Originally posted by @leunammi
I see it for sure and it is disgusting. Kenneth Copeland is reported to be worth 700 million, has 4 or 5 jets, big house, boat, who knows what else.

It happens in most churches. The amount of the stealing is of no importance.
Most pastors live off the church at higher standard than what is necessary.

Originally posted by @rajk999
Which church do you know of which is not corrupted by any one of the following:
greed
sexual immorality
excess
worldliness
false doctrines
disregard for the poor and needy
ignoring the commandments of Christ

None of the churches I’ve attended as an adult are corrupted by any of that. Don’t know about the ones I attended as a child but I suspect they weren’t either.

Originally posted by @rajk999
... On average the pastors live off the church ...They live well a...

Tax free and no blisters. Audience needing spoonfed. Good gig.

Originally posted by @romans1009
None of the churches I’ve attended as an adult are corrupted by any of that. Don’t know about the ones I attended as a child but I suspect they weren’t either.

How many have you attended in your four years as a Christian?

Originally posted by @apathist
Tax free and no blisters. Audience needing spoonfed. Good gig.

Saving souls and helping people in crisis can be difficult work. Not all pastors are televangelists. Many get their hands dirty and live modest, God fearing lives.

Originally posted by @divegeester
How many have you attended in your four years as a Christian?

Why do you care, tiger? Trying to accumulate ammo?

I attended church before I became a Christian because I have always believed in God and always have had a love and reverence for Him.

Originally posted by @rajk999
It happens in most churches. The amount of the stealing is of no importance.
Most pastors live off the church at higher standard than what is necessary.

What’s your evidence that it happens in most churches? Do you have any idea how many churches are in the United States alone, let alone the world?

Originally posted by @romans1009
What’s your evidence that it happens in most churches? Do you have any idea how many churches are in the United States alone, let alone the world?

Or in other galaxies

Originally posted by @romans1009
Incidentally, the sex abuse scandals referenced by rajk nearly exclusively occurred in the Catholic church. .

"nearly exclusively' ... you mean not exclusively then?

Originally posted by @wolfgang59
"nearly exclusively' ... you mean not exclusively then?

Correct. “Nearly exclusively” does not mean the same as “exclusively.”

Originally posted by @romans1009
Correct. “Nearly exclusively” does not mean the same as “exclusively.”

Also, while you're at it, 61-62% is not the same as “nearly exclusively”.

Originally posted by @fmf
Also, while you're at it, 61-62% is not the same as “nearly exclusively”.

Are you referring to the statistics you cited from the Australian Royal Commission? How many countries did their data cover? Just Australia, or other countries as well? What year or years did their data cover?

Got a link to the stats you cited?

Originally posted by @fmf
Also, while you're at it, 61-62% is not the same as “nearly exclusively”.

It’s interesting that the statistics you cited referred to abuse in religious institutions, but not a single reference was made to synagogues or mosques. Do you know if they were included in the Australian Royal Commission’s report?

Originally posted by @romans1009
Are you referring to the statistics you cited from the Australian Royal Commission? How many countries did their data cover? Just Australia, or other countries as well? What year or years did their data cover?

Got a link to the stats you cited?

I think the Australian sample was pretty scientifically done and probably represents the 'western' Christian-oriented countries pretty well. I offered the case study for the purposes of the discussion. If you, however, have had your pride bruised, and you think your "nearly exclusively" was indeed the correct expression to use and not just a bit of careless hyperbole, then, by all means, feel free to back it up.

What year or years did their data cover?

The last 50 years up until 2016, if I recall correctly.

Got a link to the stats you cited?

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse website and final report would have been dead easy to find for anyone interested in the issue.

https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/

I seem to have ruffled your feathers. You used a clumsy turn of phrase, that's all. The topic is a seriously ugly one and deserves to be approached with some decorum.

Originally posted by @romans1009
It’s interesting that the statistics you cited referred to abuse in religious institutions, but not a single reference was made to synagogues or mosques. Do you know if they were included in the Australian Royal Commission’s report?

Why don't you look into it at the link I provided?