"God knows where the money is"

A Sunday New York Times article found here covers the Southwest Believer's Convention in Fort Worth, while discussing the stability of prosperity theology in tough economic times.

I thought the way the article depicted followers of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland was interesting, calling them "adoring audiences" and "delighted" by stories of the wealth of those preaching to them and quoting a researcher who called the preachers "Spiritual pickpockets," which implies that the followers are unwitting victims.

The photo slide show also has interesting views of the crowd, with close-up pictures of an obese man in a wheelchair, arms outstretched, a family making PB & J sandwiches with the bread set on an open Bible and an older woman dropping money on an altar.