I was just watching EWTN and this guy, I think his name was Benny Hinn. I know it was Benny...not sure of the last name. Is he Catholic? It did not appear to be a Catholic show.

I have watched a MASS before on EWTN and a few other programs, all of which were Catholic, but every now and then I turn to EWTN and it doesn't appear to be a Catholic show. Is EWTN a Catholic station or for all religions?

God bless,

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 17, 2002

Answers

^^

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 17, 2002.

Hi, Kathy.

EWTN is a Catholic network only. Benny Hinn does not appear on EWTN.

If you really saw Benny Hinn, then one of two things must have been true:
(1) You were actually on a different channel number ... or
(2) The channel that has EWTN on it in your cable system is shared (50-50, or some other time-split) between EWTN and a non-Catholic religious network. [I know for a fact that such split arrangements exist in some towns.]

John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 17, 2002.

John,

Maybe that is why the channel says EWTN+?? (Notice the plus sign after EWTN). I had to be on the right channel, because it is the only one listed....so it must be shared.

This Benny Hinn show appeared to be a Baptist(?) show. Reminded me of the Baker guy, can't remember his first name, but remember the wifes name (Tammi Faye Baker)the mascara lady. A little too much for me. I am a bit of a skeptic when all these people fall to the floor convulsing (sp) just by the touch of this guys hand. The singing and the music was nice, but that's about all I enjoyed from that program.

Thanks for the info John.

God bless,

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 17, 2002.

Kathy,

We are blessed to have this guy. He is something else! Only in this CATHOLIC forum can you meet people as "learned" as him and Chris B on the Catholic faith.

The Lord loves us. We are truly "spoiled rotten".

-- @ (Catholic@learning.com), September 17, 2002.

Kathy, it could have been EWTN. Benny is not your usual Catholic- hater, in fact he has done meetings with Catholics. The people who fall - well they are 'resting in the Spirit' because their body could not cope with the power of the Holy Spirit. No fakery involved, let me tell you.

-- Somebody (sorry@but.dontwant.spam.com), September 18, 2002.

Ditto --@!

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 18, 2002.

Hi Somebody (Frank?),

I don't think I would call it "fakery", but am a bit skeptic. I guess I would have to experience it to change my skepticism.

God bless,

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 18, 2002.

Hi Kathy:

Your instincts are good -- trust your discernment.

I took a friend of mine to see Benny years ago, who suffered from cerebral palsy. The floor was jam packed with hundreds of crippled folk, people who had driven thousands of miles, terminally ill -- all on the floor right before the stage. Since we had gotten there some two hours early we had a pretty good idea of those on the floor. NOT ONE OF THEM was healed. Only "invisible" healings took place. My friend, with his child like faith, was heart broken and in tears at the end of the service.

Benny didn't lay hands on one of them -- not one. Benny has a brother in Canada up to the same thing. Benny just got in trouble down in Dallas because he's been have fund raisers down there in order to build a new "healing center." The folks down there started asking "where's the center?" Benny has changed his mind about a healing center and instead is building a new mansion in California! He already has one in Florida.

Plus he teaches, "under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost," that women were originally meant to give birth out their sides, Jesus is going to appear on stage with him, God has 9 spirits, and all kinds of nonsense.

The people that fall to the floor are under tremendous peer pressure to follow suit. The atmosphere is highly-emotionally charged. It's psychosomatic manipulation much like hypnotists use.

I believe he was raised in the Orthodox or Catholic church -- not sure. I'm sure glad to hear that EWTN is time-shared and that's how you saw him. I'd hate to think EWTN was giving him a platform. He's not anti-Catholic, that is true. He'll be glad to take their money too!

He's hurt a lot of people! I heard of a sad case where a father, whose baby had died, put the baby on ice and drove 8 hours to get to a Benny Hinn crusade. He also was caught telling a bold-faced lie by a television network who was trying to get to the bottom of a story he told on stage about a man being raised from the dead. Upon their relentless questioning, he finally had to admit that that really didn't happen at one of his meetings, and that the story was second- hand.

Love,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), September 18, 2002.

Hi Gail,

People like Benny are the reasons my husband is a skeptic about all churches. He thinks that they are all opportunists, no doubt some of them are, BUT not all.

I am, like I said a bit skeptic. I feel sorry for the people who go with high hopes of being cured from their ailments, just to be let down.

Thanks for your post Gail!

God bless you,

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 18, 2002.

Hi again, Kathy:

Your husband has a right to be skeptical. My son has hard time with Christianity on account of these type things too!

These guys who masquerade as Christ's "Apostles" scandalize the church. What grieves me to my innermost being is that Benny and a whole slew of others are pumping their message all over the world to countries that have never heard the gospel and have no way of measuring the truth. Poor peoples in impoverished countries sending their dimes and nickles in to support these masterminds of deception.

I just wish someone could put a stop to it, but as long as people keeping "buying" it, they'll keep right on truckin'

Love to you, and I pray your husband will be able to get through the mud and find the pure gold!

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), September 18, 2002.

Hi Gail,

I also feel bad for the people who get sucked into these scandals. The scandalizers know just who to target. Is scandalizers a word?? Oh well, you know what I mean.

My husband is definitly coming along. He chats with a friend of ours every weekend who spent a few years in seminary school. He wants to be a deacon at the Church that I visit to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

He may not be entirely ready to enter a church yet, but at least he belives in Jesus now.

God bless,

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 18, 2002.

That's wonderful Kathy! I'll keep him in my prayers!

Love,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), September 19, 2002.

Thanks Gail....you are in my prayers as well.

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 19, 2002.

Hi, this is the first time that I've contributed to this forum but I have been learning a lot from it in the past few weeks. It's a wonderful place to share and learn about our faith!

I wanted to just share a bit from the heart on this one. I don't know enough about Benny Hinn to know if he's authentic or not. But I do know that there are times that the Holy Spirit comes over us so powerfully that it's as though every muscle in your body becomes totally relaxed. Hence the term, "resting in the Spirit". It can happen for real if we are surrendered to the Holy Spirit and willing to let go and let the Spirit move upon us as happened in the book of Acts (remember that they thought the people were drunk). Unfortunately, as with most good things, there are some who "fake" the experience for various reasons. For some it is simply a desire to be accepted and look like everybody else who is "falling over". For some it is downright exploitation (some "faith healers" have been known to try real hard to push people over). But the reality is that miraculous healings do occur when God chooses and the person is willing to receive. Many of these healings have been verified medically. I, like Kathy, tend to be skeptical when it "showey", with the pomp and circumstance that comes with some of it. It seems that most of the "authentic" healings that I've read about didn't happen on a loud, flashy TV show. But it doesn't mean that God can't work through any one of us, in any situation. I believe that God and the person involved are the only ones who can really judge whether it is "real" or not. For those that are "fake", I pray that they will be surrendered enough to experience the "real thing", because the power of truly resting in the Spirit is amazing. God can bring us to a level of intimacy and heal wounds or change our lives within minutes in that environment that, under normal circumstances, could take years. Anyway, it doesn't answer any questions about Benny Hinn or EWTN (unfortunately, we don't get that station), but I did just want to share my thoughts on healing power of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks everyone for being part of this forum. It's great to join in.

God bless,

-- Shelly (shellycurrin@yahoo.com), September 20, 2002.

Hi Shelly,

Welcome to the forum. I agree with you in your post. I do believe that the Holy Spirit works through people with the gift of miraculous healing. After all, isn't that how saints become saints, or at least part of it? That they had the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit to help heal someone??

I have a hard time believing that Benny Hinn had so much of this power to miraculously heal not one, not two, but several people during the T.V. show that I watched. I mean, if this were the case, wouldn't we all be seeking the miraculous touching of the forehead from this man to heal us of our illnesses?? I can't help but be skeptical of people like him. And this is where I can see the point of my husbands that some people are just opportunists.

Why even pray to our Lord Jesus for his help when all we have to do is give the Benny Hinn show a call, pay out a few bucks and poof one is healed.

I watched one lady in particular who was up on the stage, Benny put his hand up towards her forhead, and bam, there she is lying on the floor convulsing and moaning. She claimed that her foot was healed, but still she limped off the stage, while being escorted by two large men! Now if she were healed, wouldn't she not be limping. Wouldn't she be jumping for joy on TWO feet!

I can't help being a bit skeptic.

Good post Shelly, and I agree with you.

God Bless,

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), September 21, 2002.

Shelly, I agree, many of my deepest wounds, of the spirit, soul, and body, have been touched and healed by the Lord, very efficaciously, while resting in the Holy Spirit.

This grace, in the Catholic Church, called dormition, is controversial, as are most good things, and comes with those who will abuse it, rendering it quite misunderstood, and therefore tossed out as belonging to fanatical evangelicals.

It's been discussed on EWTN. You can get books on the subject in your Catholic book store,or call Fr. Hampsch,CMF,at {213}734-1234 and ask him for references.He is generous with his time in answering questions. love, in Jesus, Theresa

-- Theresa Huether (rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), September 21, 2002.

Hi - I just went over to EWTN's Q&A section and found the following info about Benny Hinn, by James Akin of Catholic Answers - hope this helps! (The link is h ttp://www.ewtn.org/vexperts/showresult.asp? RecNum=261328&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=90&Author=&Keyword=benny+HINN)

The Catholic Church has not taken a specific stand on the ministries you mention. However, it is very clear from observing these ministries that they do not preach the Christian faith in its fullness and that there is much to be suspicious of in their reports of miracles.

Benny Hinn in particular has a penchant for making unorthodox claims regarding the nature of the Godhead. For example, arguing that the Father and the Spirit both have "spirit bodies" (whatever those are) and that within the Trinity "there's nine of them" (whatever that means).

James Akin Catholic Answers

-- Christine L. (chris_tine_lehman@hotmail.com), September 24, 2002.

Benny also taught one time, "under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit", that "women were originally meant to give birth out their sides," LOL, LOL, LOL! I'm not kidding, though, he really did teach that.

Oh Lord, help him!

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), September 25, 2002.

I believe in Benny Hinns ministry.He seems to be very humble before the Lord.He teaches from the word of the living God. People are critical because they dont understand the things of God until they have experiance the new birth.

-- Mary Evans (leomaryus@zianet.com.), September 30, 2002.

Good for you, Ma'am.

Humble is what he ought to be. You just keep sending him checks. His ministry needs you for financial support.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), September 30, 2002.

Mary Mary Mary, Where have you been? Benny's prophecies, healings, and annointing are all FALSE! Wake up before it's too late. Read the Bible, re-read the Bible. It will prove his false teachings.

-- Mick (mickster@gomail.net), October 02, 2002.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Mary,

Do you really believe that when the Holy Spirit/God heals people they will fall down and convulse? When Jesus healed people in the bible no one fell down and convulsed! They stood firm and praised God.

Peace

-- Choas (Choas@ivillage.com), October 02, 2002.

Hi all. I'm new here. I found this board while searching for something else only a few minutes before starting this post. Forgive me if I address things in this post that should not be in this particular thread. I don't know how it all works yet.

Kathy wrote: >Why even pray to our Lord Jesus for his help when all we have to do is give the Benny Hinn show a call, pay out a few bucks and poof one is healed.>

According to their beliefs, God/Jesus is supposed to be healing you through the healer, right? The cure is supposed to come from God, not the healer? And you are only healed if you believe, right? That is the impression I get about what the believers of that type of faith-healing believe. So should it really matter to them who the healer is? I think some people might be cured at those gatherings if there is enough belief involved, even if it's only a placebo effect. That would be even more possible if the illness is psychosomatic or emotional in origin. It's my belief that any person who was given the power to heal would want to use it for free.

A little offshoot: Has anyone seen the 1980 movie, "Resurrection," (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0081414) with Ellen Burstyn? What do you think of it? In it, after partially healing from an almost fatal car crash, a woman finds that she can heal people by laying hands on them. She doesn't know where the power came from, it just appears. The people she heals don't need to believe in her powers; they are just healed. But some of the local Bible-thumpers think that the healing is evil because it is not contingent on belief in God; it does not come from the Holy Spirit. So according to them, it must be from the devil. The woman is a loving person, and feels joy in helping people, but she ends up being driven out of town and into isolation by the hostility of many of the locals. It has a beautiful ending though. I really love that film.

For an expert: What does our Church teach about faith healing? Has anyone since Jesus really had the power to heal? Can someone be healed through faith alone, and if so, does the healer matter? Need there even be a healer? Can anyone be healed without faith?

This is the part that I'm not sure belongs here, but here goes:

What terminology is used here? Technically, doesn't "Protestant" mean a Christian church, or a member of such a church, that originally split from Catholicism around the time of the Reformation? Like Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodist, Presbyterians, etc? Under that rule, are the later offshoots of those churches considered Protestant? Are Greek and Russian Orthodox churches Protestant? That split happened well before the Reformation. Are Mormons Protestant? Is someone who says they are "Christian" but has no church affiliation considered Protestant? Or do you use "Protestant" more loosely to refer to any non-Roman Catholic Christian? I read that there are HUNDREDS of Baptist churches alone! Hundreds! That boggles my mind! If "The Truth" is so clear to them, why do they need so many churches?

Regardless of our Church's faults may be, I'm grateful to be a Roman Catholic. I know (well, at least vaguely) what that means. I have always felt a kinship with other Catholics no matter where in the world they live. But I don't feel any more kinship toward most non- Catholic Christians than I do toward most non-Christians. I strive to respect and love all people regardless of religious affiliation, but I don't feel that kinship with them that I feel when I find out someone is Catholic. It has little to do with shared beliefs or values. I haven't even been active in the Church since adolescence (that may change eventually), and I have issues with the Church, but I think I will always feel Catholic.

The biggest thing that caused me to move away from the Church was the exposure I've had to certain kinds of Christian fundamentalists over the years. Simply put, they turned me off religion. I know that the Catholic Church and Catholics can be rigid and dogmatic too, but not in the same way as some fundamentalist Christians. At least not since the 1950's or so. Their kind of rigidity feels different to me. Am I imagining that, or do others feel it too? I hope I'm not coming across as zenophobic, because I don't think I am. Fanatics of any kind (religious or other) scare me. I strive to love and respect any person who is kind, regardless of religion.

One last question (I hope): Is it safe to post your email address here? I'm not talking about the people, but spammers. If that could be a concern, I would rather use a secondary email address that filters out spam better.

Melora (hoping she didn't make too much of a fool out of herself)

"Time wounds all heels."

-- Melora Foy (melora@moscow.com), October 10, 2002.

Hi Melora and welcome.

I think you are correct in saying this forum uses "Protestant" more loosely to refer to any non-Roman Catholic Christian. I think I was corrected using "Roman" as well. Anyway someone will answer your questions.

Ive been hanging around annoying these good people for many months now. Your words rang true for me, having said many of the same things myself. Finally someone on the same wave length has arrived! :).

This forum is rigid and dogmatic(in a nice way folks) but it does not tolerate fundamentalist tradtionalists . Another regular commented that it had become a bit stale- it had, but a few new people have turned up.(Hi Hollis) I hope you stick around its a goldmine of Catholic knowledge, faith and love. Blessings Courtenay

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), October 10, 2002.

ps use another e-mail address from your primary one. It should be a "real" address otherwise the server has problems but Ive used my only address and the spam is shocking

-- Kiwi (csisherwood@hotmail.com), October 10, 2002.

Hi Melora:

I'm a former Protestant evangelical converting to Catholocism. I find so much peace in the Church -- it's indescribable. I've been in mostly charismatic churches (several) and they are so full of turmoil and dissent, Bible studies turn into screaming matches, everyone has their own agenda -- PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST. I'm so happy to be out of that. Having said that, I LOVE my Protestant brothers and sisters. I do find, however, that my association with them is somewhat superficial now.

I'll give you an example. I have a very dear "Born Again Charismatic" friend, who is truly in love with Jesus. She has been ministering to a friend of her's who has terminal cancer. She did lead this precious woman to Christ several months ago, but then she proceeded to tell her that if "she has enough faith, she can be healed from her sickness." And that "By His stripes we are healed." "That's why Jesus died on the cross, so we could get healed of sickness." The scripture she quotes is about 'spiritual healing,' not physical healing, if you take it in context. So this poor woman thinks that God doesn't love her because she hasn't received her healing!

I have tried and tried to convince my friend that physical healing, while good, is secondary to spiritual healing. She cannot grasp that JESUS is the gift! Having Him, is having ALL! I am very grieved over what she has told her friend. The funny thing is, my friend is on all kinds of blood pressure medicine, almost had a nervous breakdown earlier this year, she's been walking with the Lord for 25 years, and yet she, herself, according to her own doctrine, does not have enough faith to heal a headache, and yet she is putting this inordinate burden on her friend who barely knows the gospel message!

Kiwi is right, Protestant, at least on this forum, is a broadbrush description of all those outside the Church. BTW, though Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses consider themselves Christians, that are not because neither believe in the diety of Christ, and they don't hold to the basic tenets of the Christian faith as spelled out in the Apostle's Creed. IT'S COMPLICATED isn't it?

One of the very big reasons I came to the Catholic Church was because of the zillions of doctrines floating around Protestant Churches. I couldn't agree with any of them entirely on their doctrinal statements. Also, a Protestant looking for a church can no longer assume because it says it's "Lutheran" or "Methodist" or "Presbyterian" that it's a bible believing, Apostle's Creed confessing church. What a quagmire!

I'm writing a book -- better go!

Lot's of Love,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), October 10, 2002.

CHRIST Be with you it is true you really rest in the spirit for it has happend to me all the world needs a reconversion for with out GOD we are nothing .always in CHRIST

-- Mr. Bogucki (N/A.@yahoo.com), November 23, 2002.

Benny Hinn is a complete moron. I have never seen someone as fake or annoying before in my life. I feel sorry for all the weak-minded people who go see him and think he actually stands for something. The only thing he stands for is making money - and he seems to be doing a good job at it.

Think about it people.... THIS GUY IS A JOKE! He thinks he is a prophet of god? Give me a break. He is nothing but a pain in the ass. People really need to stop being so stuipd and stop wasting their money on jackasses like him.

GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES PEOPLE!

-- John Geakman (antimall2000@yahoo.com), December 18, 2002.

Re: Benny Hinn: my 87 yr old mother is a dedicated BH "fan". She always supports him, goes to his crusades etc. She has many books, videos, cassettes, etc from his "ministery". She gets a small pension from my late father and SocSec. My sisters and I always try to talk to her and getting into arguments. I usually respond by asking her if they (parents) sent me to 12 yrs of Catholic education, does that mean I know nothing and he (BH) knows all??What he preaches and teaches when I watched him is alarming in theological terms. He is very confusing and doesn't make sense at all to me! I and my sisters dread talking to her now and that's sad when she is our mother. She's got all her "buttons" otherwise, but we fear she's 'brainwashed'. She's still waiting for a 'healing' of her scoliosis! I lost my husband suddenly last year (we were married 39 years) and at the funeral home she talked to a visiting priest (our pastor was out of town) and all she talked about to him was BH and his crusades! Nothing she said to him about my husband!! And at the dinner at a restaurant, next to me, she kept poking me in the arm and talking that ---- BH! I was so hurt and shocked that it's been hard for me to forgive her for that! But I did, because she is my mother. I know she's 87, but, holy cow! Before I ramble on too much, I, too, wish that he'd get his commuppance! I tell her I am very strong in my Catholic faith especially since I am a 'returned home" Catholic and this has sustained me greatly since I lost my husband. He was only 62. She also believes in the "rapture" and the prophysying that BH and the others do on TBN. And that's another subject. Enough for now....Peace to you....

-- Josephine (moochmom@arkmo.com), August 02, 2003.

Josephine, your discernment is right on the money. The guy is a fraud and a charlatan. I spent years in charismatic "Benny Hinn" circles. I know what you're going through. She's mesmerized as if by a stage hypnotist!

I'm glad you are strong in your faith! Just keep praying for her.

Love,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), August 02, 2003.

Benny Hinn is so far removed from basic Christian teaching, and so obviously a charlatan, that he is soundly rejected not only by Catholics but also by most mainline Protestants. I have Baptist and Methodist friends who view Mr. Hinn with far more animosity than I do.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 03, 2003.

I like his haircut. That's about all I like. The guy scares me. Was he quoted as saying that he too can become God or a god?

rod..

..

.

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), August 03, 2003.

Where he is particularly popular is Word of Faith circles, Assemblies of God, and storefront fundamentalist churches. They fall for him hook, line and sinker, and sink they do, into the endless abyss of "sign seeking wonder mongers," gazing expectantly into the sky waiting for their ride to come.

gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), August 03, 2003.

One of the reasons I was looking into the "Net" was to find out if BH did see the Pope and the Pope told him to keep on doing what he was doing! And that the Pope watches his show and/or TBN all the time! This I got from my mother. But no matter the truth,she'll say that the media, etc and all those sites on BH are out to destroy him. I was reading some of the sites where it was transcribed from his crusades, that he threatened those who abuse or mock his words. I don't know if you others have read some of these. But you have to be careful on whose sites you read - they can also be very anti- Catholic. He was not an ex-Catholic - he supposedly spent his grade school years in a Catholic school. He never stuttered as he claims. He did preach that we (not us - his followers) would be equal to God the Son!! My gosh, that's heresy and people who follow him believe this. Obviously, they don't hear what he says, just what's going on what with the music, etc etc. I did go with my mother to a Kathryn Kuhlman crusade (BH''s mentor or something) years ago and it's very easy to fall into that hypnotic feeling when everyone starts singing the song she had and BH does, too ----"Alleluja" over and over and over and - well you get the point. I wish I could get EWTN where I live and I don't think my mother does either. I miss Bishop Sheen - he made sense. I have a cousin who is a eucharistic minister and she is very outspoken about BH and TBN fundalmentalists - JOhn Hagee, Jack van Impe (who spouts bible verses so fast you can't write them down to check it out yourself) Rod Parsley (?) who shouts and hollers so...(!!!) Anyway cousin Linda, my mother states, is too Catholic! I am praying for her as well as my sisters do and one brother, and hope that God understands what's going on with her. Love to you all......

-- Josephine (moochmom@arkmo.com), August 03, 2003.

Hi, I don't know how often this board gets checked, but I am at a bit of a crossroads, you see, my pastor and his wife are big Benny Hinn fans. I go to an Assembly of God Church, and until this past year, it has been your every day normal A/G Church. Ever since the pastor and wife have been caught up in BH, (they recently went to one of his services and got up on stage with him), the church has become very uncomfortable for me. It is unreal...every Sunday, it's person after person "falling out", and it's as if the pastor feels that every single person who goes up front for prayer MUST either speak in tounges or "fall out", and he will NOT move on until they do. And I have literally seen him push people down almost until they finally stay down. It is scary to me,and I feel myself being distanced from the whole mess. It leaves me with a sick feeling every week. I'm seriously thinking of switching churches, which is going to be awful, since I was raised in this church, PLUS, my entire family goes, and my grandfather used to pastor it before he passed. I'm very confused, and I have a super awful feeling about Benny Hinn, and an even worse feeling that my pastor and his wife are becoming such followers. They recently have held 2 "healing services" also, with hundreds of people coming to them. I didn't go. Anyway...what do you all think? I"ll check back soon.

-- a concerned person (noway@notgonnadoit.sorry), November 20, 2003.

Dear "concerned person,"

You wrote: "I'm seriously thinking of switching churches, which is going to be awful, since I was raised in this church ..."

I think that it's possible that you were unaware of where the Holy Spirit has led you. This is a discussion thread on a Catholic forum. As a Catholic, I invite you to consider visiting a Catholic church as soon as possible, speaking to the pastor there, and perhaps beginning to study to become a Catholic. I believe that God is leading you to this Church, which Jesus himself founded almost 2,000 years ago. (By contrast, a mere man founded the AoG less than 100 years ago.)

If, before stopping by the church, you would like me to put you in touch (e-mail, phone, whatever) with a former Assemblies member (possibly even a clergyman) who has converted to Catholicism, I would consider it an honor to do that for you. Just write to me via e-mail. If you'd like to spend some time here at the forum reading about the Church, asking questions, etc., that is another option. We have thousands of discussion threads in the "archives," going back to early 1998.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 20, 2003.

Hello Concerned,

I feel what you must be going through. I've found myself in a lot of false positions at different times in my life; most of which (unlike you) I've found to be my own fault. It's always difficult to back out of a position you have held, especially if it is what you have grown up in, and if your family still holds that.

Just remember, though, that the most important thing is to live in the truth. The truth is worth more than the small comfort you would find in remaining where you are, and once you live in the truth, you will find yourself at peace.

God bless, Catherine

-- Catherine Ann (catfishbird@yahoo.ca), November 20, 2003.

Hello everybody,

I have just come back after 17 days in my native place. Without even changing my dress I have started to read the posts (at 0430 hours). It is nearly 2 hours! I have to go work too after this. I half read, half skimmed, and half skipped. But, thought I will contribute my thoughts. The thoughts here are just my personal feelings, correct me if I am wrong.

With the little exposure of Benny Hinn on TV, frankly speaking, I have not much against him, as his teachings seem quite spontaneous and inspired, and not very anti-catholic. In fact pro-catholic at times. His remarkable gift of slaying in the spirit is his main attraction, which I believe is not fake, but a bit overdone at times. Yet, there are few odd things about him a times.

Once I saw him ask a very elderly man (just because he was quite old) to pray for him so that he may have a long life while on the stage, but as the man placed his hands on his specially groomed white head, he gave a start and said something like, "Don't touch my hair!!!..you can never change me..I am gonna remain the same...," etc. I don't know what that mean't. I hope he did not mean that he is unchanging like God.

He seems to be very humble and glorifies Jesus, yet balances it with his own. A precarious position like King Solomon who started to glorify God by building a glorious temple, but ended up make a more larger and spacious palace of his own, and in the end fell into apostasy at the behest his wives. In fact, anyone who is in such a dangerously famous position would be pressurized to do more than what the Holy Spirit prompts. It is praiseworthy that he he still manages to maintain the balance to a large extent, at least until now.

I am a bit perplexed that he has a teaching on 9 persons of the Trinity.

About Jesus being born from the side of Mary, it is not a just BH's invention, but I believe it was also believed in the earlier traditions of the Church, maybe for several reasons. Personally, I will cite two of which I know: 1) Just like first Woman was taken from the side first Adam, the second (humbler) Adam now is now taken the second Woman's side (restoring the dignity of woman that was lost in the garden of Eden); 2) That Mary's perpetual virginity be total and absolute even physically, and untampered even by childbirth.

Overall, he seems to be better than most other self-proclaimed evangelizers, preachers, teachers, etc., both Protestants and Catholics, who mislead people towards liberalism, permissiveness, disobedience, sexual immorality, etc.

-- leslie john (leslie_jn@yahoo.com), November 25, 2003.