Have you ever been bombarded with mail from a religious scam?
By dragon54u
@dragon54u (31636)
United States
July 22, 2008 9:09pm CST
For months this organization has been sending me unsolicited mail. It's from St. Matthew's Church--not the legitimate one, but apparently a scam with the same name. At least once a week I get a thick envelope with a little thing like a paper prayer rug, a gold plastic change purse, a pretty plastic cross or something. You're supposed to put it under your pillow, in your wallet, pin it to your clothes or something then read the message in the sealed envelope the next day. It's always accompanied by testimonials from people who have received money "from God" because they sent in donations and the "church" prayed for them.
I don't fall for that stuff, God doesn't want money and a legitimate church wouldn't solicit donations to pray for you. I looked it up on the net and it's a pretty scummy scam, working from lists of low income and elderly people in dire circumstances. But what they're doing is legal and they're tax-exempt. They've had several name changes over the years, too, to evade investigations and taxes.
I can't get off their list, either! 
Oh well, they do have some beautiful pictures of Jesus that I keep when I throw the crap away. Do you get things like this in the mail? Have you ever fallen for a scam like that?
Oh well, they do have some beautiful pictures of Jesus that I keep when I throw the crap away. Do you get things like this in the mail? Have you ever fallen for a scam like that?6 responses
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
23 Jul 08
Yes! That same group used to send me things like that endlessly, always with a return envelope asking for a donation. Prayer rugs, pgks of oil, etc. with instructions to put it under my mattress or in a shoe or whatever. It began to sound like next they would want me to find a meadow at midnight and turn around 7 times to the west then all my wishes would come true. I finally just ignored them long enough that they stopped sending me that stuff.
I have no problem sending donations to real churches or charities, but this place is preying on people who have nothing and need so much help that they will believe almost any promise.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
23 Jul 08
That's the one! Thing is, the leader of it has a mansion in Beverly Hills and a fleet of luxury cars. You KNOW he's not praying for anyone!
I think he'll get what he deserves but not in this life.
@SangsTurks (1444)
• India
23 Jul 08
I have never faced such a thing but it sure hurts to see that people making a business out of religion. They are making a fool out of the peoples faith. God has given us hands and legs to work and earn money, what is the point in sending in donation for you own benifit, it wouldnt be donation it would be bribe, for them to pray for us so that we get money!
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I know, I hate it when people use God's name to their own ends. I mostly have problems with people bugging me in parking lots, etc., asking for donations.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I think that's what it means, taking the Lord's name in vain. It's nothing but misrepresenting God and probably ruins many peoples' faith. All their money won't do them a bit of good in the afterlife.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I haven't been bombarded with exactly the same thing, but I do get a lot of solicitations for donations for various charities in the mail. The thing is that I have sometimes been the recipient of charities and I don't know how I get on these mailing lists to begin with. I have never really had money that I could give away and if I did I would find the charity myself or I would give it to my church of family members. But, mostly what I get are address labels and maybe a few other cheap little things.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I donate regularly to about 3 charities and that got me on the circulating lists. I have enough address labels that I'll never have to buy any unless I sell the house and move!!
A lot of the charities that do mailings spend so much on those costs and administrative expenses that the people they're supposed to be helping actually get very little. So I donate to the ones who I believe in and use at least 80% of the money for those that need it, not administrative costs and slick mailings.
Sometimes we don't have money to give. I haven't always, and you don't. But we can pray and do things through our church to help. Money isn't the only way to give, just the most convenient. I admire those who give their time and prayers as much as those who can afford to give money.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I think that your people are probably a bit more skeptical than Americans. They're more practical when it comes to religion. Aren't the British mostly protestant and conservative when it comes to religion? We have a lot of "holly rollers" here who are very fervent about their faith and insecure, thinking one little mistake will send them to hell and if they just pray enough and give enough, their place in eternity will be assured and in this life they'll succeed--as far as they are allowed by God's plan. These are the suckers that televangelists and other scammers target, along with the elderly who are desperately poor.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Sometimes I feel like the target on a bullseye! Economists advise us to save for a rainy day but all these people want my money!
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I couldn't bear to throw them away! And they're so beautiful, even though I know it's not His true image, I like them.
