Religion is as old as man himself and the conversations about it have started many a war. Today we have a different battle, it's the battle for your money. The use of the media for televangelists has stretched far beyond just preaching the word of God, it's used for highly profitable marketing of religion. Since economic times are tough the theme being preached these days is Money, send in $100.00 and you will receive a new car. You know the pitch.

A brief history of televangelism:

In 1934 the U.S. Congress passed the Communications Act which authorized the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to grant broadcast licenses. The license, in effect, is a monopoly to use a scarce commodity. In exchange for this monopoly, the station is obligated to broadcast "in the public interest." Religious broadcasting was considered one way of fulfilling a station's "public interest" obligation.

In 1960 all this changed. Under growing pressure from conservative groups, the FCC ruled that local stations could sell airtime for religious programs and still get "public interest" credit. Evangelical groups lined up to buy commercial time on radio and TV, local stations began to cash in on the new demand and to sell time to the highest bidder.

Just before the FCC ruling took effect, only 53 percent of all religious broadcasting was paid-time. By 1977, paid-time religious broadcasting had risen to 92 percent. Since the mid-1970s, religious broadcasting has been firmly in the hands of the televangelists.

Deregulation

When Ronald Reagan became President in 1980, he brought about an almost complete deregulation of radio and TV. He did this by weakening the FCC to the point where it had very little real control. He cut the number of FCC Commissioners from seven to five. He drastically reduced its budget. And he installed a Chairman who publicly proclaimed that "television is no different from a toaster." The rapid buying of stations by large networks centralized systems -- radio, TV, cable, and satellite which was monopolized by a few corporations..

Today there are some 1,600 "Christian" radio stations on the air, and 250 "Christian" TV stations. They blanket the nation. The FCC should have long ago denied them their licenses to broadcast because they violated the "public interest rule", but they will not. They cannot, because the religious right has become so strong in the Congress and the Administration that it would be political suicide for any politician to challenge these stations.

It is no secret that some of the messengers have lived lives worse than most and have died from strokes, cancer, heart failure like mortal folks. Not all evangelists are frauds, but the ones that are cast a dark shadow over the group.

Joyce Meyer Ministries bought these 5 homes for Meyer and her family. The Ministry pays all expenses, including landscaping and lawn care, property taxes and rehab work. Meyer, her husband and each of their four married children live in the homes, free of charge.

1) Residence of: Joyce and Dave Meyer

Bought: April 27th, 1999

Purchase Price: About $795,000

Square Footage: 10,000

Cost of Improvements: $1.1 Million

Features: 6 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, Gold Putting Green, Swimming pool, 8 Car Heated and Cooled Garage, Guest House with 2 more bedrooms, Gazebo.

2) Residence of: Daughter, Sandra McCollom and her husband Steve

Bought: February 12, 2002

Purchase Price: $400,000

Square Footage: About 5,000

Cost of Improvements: About $250,000

Features: 4 Bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half Bathrooms, All-Seasons room, Prayer Room, Media Center and a Home Office.

3) Residence of: Son, David Meyer and his wife Joy Meyer.

Bought: June 18, 2001

Purchase Price: $725,000

Square Footage: 4,000

Cost of Improvements: Unknown

Features: 2 Story Colonial, 4 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 Bathrooms, 2 Garages and a Utility Shed

4) Residence of: Daughter, Laura Holtzmann and her husband Doug

Bought: March 7, 2001

Purchase Price: $350,000

Square Footage: 2,358

Cost of Improvements: $3,000

Features: 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms with a Fireplace.

5) Residence of: Son, Dan Meyer and his wife Charity

Bought: Mar 13, 2000

Purchase Price: About 200,000

Square Footage: About 2,000

Cost of Improvements: $33,000

Features: Brick Ranch With Full Finished Basement

It's only fitting that we see the hub of the Meyer Ministry. I'll let you form you own opinion about what is excessive and what's not. Here's a few highlights from the Jefferson County assessor's office.

The building is decorated with religious paintings and sculptures, and quality furniture. Much of it, Meyer says, she selected herself.

A Jefferson County assessor's list offers a glimpse into the value of many of the items: a $19,000 pair of Dresden vases, six French crystal vases bought for $18,500, an $8,000 Dresden porcelain depicting the Nativity, two $5,800 curio cabinets, a $5,700 porcelain of the Crucifixion, a pair of German porcelain vases bought for $5,200.

The decor includes a $30,000 malachite round table, a $23,000 marble-topped antique commode, a $14,000 custom office bookcase, a $7,000 Stations of the Cross in Dresden porcelain, a $6,300 eagle sculpture on a pedestal, another eagle made of silver bought for $5,000, and numerous paintings purchased for $1,000 to $4,000 each.

Inside Meyer's private office suite sit a conference table and 18 chairs bought for $49,000. The woodwork in the offices of Meyer and her husband cost the ministry $44,000.

In all, assessor's records of the ministry's personal property show that nearly $5.7 million worth of furniture, artwork, glassware, and the latest equipment and machinery fill the 158,000-square-foot building.

As of this summer, the ministry also owned a fleet of vehicles with an estimated value of $440,000. The Jefferson County assessor has been trying to get the complex and its contents added to the tax rolls but has failed.

All expenses including property taxes, renovations, utilities are paid by the ministry.

What do you think?

Now you see where some of your money goes. It's not wrong to make lots of money and enjoy it, this just doesn't feel right for that venue. Joyce is not alone in her purchases, lets review a few more players.

You talk about resurrection. A while back James Randi exposed a few televangelist, after his report they filed bankruptcy. Now they have emerged from the ashes and are right back at it again. This time they are living bigger and better, we have short memories and must be as gullible as ever because these guys are raking in millions.

There are so many of these guys it's ridiculous, but even with all the exposure they are still raking in the money. What does that tell you about us.

Kerney Thomas is rather entertaining so we added him to the mix. The first clip is is the original, the second clip is one we came across and with a subject like this a little levity doesn't hurt.

So as you can see big business is not just for oil companies it stretches well into the pockets of faith. Will list a few more of the familiar players:

• Jim Bakker
• Juanita Bynum
• Creflo Dollar
• Jesse Duplantis
• Jerry Falwell
• Billy Graham
• Benny Hinn
• T.D. Jakes
• Eddie Long
• Joyce Meyer
• Sister Paula Nielsen - America's only transsexual televangelist
• Joel Osteen
• Oral Roberts
• Robert H. Schuller
• Jimmy Swaggart
• Robert Tilton - in the same era as Peter Popoff, was run off for a while
• Paula White

There you have it, to believe or not to believe, to give or not to give, is that the question? Or do we just simply enjoy each day knowing the one true fact that we won't live forever or do we! Is there another Hub waiting for us out there somewhere? Naw, Join me next week, I'll send you a miracle prayer scarf and help me get that big house in the Hampton's .................