Joel Osteen

[WJeffrey]

Wjeffrey, I re-read your other posts and you absolutely did defend giving money to literally everyone beggar who asks; you mentioned limiting giving to “twenties” when you knew it would be used for alcohol or drugs. Other posters asked you to send your money to them! Thus your posts here don’t water, and frankly appear filled with deceit.

Further, the cult of hating on Osteen is just that: hate. The whole “he’s had plastic surgery!” Is just a continuation of all the rumors about the man: for years people said he was gay (as if that would be reason enough to hate on him; it’s not).

Also, do you think that he thinks about you when he is lounging next to the pool sipping his Pina Colada that you paid for?

 

[PolarGuy]

See how quickly these threads get personal?

I don’t even mean as to me. Now joel Osteen is sipping a piña colada with our money.

The uncharity towards him comes across as envy, and exceedingly petty.

 

[Micosil]

You think people are leaving the Catholic church for comfort and entertainment??!

The Catholics I know who are leaving are doing so because their rationale doesn’t agree with the teachings, and they are indeed looking for truth.

.

If they want to sacrifice the truth for something half-baked, well … more power to them?

 

[jimcav]

See how quickly these threads get personal?

I don’t even mean as to me. Now joel Osteen is sipping a piña colada with our money.

The uncharity towards him comes across as envy, and exceedingly petty.

There is a point here that has nothing to do with envy and neither is it petty.

Can a man be close to God and a truly Godly man, when he has such a huge, earthly empire to run? Does his business not get in the way, taking up nearly all of his time? Do the ostentatious comforts he is surrounded by bring him closer to God? I can’t speak for the man, but have to believe it doesn’t.

I also would think one would feel a bit of guilt in how it came about.

We should be in the world, but not of the world.

A monk seeks God from a small room, a hard bed and a desk. Nothing to get in between him and God.

 

[WJeffrey]

See how quickly these threads get personal?

I don’t even mean as to me. Now joel Osteen is sipping a piña colada with our money.

The uncharity towards him comes across as envy, and exceedingly petty.

Thank you for pointing it out. I will take it up with my Confessor.

You still haven’t answered any question posed to you.

Would you like me to do the Christian thing and answer them for you? It would save you the embarrassment?

 

[PolarGuy]

Jimcav, there are a LOT of problems with the whole “net worth” argument. First, if you want to attack Osteen’s net worth, it then becomes fair game to attack the Catholic Church’s net worth (which far exceeds Osteen’s). If it is instead fair to attack how Osteen spends his money…then it’s equally fair to question if, perhaps, parishioners have problems with their money being used to find settlements with priests’ molestation victims. I’d add that numerous dioceses have been scrutinized for the lavish homes built for bishops; my own diocese has come under fire for building such a home, complete with not tub and swimming pool.

Am I troubled with how some Protestant ministers spend $? Maybe. But given the total knee-jerk “nothing the Catholics do is ever wrong”/total lack of introspection from others, I don’t know why I’d be foolish enough to admit it.

Wjeffrey, you are way overpersonalizing this; I don’t know what questions you’re referring to; and why should I further engage someone who seems to want to embarrass me (your words, not mine). But could you please send me $10? Promise I won’t use it for beer…

 

[WJeffrey]

Jimcav, there are a LOT of problems with the whole “net worth” argument. First, if you want to attack Osteen’s net worth, it then becomes fair game to attack the Catholic Church’s net worth (which far exceeds Osteen’s). If it is instead fair to attack how Osteen spends his money…then it’s equally fair to question if, perhaps, parishioners have problems with their money being used to find settlements with priests’ molestation victims. I’d add that numerous dioceses have been scrutinized for the lavish homes built for bishops; my own diocese has come under fire for building such a home, complete with not tub and swimming pool.

Am I troubled with how some Protestant ministers spend $? Maybe. But given the total knee-jerk “nothing the Catholics do is ever wrong”/total lack of introspection from others, I don’t know why I’d be foolish enough to admit it.

Wjeffrey, you are way overpersonalizing this; I don’t know what questions you’re referring to; and why should I further engage someone who seems to want to embarrass me (your words, not mine). But could you please send me $10? Promise I won’t use it for beer…

I’d prefer to buy you a beer in person if you would care to come over. However, if you don’t want to take me up on my generous offer, perhaps Mr. Osteen would offer us his jet that you financed so we could join him for Pina Colada pool. I’d love for him to take us to Margaritaville on your dime.

 

[jimcav]

Jimcav, there are a LOT of problems with the whole “net worth” argument. First, if you want to attack Osteen’s net worth, it then becomes fair game to attack the Catholic Church’s net worth (which far exceeds Osteen’s). If it is instead fair to attack how Osteen spends his money…then it’s equally fair to question if, perhaps, parishioners have problems with their money being used to find settlements with priests’ molestation victims. I’d add that numerous dioceses have been scrutinized for the lavish homes built for bishops; my own diocese has come under fire for building such a home, complete with not tub and swimming pool.

Am I troubled with how some Protestant ministers spend $? Maybe. But given the total knee-jerk “nothing the Catholics do is ever wrong”/total lack of introspection from others, I don’t know why I’d be foolish enough to admit it…

I wasn’t attacking Joel Osteen, and I haven’t in this thread.

I am just posing a question asking if a man can be Godly when he is so busy with his empire/business, that’s all. I even said I can’t answer for the man, so I’m open, but admit I am doubtful, that he can be.

The way the Catholic Church spends it’s money cannot be compared to your basic televangelist, who spends much of his money to live a lavish lifestyle. And yes, there are/were bishops who live lavishly, but even as you admit, they are scrutinized. Who is scrutinizing Mr. Osteen?

Anyway, you seem a bit angry with your fellow Catholics, part of which I can understand. Maybe you need a break from CAF for awhile? I take breaks at times myself, because this place can make me crazy when taken in big doses…

 

[PolarGuy]

Jim, your points are valid to a degree.

Am I angry? Frustrated and disgusted is a better way of putting it, less by Catholics and more by the people on this board (not you). I think many of them come across as either hard hearted and legalistic, or just really, really screwed up (clinically depressed/suffering from OCD/unable to function; I’m omitting the large number of posters who claim to have Aspergers) such that it makes Catholics look terrible. I get that these boards may be places people to come to vent, get advice, whatever, but it seems like it’s less “catholic answers” and more “Catholics in need of psychological assistance.”

 

[jimcav]

Jim, your points are valid to a degree.

Am I angry? Frustrated and disgusted is a better way of putting it, less by Catholics and more by the people on this board (not you). I think many of them come across as either hard hearted and legalistic, or just really, really screwed up (clinically depressed/suffering from OCD/unable to function; I’m omitting the large number of posters who claim to have Aspergers) such that it makes Catholics look terrible. I get that these boards may be places people to come to vent, get advice, whatever, but it seems like it’s less “catholic answers” and more “Catholics in need of psychological assistance.”

I hear you, and I partially agree with you.

That’s why I take a lot of breaks from here and just pray, read, go to Mass and enjoy being Catholic!

 

[Faith1960]

I like him tho of course not everything he says is correct. He reminds me of the good things about being a Christian, unwinding the rubber band so to speak, putting down the cross for a few minutes and using it as a prop to hold me up, to think of the beauty of what the promises of Christ will bring, opening up a window to smell the fresh air and the refreshing wind on the face of my soul.

Then reality sets in after a nice pause of relief of the kindness and generousness that Jesus stands for. I believe that Christians need this once in a while. We all need to hear something nice.

And before I get jumped on, remember I said “tho of course not everything he says is correct.” But he is not all wrong.

I kind of like him, too.

 

[Gorgias]

You think people are leaving the Catholic church for comfort and entertainment??!

The Catholics I know who are leaving are doing so because their rationale doesn’t agree with the teachings, and they are indeed looking for truth.

Interesting. The Catholics who are leaving, with whom I’ve talked, are doing so because their rationale doesn’t agree with *their misunderstanding of *the teachings, and so they don’t realize that they’re indeed leaving the truth.

 

[Gorgias]

Am I angry? Frustrated and disgusted is a better way of putting it, less by Catholics and more by the people on this board… I think many of them come across as … just really, really screwed up (clinically depressed/suffering from OCD/unable to function… it seems like it’s less “catholic answers” and more “Catholics in need of psychological assistance.”

PolarGuy:

See how quickly these threads get personal?

Why, yes! Now that you mention it, I certainly see the personal attack! :sad_yes:

 

[fred_conty]

There was a interview with Joel on a national tv show some time ago. In it he was asked about his finances. He said he only uses the money he receives from his books and private schedule appearances, and nothing from his tv work.

The donations go to paying his tv expenses.

 

[WJeffrey]

There was a interview with Joel on a national tv show some time ago. In it he was asked about his finances. He said he only uses the money he receives from his books and private schedule appearances, and nothing from his tv work.

The donations go to paying his tv expenses.

How much does it cost to air a sermon? I don’t know, but its essence is a person speaking. Networks air reality shows and game shows because they are inexpensive to produce. They must cost more to produce than a sermon. How much does it cost to air a sermon or an interview?

Since he owns the production studio, his only overhead should be the show itself.

 

[fred_conty]

How much does it cost to air a sermon? I don’t know, but its essence is a person speaking. Networks air reality shows and game shows because they are inexpensive to produce. They must cost more to produce than a sermon. How much does it cost to air a sermon or an interview?

Since he owns the production studio, his only overhead should be the show itself.

Well you can always write to him a personal note and ask him. He’s very friendly and would welcome your question.

 

[PolarGuy]

This thread got derailed.

I’d suggest that before there is further trashing of Joel Osteen, people ought to try listening to the man two or three times on XM radio or on TV. Absent that, no one can really offer any opinion of any substance: absent that, people’s opinions are as valueless about him as they are about nuclear physics.

 

[Faith1960]

This thread got derailed.

I’d suggest that before there is further trashing of Joel Osteen, people ought to try listening to the man two or three times on XM radio or on TV. Absent that, no one can really offer any opinion of any substance: absent that, people’s opinions are as valueless about him as they are about nuclear physics.

I kind of like him.

 

[Faith1960]

Why, yes! Now that you mention it, I certainly see the personal attack! :sad_yes:

 

[Tablefor9]

Jim, your points are valid to a degree.

Am I angry? Frustrated and disgusted is a better way of putting it, less by Catholics and more by the people on this board (not you). I think many of them come across as either hard hearted and legalistic, or just really, really screwed up (clinically depressed/suffering from OCD/unable to function; I’m omitting the large number of posters who claim to have Aspergers) such that it makes Catholics look terrible. I get that these boards may be places people to come to vent, get advice, whatever, but it seems like it’s less “catholic answers” and more “Catholics in need of psychological assistance.”

There are a handful of posters here that I have had to put on my ignore list because I find it very difficult for me to read their posts without being judgemental or irritable. I recommend the practice.