THE CHURCH INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Church, it's big business.

If you’re looking for a industry to enter where the profits are high and the losses are minimal. Curious as to what that market is? None other than the church industry. The Church Industrial Complex. Wikipedia states, that the “Prison Industrial Complex” is a term used to attribute the rapid expansion of the US inmate population to the political influence of private prison companies.The prison industrial complex as perpetuating a belief that imprisonment is a quick fix to underlying social problems such as homelessness, unemployment, drug addiction, mental illness, and illiteracy.” Sound familiar? It should. A billion dollar industry that profits off the minds of humans. And what makes this industry to lucrative is that it includes a supernatural element that comes with approval from arguably the greatest endorsement ever, a mythical being by the name of Jesus Christ.

As with any industry entrepreneurial and charismatic men and women are drawn to the industry. Like the man or woman who opens a real estate business, a franchise through McDonalds, or some other small business, individuals with profits in mind flock to the church industry to try their hand at “spiritual” capitalism. Now as with any industry not all who enter are going to succeed but for those who do the rewards can be well… otherworldly. Opening a business is a way to get wealthy as is opening a church. Making sure your church is shinier, newer, bigger, brighter, better, more technological, better music, just as in any other business and the profits will be through the roof.

Take some of the most successful “pastors” in this country. These “pastors” who operate churches that are really multi-million dollar corporations bring in millions of dollars a year all under the guise of “freeing souls.” Which is a lovely catch phrase if there ever was. Extremely marketable considering how so many people have been duped into believing that humans have souls and that said souls need saving from a mythical location of eternal torment.

Like any industry not all are extremely wealthy but many in the Church Industrial Complex are just that extremely wealthy. According to a 2003 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, Creflo Dollar drives a black Rolls Royce and travels in a $5 million dollar jet; Benny Hinn lives in a $3.5 million home and drives an $80,000 Mercedes-Benz G500; T.D. Jakes has 2 mansions and multi billion dollar book, film, and speaking deals; Robert Tilton’s ministry owns a 50-foot yacht; Randy and Paula White’s ministry owns a jet airplane and a Cadillac Escalade and a Mercedes-Benz sedan and bring in millions of dollars each year.

Now hows that for striking it rich under the guise of “religion.”

Now the interesting thing is how stark the contrast is between those who are in the business of “freeing souls” and the consumers who come to them for worship and spiritual services. A friend of mine told me of a church in DC where the pastors themselves live in a affluent neighborhood with a thousand square foot home, but their church was in a run down factory district and most of the members were living in or just above the poverty line.

Of course some of those in the Church Industrial Complex give back, they may help a family or two keep on their lights, but most of the money being made is not going back to the consumers, those coming for spiritual guidance, it’s going into the bank accounts of the businessmen and women profiting off of the Church Industrial Complex.

In most cities there are more churches than hospitals, schools, libraries, parks, recreation centers, and homeless shelters. Unfortunately Rec centers to keep youth out of trouble and homeless shelters just aren’t as profitable as opening up a church and building it to a membership of 500.

It’s sad that the Church Industrial Complex continually profits off the minds of humans under the guise of soul freeing and spiritual guidance. It’s even sadder that until right thinking persons start calling out these businessmen and women for what they are that this will only continue.

The Pope is one of the richest men in the world but millions of children are starving around the world. And yet we continue to proclaim that “god is able” and “Jesus is good oh yes he is.”

I may be an atheist but that doesn’t sound good or able to me at all.