YANGON (UCAN): Charles Cardinal Bo of Yangon, sounded a warning that the growing influence of the so-called prosperity gospel is a major obstacle to the spread of Christianity in the East, during his Pentecost Sunday homily on May 31.
The cardinal noted that religious traditions of the East like Hinduism and Buddhism emphasise detachment from luxuries and living a life of simplicity.
“To many people in the East, Christianity seen from the prosperity gospel view is another model of the market economy of the West,” Cardinal Bo said, adding, “It has nothing to contribute towards the wisdom and simplicity of eastern religions.”
Cardinal Bo noted that prosperity gospel teaches the Bible, packaged as a sweet promise of prosperity, saying, “The prosperity gospel makes bold claims: God will give you your heart’s desires: money in the bank, a healthy body, a thriving family,”
They preach a seed theology. If you send 100 dollars (seed) to the ministry, God will give you a thousand dollars (harvest), the cardinal said.
The 72-year-old Cardinal Bo reminded that Christianity is not an emotional rollercoaster. “One of the reasons the East avoids Christianity is the noise and the din associated with the so-called Christian missions,” he added.
