Ministry of Greed: The Inside Story of the Televangelists and Their Holy Wars (Newsweek Book) [Hardcover]

Larry Martz (Author), Ginny Caroll (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Gospelgate," the scandal that rocked the PTL (Praise the Lord) empire of televangelists Jim and Tammy Bakker, is explored here in a collaborative narrative under the aegis of Martz, senior editor of Newsweek , and Carroll, chief reporter on the story. Drawing on the magazine's coverage of the media event of 1987, the book tracks the far-flung, nefarious activities of those involved in the headlined struggle for control of the $172 million PTL operation. As noted in the foreword, "It was a story of God, greed, sex and power." The drama precipitated inspection from government agencies as well as religious leaders, spotlighting the workings of the little-known world of televangelism. Disgraced preachers and scandals are not unknown in the history of evangelism, note the authors, but unique in this imbroglio is the manipulation of the technology of communication to dupe and mulct the vulnerable. This report pulls together many elements of the massive fraud.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 260 pages
• Publisher: Grove Pr; 1st edition (August 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155584216X
• ISBN-13: 978-1555842161
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,037,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book., October 9, 2010

By 

DonH - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ministry of Greed: The Inside Story of the Televangelists and Their Holy Wars (Newsweek Book) (Hardcover)

Ginny Caroll went to great lengths to get the facts correct. Highly recommend this book to anyone serious about this story.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Usual Hype against Christians, August 31, 2009

By 

Gail Millan "Arabian horse lover" (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ministry of Greed: The Inside Story of the Televangelists and Their Holy Wars (Newsweek Book) (Hardcover)

This book is another among many that do not tell the facts about ministries. There are some ministries that need to be examined, but PTL was not in the wrong.

The authors of this book should read Jim Bakker's "I Was Wrong" and the other book written about the miscarriage of justice.

There were a couple of severely handicapped children living at Heritage USA. One boy, Kevin, was only 2 feet tall, was living in a place called "Kevin's House". The other, a girl, has no legs/feet. Both were happy and being cared for with love and kindness. They were kicked out after the so called "scandal". I wonder what the news reporters would of done if those were their children.

When Jim Bakker went to trial, most of the "facts" against him were not substantiated. The jury was not allowed to visit Heritage USA and see for themselves. The second hotel was being built and a third in the works to handle all the people who wanted to stay there once a year. Of course, I am not an expert, just a person who has read the books from the people themselves. Go to the source, not people who just want to do a story to make money or take advantage of someone who is innocent, but not believed.

Yes, there was "wrong preaching" about prosperity and Jim Bakker is now an advocate of preaching this. You would think news people would be more interested in corruption among drug dealers, corporations, politicians, and so forth, you know, people who steal for a living, not ones that are trying to help people. I do not recommend this book.

G.M.

Arizona