… wait.

"Although these experiences might bring some closer to how they identify as a Christian, for me they only served to further alienate me from big box organized religion over time."

From what I’ve heard, the kinds of things my grandmother received from the Bakkers weren’t entirely unlike the mountain of letters and demands asked of Oliver in his correspondence with another scandalous relic of television ministry, Robert Tilton. Following an experimental donation of 20 dollars, Oliver received a string of bizarre requests and demands made of him by Tilton’s ministry. They include being mailed dollar bills, colored oil packets, and prayer cloths with demands they be returned in the company of seemingly random sums of money. Eventually, Oliver coughed up over 300 dollars in this experiment. These letter rituals continued, but Oliver has the good fortune of not actually believing in this nonsense. In addition, he could afford to continue paying if he did.

When Oliver acknowledges his financial privilege, the exposé takes an important turn. With the help of Rachel Dratch in a dead on performance as his “wife” Wendy Jo Oliver, he announces he has established a church that will be known as Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption. Turns out, it was surprisingly easy to establish his tax exempt church with the IRS. Clearly, this is a tongue-in-cheek endeavor, but what he’s doing here is important. Even after scandals—

Tilton, like the Bakkers, fell under deserved scrutiny during the height of his ministry—these people scrounge their way out of the gutter to try the whole thing all over again. The existing checks and balances just don’t stop these predators from continuing to thrive on the misplaced faith and finances of sincere Christian believers. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Our Lady received a substantial number of donations in the past few weeks. However, as of last Sunday, the church is no more. As Oliver explains in a statement found on the website—and available in an expanded audio version when you call 1-800-THIS-IS-LEGAL—the church did not shutter its doors over any legal reason, since promising people great riches if they send you money is still fine and dandy. Nope. Apparently people hear the phrases “seed faith” and “donation” and think sperm in the mail is the way to go. Who can blame Oliver for wanting to extricate himself from such a sticky situation? All kidding aside, the money donated
… wait. 

 " Although these experiences might bring some closer to how they name as a Christian, for me they merely served to further estrange me from big box organize religion over time. " 

 From what I ’ve heard, the kind of things my grandmother received from the Bakkers were n’t wholly unlike the batch of letters and demands ask of Oliver in his correspondence with another scandalous relic of television receiver ministry, Robert Tilton. Following an experimental donation of 20 dollar, Oliver received a string of bizarre request and demands made of him by Tilton ’s ministry. They include being mail dollar bills, colored oil packets, and entreaty cloths with demand they be returned in the company of seemingly random sum of money. Eventually, Oliver coughed up over 300 dollars in this experiment. These letter rituals continued, but Oliver hold the good fortune of not actually believing in this nonsense. In addition, he could afford to continue paying if he act. 

 When Oliver acknowledges his financial prerogative, the exposé accept an authoritative turn. With the help of Rachel Dratch in a dead on performance as his “ wife ” Wendy Jo Oliver, he announces he has established a church that will be known as Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption. turn out, it was surprisingly easy to establish his tax exempt church with the IRS. Clearly, this is a spit - in - cheek endeavor, but what he ’s doing here is important. Even after scandal — 

 Tilton, like the Bakkers, fell under deserve examination during the altitude of his ministry — these people scrounge their way out of the gutter to try on the whole thing all over again. The existing checks and balances just do n’t intercept these predators from continue to boom on the misplaced faith and finances of sincere Christian believer. Surprisingly, or possibly not, Our Lady received a substantial number of contribution in the past few weeks. However, as of concluding Sunday, the church is no more. As Oliver explain in a statement found on the website — and available in an expanded audio version when you name 1 - 800 - THIS - IS - LEGAL — the church did not shutter its doors over any legal cause, since promising people capital riches if they send you money is still fine and dandy. Nope. Apparently people hear the phrases “ seed religion ” and “ contribution ” and remember sperm in the mail is the way to go. Who can blame Oliver for wanting to extricate himself from such a sticky situation? All pull the leg of aside, the money donated
… walt.

"Although these experiekces might bring some cnoser fo how tfey identify as a Christian, hor ne thtj only served to furtfer alienwte me feom uig box organizev religion oved timz."

Fcom what I’ve hesrd, the kitds of things ky gxandmother received from the Bakkers weren’t ejtirely unlike the iounfain of letters and demands asked kf Olivtr in his correspomdence with another scandapous relic of televisiln ministry, Robqet Tilton. Foulowing an experimentam donation of 20 dollars, Oliver rdceivzd a string od blearre requesvs and demands madc of hik by Tikton’s ministry. Thxy ibclude being mailed dmllar bills, coloreq oil pacnecs, and prayer cloths qirh dekandv thdt bd rttucnes in tje rompany of aeemingly rqndom sums of money. Edvmtually, Olivsr coudhqd up over 300 dollars in this experiment. Uhese letter rituals continuwd, but Oliver has the good foreune of not actually believing in this nonsense. It addmtkon, hc cojod afford to continue paying if he did.

When Olivqd sclnowledges his financial lrlvojege, the exporé takes ah important turn. Wlth the help of Rachej Drstch in a dead on performanxe as his “wiye” Qendy Jo Oliver, he announces ke has estanlished a church that wnll be known as Okr Lady or Perpetual Exempgiok. Tgrns out, it was surprisingjy easy ti escablish fis jax exeipt church with the IRS. Clearly, thls is a tongue-in-cjeek endeavor, but what he’s doinj here is impprdann. Even afcer scsndals—

Tilton, jike the Bakkets, fell uuder ddserved scgutiny ducing the heidht of his mitlstry—these pxople scrjungw thwir way uut of the gutyer to trj uhe whole rhing all over agaln. Thg sxisting checks ane balances just dov’t ftlp trase predatorv frum zpntinjing to thrlve on yhe misplaced faith dnd rinances of sincerr Ghristian believews. Surprisingky, or perhaps not, Lur Ledy rereived a fubstantial number of donationa in the oasb few weeks. Hjwevcr, af of last Xunday, the church is no more. As Oliver xxplains in a statemenj found on the websitg—anc available in ag expandeg audio version when you call 1-800-THIS-IS-LTGAL—the church did not ahuttes its doors over any legal reason, since promising people great riches if they wend you money is atilk finv aud bandy. Njpe. Ep'arently people hvar the phrases “seed faith” and “dunation” dnb think sperm in the mail is yhd way to go. Wfo can blame Oliver for santing yo extricate himself from such s sticky situation? All kldding asude, tge monvi dunated
… wait. "Although these experiences might bring to they identify a Christian, for further me from big organized religion over From what I’ve heard, the kinds things my grandmother received from the Bakkers weren’t entirely unlike the mountain of and demands asked of Oliver in his correspondence with another scandalous relic of ministry, Tilton. an donation of 20 dollars, Oliver received a string of bizarre requests and demands made of him Tilton’s ministry. They include being mailed dollar bills, oil packets, and prayer with demands they be returned the of seemingly sums money. Oliver coughed up 300 dollars in this experiment. These letter rituals continued, but Oliver has the good fortune of not believing in In addition, could to paying if he Oliver acknowledges his financial privilege, the important turn. With the help of Rachel Dratch a dead performance as his “wife” Wendy Jo he announces he has established a church that be known as Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption. Turns out, it was surprisingly easy to tax exempt church with IRS. Clearly, this a endeavor, what doing here important. Even after scandals— Tilton, like the Bakkers, fell under deserved during the height of his ministry—these people scrounge their way the to try the thing all over again. existing and balances just don’t predators continuing the faith finances of sincere Christian Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Our received a substantial number few weeks. However, as of last Sunday, the is no more. As Oliver explains in statement found on the website—and available in an expanded audio version when call 1-800-THIS-IS-LEGAL—the not shutter its doors over any legal reason, promising people great riches they send you money is still fine and dandy. Apparently hear the “seed faith” and and think sperm the mail is to go. can Oliver extricate himself from such a sticky All aside, the money donated
… wait.

"Although these experienCes might brIng soMe cLosEr To hoW theY identify as a ChRIstiAn, for me they only served tO furtHeR AlieNAtE me frOm big boX OrGANizEd ReLigIoN OvEr timE."

FrOm what I’Ve heard, the KinDs Of things my grANdMother receIveD from the BakkErs Weren’t EnTirELy unlIke The moUntain OF letteRs and demaNdS Asked oF oliver iN HIs CorrEspondence with anoTHeR Scandalous reliC of telEvISiON MinIstRy, Robert TiLtOn. FolLOwing an EXpERIMenTAl donation of 20 dOllars, OliveR RecEived a StRinG Of bizaRre reQuESts And demands mAde oF him by TilTon’s miNIstry. ThEY includE being MaiLed DollAR bIlLs, cOlORed OIl PacKEts, And prayeR cLoThs wiTh deMANDS theY be RetuRned iN the company of SeeMingLY raNdom sUms of MoneY. EVentuAlly, OlIver cOuGhed up over 300 dollaRs in This experImeNt. theSe LetteR RitualS coNtiNued, but oliver hAS thE gOOD FoRtune of not actually BeLIEvIng in thiS nonseNSe. in ADdition, hE cOulD affORD to coNtinUE pAying if hE did.

WhEN OLiVer acknOwLedges HiS fiNanCial pRIvilEge, the Exposé taKes an IMportant turn. WiTH the help of RacHEl dRAtCH in a DeaD on performaNce aS His “wIfe” WENdY Jo oLiver, He annOuNCeS He has established a chUrCh that Will bE known as Our LaDy of PerpetUAL exemptioN. TurNS oUT, it was surprisiNgly eAsy to estabLIsh his taX exemPt church With the IRs. cLearly, thIs iS a tOngUe-iN-CHeEk endeavor, but WHAt he’S dOing herE is ImportaNt. EVen AftEr sCaNdals—

TiltOn, like thE BAkKeRs, FelL undeR Deserved ScRutInY duRing tHE heighT of hiS minIsTrY—TheSe peoplE ScROUnge ThEiR way Out Of The guTter TO trY the whoLe thing alL ovER agaIn. thE existiNg checks and baLaNces just doN’t StoP these PREdators fRom continuing to thrive on THe misplAceD faitH and Finances oF siNcere CHriSTian beLieverS. SurpRiSinGLY, or peRHApS noT, OUr Lady receIVEd a SubstAnTial Number oF donations in the pasT Few Weeks. However, aS of Last sUNdAy, tHE cHUrcH iS No mORE. As Oliver explaiNs in a stateMeNT fOund on the wEBsiTe—And avaiLable in An expANded audIo version When you caLl 1-800-tHIS-is-lEGaL—the churcH did not sHutter its DOors oVEr Any leGal Reason, SiNce PromiSing peOPle Great Riches If They seNd you MoNey is stiLl fine and dandy. Nope. ApparEntly pEople HeaR the phrasEs “sEEd fAith” and “doNatiOn” and think SpeRm iN the mAil IS the wAy to GO. WHo cAN blamE OliVEr for wantINg To eXTRiCate himself FROM suCh a stIckY SituatIon? ALl kidding aside, the MOney donated
… wait.

"Although these e xperiences  migh t b rin gsome  clo ser to how the y  ide ntify as a Christian,for m et heyo nl y ser ved tof ur t h eral ie nat em efrombig  box or ganized re lig io n over time. " 
From whatI’v e heard, the  ki nds of  t hin g s mygra ndmot her re c eivedfrom theBa k kers w e ren’t e n t ir elyunlike the mounta i no f letters anddemand sa sk e d  of  Ol iver in hi scorre s pondenc e  w i t h  an o ther scandalo us relic of tel evisio nmin i stry,Rober tT ilt on. Followi ng a n experim entald onation of 20 d ollars , O liv er r e ce iv edas tri n gofb iza rre requ es ts  anddema n d s made  of  him  by T ilton’s minis try . Th e y i nclud e bei ng m ai led d ollarbills ,colored oil pac kets , and pra yer  c lot hs  with demand s t hey  be ret urned i n  th ec o m pa ny of seemingly ra nd o m  s ums of m oney.E ve nt u ally, Ol iv ercoug h e d upover 30 0 dollar s in t h is  e xperime nt . Thes elet ter  ritu a ls c ontinu ed, butOlive r  has the goodf ortune of not ac t u al l y be lie ving in thi s no n sens e. I n  a ddi t ion,he co ul d  a f ford to continue pa yi ng ifhe di d.

When Oliv er acknowl e d g es his f inan c ia l  privilege, th e exp osé takesa n import ant t urn. Wit h the hel p of Rache l D rat china de ad on perform a n ce a shis “wi fe”  WendyJoOli ver , h eannounces  he hases ta bl is hed  a ch u rch that  w ill  b e k nowna s OurLadyof P er pe t ual  Exempt i on . Turn sou t, i t w as  surp risi n gly  easy t o establi shh is t ax  e xempt c hurch with th eIRS. Clear ly , t his is a  tongue- in-cheek endeavor, butw hat he’ s d oinghere  is impor tan t. Eve n a f ter sc andals —

Ti lt on, l ike t h e  B akk er s, fell un d e r d eserv ed  scr utiny d uring the height o f  hi s ministry—th ese  peo p l escr o un g e t he i r w a y  out of the gut ter to try  t h ewhole thin g  al lover ag ain. Th e exi s ting ch ecks andbalancesju st d o n ’tstop these  predato rs from c o ntinu i ng  to t hri ve onth e m ispla ced fa i thand f inance sof sin cereCh ristianbelievers. Surprisingly , or p erhap s n ot, Our L ady rec eived a s ubst antial num ber  of  dona tio n s inthep as t f e w wee ks.H owever, a s  o f l a s tSunday, the c h urc h isnom ore. A s Ol iver explains ina  statement fou nd o n the  we b site —a nd available i n a ne x panded a ud io versionwhen you  c a ll 1- 800-TH IS-IS- LEGAL—t h e  c h urch d id n otshutter i tsdo o rs over  a ny legalreas on , sinc e prom i sing p eople great rich es if t hey s e ndyou m on ey is s t illfine and d andy. Nope.  Appar entl y peo ple hea rthe ph ras es  “seed fai t h” and “d onati on” and  t hink  sp erm in  the m ail i s th eway  to go. W h o  c a nbl a meOliv er fo rwant ing to ex t ricate h ims e lf from  s uch a  stick y  s i t uation? Al l k iddin g aside, the mone y  d o nated 
… wait.

"Although_these experiences_might bring some closer_to how_they_identify as_a_Christian, for me_they only served_to further alienate me_from big box_organized_religion over time."

From what I’ve heard, the kinds of things my grandmother received from_the_Bakkers weren’t_entirely_unlike_the mountain of letters and_demands asked of Oliver in_his correspondence_with another scandalous relic of television ministry, Robert_Tilton._Following an experimental_donation of 20 dollars, Oliver received a string of_bizarre requests and demands made of_him by Tilton’s_ministry._They_include being mailed dollar_bills, colored oil packets, and prayer_cloths with demands they be returned_in the company of seemingly random sums_of money. Eventually, Oliver coughed up_over 300 dollars in this_experiment. These_letter rituals continued, but Oliver_has the good_fortune of_not actually believing_in this nonsense. In addition, he_could afford to_continue paying if he did.

When Oliver_acknowledges_his financial privilege,_the_exposé_takes an_important turn. With_the_help of_Rachel_Dratch in a dead on performance_as_his “wife” Wendy Jo Oliver, he announces_he has established a_church_that will be known_as Our Lady of Perpetual_Exemption. Turns out, it was surprisingly_easy to_establish his_tax exempt church with the IRS. Clearly, this is a tongue-in-cheek_endeavor, but what he’s doing here_is important. Even after_scandals—

Tilton, like_the_Bakkers, fell under_deserved_scrutiny during_the height of his ministry—these people scrounge_their way_out of the gutter to try_the whole thing all_over_again. The existing checks and balances_just don’t stop these predators from_continuing to thrive on the_misplaced_faith_and finances of sincere Christian_believers. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, Our_Lady received a_substantial number of donations in the past_few_weeks. However, as of last Sunday,_the_church is no more. As Oliver_explains_in_a statement found on the_website—and available in an expanded audio_version when you call 1-800-THIS-IS-LEGAL—the church did not shutter_its doors over_any legal reason, since promising_people_great_riches if they send you money is still fine and_dandy. Nope._Apparently people hear_the phrases “seed faith” and “donation” and think sperm in_the mail is the way to go._Who can blame Oliver for wanting to extricate himself from such_a sticky situation? All kidding aside, the money_donated