged low-income people out of their housing projects and told them they were going to get a house of their own for nothing...combined with loose-money fueld investor speculation where people bought houses so overvalued that there was no possible way they could ever withstand even a blip in the market. This has nothing to do with churches, either Protestant or Catholic.

Good try, Barney Frank.

[dangerdoc]

God does not compel us to live in poverty but he does warn us about the love of money.

Jesus did not have a place to lay his head. Paul repaired tents to keep himself fed. In fact he loved the apostles but they died as martyrs. Just because God loves you does not mean that this life will be wealth or comfort.

The name it and claim it crowd preach a gospel of faith, not of God. They teach their followers not to ask God’s will be done but their own will be done. Some have the audacity to claim that God has no power on this earth beyond that provided by the faith words of people. When Jesus said, feed my sheep, they preach limosines and mansions. When Jesus said suffer the children, they preach bank accounts and diamond rings.

Remember God’s chosen people have lived in subjugation, exiled to foreign nations for most of their existance, don’t presume what God thinks is best.

[TASMANIANRED]

This is so lame .

[syriacus]

Hanna Rosin, Maria Bartaromo, Joe Scarborough on YouTube