More Abundant Life Scam

[So_crates]

 

Another part of Saint Vic's scam was the more than abundant life schtick.

Just what is a more than abundnt life?

If we go according to PLAF, "the more than abundant life" was changed to "an abundant life" in later editions. When someone inquired what an abundant life was, the answer they got was on the order of Saint Vic seperating needs and greeds. So what are needs? Food, water, air, shelter, that required to maintaain life.

Historically, I can see where this would be important. For most of human history, food has been scarce, finding potable water a problem, and shelter often lacking. So, at one time goals like an abundant life were vital.

However, we live in a time when food, water and shelter are easilt accessable. Ask anyone on welfare. They're nowhere near the problems they've been in the past.

Also, we live in a society where "the abundant life" could be defined as "just getting by."  

According to Saint Vic's definition, one could live in a roach-, bedbug-, flea-infested hovel, be eating beans and crackers three times a day, and drinking stream water and that would be living the abundant life.

Unfortunately, we are not taught to "just get by." From the time we're in swattling clothes, we have it pounded into our heads that our job is to succeed, to excel just getting by. 

One can see this in Saint Vic's life, too: How much did he really need to substain his life and how much was really greed?

Even in examples presented in PLAF: Were those red curtains neccessary to substain the woman's life?

Then why were we told we had to just get by?

[Twinky]

Don't confuse "prosperity gospel" with true gospel.

[WordWolf]

In pfal, vpw was rather specific that "the abundant life" was financial and visible. It's right at the beginning.  He saw non-Christians living a more abundant life than Christians-according to him.