I called John Haggee ministries.

[Tracyjo]

I don't know if that's how you spell his name or not. I didn't even know who he was when I hit the channel. He was preaching about federal judges and congress and some culture
of life stuff. The recording that I got before a person answered said it was John Haggee ministries.

Anyway, some guy named John answered and I told him that I thought if Mr. Haggee was going to preach about politics, than I believed that the church should be paying some taxes. He said that Mr.Haggee does pay taxes. I told him I wasn't speaking of Mr. Haggee personally, I was talking about the church's tax exempt status. Well, dear John went off. He started squealing and talking so loud and fast that I couldn't even understand him. I asked him to please slow down because I couldn't understand a word he was saying. He said something like, "If you'd just SHUT UP AND LISTEN..." then he started squealing again and I couldn't understand him anymore. Then he hung up on me. I felt like I was talking to Sean Hannity.

Well, don't you know I called them back, because I never did get my prayer request in. This time, I got the machine to leave a message. I told them who I was (first name only) and that I was hung up on earlier and I didn't think that was very christian like. I asked them to pray for the pharisees like Mr. Haggee that are ruining my religion and that Jesus would never hang up on me. Both times I was very polite and was not in a rant. I
wonder if my prayer request will be answered?

[davidinalameda]

1. too funny

[Tracyjo]

3. it wasn't funny

they hung up on me!!:mad:

[ugarte]

2. Nice work

Haggee talks much more about politics than about Jesus Christ. It's very strange to listen to him rant and rave about liberals in front of all these smiling people who look totally blissed out. If he passed out Koolaid, they'd all line up.

[Tracyjo]

5. I'd never watched him before

Just look what I was missing. :grr:

[susanna]

28. He had a book years ago...

...about the Apocalypse. Something about why Christians should concern themselves with Israel's business. I have it somewhere - bought it at a flea market where the bookseller said, and I am dead serious, "this is the only book you need to really understand."

1. Yes, the bookseller was a fundie-type.
2. The book actually supported some of Clinton's policies vis a vis its own conclusions, yet the author (Hagee) ragged on Clinton the entire book through.

Weird stuff for sure. Yet another subsect of the "Destroy Christianity through Legalism, Lies and False Prophets" movement (read: policitally motivated christian churches).

Hagee's a piece of work, to be sure.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. Yep

Talk about being rude. A real Christian would never tell you to shut up and listen and not give you a chance to speak. These people are psycho's.

[rsmith6621]

4. Learn More about Mr Hagee Here

http://www.jhm.org/home-new.asp

Hagee does have away of really pissing you off. I use to watch him daily/faithfully a few years ago then his messages started to sound like the campaign speaches of our politicians you know....sounded alike.

Hagee is long winded and from what I have heard he is a real Ba$ta*d to live with as well.

If you Tracyjo are a true Christian then the best thing for you to do is PRAY.....not only for John but James Dobson, Pat Robertson and all others that want to turn the USA into a THEOACRACY.

[Tracyjo]

6. I'm not sure that prayers will help them.

Maybe it will help me.

[Devlzown]

33. That site looks kinda like landoverbaptist.

Haggee's is probably funnier, though.

[ISUGRADIA]

7. As to your comment

"He started squealing and talking so loud and fast that I couldn't even understand him."

He was probably speaking in toungues. You not being a true believer in Reverend Hagee's holy ghost inspired ministry were probably under the spell of, dare I say it,.......SATAN!

*sarcasm off*

They're probably praying you don't call back 8*).

[Tracyjo]

8. Well, I did call back

Too bad for them, huh?
With the attitude that "John" had, I'd bet they get calls like that all the time. If they don't, they should.

[ISUGRADIA]

9. They probably are used to the calls of the meek supporters

shelling out $20 from their meager pensions. And at the same time the Rev probably lives in a Million dollar mansion - owned by the "ministry" of course.

[Tracyjo]

10. The shits should be paying taxes

It makes me so mad. I was on unemployment last year and still had to pay in. Grrr.

[ugarte]

11. Fat little Haggee and his wife were on TV one night

and she was talking about how to keep a marriage fresh and interesting, actually verging on talking about sex. Needless to say, little John just kind of sat there and squirmed. I don't think his feet even reached the floor.

[Tracyjo]

12. Sorry you had to sit through that

yuk.

[EFerrari]

13. Nice work, sistah

Imagine, if all these meddling fake Christians had to start paying taxes, maybe we could keep hospitals open and Headstart and -- oops, what am I thinking?

[Tracyjo]

14. Yeah, a REAL world, jeez....

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. good on ya!

[neebob]

16. Good job

As it happens, the mother of the abusive psychopath who nearly ruined me five years ago was a devotee of "Brother Hagee," always sending her son cassette tapes with various combinations of gospel music, Hagee and another guy named Petrie preaching, and her crying and pleading for psycho boy (aka probably the all-time worst deadbeat dad in the State of Ohio, among other things) to change his ways. He never showed me the tapes; I found them and listened on the DL. Truly messed up. Don't get me started.

Later, I caught Hagee while channel surfing. Physically, he reminds me of my dad and has this whole kind of Mormon vibe that enhances the resemblance. He seems less creepy than some of the other televangelist con men, probably because he doesn't do the gilded-throne/shiny-suit/big-hair thing. But he gives me flashbacks on two fronts. I can't look at him without thinking of this pathetic woman, begging her good little boy - who's a complete monster and it wouldn't surprise me to see on TV one day and learn is also a serial killer - to be a man and take care of his family.

John Hagee Ministries really should pay taxes.

[Tracyjo]

18. I caught him channel surfing too

At least I've learned one thing: It's spelled, HAGEE, not Haggee. Ha, who'da thought I'd learn something from talking about a tv preacher?

[neebob]

20. I learned how to spell his name from a cassette tape label

Can't say it's helped me in life at all.

[neebob]

17. Oh, look

He's got a petition to Congress on his front page. Reclaim moral authority and reverse the tide of judicial tyranny in America! :puke:

http://www.jhm.org

On edit: Now that I've read his bio, I take back what I said about his not seeming as creepy as the others.

[Tracyjo]

19. I don't even want to read that!

[Melynn]

21. I listening to a religious radio station

(for about five minutes, that's all I can take) and they too were pimping that petition about taking over the judiciary for Jesus. And Frist is suppose give a big speech to the wing nut Christian Right this weekend. It seems like the fundies are making their big push for total power.

[Tracyjo]

22. What is happening to our country?

To MY country? What are we gonna do about it? How do we stop them? There are only so many emails we can send and only so many letters to the editors we can write. With them in control, it seems like no one is listening. What do we do to stop the insanity?

[Melynn]

24. People are listening

I think the tide may be turning. First with the Schiavo case and now with the filibuster rule, a majority of Americans favor the Dems position. Also with the economy going south, Bush's poll numbers are starting to drop. So have faith, things may not be as bad you might think.

[Swamp Rat]

23. kick

[Rhiannon12866]

25. I don't think so.

This sounds like a scam, to me, and I would just avoid folks like this. They sound like Fundies, the very people who are scaring people in this country. No, Jesus would never hang up on you, but these guys and Mr. Bush* sure would. They are not good representatives of Christianity, please take my word for it. And welcome to DU.:-)

[neebob]

26. I did a bit of googling on "Dr. Hagee"

He has an honorary doctorate from Oral Roberts U., don'tcha know. I concluded he's just another skanky con man, like all the others, sucking millions out of those who can least afford it with "the prosperity message" - i.e., the Lord wants you to be prosperous and you can't be prosperous if you don't give and poverty is the result of sin and all that garbage.

It angers me on a deep personal level because the Mormon church has a similar line that my dad fell for, along with the other one about the man being the king of his family and ultimately the god of his own world if he's righteous enough (read: pays enough tithing). So he dragged us all into that and traumatized me as a teenager. I have a specific memory of my dad sitting in the living room, spewing the prosperity line, and my sitting there thinking it didn't make sense.

This is a blatant scam that a 15-year-old can spot. These televangelists are the most obvious of all the criminals who run the world. It infuriates and depresses me that so many people believe their bullshit ... and that many of those who don't are willing to give them a pass.

[Rhiannon12866]

27. I agree and thanks for the information.

It also baffles me and I fail to understand, with all the info out there, from Jim Bakker on, how anyone can continue to fall for these scams. They have been front-page news!:shrug:

And I also want to say I am so sorry that you were traumatized as a teenager. With the Mormons, though, it's a whole different thing. I would certainly never buy their message, but there are many members who are devoted and sincere and the nut-cases and polygamists are the rare exception. I'm just sorry that you were affected so negatively. My Dad also dragged me into religion as a teen. It was more mainstream, but he still dragged me. I belong to the Agnostic/Atheist group here on DU. You're welcome to join us, if you want.:-)

[bmbmd]

29. I have a study Bible

edited by John Hagee. I think it is fabulous. Can't stand to listen tothe man, though.

[Rhiannon12866]

31. I am not familiar with him, but televangelists creep me out.

When I used to work until very late at night, I'd come home and the only thing still on would be Jim Bakker. I still had work to do, so I'd turn him on to keep me company. While I never considered donating to his cause, he seemed like a decent sort to me. And now we know that he was a total scam artist and was sent to prison. If you enjoy this Bible, and it gives you comfort, this is just great. I guess I had better check him out before I comment, again. Is he national? I'll check my TV listings, but I'll take your word for the fact that he's hard to take. I find most of these guys are.:eyes:

[neebob]

34. I don't see the Mormons as being all that different -

certainly not in a good way. They're just more subtle about it is all. Surely you've seen the commercials that end with an invitation to call for a copy of the King James Bible. Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky! Can you say, "Bait and switch"?

I think a lot of people - non-Mormons, too - buy into this notion that it's a good, clean lifestyle. Try suggesting to a Mormon that his or her religion is made up. Guarantee ya, "But it's a good, clean lifestyle!" is the first or second argument you'll hear.

Of course it depends on how you make the suggestion. If you say or imply that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon, you'll get that someone with his level of education could never do that. It's cult programming, pure and simple and at its worst.

Except for one Catholic wedding, the LDS church is the only one I've ever been to and my only direct experience with religion. I was actually sort of relieved to learn there are people who believe they'll suddenly disappear and their cars will crash and their clothes will be left lying around and everything. Makes it easier to accept that my dad told me God lives on the planet Kolob and other stuff I later learned my parents apparently believed and/or thought was okay, like essentially being threatened with death if they told what goes on in the temple. Which explains why the vast majority of those who have been through the temple never tell and why, even after years of non-participation in the church, they continue to wear their temple garments. They have a vestigial belief that the garments will protect them. Or maybe there's a threat for that, too.

It really slays me that both my parents fell for this load of crap and that they apparently never stopped to think about what a bunch of old men, ancient beyond senility, might be doing behind closed doors. My brother and another guy I know are convinced that they pocket some of the tithing money.

Bottom line, it's a very successful business - just like Hagee's and Hinn's and Robertson's and all the others' - and they're all scams. It's organized crime if you ask me.

Back to the original point: THEY SHOULD ALL BE TAXED - and not just the individual leaders or any for-profit corporations they set up.

I will definitely check out the atheists'/agnostics' group again. I did recently, but didn't see anything I felt like responding to on that particular day.

I was actually more traumatized by my dad than I was by the Mormon church. I've been reading some books that are helping me figure out how to forgive him. When it comes to the church, it's just that he was a smart guy who liked to read, and he questioned everything else, so why'd he suck it up like a big ol' Hoover.

:)

[wicket]

30. Good for you!

:)

:kick:

[Unions]

35. You were watching TBN

John Hagee and everyone on that network are the MOST right wing fundamentalists in the nation. Literally. Some of them are fred phelps times 1000.

[neebob]

36. I dunno - I saw some Fred Phelps people yesterday

on the Bizarro New Mexico news that I get here in Out-of-the-wayville, Colorado. The top story was this Phelps group protesting in Santa Fe, which (according to one of the counter-protesters) has the second-largest gay community in the country. The Phelps people were singing a version of America the Beautiful that went something like this:

Oh, nation full of sodomites
Your army's full of fags

It was horrifying. I don't see the TBN people doing anything quite that nakedly hateful.

Incidentally, there was a freeper in the (larger) group on the opposite corner, and he said he was there to show the Phelps people that all conservative Bush supporters aren't like them. That was good for a chuckle.

[Unions]

37. They've done so before

it's a 24 hour network so you have to watch at the right time. The founder of TBN has stated on air before he wished death to anyone who opposed them.

[neebob]

39. I usually just stop and watch for a few minutes

between channels, because something grabs my attention. Originally, it was Jan Crouch in her pink wig - or is it two? But that fascination wore off quickly. And then it was Benny Hinn's crooked hairdo ... and the guy with the creation museum who says the native people were flying around on dinosaurs just a few thousand years ago ... and the music videos aimed at teens ... and John Hagee ... and on and on. It always gets old fast.

[tanyev]

38. I have signed up my name & address on every right wing

website I could think of. After a short time, the requests for money started rolling in. I use their pre-paid envelopes to send them news articles and editorials that I find on DU. (Well, after they went to all that trouble to send me the envelope, it would be rude not to send them something. :) )

[bobbieinok]

40. Hagee is pastor of a non-denominational church in San Antonio

--non-denominational usually = pentecostal

--I heard him once going on and on about how San Antonio is the witchcraft capital of the US

--the ministry has done several movies about the rapture starring Gary Busey

--I heard that Hagee (pretty overweight) was doing many jokes about overweight women at a conservative college and many of the women faculty walked out......it was so obvious that the administration later adressed the walk-out, saying they should have stayed and then presented a formal protest to Hagee and the school

[neebob]

41. I was gonna ask if Hagee was into the rapture

So thanks for answering that question.

[MIS_UNDER_ESTIMATED]

42. Salt Covenant

If you sign up as a "salt covenant" partner and contribute to them on a monthly basis, they say that their staff will pray for you daily. It would be interesting to sign up, then later call them to see if they even know who you are. That way you can say...."how is your staff praying for me, when they don't even know who I am?" I mean you ARE paying good money for this service, and if the staff doesn't even know your name, how are you getting your money's worth in prayers?