Televangelists and my mother

[Einzige]

I don't often talk with my mother. We have little in common and less to talk about; and, while I do still show her courtesy and interact with her when necessary, I don't really enjoy her company. I still love her, but her life and mine are entirely separate.

That said, I've recently noticed that she's become something of a borderline Christian fundamentalist. I went to her place to eat over Memorial Day - again, a courtesy and not something I take all that seriously - when I noticed that she had the Trinity Broadcasting Network on in the background. I'd never known her to be religious before, and she's only in her late forties, so I doubt very seriously that she's been stricken with the impending sense of death so many older people are as they age.

Our conversation turned to it, and lo and behold I discover that she's been sending money each month to these parasitic televangelists. Her favorite is Jack Van Impe, a prophet of doom of particular zeal. Now, despite our cool relationship, I'm not especially happy to see my mother preyed upon in this way. It disturbs me knowing that she's poor enough to live in a trailer and still feels the need to tithe to these Brylcreemed bastards. What can/should I do, if anything?

[Samuel]

Try to convince her that sending the money to local charities is a better choice than sending it to a televangelist?

[Pelranius]

You could see if there's dirt to be found on Mr. Van Impe's personal life. People who follow televangelists tend to be less forgiving of any potential wrongdoing, or hint of it (though it might be a crap shoot. Some audiences get even more taken in by the televangelist screaming "I have sinned! I have sinned! The Lord will redeem me!)

[Alyeska]

His mother might not be willing to consider that.

While you might be loath to suggest it, this might help. See if there is a local church involved with the community, one that actually gives back to the community. If she were to worship there and donate to it, the money would honestly be going to a reasonably good cause.

[Superman]

Just out of curiosity, which televangelist is it?

[eion]

Her favorite is Jack Van Impe...

[Stuart]

Piece of hard-nosed advice. If you want any kind of future relationship with your mother, keep quiet and avoid the subject. She is obviously not thinking rationally about the subject so arguing with her will only cause pain and grief. Trying to engage her interest in a local church group might work but do it as a separate and dissociated subject. Not "go to this place instead" but "have you seen this bunch, they do all sorts of interesting things."

[Coyote]

Trying to argue with her or change her mind on this is probably going to lead to nothing but arguments and recriminations, and she may dig her heels in even more. Be ready to just cut ties and walk away.

[General Mung Beans]

Jack Van Impe actually did criticise Pat Robertson's comments on Hugo Chavez saying "we don't need a Osama Bin Laden leading us".

[Setzer]

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.c ... orgid=3913

Well, a quick google search reveals this. Not sure how accurate the website is, but it's something. There are two comments claiming they violate their tax exempt status by preaching sermons with a political tilt, but going by that logic all religious organizations should be taxed. Not that I'd object.

[Night_stalker]

Regarding the OP, do you want legal or questionably legal solutions? Legally, just try talking taking her to a local church.

[Einzige]

She absolutely won't go to a church, and I don't think she's particularly interested in charity. Despite her newfound religiosity, she still doesn't seem to like 'organized religion' as such (though what the difference is between that and televangelists I haven't the foggiest). I'll have to talk to her.

[wautd]

Her favorite is Jack Van Impe...

Oh boy, I remember that even the lunatics at rapture ready tought this guy was sometimes crazy.

[Hillary]

It's a tough subject to broach without the conversation degrading into a full-scale argument. One way to approach it is to try and find out what benefit she feels she gets from sending the money and then try and suggest different ways of achieving that benefit.

It will probably be met with fierce resistance, but you CAN change people's minds on these things - it tends to be a long road though; subtly putting different ideas out there without trying to force the issue too hard. The basic rule is, in my experience, the person has to feel that they are the ones who has decided to change, not that they have been persuaded to.

Trying to argue with irrationality is always tricky.

Regarding the OP, do you want legal or questionably legal solutions?

"questionably legal"? I mean, seriously, WTF?

[Night_stalker]

Never mind that bad post, but my point was is that you could send some
fake cash, like from Monopoly instead of real money.