Photo Credit: Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
False Halos
By T. Delaplain
A hush descended, the lights dimmed and the stage rose from the fiery bowels of the auditorium. Reverend Wilts, awash with golden light unfurled his robes, arms spread wide in false subjugation. The sound of salvation began with a few calculated notes guaranteed to open the pocketbooks of the faithful, reserving the frenzy for later. Always best to make them believe in the promise of heaven before he brought down the brimstone. A divine threshold exists for every donor, the faithful, the sinners, the broken and the truly lost. Not a coin would be left behind.
“Let us pray.”
Join us a Friday Fictioneers, we’ll give you 100 words to tell your tale. Do you see salvation or just street lights?
Fictioneers, Is anyone else having trouble being able to “like” stories on Word Press? WTH? I can comment but I can’t like anything even if I’m signed in. Is there some setting I don’t know about? I thought it was just on the U.K. networks but it happened at Rochelle’s site too. Grrrrr Any Ideas?
Tracey Delaplain, MD 
A cutting satire, and one that exposes an element of truth. Nice one.
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Praise the Lord and pass the collection pan.
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If it wasn’t so true, I’d call it cynical. But it is, so I won’t, Great story, Tracey
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I am definitely cynical about mega churches. Thanks Neil.
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Dear Tracey,
I hear Neil Diamond singing, “Hot August nights, when you’d almost bet you could hear yourself sweat, he walks in…” Well written and hard hitting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for stopping by Rochelle. I’d prefer Neil for sure.
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I love this, was just getting really into it when you stopped.
I am not a big fan of organised religion, and the US phenomenon of televangelism is a complete mystery to me.
Folks can be really dumb sometimes.
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It’s is a very strange herd phenomenon. God bless you for reading and commenting. Ha ha Please leave a donation at the door.
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I think you caught the situation to a concise and cynical T. It’s good to see you back on the squares again.
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I’m showing my rebellious roots again. I prefer the pageantry of the Catholics when I want to watch church theatrics.
Thanks Sandy.
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Hallelujah brothers and sisters, give us your coins – notes welcome too! I felt I was there but glad I wasn’t!
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Best to run the other way. Thanks Keith.
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What a nasty chap. As for the crowd, I’m not sure one can buy one’s way into Heaven.
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Indeed, the worst sort of con man. Thanks Ali.
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Like places of wonder, art galleries and museums, Heaven has an entrance fee!
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I hedge my bets with my charity commitments but I’ll never pay a mega church.
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The most despicable form of con artists are the ones who prey on those who respect them because they claim to be ministers. Totally disgusting. This is written with a great deal of drama, which does tend to draw people in. Having grown up as a preacher’s kid, a true man of God, I have nothing but scorn for those who rob people of wealth in the name of God, but in actuality to line their own pockets.
Wow. I guess that really pushed a button for me.
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I remember that about you. Thank you for reminding us about the good guys who truly bring comfort to their communities.
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Hallelujah, Sister! I am so with you on the falseness of the fire and brimstone brouhaha these televangelists spiel…
Fabulous take.
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Thank you, it’s not unlike the campaigning going on in our countries. All smoke and mirrors.
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No kidding…
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Take every penny by promising heaven, before they change their minds.
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Exactly, pure theft
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Very sad, but unfortuantely true and not as it should be. Well written piece, Tracey!
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Thank you Brenda
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Well told.
Taking advantage of the believers… it’s what they want to hear. Great take on the prompt
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Oh the false priests, preaching just to fill their own pocketbooks… I guess the girls will come afterwards…
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Like i always say…”The God Business is a live and well”
Good one, Tracey.
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Thank you Dawn
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Superbly laid out in all of its (heavenly?) glory.
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Thank you and God Bless
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You’re welcome.
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Thank you for reading
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