http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28953451/

Yes, a recession does have it's positive effects. Here's to hoping the rest of the snake oil salesmen go out of business as well.

The recession and family differences in church direction have been most of the problems for Cathedral's struggles. Hope they pull it out...have been to the church...anyone would be spellbound if you walked inside of that building...the open glass structure is most incredible.

I've always questioned that.

On one hand it's a beautiful and powerful place. So that's good right?

On the other, isn't the point of it to get closer to God? The beauty is gratifying, but does exactly nothing to further that goal. Looks to me like a clear statement as to how many suckers they got to buy into their scam.

(and they get top marks for that, if the building is really that great!)

So we've got the many tele-contributions going to build up very solid assets. I'm quite sure God doesn't need the money. Perhaps the homeless do?

I don't like TV religion. Never have. Never will. Every one of them I've ever seen is a scam, or if it's actually adding value, then it is doing some lousy thing with the extra dollars.

That's the Dobson and Gothard kind of deal. Not pretty either way.

Frankly, if I had to choose, I would prefer the self-obsessed televangelist who builds the big building, over the one that promotes the harm of kids.

At least the overall net loss to society is lower in the former case. And we've got a cool building to look at, instead of ugly late teens and 20 somethings to work through!

Perhaps they could rent out the building? Seems to me, that's quite a nest egg. If getting the word out is goal number one, and if it's supposed to be God's house, posting it up for sale to further the cause seems perfectly reasonable right?

Right?

All they really need is a studio. The rest is for what exactly?

What happened to being humble, and living the life of God as a witness to the gospel? Don't need a big ass building for that!

In reading the above news story, I was quite shocked by the scale of the monetary amounts in question: last year's revenue was $5 million less than that of the previous year, and the ministry plans to sell $65 million of property that it owns. Why is it that many contemporary Western religions seem to be so materialistic? Why is there a need to try to impress people with fancy buildings, elaborate services, and expensive clothing and jewelry? This is a far cry from what Taoists and Franciscans, for example, would advocate.

Places like the Glass Cathedral are the most non eco-friendly type of buildings. The amount of energy that is used must be incredible, unless they have established some greener energy sources that I'm unaware of.

As far as Schuller's theology he seems less pretentious than most. I read where he encouraged Christians to read the Da Vinci Code in order to establish dialogue between differing opinions.

But that's about as far as I will go with his ministry.

Well, that's quite the outreach!! Gotta give them props for that.

I liked the "Da Vinci Code", BTW. It's interesting to consider just what would have been had there been a living blood line...

Alfredo, no kidding. It's morbid really.

Of that sale, what happens to God's money? Hmmm....

Broadway wrote:
Hope they pull it out

I hope they don't. Less power in politics.

Agreed completely.

Me too.