March 21, 2006--Sic Transit Gloria Alan Greenspan
I’m not sure this is what Max Weber had in mind when he wrote about the Protestant Ethic. That an important way to check on the status of one’s chances for salvation is to work hard, seek success in this world, and through that success find evidence of what is in store for you in the next world. But when a preacher such as Joel Osteen signs a book deal that is likely to yield him at least $10 million up front, it makes one wonder if this then also means that he will for certain be Saved.
To me, that’s the real question—not that Pope John Paul II got only an $8.5 million advance, which was equaled just recently by Alan Greenspan; or that Bill Clinton received $10 million for his memoirs. That’s just inside-publishing talk important only over lunch at Michael’s in New York City.
But before proceeding I must ask about the metaphysical implications of the worldly success of Jewish Alan Greenspan’s $8.5 and adulterer Clinton’s $10.0. I leave that to your reflections. I just want to know more about this Osteen, including did he change his name from, say, “Ostein.”
As far as I know he didn’t, but he is obviously quite a success. He inherited the pastorship of his father’s Lakewood Church in Houston and built its flock to such a size that he had to buy the Compaq Center and renovate it for $70 million to accommodate the more than 30,000 who attend services every Sunday. (The Houston Rockets needed to find a new place to play basketball.) And his previous book, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living Your Full Potential sold more than three million copies and earned him at least $10 million in royalties. So Free Press’ advance for the new book looks pretty much like a sure thing.
As the title of his first book suggests, Osteen is not only a self-help minister but also what some have called a “prosperity preacher.” A glimpse at his website in which he lists his beliefs includes--
WE BELIEVE…as children of God, we are overcomers (sic) and more than conquerors and God intends for each of us to experience the abundant life He has in store for us.
Everything is unabashedly about “abundance.” He lives in a $3.0 million house in former President Bush’s neighborhood and owns two his-and-hers Porsche sports cars.
One of his most often quoted sermons is on how as a child of God we should be receiving "preferential treatment" by everyone. In it he testifies about how he had been pulled over a couple of times for speeding but when the officer saw his last name was Osteen, no ticket was issued. He said the same can happen for every Christian who wakes up declaring they have God’s favor.
By following these beliefs and methods of worship, Osteen says he has been able to get the best parking spots in busy parking lots, first class seats on crowded airplanes, and priority seating at restaurants.
Even at Michael’s. And for all of eternity.
To me, that’s the real question—not that Pope John Paul II got only an $8.5 million advance, which was equaled just recently by Alan Greenspan; or that Bill Clinton received $10 million for his memoirs. That’s just inside-publishing talk important only over lunch at Michael’s in New York City.
But before proceeding I must ask about the metaphysical implications of the worldly success of Jewish Alan Greenspan’s $8.5 and adulterer Clinton’s $10.0. I leave that to your reflections. I just want to know more about this Osteen, including did he change his name from, say, “Ostein.”
As far as I know he didn’t, but he is obviously quite a success. He inherited the pastorship of his father’s Lakewood Church in Houston and built its flock to such a size that he had to buy the Compaq Center and renovate it for $70 million to accommodate the more than 30,000 who attend services every Sunday. (The Houston Rockets needed to find a new place to play basketball.) And his previous book, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living Your Full Potential sold more than three million copies and earned him at least $10 million in royalties. So Free Press’ advance for the new book looks pretty much like a sure thing.
As the title of his first book suggests, Osteen is not only a self-help minister but also what some have called a “prosperity preacher.” A glimpse at his website in which he lists his beliefs includes--
WE BELIEVE…as children of God, we are overcomers (sic) and more than conquerors and God intends for each of us to experience the abundant life He has in store for us.
Everything is unabashedly about “abundance.” He lives in a $3.0 million house in former President Bush’s neighborhood and owns two his-and-hers Porsche sports cars.
One of his most often quoted sermons is on how as a child of God we should be receiving "preferential treatment" by everyone. In it he testifies about how he had been pulled over a couple of times for speeding but when the officer saw his last name was Osteen, no ticket was issued. He said the same can happen for every Christian who wakes up declaring they have God’s favor.
By following these beliefs and methods of worship, Osteen says he has been able to get the best parking spots in busy parking lots, first class seats on crowded airplanes, and priority seating at restaurants.
Even at Michael’s. And for all of eternity.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
11:23 AM
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