Episode
First fruits
27:02
Published: Thu Mar 16 2023
Description
God wants you to be rich, according to Hillsong. He also wants you to give 10 per cent of your money to the church. Listen to Faith on Trial early and ad free by subscribing to Crime X+ on Apple Podcasts. New episode released every Wednesday. Go to faithontrial.com.au for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapters
A newspaper journalist shares his experience of learning a new skill by making a mistake while chasing interviews for his podcast, with the help of his kind producer.
00:00 - 00:53 (00:53)
Summary
A newspaper journalist shares his experience of learning a new skill by making a mistake while chasing interviews for his podcast, with the help of his kind producer.
EpisodeFirst fruits
PodcastFaith on Trial: Hillsong
The Hillsong empire, which is worth around $100 million per year, has been accused of doubling up as a religion for tax exempt status and promoting the controversial prosperity gospel.
00:54 - 05:23 (04:28)
Summary
The Hillsong empire, which is worth around $100 million per year, has been accused of doubling up as a religion for tax exempt status and promoting the controversial prosperity gospel. Several interviews and sermons have revealed the connection between the two.
EpisodeFirst fruits
PodcastFaith on Trial: Hillsong
Several directors of Hillsong Church were paid full-time salaries and also received cash honorariums for speaking engagements conducted in their roles as pastors.
05:23 - 11:45 (06:22)
Summary
Several directors of Hillsong Church were paid full-time salaries and also received cash honorariums for speaking engagements conducted in their roles as pastors. The church has also received criticism for stating that certain donations were tax-deductible, which was deemed unethical and fraudulent.
EpisodeFirst fruits
PodcastFaith on Trial: Hillsong
Natalie Moses claims there is financial malfeasance within Hillsong Church, accusing them of bending rules regarding money, allocating funds raised for tax-exempt purposes to non-exempt purposes and giving financial gifts to leaders of the church.
11:45 - 15:39 (03:53)
Summary
Natalie Moses claims there is financial malfeasance within Hillsong Church, accusing them of bending rules regarding money, allocating funds raised for tax-exempt purposes to non-exempt purposes and giving financial gifts to leaders of the church. The church is accusing Moses of leaking stories to the media and downloading 40,000 internal documents, some of which may further expose their financial workings.
EpisodeFirst fruits
PodcastFaith on Trial: Hillsong
The podcast discusses the financial perks of religious institutions and how mega churches sell merchandise and programs, offering a millionaire mindset, instead of focusing on charitable services.
15:39 - 20:56 (05:17)
Summary
The podcast discusses the financial perks of religious institutions and how mega churches sell merchandise and programs, offering a millionaire mindset, instead of focusing on charitable services. The speaker reflects on four years of research on religious financial privileges in their thesis.
EpisodeFirst fruits
PodcastFaith on Trial: Hillsong
This podcast talks about the transformation stories of people who have donated to charities and the concept of "kingdom builders."
20:56 - 25:23 (04:26)
Summary
This podcast talks about the transformation stories of people who have donated to charities and the concept of "kingdom builders." It also explores the difficulty of giving a significant portion of income towards charity, despite the benefits.
EpisodeFirst fruits
PodcastFaith on Trial: Hillsong
The Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission is investigating Hillsong's tax-free status due to financial controversies and accusations of sexual harassment and bullying against the church.
25:23 - 28:13 (02:49)
Summary
The Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission is investigating Hillsong's tax-free status due to financial controversies and accusations of sexual harassment and bullying against the church. Hillsong's supporters claim their donations are used for good works, while critics point out that the church is making millions from their faithful believers.