Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ex-preacher · 04-13-2002, 08:31 AM

It struck me the other day that many of the prominent leaders in the evangelical world are getting up there in years. Many of these were the leaders 30 years ago, and there seem to be few arising to take their places. Here are some I have in mind (I think all of these are in their 60s and up):

Billy Graham
Pat Robertson
Jerry Falwell
James Dobson
Don Wildmon
Charles Swindoll
Charles Stanley
Adrian Roberts
James Kennedy
Lloyd John Ogilvie
Robert Schuller
Josh McDowell
Phyllis Shlafly
Charles Colson
Oral Roberts
Benny Hinn (how old is he?)
Pope John Paul II (I know, he's not evangelical)

I know that some of these are trying to groom successors, in some cases their own sons. But it doesn't appear that the new generation has the same stature.

Am I being overly optimistic? Whadaya think?

[ April 13, 2002: Message edited by: ex-preacher ]</p>

Eudaimonist · 04-13-2002, 08:37 AM

Those people have a tendency to soak up the lime light. I have the impression that new personalities will simply take their place once the old ones are gone.

sullster · 04-13-2002, 08:54 AM

There is far too much money to be made selling the evangelical goods for a new crop of screamers to not arise. What about that pretty-boy who was Robertson's buddy? I forget the cretin's name.
We may not have such a sickenly large crop like this departing generation, but I am sure there plenty of used-car salesmen just waiting to make the career change to the used religion market.

I feel the power! I see the light! Hallejelluha. Send the money!

Toto · 04-13-2002, 09:49 AM

William Lane Craig. Still young.

lpetrich · 04-13-2002, 10:01 AM

The "pretty boy" is Ralph Reed.

sullster · 04-13-2002, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lpetrich:
<strong>The "pretty boy" is Ralph Reed.</strong>

Thanks, Ipetrich, the little pretty boy's name had slipped my memory. I suppose that he is not in line for evangel-screaming as he is more into operating the religious reich.

copernicus · 04-13-2002, 11:52 AM

Pretty Boy Ralph was in the news during the Enron scandal. It turns out that Enron hired him for big $$ to help George W develop better ties to the Christian Right. Well, it would have been a violation of campaign finance laws for them to do that, so both Pretty Boy and Enron denied that this was actually what they did. It just looked that way.

Anyway, there are numerous career enhancement possibilities after one is through being a charismatic religious leader.

echidna · 04-13-2002, 08:46 PM

Encounter on radio this morning, �encountered� Billy Graham & his Australian crusades of the 70�s (? half asleep). Even his followers interviewed said that he�s �toned down� a lot of the hellfire and brimstone since then, not that that�s saying a lot.

nixon · 04-14-2002, 09:22 PM

Rod Parsley is a shoe-in.

bltl6 · 04-15-2002, 10:29 AM

You forgot Paul and Jan Crouch (TBN).

04-13-2002, 08:31 AM	#1
ex-preacher Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: University of Arkansas Posts: 1,033	Aging Evangelical Leaders It struck me the other day that many of the prominent leaders in the evangelical world are getting up there in years. Many of these were the leaders 30 years ago, and there seem to be few arising to take their places. Here are some I have in mind (I think all of these are in their 60s and up): Billy Graham Pat Robertson Jerry Falwell James Dobson Don Wildmon Charles Swindoll Charles Stanley Adrian Roberts James Kennedy Lloyd John Ogilvie Robert Schuller Josh McDowell Phyllis Shlafly Charles Colson Oral Roberts Benny Hinn (how old is he?) Pope John Paul II (I know, he's not evangelical) I know that some of these are trying to groom successors, in some cases their own sons. But it doesn't appear that the new generation has the same stature. Am I being overly optimistic? Whadaya think? [ April 13, 2002: Message edited by: ex-preacher ]</p>

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04-13-2002, 08:37 AM	#2
Eudaimonist Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Sundsvall, Sweden Posts: 3,159	Those people have a tendency to soak up the lime light. I have the impression that new personalities will simply take their place once the old ones are gone.

04-13-2002, 08:54 AM	#3
sullster Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: North of Boston Posts: 1,392	There is far too much money to be made selling the evangelical goods for a new crop of screamers to not arise. What about that pretty-boy who was Robertson's buddy? I forget the cretin's name. We may not have such a sickenly large crop like this departing generation, but I am sure there plenty of used-car salesmen just waiting to make the career change to the used religion market. I feel the power! I see the light! Hallejelluha. Send the money!

04-13-2002, 09:49 AM	#4
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	William Lane Craig. Still young.

04-13-2002, 10:01 AM	#5
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	The "pretty boy" is Ralph Reed.

04-13-2002, 11:52 AM	#7
copernicus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,531	Pretty Boy Ralph was in the news during the Enron scandal. It turns out that Enron hired him for big $$ to help George W develop better ties to the Christian Right. Well, it would have been a violation of campaign finance laws for them to do that, so both Pretty Boy and Enron denied that this was actually what they did. It just looked that way. Anyway, there are numerous career enhancement possibilities after one is through being a charismatic religious leader.

04-13-2002, 08:46 PM	#8
echidna Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,832	Encounter on radio this morning, �encountered� Billy Graham & his Australian crusades of the 70�s (? half asleep). Even his followers interviewed said that he�s �toned down� a lot of the hellfire and brimstone since then, not that that�s saying a lot.

04-14-2002, 09:22 PM	#9
nixon Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valleyview, OH USA Posts: 6,638	Rod Parsley is a shoe-in.

04-15-2002, 10:29 AM	#10
bltl6 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 99	You forgot Paul and Jan Crouch (TBN).

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