El Evangelio De La Properidad

Religion Compass 6/1 (2012): 82–96, 10.1111/j.1749-8171.2011.00325.x

I Double-Dog Dare you in Jesus’ Name! Claiming Christian Wealth and the American Prosperity Gospel
Kathleen Hladky*
College of Charleston

Abstract

Since the 1980s, prosperity gospel Christianity has exploded in its size and influence, with global television ministries like Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), DaystarTelevision Network, and The Word Network expanding the reach of the American-born religion to every nation. Most popularly called the Faith movement many may recognize this form of Christianity by a variety of other labels, such as the Gospel of Wealth and Health, Word of Faith, Prosperity Theology, Name it and Claim it, Seed-Faith, Abundant Life, or the more derisive Blab it and Grab it. Mostobservers associate the Faith movement with two teachings: first, God grants all his faithful followers physical health and financial prosperity; second, believers claim their divine right to wealth and health through positive confession, financial offerings, and the persistent faith that God must fulfill his promises. Promises of total transformation, concern over exploitation, and controversies overBiblical interpretation have made the prosperity gospel a topic of scholarly and popular interest. This article explores the history of the prosperity gospel, with particular emphasis on understanding the largest and most visible of these traditions, the Faith movement. Throughout, I will highlight scholarly literature critical for understanding the contemporary and historic development of theprosperity gospel and ministries that have coalesced around its optimistic message. As I explore relevant works on New Thought, African American religions, and the Faith movement, I hope to provide insight into central questions, possible pitfalls, and under-investigated dimensions of the American prosperity gospel, and finally to gesture towards fruitful avenues for future inquiry.

In 2007, concernsover the finances of six prosperity gospel ministries led by Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer, and Randy and Paula White came under scrutiny by Republican Senator Charles Grassley. Under question were extravagant ministry-related, and therefore tax exempt, purchases including private planes, multi-million dollar mansions, thousand dollar business dinners, and a$23,000 toilet. Grassley’s concern over these prosperity ministries, all members of the Faith movement, brought the sometimes sordid world of prosperity televangelists back into the national headlines. Many Americans first heard about this emergent form of prosperity pentecostalism during Pat Robertson’s 1988 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Ill-timed financial and sexual scandalsinvolving the ministries of Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart brought all televangelists under increased scrutiny and ultimately sunk Robertson’s bid. Since the 1980s, prosperity gospel Christianity has continued to grow in size and influence, with global television ministries like Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), Daystar Television Network, and The Word Network expanding the reach of theAmerican-born religion to every nation. Most popularly called the Faith movement many may recognize this form of pentecostal Christianity by a variety of other labels, such as the Gospel of Wealth and Health, Prosperity Theology, Name it and Claim it, Seed-Faith, Word of Faith, Abundant Life, or the more derisive Blab it and Grab it.1 Most observers associate the
ª 2012 Blackwell Publishing LtdChristian Wealth and the American Prosperity Gospel

83

pentecostal Faith movement with two teachings: first, God grants all his faithful followers physical health and financial prosperity; second, believers claim their divine right to wealth and health through positive confession, financial offerings, and the persistent faith that God must fulfill his promises. Faith preachers often teach that God can...