Complete with a camera in the top corner; you know, for those family album moments. Interesting bonus to the recent 'inside information' from an anonymous 'source' concerning Gokey's religious affiliation, Faith Builders International Ministries. It seems this cult-principled manic-religious themed organization hit a recent peak, no longer just interesting for its potential grifter status (link takes a moment, from the TopIdol site). It gets better. Under super secret swears and oaths this organization touts their tenets as being able to resurrect the dead! Apparently it's like a modern day twist on Tales From the Crypt or a new religious themed Zombies Will Eat Your Brains. Just make sure you're tithing heavily.
"The raising the dead is part of the teaching they ascribe to from the Bible:
“Heal the sick, raise the dead,cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” Matthew 10:8
Now, the raise the dead part they will TALK about. They’ll tell stories from the pulpit of Smith Wigglesworth kicking a dead baby and it coming back to life in the 1800’s. They’ll tell stories of people being raised from the dead in other countries. Pastor Jeff told us that we are not to discuss the church’s position on raising the dead or healing by faith with anyone especially as it relates to the Gokey situation. He said the devil is trying to bring attacks against the church by spreading lies and we are not to discuss things with outsiders."
Anyway perhaps beside waking the dead this church encourages a rousing workout ala "Zombie Strippers"
"Zombie Strippers"
Any wonder I steer clear of organized religions?
Sunny, Wow, people really buy into that, how sad. Fill my pockets, I'm more important than you and your exsistance. Raising of the dead, what nonsense. I can't believe people will allow themselves to brainwashed like that.
ReplyDeleteHad two friends sisters back in the 70's both became Moonies. When the family tried to go in and take them away the Dad got beaten to a pulp. Took the girls many years but finally saw what it was all about and left.
JI
That's just crazy! I had a BFF who wound up 'captured' by the Moonies too. She just sort of fell off the map. One day I got this package, a letter telling me not to try to contact her and pics of her horse she sold. Never heard from her again....
ReplyDeleteThat whole Gokey thing is just wild.
Sunny, These two girls Dad never gave up on getting them back. There was a big write up last year in our paper, he was dying and they interivewed him about the whole experience and what it did to the family in general. It was a sad situation. They got them back when the Mom was dying, thats how they lured them back to NJ, about 15 years ago. He had a team of deprogramers there took awhile but they did it. I ran into the younger one a couple of years back and she said they were so brainwashed about everything they didn't know real from not real.
ReplyDeleteJI
Yeah, that IS wild. Don't you know that pastor is salivating at the thought of Gokey hitting the big time, ugh. I don't have a problem with Christians prospering and I do know for a fact that when you give to the Lord with a pure heart, your prosperity will be increased. Experienced it first hand when we attended church for several years. (we quit going, why is another story for another day - but I digress). The problem comes when somewhere in the mix, greed and vanity take over and it's not a pretty sight. It sounds as tho some of these church members are following a man and not Jesus.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I like Gokey's singing pretty good...but he fails to thrill me like Lambert:)
I know, gLambert is light years ahead of the rest. Love him.
ReplyDelete