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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 2, 1987)
Editorial TV evangelist scandal humorous hypocrisy Fifty percent of TV evangelist viewers do not have a favorable view of TV ministers according to a New York Times/CBS News poll released Tuesday. This comes as no aurprise, especially in light of the re cent Jim Bakker scandal and of Oral Roberts’ plea for $8 million. TV evangelists always have been the subject of humor and satire, but now they are living up to the come dians’ punch lines. When Roberts announced he had received a message from God to raise $8 million by April, the entire money making process of television ministries came into question. Critics had a field day mocking Roberts and other ministers. Both those who watched Roberts’ program and those who did not became skeptical. The idea that God had spoken to this overstated minister and told him to raise money or die seemed presumptuous. It enhanced the critical view that these people were running some sort of scam — not in the name of God but for their own benefit. Nonetheless, Roberts managed to raise the money, and — thank the Lord — is still with us today. But just as one TV evangelist starts to fade back into the woodwork, another has jeopardized the profession’s reputaiton. The news of Rev. Jim Bakker’s affair seven years ago calls into question the true values of these moral men. Bakker's tryst with Jessica Hahn, a seemingly fun and free-loving woman, apparently led to his blackmail and eventually his resignation as head of the PTL ministry. The entire incident reflects the human and sometimes immoral side of the men who preach their views of the Bible to millions of viewers every Sunday morning. But at the same time, problems of credibility continue to grow. The New York Times / CBS poll mirrors the mounting skepticism among the evangelists' regular followers. Their attempts to brush this nasty business under the rug only have created new problems. Not only are their followers leaving, but they are taking their checkbooks with them. But maybe there is a positive side to this sticky ball of wax. These TV evangelists claim to speak for God. But if they continue to compromise their values and exploit their positions, where does that leave their viewers? More and more are turning away from their preaching. The freedom of religion gives people the opportunity to choose and express their own beliefs. This scandal shows that despite stereotypes, the followers of these ministers are not brainwashed. They can determine their own values and, in a sense, have a say over the conduct of evangelists. Bakker has put the PTL in a state of hypocrisy. The ministers have put themselves above their followers and now must prove that they practice what they preach. ^^pixasssi0" n* SEEMS \ ORAL ROBERTS \ GOT THE MONEY. 1 YOU DON'T HAVE TO 1 TAKE HIS LIFE. J COULDN'T I JUST \ SLAP HIM AROUND 1 A LITTLE ANTWAY? J To live or die In response to the article and letters concerning the recent suicide of a University student: I have been a crisis intervention counselor for almost 15 years and have talked to hundreds of people who were contemplating suicide or had made an attempt at suicide. What I learned most of all, without question, is that no one and no thing makes a person decide to kill himself or herself. It is a personal, individual choice. It is entirely the in dividual’s decision. At the same time, no one makes a person choose to live. I never “lost” any of my callers, and I never saved anyone's life. They made the decision to live. I may have offered them options they weren’t aware they had, but they decided to live another day to exercise those options. I suspect the friend of Mr. Fisher may be feeling a quite natural and expected feeling of guilt over the death of his friend and his “blaming” the Univer sity may be his way of dealing with that guilt. I hope he realizes it’s not his fault. It was Mr. Fisher’s deci sion; it was his responsibility. Don’t take that right and that Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon, Eugene. Oregon, 97403 The Emerald operates independently of the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press The Emerald is private properly The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottinvllle Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur / Sales Manager Teresa Acosta. Beryl Israel, Janelle Heitmann, Laura Goldstein, Catherine Lllja, Rick Martz, Joseph Menzel, Peter Miller, Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial 686-5511 Display Advertising and Business 686-3712 Classified Advertising 688-4343 Letter Perfect Graphics 688-5511 Production 686-4381 Circulation 686 5511 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Spectrum Editor Spectrum Assistant Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Spectrum Photo Editor Graphics Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Community Politics Higher Education / Administration University Affairs Student Government Student Activities General Assignment General Assignment General Assignment Michelle Brence Lucinda Dillon Michael Rivers Stephen Maher Stanley Nelson Michael Drummond Angie Muniz Capl Lynn Michael Wilhelm John Giustina Lorraine Rath Michelle Brence Jolayne Houtz Nick Reed Chris Norred B J Thomsen Carolyn Lamberson Sarah Kitchen Karen Creighton Dennis Fernandes Scott Maben Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Mary Courtis. Gary Henley. Janet Paulson Photographers: Sherlyn Bjorkgren, Shu-Shlng Chen, Maria Corvallis, Derrel Hewitt, Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre, Ronwin Nicole Ashton, Virginia Baniaga, Samantha Barbitta, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe, Shu Shlng Chen, Janet Emery, Judith Gatz, Lisa Haggerty, Donna Leslie, Curtis Lott, Steve Lundgren, Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw, Rob Miles, Angela Muniz, Julie Paul, Ingrid White, Serena Williams, X. Kang Xie responsibility away from him. The truth is we all make the decision to live or die every mo ment of our lives; some choose the latter. It’s their decision to make. Thank you. Norma Sax Career Information System Swindler This letter is in response to Dan Goulet’s letter (ODE, March 13). Oral Roberts is not trying to raise money to send to Third World countries! Oral Roberts is trying to raise money to pay off his multi million dollar debt. This debt surrounds the construction of a worthless medical facility. Roberts’ medical facility is unable to sustain its self financially. With regard to the “left leaning pop-artists” who “raped’’ the American public of its money; one of those “rapists” (the organizer of Band-Aid) was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Band-Aid and USA for Africa donated the proceeds from con certs and record sales to help Third World countries. However, Roberts claimed that God threatened to kill him if the American public did not help him raise money. Hey Dan, where is Oral’s Nobel Peace Prize for feeding the starving? Oral does not have one! This is because he abuses his position as a religious leader to swindle the American public into paying his bills. Maura C. Roche Political science --—-— Categories It seems to be a fact of human nature that we tend to gather people into categories and label them. Perhaps this is because it is so much easier to deal with an entire group at once rather than taking the time and trouble to understand and respond to individuals. Whether it is a particular race or color, some social or economic class, adherents of a certain system of belief, those of a different gender or who simp ly hold values and opinions dif ferent from our own — we simp ly lump together people with some characteristic in common (even if it is something relative ly insignificant), and then pro ceed to treat everyone in the group of widely differing peo ple as if they were all alike. By finding examples of bizarre beliefs or conduct in people belonging to a particular category (and every category has some), we can label the en tire group as being like that. Using simple association, we can thus effectively pin a charge on these people that is difficult to refute. After all, aren’t those extreme examples members of that group, and therefore representatives of what people in that group do and believe? The ease and effectiveness with which we can persuade others to fear, mistrust and even hate a whole category of people make this method attractive — that is, if we don’t mind using a tactic that damages the lives and reputations of innocent people. By using it, we il lustrate bigotry in action. William Moore Music school Letters Policy The Emerald will attempt to print all letters con taining fair comment on topics of interest to the University community. Letters to the editor must be limited to 250 words, typed, signed and the identification of the writer must be veritied when the letter is turned in. 1 he hrnerald reserves the right to edit the letter for length or style. Letters to the editor should be turned intothe Emerald office. Suite 300. EMU.
