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How I felt after seeing an infomercial telling people they would win favor with god if they sent a check for $273. (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by cmd194

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[–]yans0ma 211 points212 points ago

Didn't the creator of Scientology say that if he wanted to get famous he'd start a religion?

[–]Lord_NiteShade 113 points114 points ago

You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.

  • Response to a question from the audience during a meeting of the Eastern Science Fiction Association on (7 November 1948), as quoted in a 1994 affidavit by Sam Moskowitz.

The incident is stamped indelibly in my mind because of one statement that Ron Hubbard made. What led him to say what he did I can't recall — but in so many words Hubbard said: "I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is!"

  • L. Ron Hubbard to Lloyd A. Eshbach, in 1949; as quoted by Eshbach in his autobiography Over My Shoulder: Reflections On A Science Fiction Era (1983) ISBN 1-880418-11-8

Y'know, we're all wasting our time writing this hack science fiction! You wanta make real money, you gotta start a religion!

  • As reported to Mike Jittlov by Theodore Sturgeon as a statement Hubbard made while at the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society clubhouse in the 1940s.

Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way to do it would be start his own religion.

  • As quoted in the Los Angeles Times (27 August 1978)

Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.

  • As quoted in the article "Scientology: Anatomy of a Frightening Cult" by Eugene H. Methvin. Reader's Digest (May 1980)

I always knew he was exceedingly anxious to hit big money — he used to say he thought the best way to do it would be to start a cult.

  • Sam Merwin, Editor of Thrilling Science Fiction magazine Winter of 1946-47; quoted in Bare-Faced Messiah, The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard (1987) by Russell Miller

Whenever he was talking about being hard up he often used to say that he thought the easiest way to make money would be to start a religion.

  • Neison Himmel, briefly a roommate of Hubbard in Pasadena during the fall of 1945, in a 1986 interview, quoted in Bare-Faced Messiah, The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard (1987) by Russell Miller

[–]Jmersh 10 points11 points ago

Just goes to show how desperately some people need religion and that people will believe anything.

[–]everred 3 points4 points ago

I don't think it's necessarily a need of religion, it's a need of (among other things) understanding, acceptance, emotional comfort, and community. Some religions fill those needs, some deny the fulfillment and promise it only to "those who are most pious".

[–]krackbaby 125 points126 points ago

I think it was along these lines, but I don't have an exact quote

If you want to get rich, start a business

If you want to get filthy rich, start a religion

[–]studmuffffffin 77 points78 points ago

You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.

[–]RalphiesBoogers 62 points63 points ago

"Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion"

Reader's Digest reprint, May 1980, p.1

[–]macncheez_ 79 points80 points ago

"Religion was invented when the first con man met the first sucker." - Twain

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    [–]Ihatecraptcha 2 points3 points ago

    Or rather filthy and rich.

    [–]dioxholster 2 points3 points ago

    Except not all religion is like this. Islam doesn't ask for money or anything like that.

    [–]3DBeerGoggles 6 points7 points ago

    ...Except for the part where a group of people ask a larger group of people to follow instructions as "passed down" by them.

    Not all power is financial, after all.

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        [–]rockfireman 31 points32 points ago

        mr. L.Ron.Hubbard, a SCIENCE FICTION writer who made the scientology religion, it baffles me how people don't see that connection and realize it's bullshit.

        [–]intellos 16 points17 points ago

        Because they generally don't know this until they're $50,000 in the hole. It's amazing the justifications you can come up with after spending money.

        [–]tomdarch 12 points13 points ago

        People often do figure it out at that point... And commit suicide.

        [–]licencevlease 3 points4 points ago

        "commit suicide"

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          [–]exin58 0 points1 point ago

          Said Paul to his editor, 2000 years ago.

          [–]TheWhyteMaN 5 points6 points ago

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciupsqkLLkQ

          Amazing vid if you have not seen it.

          [–]CDRCRDS 2 points3 points ago

          I think L Ron Hubbard said if you want to be rich you should start a religion.

          [–]FunkyOrganika 2 points3 points ago

          Whats even more interesting is that he started recruting famous people because they were the most rich. Names from Tom Cruise to Beck Hansen.

          Also people like Charles Manson also followed Scientology. Why the fuck would anyone want to follow the same pratices as that crazy guy?

          I think to this day and will forever 'Scientology is a cult' without the bad intent, for now.

          [–]wbeavis 4 points5 points ago

          Actually Charles Manson quit scientology because he thought it was too crazy.

          [–]riptide81 2 points3 points ago

          I think recruiting famous people had more to do with free advertising , in fact impressionable up and comers were the top priority.

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            [–]awesomechemist 87 points88 points ago

            $273?

            Amateurs...

            [–]Nyxian 93 points94 points ago

            He is asking for money, accepting credit cards, to have god clear credit card debit.

            He is putting people, who are already into credit card debt, into more debt. For nothing.

            Lovely man...

            [–]ra4king 24 points25 points ago

            I'm going to puke.....

            [–]Th3MadCreator 26 points27 points ago

            He should be arrested.

            [–]continuousQ 11 points12 points ago

            That only happens to those who scam rich people. Not those who go after people who'll actually suffer from it.

            [–]Gnometard 15 points16 points ago

            He's not a criminal, he's a religious dude!

            [–]Th3MadCreator 14 points15 points ago

            What's the difference?

            [–]Jerae 13 points14 points ago

            One has followers.

            [–]Gnometard 1 point2 points ago

            Same as crazy people... Religion. Call it god and its cool.

            [–]Boatsnbuds 8 points9 points ago

            The Lord works in mysterious ways. Don't question the ways in which He works. Just accept that He has a plan. A payment plan. Visa and Mastercard accepted, but PayPal not so much.

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              [–]thatguytony500 9 points10 points ago

              At times he looked like he was going to just bust out laughing.

              This guy makes me sick

              [–]brokensys 2 points3 points ago

              Well, tbh, he's not putting you or I in further debt. If you give this guy money, you're a complete and utter moron.

              A fool and his money soon part.

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                [–]1LLuSSioN 25 points26 points ago

                I got 59 seconds until the cringing became too painful.

                [–]Smallviille 10 points11 points ago

                I didnt even make it that far into it. After he said god was going to wipe out someones credit card debt I stopped it.

                I got 59 seconds until the cringing became too painful.

                [–]Commotion 14 points15 points ago

                But you missed the part where he complains about having "old" wrinkled money, and how he only handles new crisp $100 bills.

                [–]lessthan3d20 11 points12 points ago

                "Most beautiful thing on Earth is a hundred dollar bill. I haven't seen a woman as beautiful as a hundred dollar bill."

                "And even all the animals I've owned...my Deer, my Llamas, my African Lion, my Zebra, my Monkey..."

                [–]TypicalHaikuResponse 19 points20 points ago

                This really makes me wish I didn't possess a conscience. How awful.

                [–]ZenGenX 18 points19 points ago

                My grandma: Money for televangelists? Sign me the fuck up! $10 for a snuggie? $5 for a sticky buddy? What has America come to peddling all this bullshit on TV?

                [–]CrackCC_Lurking 18 points19 points ago

                At least when you buy a sticky budy or a snuggie, you're actually getting something, albeit stuff you'll rarely or never use, you're still getting something. Where as for this guy (the 1000$ guy), you're getting absolutely nothing. It's a pure scam, nothing else to it.

                The fact that he hides behind religion is sickening, no? If he were anyone else, claiming anything else... he WOULD GO TO JAIL. For example, imagine someone saying "give me 1000$ & this magical teapot will make your dick bigger & your hair grow, & bring back your dead relatives." he would be arrested & put to jail in a heartbeat. But because this bastard hides behind religion, he gets away with it, ugh.

                Also, a sticky budy & a snuggle are a couple of bucks each. Sure there are more expensive things, but it's usually 20-50$.. & like I said above... you actually GET SOMETHING. They can't actually lie about it (although they can exaggerate its performance). It's not like they are selling a "cure for your mentally deficient child" for 1000$.

                Bluuugh.. seriously fuck that guy. I know he has nothing to do with christians, but the fact that their religions allows people like that guy to scam people in distress & ruin their lives, all that without any consequences, it just makes me sick.

                Also, wtf is he on about at the end, about that 13 year old kid who he is buying tons of presents & he dated her mom? He's like "she is the best ""receiver"" he's ever seen. Dudes been single for 30 years, he has his own church & congregation. It's hard not to think that he's banging all the women (& maybe kids) in his congregation. If he can convince people to give their hard earned cash for nothing, just by spouting a bunch of ridiculous bullshit, then he should be able into tricking them to sleep with his ugly ass.

                I just wanna say to religious people. Hey, you see how you feel when you see someone like this, how bad you feel for the people getting scammed by this guy? Well, this is how most atheists/non believers feel about theists & religious people. I mean, don't kid yourself, every one of your churches asks you for money. Whether it be something like a "tithe", to donations, or the more common "collection plate", they are fleecing you guys & for what? Are your lives better than a non believers life, or the life of someone who believes in a completely different god or gods?

                [–]ZenGenX 1 point2 points ago

                Didn't expect such a long response to my silly comment. Thanks! I agree with everything you said, what people like that guy do should be a crime. It's insane!

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                    [–]ujheisenburg94 10 points11 points ago

                    there is a special place in "hell" for this type of scum

                    [–]eboogaloo 31 points32 points ago

                    Yeah. A huge mansion with all the modern conveniences, a pool, and a mexican house boy. Fuck it, im becoming a televangelist.

                    [–]Fig1024 2 points3 points ago

                    they know there's no hell or heaven, just money

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                      [–]ResidentObama 5 points6 points ago

                      How is this not illegal? If I was selling a medicine or any other product, and claimed efficacy during the advertisement, the burden of proof would be on me to prove it worked. Of course, they can't, thus it should be false advertising?

                      What makes this different to any other product?

                      [–]elfstone666 8 points9 points ago

                      Because faith.

                      [–]ViralKira 2 points3 points ago

                      "I have a giant house, but jealously is bad." Hurrrr Duuurrr.

                      Did he have a part where you plant a seed and it gives you money....?

                      [–]generalblake 2 points3 points ago

                      What is the thought process in that? How does God have any control over your credit card debt? Explain it!

                      [–]T3HN3RDY1 10 points11 points ago

                      To Christians, God has control over EVERYTHING.

                      [–]159753456 4 points5 points ago

                      Someone did it. And it failed. And, they are still deeply Christian.

                      [–]Randomob 4 points5 points ago

                      As a Christian... This sickens me

                      [–]drumstyx 1 point2 points ago

                      This...this is how I'll get rich.

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                        [–]fernn 31 points32 points ago

                        Thats exactly what Martin Luther fought against

                        [–]CatholicConservative 14 points15 points ago

                        It was one of the many things that he fought against. You're referring to the selling of indulgences, which was when people would essentially pay for time off of purgatory. This was one of the ways the Church was corrupted.

                        Interesting fact: While the Catholic Church has stopped selling indulgences, they are still given out. One of my teachers received one for traveling to Rome at a certain time.

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                          [–]hivemind6 25 points26 points ago

                          There are few things I hate more than televangelists blatantly exploiting people's faith for profit. I'm amazed that people can't see it for what it is. I mean, just look at the average televangelist, they just look sleazy. They radiate evil.

                          And I'm pretty sure the Bible has several instances of God/Jesus/prophets saying that it is wrong to use religion for personal gain. Seriously, Jesus flipped out in a temple when merchants were selling crap and changing money. How then can self-proclaimed Christians use their church to amass wealth and get away with it?

                          I remember when my militantly Christian girlfriend in high school made me go to a youth group at this mega church that had a snack bar and sold merchandise and shit. They also had collections baskets and they encouraged new people to give money in order to kick-start their path to salvation and being born again. They said something like "this is your chance to show God you're willing to repent, if you miss this opportunity you're provoking God's anger and risk going to Hell for eternity". Quite the sales pitch. Apparently giving money is the most important part.

                          Also the pastor drove a Mercedes. The dude was rich.

                          It's amazing how shady churches can be. If there is a hell, those motherfuckers are going there.

                          [–]m0h3k4n 22 points23 points ago

                          Man, at $272.15 $273.15 they could call themsleves Kelvinists. So close.

                          Edit for that sweet karma.

                          [–]IIdsandsII 15 points16 points ago

                          no need to start a religion. there are plenty of christians available to exploit.

                          [–]whirlpool4 14 points15 points ago

                          Redditology now accepting followers. It's a steal at only $272.99, compared to those other guys!

                          [–]TristanTheViking 3 points4 points ago

                          Oh wow, where do I sign?

                          [–]1LLuSSioN 9 points10 points ago

                          /r/inglip

                          [–]kostiak 2 points3 points ago

                          Actually Redditology goes for a low low price of 3.99$ a month. But if you are a true follower, you will give the gift of Redditology to your fellow men.

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                            [–]jsmithftw 29 points30 points ago

                            One of the oldest and successful business ever created by man. Religion

                            [–]sprawn 9 points10 points ago

                            Is that cat named "Meow Ron Hubbard?"

                            [–]ameripen 9 points10 points ago

                            Redditology. Each founding member gets a share. We'll do this.

                            EDIT: God just called my house. Writing down His words now. Will publish soon.

                            [–]Sinical89 10 points11 points ago

                            Well.. 2 + 7 + 3 = 12, 12 stands for 12 days of Christmas, if so fact so, god loves you more.

                            [–]I_Gargled_Jarate 12 points13 points ago

                            wrongo

                            2 x 7 x 3 = 42, the meaning of life, the universe and everything

                            [–]FNGPete 19 points20 points ago

                            2+7+3=12

                            1+2=3

                            Half Life 3 confirmed.

                            [–]trishatakinawa 3 points4 points ago

                            2+(7*3) = 23

                            2+3 = 5

                            HAIL ERIS!

                            [–]conejosusio 2 points3 points ago

                            All Hail Discordia!

                            [–]uphill-bothways 2 points3 points ago

                            "Everybody understands Mickey Mouse. Few understand Hermann Hesse. Hardly anyone understands Albert Einstein. And nobody understands Emperor Norton."

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                              [–]intellos 13 points14 points ago

                              if so fact so?

                              you mean Ipso Facto?

                              [–]Sinical89 5 points6 points ago

                              No, I'm in America where we speak American.

                              [–]globlet 6 points7 points ago

                              Ipso facto is in Merriam-Webster. If you decided to expunge loan words and phrases from american english, you'd be left with nothing but a series of vague grunting noises.

                              [–]benjobeast 4 points5 points ago

                              In learned English from tim Allen so grunt grunt grunt!

                              [–]Sinical89 4 points5 points ago

                              We don't like your kind 'round here. And you sound unamerican... Which makes you a terrorist.

                              [–]globlet 6 points7 points ago

                              Dash it all to heck, my nefarious schemes are in ruin. I would have got away with it too if it wasn't for you meddling kids.

                              [–]Sinical89 2 points3 points ago

                              Upvote for reminding me that scooby doo exists.

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                                  [–]-TinMan- 4 points5 points ago

                                  Jesus will love you if you buy me a canon t4i. He told me this in a dream.

                                  [–]Amberdext 3 points4 points ago

                                  That sounds like an amount the Rev Peter Popoff would try and get. His mailings/show are both sad and hilarious.

                                  [–]AnOnlineHandle 4 points5 points ago

                                  Was he the one whose wife was broadcasting to an earpiece that he was wearing the conditions of everybody in the crowd, who he was pretending to psychically know and heal people's conditions?

                                  [–]EvelKnievel 2 points3 points ago

                                  Indeed. And believe it or don't, his ministry is still doing infomercials today.

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                                      [–]pointmanzero 2 points3 points ago

                                      In order to start a religion you need a belief (this is easy you can make it up) and then you need followers, the followers part is trickier. But having followers creates more followers because people want to be part of something special, so where can I get the first set of gullible people?

                                      [–]scragar 2 points3 points ago

                                      Anywhere, haven't you ever run a pyramid scheme before?

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                                        [–]BoogalyBoogaly 2 points3 points ago

                                        I should buy a gun

                                        FTFY

                                        [–]NoShadowFist 3 points4 points ago

                                        You should try attending a Mega-church on Easter (the kind with a complimentary coffee bar and a "rock band").

                                        At parental gunpoint, I attended an Easter service and endured a sermon entitled:

                                        "Relax, It's Just Salvation!" (according to the jumbo-tron at "The Vineyard: a pretty good church")

                                        The sermon ended with three examples of God rewarding generosity to the church:

                                        A guy living out of his car gives all of his remaining money to the church. He becomes a millionaire.

                                        A guy whose wife has terminal cancer gives money to the church. His wife's cancer immediately goes into remission for three years.

                                        A man whose small business was failing gives thousands to the church. His business becomes a nation-wide chain.

                                        I felt like I was being crucified, mostly because I had not worn church clothes in nearly 7 years. Those pants were a prison.

                                        [–]nutellaalmonds 2 points3 points ago

                                        Scientology!

                                        [–]plutonicwedgie 1 point2 points ago

                                        Just do it! :-)

                                        [–]BrodyApproves 1 point2 points ago

                                        For 12 easy payments per year for the rest of your life we can give you 100% favoritism!

                                        [–]V-Is-V 2 points3 points ago

                                        My roommate and I started planning this a few months ago. It's kind of an ongoing joke now, but we should join forces and actually try this.

                                        [–]HiFiWiFiSciFi 2 points3 points ago

                                        Of all the pussy gods out there, and in spite of the best challenges I can offer them, no god has ever smote me.

                                        Either there are no gods, or apparently I am the god of all of them.

                                        [–]SuperMcRad 1 point2 points ago

                                        It really takes no effort to make it to the top in this subreddit these days, eh?

                                        [–]LettersFromTheSky 1 point2 points ago

                                        Reminds me of this quote by a Roman philospher:

                                        "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

                                        [–]t1g3rl1ly 2 points3 points ago

                                        Scientology, anyone?

                                        [–]Whitepeopleburning 1 point2 points ago

                                        "Kill all in the name of the great lord cat for they have disgraced our sacred values of peace and knowledge" says your scumbag steves 2000 years from now

                                        ~REDDsarthathiesm~

                                        [–]bigedthebad 1 point2 points ago

                                        You gotta admit, they got a pretty damm good scam going. Free money, no taxes, work like 2 hours a week. I just figured out why all you screaming atheists are so pissed off, you're JEALOUS!!

                                        [–]nukem996 3 points4 points ago

                                        And that's how every religion started

                                        [–]Roclol 1 point2 points ago

                                        Like L. Ron Hubbard before you.

                                        [–]DefinitelyNotaGuest 1 point2 points ago

                                        Isn't this kind of thing what started the Reformation?

                                        [–]glitchedgamer 0 points1 point ago

                                        Hey man, God has child support to pay.

                                        [–]Halsey117 0 points1 point ago

                                        (plus shipping and handling)

                                        [–]Constam 0 points1 point ago

                                        Explains a lot, doesn't it.

                                        [–]stdstd 1 point2 points ago

                                        Cake - Comfort Eagle

                                        [–]2chainzzzz 0 points1 point ago

                                        Cool it L. Ron..

                                        [–]omega_nebula 0 points1 point ago

                                        The new and improved way of selling indulgences!

                                        [–]konayuki28 1 point2 points ago

                                        What infomercial is this? Using God's name in their dirty laundering tricks. I pity the fool.

                                        [–]bagrm 0 points1 point ago

                                        He's got 20 million dollars in his heavenly bank account

                                        [–]fektard 1 point2 points ago

                                        I was watching that $273 dollar miracle shit last night on B.E.T... I remember thinking that that son of a bitch should get locked up for what he's doing, but then I remembered... "oh yeah - religion." this jerk actually will send you a vial with some oil in it to keep the witchcraft away... What a croc.

                                        [–]PointB1ank 1 point2 points ago

                                        You will win favor with god if you gift me reddit gold!

                                        [–]not-creative 1 point2 points ago

                                        Retards everywhere

                                        [–]Dessii2332 0 points1 point ago

                                        How about Catacism..?! Teheheh

                                        [–]ZeroKnight0 0 points1 point ago

                                        For $333, God will give you Half Life 3.

                                        [–]amorningofsleep 0 points1 point ago

                                        I should start a Jonestown.

                                        [–]Thedudeiscj 0 points1 point ago

                                        We are building a religion.

                                        [–]PringleTube 0 points1 point ago

                                        L. Ron Hubbard Cat

                                        [–]yelnats25 0 points1 point ago

                                        Let's all start a religion and split the profits equally among us.

                                        [–]SnotBank 1 point2 points ago

                                        I saw that one! "TWELVE ARE WATCHING. I want you to call in, I want you all to have your own FedEx UPS miracle. You call in and you tell the lady on the other end 'I am one of the twelve! I want to plant my $273 seed today so I can spread the love of Jesus and let it grow on earth!'" He kept repeating "FedEx UPS miracle," I was on drugs at the time and had trouble realizing it was in fact what he was saying, but now I know it really was.

                                        [–]IMnotONEtoJUDGEbut 0 points1 point ago

                                        You would think that Atleast half the people that fall for all these religious scams they would start to lose faith or Atleast question it. Who wants to start a new religion with me? I will never forsake you.

                                        [–]gorillapavilion 0 points1 point ago

                                        "I should buy a tithe"

                                        [–]CDRCRDS -1 points0 points ago

                                        You knkw what. When I finish law school and finish paying back the insurmountable let ive accumalated and maybe buy a small home im going to go to a webcam site where those poor girls pretend to like you and just wait and if after sone minths I see that the girl is just enjoying herself and kind of in need to im gonna throw a few thousand at her. At least she would be honest.

                                        [–]GoodGuyGavin 0 points1 point ago

                                        As Martin Luther once said, "Fuck indulgences, for they are bullshit."

                                        [–]boringdude00 0 points1 point ago

                                        There was one I saw 5 or 6 years ago on one of the religion channels that was just a guy standing on stage and repeating over and over again that God would bless you and you would be one of 'The Thousand' if you would just pick up the phone and donate a thousand dollars to him; on the spot. It was crazy.

                                        EDIT: shit someone already beat me to it; there's even a youtube link.

                                        [–]Canismajoris88 0 points1 point ago

                                        I will favor with god if he sends me a check for $273.

                                        [–]MyNameIsNotMud 0 points1 point ago

                                        I thought the same thing once, then realized that my conscience wouldn't let me.

                                        [–]username5150 1 point2 points ago

                                        This is the worst....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6WTspFrbik

                                        [–]Deltr0nZer0 0 points1 point ago

                                        Put A Dollah In The Boxah!

                                        [–]YuuExussum 0 points1 point ago

                                        Or better yet, milk the current "meta religion" (aka Christianity) in a way like this to the point where you're world renowned and then reveal your'self as a fraud, while doing so you reveal countless other frauds and may even cause some to question themselves.

                                        [–]Damour 1 point2 points ago

                                        Relevant

                                        [–]JesusRapedMe 0 points1 point ago

                                        It's cheaper than a high class hooker

                                        [–]Vodka_and_Gatorade 0 points1 point ago

                                        I'm a little late but all religion does is exploit dumb people...

                                        [–]JManRomania 0 points1 point ago

                                        L. Ron Hubbard beat you to it, bro...

                                        [–]HauntsYourProstate 0 points1 point ago

                                        I thought indulgences were over

                                        [–]DingleberryTheif 0 points1 point ago

                                        This man is a genius

                                        [–]curiositor 0 points1 point ago

                                        Just spoke someone who came from Batam, Indonesia. The founders of some temples (Mixture of Buddhism + Taoism + Hinduism) are selling overpriced statues, watches, clothes and etc that they claim to have some sort of protective power over the wearer/buyer. The members are even paying in INSTALLMENT! They even promise tickets to heaven for afterlife. For those who are not from Asia, Southeast Asia religions are often mixed to suit local condition.

                                        See wikipedia for Buddhism in Southeast Asia.

                                        [–]smogzahoy 0 points1 point ago

                                        If L. Ron Hubbard can do it so can you!

                                        [–]ServaboFidem 0 points1 point ago

                                        Sounds like Todd Coontz, and "Rockwealth Ministries"

                                        [–]dudebot 0 points1 point ago

                                        These are called indulgences, where you pay money to increase your faith. It's been done before during the Medieval Ages. Christians knew it was bs

                                        [–]BR0STRADAMUS 1 point2 points ago

                                        There's a great BBC doc on YouTube called "Miracles for Sale" on this topic. It's by Derren Brown. He takes a scuba instructor and teaches him the basic "tricks" of the faith healing trade and creates a fake ministry and persona for the guy. Then they bring him to America and have a fake healing revival and people actually believe he's healing them. It's definitely worth a watch.

                                        [–]thiss 0 points1 point ago

                                        1. Prophet
                                        2. ????
                                        3. Profit

                                        [–]xiandrii 0 points1 point ago

                                        Only 273 dollars?! Bargain!

                                        [–]Waste_my_life 0 points1 point ago

                                        How big do I need to make my religion before I can give donations as a tax writeoff?

                                        [–]d00st3r 0 points1 point ago

                                        if you have any cheques from old accounts (preferably from an old address) that are closed. send them a few cheques, a few days apart. the cheques will bounce, they will get fined. If it happens too often the bank will stop doing business with them.

                                        if it keeps up long enough (if enough different people keep doing it over time) they'll run out of banks that will do business with them.

                                        [–]LaPlaya 0 points1 point ago

                                        10 years ago me and some friends decided, we should create Apple'ism. Where all people would buy and worship Apple products, and pay huge money for them. Also that would'nt be far from nature of a man. And please remember - we tought that when there were no iPhones yet. Only iPods and Macs.

                                        [–]Sokonomi 0 points1 point ago

                                        That newspaper will do.

                                        All hail our new messiah, 10% off!

                                        [–]artav 0 points1 point ago

                                        How does one make a religion in the US these days, anyway?

                                        [–]fistruler 1 point2 points ago

                                        Actually, this can be done. I'd seen it. It's a business and a lucrative business if you know what you are doing.

                                        [–]araspoon 0 points1 point ago

                                        Why $273 dollars I wonder? Why not tree fiddy?

                                        [–]zilch99 0 points1 point ago

                                        And people wonder why I don't watch TV anymore.

                                        [–]Frozen_Esper 0 points1 point ago

                                        I see that wretched Campmeeting program on patient TVs late at night sometimes and they're always begging for huge sums of money. I've caught them asking for $950 "seeds" to receive God's financial blessing. Disgusting.

                                        I think the real vomit inducer was that the lady who started singing some religious song after the begging would randomly slip things like "You call that number now" into her song. Fucking really? You couldn't even let a song go by without pushing people to give you money? Ughhh.

                                        [–]opagangnamstyle 0 points1 point ago

                                        link to a video perhaps?

                                        [–]alltimeisrelative 0 points1 point ago

                                        This is mostly the one thing about Religion, these days, that makes me sick. I don't care if you're religious, but of you're doing it mostly for money, and not for helping people then that is fucked up. A lot of people look to religion for guidance and help with their lives, both spiritually and mentally, but if you're not helping anyone because you actually want to help them then you're a heartless bastard for scamming the less fortunate. But, then you could argue that the people being scammed are stupid and they deserve to be scammed for being dumb enough to take the bait. Regardless, it's fucked up and people like this should be prosecuted IMO.

                                        [–]CRCasper 1 point2 points ago

                                        That's what L. Ron Hubbard did

                                        [–]mastersoup 0 points1 point ago

                                        Im offering favor with god for only $250

                                        [–]negativefucksthought 0 points1 point ago

                                        Fastest way to make a million dollars... Give gullible people false hope. I'm catholic so I go to church once a decade. And give change not dollars.

                                        [–]piccini9 0 points1 point ago

                                        I so want to fleece the sheeple, but I like sleeping at night.

                                        [–]cheekygebres 0 points1 point ago

                                        cult*

                                        [–]OfMiceAndMouseMats 0 points1 point ago

                                        $273 is an oddly specific amount of money, unless you've got some kind of weird system in America where you round to the nearest multiple of seven.

                                        [–]pieltd 0 points1 point ago

                                        1. Convert to Celsius.
                                        2. now 273 = 0
                                        3. ?????
                                        4. PROFIT.

                                        [–]Patches67 0 points1 point ago

                                        I caught my self saying "Isn't this a blatantly obvious scam?" -duh

                                        [–]Zintoatree 0 points1 point ago

                                        Church of Zeus!!! or Grumpy Cat

                                        [–]to11mtm 0 points1 point ago

                                        Relevant - http://youtu.be/-yYjESHILGo

                                        [–]Keisuke102 0 points1 point ago

                                        For a nominal fee.

                                        [–]Kewpa 0 points1 point ago

                                        I was watching one the other night that came with a free bottle of blessed holy water or something like that...If you drank that stuff God would pay your mortgage and shit.

                                        [–]RayFinkle1984 0 points1 point ago

                                        My husband and I have said many times if we didn't have a conscience we would start a religion.

                                        [–]katsugi 0 points1 point ago

                                        Nessie agrees.

                                        [–]zBigTz 0 points1 point ago

                                        Nine out of ten religions fail within the first year.

                                        [–]mindless-lucid-dream 0 points1 point ago

                                        Not polite to abuse that cat this way.

                                        [edit:I'm not religious though.]

                                        [–]FaZaCon -1 points0 points ago

                                        Those are ministries, dipshit. You wouldn't live long enough to see the establishment of a religion.

                                        [–]ryanasimov 0 points1 point ago

                                        Even if you don't, it's a certainty that somebody else will.

                                        [–]Slammed_Droid 0 points1 point ago

                                        I think I know what OP is referring to. While staying in Cleveland Ohio I came across a religious show/channel saying if you sent them money, their staff for pray-ers, possibly referred to as professional prayers, that will pray for you. Minimum amount was $1,000 but god would put 10,000 into your bank account. It was truly twisted

                                        [–]OutstandingWarrant 0 points1 point ago

                                        Not an atheist, but for a lot of religions i've noticed one particular thing.

                                        Prophets = profits

                                        [–]sherlockcuster 0 points1 point ago

                                        Dude you gotta get cable.

                                        [–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

                                        And that is why there are so many churches in the U.S.

                                        [–]Onyx_Initiative 0 points1 point ago

                                        Didn't the Catholics do this in the Dark Ages?

                                        [–]CaDoran 0 points1 point ago

                                        Yeah! With blackjack and hookers!

                                        [–]pbnc 0 points1 point ago

                                        I had a dream that an angel told me Gawd would bless you if you send me $10. PM for address or PayPal info.

                                        I guess there really is no law that would prevent me from printing that on business cards with the actual payment info and just handing them out. I haven't actually promised anyone anything more tangible than any other "preacher" and there's no requirement for me to be affiliated with a church or any other type of credentials before I could start doing this. I'm sure I can find a suitable verse to guilt them a bit harder to up my returns.

                                        I wonder how to get the phone company involved. You know, Text 533287 ( JEEBUS ) to this number to donate $10 now.

                                        [–]silentredditer 1 point2 points ago

                                        My SO and I wrote a business plan for one several years ago when we were co-workers-who-were-married-to-separate-people as a joke. He is the god, who blesses certain worldly things for "a slight donation".

                                        My title is/was Chief Tribewife Chooser (his wife was not very effective at her job of wifing). I surrounded him with a harem of lesbians and my-most-awesome-self. Muahahaha

                                        TL;DR how a fake religion brought about my marriage of 5-years

                                        [–]gallo420 1 point2 points ago

                                        There is a religion where god pays you!

                                        [–]Sky_Racer 1 point2 points ago

                                        Didn't the guy who made the Jehovah's Witnesses do this? Making a crazy religion that was actually a tax shelter and admitting it was a all a scam on his death bed? I'm not certain but that's what that I've heard/read at some point.

                                        [–]CaiusAeliusLupus 1 point2 points ago

                                        Indulgences DID work for the catholic church for quite some time...

                                        [–]wdingo 1 point2 points ago

                                        We'll call it Puzzles!

                                        [–]Isarian 0 points1 point ago

                                        ..said L. Ron Hubbard

                                        [–]xxredditx 0 points1 point ago

                                        Im a Christian and I think that's hilarious. Never, I repeat, never give money to those people. Go out and buy an Xbox or something.

                                        [–]stumbleme 0 points1 point ago

                                        If you do please MSG me. I have wonderful ideas!

                                        [–]Gumtrea 0 points1 point ago

                                        Do they seriously have these ads in america? This is the worst case of exploiting the stupid that I have seen

                                        [–]hindesky 0 points1 point ago

                                        Many have and they are the richer for it. Too many easily duped people who want to believe are easily parted with their money.

                                        [–]Mtfilmguy 0 points1 point ago

                                        One of my friends from Yelm, Washington was telling me about this lady who created a religion base on a myth of lizard people in the area. I don't what it is called but I know she make a million or so a year. I know its grown a lot in the past ten years.

                                        [–]JamesTheBassoonist 0 points1 point ago

                                        Now that's an indulgence if I ever saw one: "When the coin in the coffer rings, the soul to heaven springs!"

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