Six
Church leaders of the City Harvest Church that preached prosperity
gospel are in court to defend against charges of misappropriation of the
Church’s building fund to the tune of $50.6m.
It
was alleged that $24m were funneled to support the singing career of Ho Yeow
Sun, wife of the Church’s founding pastor Kong Hee. The money was invested in a
sham bond investment fund. Another $26.6m was misused to cover up this sham
investment.
This
case is not simply a legal matter to be judged in the courts of law. It is
apparent that it is an issue of faith versus man made laws. Who would emerge
triumphant and cleanse at the end of the trial is quite obvious. To the staunch
believers, the church elders could do no wrong in the name of God. They have
more or less made up their minds and are fully behind the elders and praying
sincerely for their innocence and release.
Should
they be found innocent, God is great. Should they be found guilty, in their
eyes they are still innocent and God is great. It is very difficult for non
believers to understand how the believers view this case and how supportive
they are for their elders and how strong they believe that they are innocent
and were doing the work of God, as servants of God.
I
am watching this case with distinterest interest and am in awe at what is
happening. I am not making any comment or taking sides which will be seen as
provocative and my blog could likely be overwhelmed either way.
At
the end of the trial, there will be a humanly verdict pronounced by the courts.
What would be the Godly verdict?
25 comments:
In the first place, that CHC under Pastor Kong Hee has such a large and staunch following is itself amazing.
And not just followers only but they also contributed lots of $$$ as well. And it's the $$$ that really matters.
And $$$ indeed is a double edge sword! It cuts both ways.
Not just in religion but also all other areas, most important is politics. For example, if a party $$$ no enough, how to contest 100% of seats even if there are available candidates?
Too much money is temptation. Town councils with too much money don't know what to do. Country reserves too big, also don't know what to do.
Then idle minds start to think clever and act clever.
Right Mr RB, to CHC's staunch believers, they are only going God's work to save the non-believers so they are innocent.
Whatever methods or ways or spent the monies that is not concerned of what others think.
Afterall it is their monies and they deemed fit that their elders used them as they all deemed fit to sponsor How Sun.
Even they are guilty as found by the courts, to the believers eyes they are not guilty.
This CHC have many PMETs including CEOs of big organisations.
So in a way, with so many brillsnt members, do you think they are stupid to support the cause??
It's actually very simple: the faithful (blind faith at at that) assert that man's law is subordinated to god's/ goddess's/ invisible sky-fairy law. In the christian tradition, their god is an angry old Jew who kills babies in Africa with AIDS and awards largesses of good fortune to con artists who proclaim his greatness.
To any rational skeptic, it is hard not to notice that CHC is probably the biggest LEGAL CON JOB in Singapore, second only to the CPF-HDB Ponzi Scheme run by the Singapore government, by consent of The Sheeple.
In fact, both CHC and the CPF-HDB SCAMS are consented by Their Flock of True Believers. The problems start when those who DISBELIEVE start stirring up the waters and "making trouble". That pisses off both the government and god's shameless representatives.
Lucky I am such a spiritual and political atheist. So I say:
Fuck your government!
and
Fuck your god!
Ms, for cursing at god, u will go to hell. For cursing the government, u will be sued. Reveal your identity so both can get u. No balls? Or tiny not there long time ago? God bless
Kong Hee Fa Cai to Kong Hee or
Kong Hee Fa Cai to PAP ?
I rather Kong Hee Fa Cai to Kong Hee. At least he did not force people to donate money, and if any people choose to be fooled, it is just their choice.
Do we have even have a choice with PayAndPay with PAP ? we are forced into paying ridiculously by law and policies they happily make up.
@133:
My position exactly.
In defence of the church
Points to bear in mind about me:
1. I am a self-defined anti theist -- I don't only assert that there is no god, but am vehemently against any idea of such a god as held by about half the world's population.
2. Political ideas are "evil" second only to the unsurpassed ideas of religion. In the words of my mentor Christopher Hitchens: God Is Not Great, Religion Poisons EVERYTHING
3. Politically, I am an anarcho-capitalist which means I assert that the state is "evil". The state has NO BUSINESS in the peaceful, voluntary actions of autonomous individuals, especially if they are not disturbing anyone else.
4. The word "evil" is used metaphorically, as I assert there is no such thing as "evil" as described in many bullshit religious texts.
5. Freedom of religion also means freedom of no religion.
That said, here's my take on the CHC "embezzlement" case.
1. The State has NO CASE against CHC
2. The money was donated VOLUNTARILY by the true believing members of the church.
3. The content or lack of artistic merit of Pastor Ho's musical forays are irrelevant to the discussion. Personally I think that in her music videos she looks like an aging Bangkok transvestite and sounds like a strangled cat hoping for a quick death...but my opinion is irrelevant and its only function is to entertain fellow drunk buddies at the pub when the conversation gets vulgar (as you do).
3. Once believers tender their "offering" to the church, the church can use the money in any way it seems fit to "glorify" their chosen deity. In this case -- thru the "talents" of Pastor Ho.
4. Most importantly: CHC is not HARMING ANYONE WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT by doing what it does.
5. To those members/ ex members of CHC who disagree with how their "offerings" have been disbursed -- to placate them, the most they can get is the return of their funds -- although unfair, since they gave their money with "eyes wide open".
So in this case: God and his faithful flock win. The State should back the fuck off and leave these folks of CHC ALONE!
Hahaha
Should they be found innocent, God is great.
Should they be found guilty, God is testing their faith in their beliefs.
This is the same argument given by health experts in the slanted arguments. When told that someone's grandfather was a chain smoker and alcoholic, yet he died at the ripe old age of 90, the experts will argue that if that old man had not been smoking or drinking, he would have lived to 120.
On the other hand, if that old man had been living a healthy lifestyle without smoking or drinking, and yet died at 50, the same experts will argue that if that old man had been a smoker or heavy drinker he would have died at 40.
The thing is, whatever happens it is heads they win and tails we lose. They are the experts.
Religion is the same. It is up to you to keep an open mind, analyse the true nature of what you are believing in and not following in blind faith because the leaders tell you so.
People donate to Kong Hee and his church at least that they find happiness and willingness in their own free will, and as long as they are happy with their faith, who to question them ?
at least they did not lose billions and millions of taxmoney over bad investment and yet still draw millions, did they ?
As joker in batman movie says
'Why so serious ?"
So serious for what, meanwhile enjoy some China Wine lah FOC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ya3Hqu_-cg
It is all about greed and fear. Those who are conned are thinking of the 10-fold or 100-fold riches that were promised them.
They deserved to be conned and swindled since they believe in fairy tales.
@453:
>> They deserved to be conned and swindled since they believe in fairy tales.
Absolutely. And because they are not disturbing anyone else, they also have the right to be left alone to reap the consequences of their thinking and voluntary actions.
Freedom of religion is the freedom to believe in fairy tales, and to think and act as adults in a world more suited to children -- a world of magic, with angels (fairies), demons (goblins), messiahs (super heroes), priests (witches and warlocks), people who rise form the grave (zombies) and celestial supreme beings (Lee Kuan Yew) and their lieutenants (the parliament and civil service of Singapore) .
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool." - Richard P. Feynman
Gotta love those theoretical physicists!
MS, you are really sick. See, when you took your medicine you can think quite clearly. Please, for your own good, you must continue to take your medicine regularly. If not, please go and see your doctor quickly.
Sometimes your condition can be quite bad.
@840:
Thanking you for your (bullshit) concern.
>> you must continue to take your medicine regularly
As a matter of fact, I just opened a new bottle of medicine: 1994 Macallans single malt scotch.
19 years old, ah...youth. She has an amazing flavour, smell (bouquet) and taste (palate).
Smells like Teen Spirit :-)
>> Sometimes your condition can be quite bad.
Not as bad as how your "condition" might be after a serial killer rips your head off with a rusty saw and shits down your neck ;-)
Sweet dreams, asshole!
Matilah, that is a wrong spirit. Just because some little boys grew up and discovered a new drink that was there for ages but they did not know, and started to blare about it, everyone growing up must hold a bottle of single malt.
Choose your spirit, find the one that you like best, not because every adolescent is screaming about it.
I go for cognac or wine anytime. Whisky no matter single or double malt is always harsh, like the cowboys, rough and tough, rogue. MacCallan different? Really, the hangover is still there the morning after.
Oh, the guy's advice is good advice. Take your medicine regularly. Don't be stubborn.
i always imagine matilah writing from the day room of a mental institution. when he behaves well, the attendants will let him out of his padded cell and let him use the computer.
People must learn not to be blind followers whether politically or in a religion and let other people messed up their brains and thinking. Always ask why, why and why.
redbean,
I used to drink -- in fact I still do on occasion -- only 3 white spirits: tequila, vodka and gin. Never was a cognac or whiskey guy.
However on my recent drunken sortie to the Malaysian peninsula, a bunch of mamak and gragok lawyers "forced fed" me with single malts until I passed out in Demansara. Next thing I woke up sandwiched butt naked between 2 strippers in one of the underground strip clubs in Chow Kit. Another stripper lay on her back and one of the gragok lawyers poured scotch on her belly which I lapped up like a thirsty dog, to the resounding delight of my Malaysian friends.
That scotch was Macallans. After that religious experience and the sacrament of "holy communion", I am now a convert, baptised in the spirit.
@1002:
>> i always imagine matilah writing from the day room of a mental institution. when he behaves well, the attendants will let him out of his padded cell and let him use the computer.
Kudos to your wild imagination. But you would be quite wrong. If I were straightjacketed in a padded cell and was allowed some freedom, the first thing I'd do is masturbate furiously, using the image of your mum licking my asshole whilst your sister blows and they fondle each other.
Nothing like good old family values to stimulate one's passions.
matilah, you are really a psycho. my mum is 86 years old and my sister is 67. you can imagine them romping about with you as much as you want.
Matilah, are you blind? The high you got was not from the spirit but the girls. You can have the same high spirit with cognac or even toddy as long as the women are there. Now sober up and know the real stuff.
I don't mind vodka, quite like sake, with a little sweetness. I hate Jack Daniel, dry like carbon water.
i bet you the mamak and gragok men - and i don't think they were lawyers, just kopitiam loungers - made matilah suck their cocks and played with his arsehole. braggarts like matilah one thing happen to them and they tell another story.
@856:
>> my mum is 86 years old and my sister is 67. you can imagine them romping about with you as much as you want.
Actually I very much so can imagine that. And although it is quite disgustingly nauseating, it is also extremely funny... I piss myself
Vomiting and urinating at the same time? How awesome is that?!?
@951:
>> made matilah suck their cocks and played with his arsehole.
If they did, at least they didn't post to youtube. :-) Anyway, nothing would surprise me. I was stoned drunk and my friends like me are HARDCORE fuckers who delight in amusing themselves from the "sacrifice" of one of their own.
Moral of story: Don't get so drunk you pass out. Especially amongst friends as sick, twisted and sadistic as yourself.
With friends like that, I can face any enemies ;-)
Did you hear it? Did you hear it? Silence.....No one in any religious order commented about CHC. No one says anything, whether it is right or wrong, whether so much money collected, some from children, my God.
Are they protecting the same kind?
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