Latest news with #non-Christians
NZ Herald
16-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Older, white males without university education feel most restricted in what they can say, study finds
It follows controversies such as 2021 protests against a teacher in Batley, West Yorkshire, who received death threats and went into hiding after showing pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad from Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine, during a religious studies lesson. Similar concerns over the right to freedom of expression and protest have been raised in the aftermath of the October 7 2023 Hamas terror attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza conflict. More than a third (36%) felt they had to hold back on expressing their views on race or ethnicity, while 32% said they did not feel they could freely speak out on immigration or religious extremism. On asylum and Gaza, 31% felt constrained, rising to 41% for transgender issues. Groups that were predominantly white, male, older, and non-graduate were more strongly in favour of free speech, regardless of the issue, but at the same time felt more constrained in their ability to freely share their views about most topics. Nearly half of this group (48%) said they felt they had to restrain their comments on race, far higher than the average of 36%. The same was true on immigration, where 43% felt they had to hold back on their views compared to an overall average among the public of 32% who felt constrained. Christians were more likely to back the right to free speech, but also more likely than average to feel they had to hold back on expressing their views. Conversely, women, younger Britons, and people from ethnic minorities or non-Christian religions tended to think that people needed to be more sensitive in the way they spoke. Just under a third (29%) of all those polled agreed that people needed to be more sensitive. But this rose to 34% amongst women, 45% from ethnic minorities and 45% for non-Christians. By contrast, men, people aged over 65, those from white ethnicities, and Christians were more likely to think that people are too easily offended. While on average 49% felt people were too easily offended, this rose to 56% of men, 54% of those from a white ethnicity and 59% for Christians. These were nearly double the rates for people from ethnic minorities and non-Christians. Race and ethnicity was the only topic overall where the balance of opinion was more towards avoiding offence rather than speaking freely (by 42% to 34% ), according to the research. People predominantly held back from expressing their views to avoid causing offence or starting an argument. Forty-six per cent resisted expressing their views on any religious figure, text, or teaching and just 35% held back their political views to avoid causing offence. Some said they held back because of heightened concerns about their safety. For religious topics, 25% said they restrained themselves because of safety fears, and 17% over political views. The report said there was a group of people for whom free speech was a significant issue. They represented about 37% of the total sample and were described by researchers as those who were most concerned about the pace of change. But they were also the group most likely to express 'heightened concerns' about their ability to speak freely about race, immigration, asylum, and religious extremism. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: 'The left's determination to shut down debate around immigration has created a chilling environment for free speech. In this context, a catch-all definition of Islamophobia would be a disaster, worsening the culture of fear that has spread throughout society.'
Miami Herald
12-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Joel Osteen's net worth: The TV preacher's wealth & income in 2025
Fast facts: Televangelist Joel Osteen is one of the most popular Christian preachers in the U.S. and the world, with 5.9 million followers on Instagram, 10 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), and 28 million followers on Facebook. Osteen is the head preacher at Lakewood megachurch in Texas, America's largest Christian has drawn widespread criticism from Christians and non-Christians alike, both for his visibly lavish lifestyle and for preaching the controversial prosperity gospel, which teaches that faithful Christians are more likely to be rewarded with material wealth. Here's what you need to know about his wealth, income, and spending in 2025. In the Bible, a passage in Proverbs 11.28 reads, "He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf," while another in Mark 6.24 reads, "You cannot serve God and wealth." Overall, the Bible tends not to equate wealth with righteousness, but that hasn't stopped charismatic prosperity gospel preachers like Joel Osteen from crafting their own unique brand of financially focused Christian wisdom-and banking some serious wealth in the process. Osteen, the senior pastor at Houston's massive Lakewood Church, is among the most popular Christian preachers in the United States. According to FeedSpot, a company that catalogues social media influencers, Osteen is the third most popular pastor on Instagram at 5.9 million followers. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Osteen is best known for his weekly Lakewood Church service, which is broadcast nationwide on television networks like CBS, FOX, and TBN and can also be streamed on-demand on YouTube, Facebook, and the Lakewood Church website. He also cohosts a daily podcast with his wife, Victoria, sharing half-hour episodes that cover topics like goals, relationships, money, and humor from his Word of Faith perspective. Interestingly, Osteen doesn't take a salary from the Lakewood Church for his preaching and hasn't since 2005. Nevertheless, he's still managed to accumulate an impressive net worth, primarily via advances and royalties from his book. Osteen is a prolific author, having published 26 books since 2004-that's an average of almost two and a half books per year. His newest release, Graced to Go, hits shelves on July 29. Now, more than a quarter century into his career as the head pastor at America's largest megachurch, here's what Osteen is worth, how he built his wealth, and how he spends his sources estimate Osteen's wealth to be north of $100 million as of mid-2025. In 2018, the Indianapolis Star reported that Osteen was worth over $50 million, meaning that if current estimates are correct, he may have doubled his wealth over the last decade-an impressive feat given the economic difficulties ignited by the COVID-19 pandemic and the inflationary pressures that followed. Fact-checking authority Snopes points out that no mentions of Osteen's net worth over the years have provided veritable sources, but given the value of his two Houston mansions, we know that his net worth is at least around $17 million based on his real estate holdings alone. Assuming he possesses other valuable assets, like cash and investments, his true net worth is likely much higher. Related: Tony Robbins' net worth: The self-help kingpin's wealth & income As mentioned above, Osteen has not drawn a salary for his role as head preacher at Lakewood since 2005. According to a 2018 article from the Indy Star, the salary for his position is set at $200,000, so it's possible that he made $1 million or more in pay from the church during his early years as senior pastor after his father's death in 1999. Osteen's book deals & sales royalties The bulk of Osteen's income, however, no doubt comes from his wildly successful books. His first book, 2004's Your Best Life Now, reportedly sold over 8 million copies and remained on the New York Times' bestseller list for over two years. The massive success of his debut effort landed him a massive deal with Simon & Schuster's Free Press, which reportedly offered Osteen a deal worth north of $8.5 million for his sophomore effort, 2007's Become a Better You. An editor's note in a 2009 Forbes interview indicates that this payout may actually have been as high as $13 million. Sales numbers for his subsequent books-all 24 of them-are more difficult to find, but according to a video uploaded to YouTube by Steve Waldren, a pastor at New Life of Albany church, Osteen had sold over 20 million books by January of 2022. Seven of his 26 books have made their way to the New York Times bestseller list, according to publisher Simon & Schuster. Several outlets have reported that Osteen earns $55 million annually from book sales, but none cite a credible source, and this figure seems unrealistically public speaking income Outside of book deals and royalties, which most sources agree represent Osteen's largest income stream, the famed televangelist also draws income from public speaking engagements at events. According to talent agency All American Speakers, Osteen's speaking fee for in-person events ranges from $100,000 to $200,000. His speaking fee for virtual events is not listed. For comparison, self-help coach Tony Robbins' speaking fee ranges from $500,000 to $750,000. Related: Mike Lindell's net worth after defamation verdict "It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty" may be Osteen's best-known quote, and it's certainly a central tenet of his prosperity gospel preaching. And with a potential net worth of $100 million, he doesn't just talk the talk-he puts his money where his mouth is. Here's a look at some of Osteen's biggest purchases, including real estate, vehicles, and more. More net worth: Dave Ramsey's net worth: The retirement expert's wealth in 2025Daniel Lubetzky's net worth: The 'Shark Tank' billionaire's wealth in 2025Mark Cuban's net worth ahead of 'Shark Tank' departure Joel Osteen's real estate: the Mansion of Dreams & the Tanglewood Mansion Osteen purchased his current primary residence, dubbed the Mansion of Dreams, for $10.9 million in 2010. The 17,000-square-foot Houston abode sits on 1.86 acres and boasts six bedrooms and six bathrooms. The property, built in 1937, reportedly also features a separate guest house, an outdoor pool, multiple elevators, and five wood-burning fireplaces. As of mid-2025, the estimated value of the Mansion of Dreams has increased to $14.29 million, according to Zillow. Osteen's previous Houston residence, known as the Tanglewood Mansion, remains in his real estate portfolio, as he chose not to sell it when he moved in 2010. This property is smaller, with just four bedrooms and four bathrooms, and was valued at $2.9 million in 2010. Does Joel Osteen own yachts, jets, and sports cars? There seems to be quite a bit of controversy surrounding Osteen's supposed ownership of various high-end vehicles, with sources disagreeing as to the veracity of widespread rumors regarding the megachurch pastor's penchant for yachts, sports cars, and private jets. A 2017 article in the Washington Post exploring popular criticisms of Osteen and his opulent lifestyle mentioned his "yachts and jets" but did not go into more detail. This may simply have been a reference to a parody headline released by satire website the Babylon Bee earlier that year that read "Joel Osteen Sails Luxury Yacht Through Flooded Houston To Pass Out Copies Of 'Your Best Life Now.'" A 2024 article in Newsweek noted that widespread rumours about Osteen's ownership of yachts and luxury sports cars have not been substantiated. That being said, a popular YouTube video by Nicki Swift claims that Osteen has a large garage full of high-end cars, including a Ferrari 458 Italia. A 2024 article from the Daily Mail, however, contradicts this claim specifically. This same Daily Mail article also states that Osteen does not own a private jet, but a 2024 article from We Got This Covered disagrees, claiming he specifically owns a $68 million Airbus A319, one of the most expensive aircraft available to the public. Related: Linda McMahon's net worth: From WWE to Education Secretary Osteen's philanthropic donations Joel Osteen, who has been nicknamed the smiling preacher for his cheerful demeanor, doesn't just spend his money on mansions-he also makes charitable donations, some through Lakewood Church, and others directly. That being said, many have criticized Lakewood for how little of its massive income it diverts to those in need. According to the Houston Chronicle, Lakewood brought in $89 million in 2017, with more than 90% of that income comprising donations from church members and followers. That same year, the church donated a mere $1.2 million - less than 1% of its income - to charitable causes. Osteen and his wife are also well known for donating to Feed the Children, a global nonprofit that is rated four out of five stars by Charity Navigator. The org has come under fire in the past for its financial practices, however, once receiving an F grade from Charity Watch for spending too much of its money on fundraising efforts, staff, and other administrative expenses, resulting in a comparatively small percentage of its income serving its stated mission of providing food to struggling communities. Related: Suze Orman's net worth in 2025: The personal finance icon's wealth The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Ban all third world immigration': MAGA calls for blanket embargo on immigration amid LA riots
MAGA calls for a blanket ban on immigration from all third-world countries. MAGA activists pushed for a blanket ban on all immigration from third-world countries, as the crackdown on illegal aliens started the LA riots. The Donald Trump administration has taken a strong stand to deport illegals, and hundreds of Mexicans were detained and deported from Los Angeles in an ICE crackdown. Protests turned violent with people waving Mexican flags, torching and burning American flags. Chaos started brewing in the city Friday after ICE officers made several mass arrests of illegal immigrants, including one at a Home Depot parking lot where people looking for work often gather, and protestors showed up to try to block the raids. The FBI has put out rewards upwards of $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of various protestors who were caught on camera. Trump blamed Dem Governor Gavin Newsom for the LA riots and said the Trump administration cops will not allow "insurrectionists" to spit on the face of the National Guard troops. "IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!" Trump reiterated Monday. MAGA activists claimed that multiculturalism in America proved to be a failure, and it's time the US shuts its door for migrants. "Ban all third world immigration. Legal or illegal. There should be a moratorium on all immigration from the third world. We've reached our capacity. We cannot be the world's soup kitchen anymore," Matt Walsh said. "It's time to ban third world immigration, legal or illegal. We've reached our limit and we have a huge cultural, educational, housing, financial, and essential services problem to fix now because of it. We need a net-zero immigration moratorium with a ban on all third worlders," Charlie Kirk wrote. These calls opened a major debate on how racist the proposition is. Some users suggested banning non-whites from coming to the US, while some said all non-Christians should be prohibited. Minnesota lawmaker says her family entered the US illegally The LA riots prompted many people to come forward with their immigration stories, claiming that there are millions in the US who came to the country illegally because their parents were not aware about the laws. Minnesota lawmaker Rep Kaohly Vang said in the House that she just learned that her family broke to law to come to the US.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Trump 2.0 is the final victory of the John Birch Society
In 1958, a group of prominent business leaders founded the John Birch Society. Led by Robert Welch, inheritor of a vast candy fortune, these titans of wealth believed a vast communist conspiracy had penetrated the U.S. government. In 'The Blue Book of the John Birch Society,' Welch presented an apocalyptic vision where politics was no longer a staid battle between the two political parties but a conflict 'between light and darkness; between freedom and slavery; between the spirit of Christianity and the spirit of the anti-Christ for the souls and bodies of men.' Welch claimed these non-Christians sought to replace Christianity with a 'pragmatic opportunism' governed by 'hedonistic aims.' He dubbed his followers 'God's Angry Men.' What energized the Birchers was their belief that the U.S. government was engaged in a plot to strip Americans of their individual rights and impose a collectivist regime on an unsuspecting public. To them, the evidence was conclusive: the 'gradual surrender of American sovereignty to various international organizations,' of which the United Nations is the outstanding example; the centralization of power in Washington, D.C., which resulted in the 'practical elimination of our state lines'; the 'steady advance of federal aid to and control over our educational system, leading to complete federalization of our public education;' liberal news media through which 'gullible Americans more readily swallow as true' that communism is a 'glorious system;' using the term 'civil rights' to ignite the 'flames of disorder;' and the fluoridation of public drinking water as a means of instituting socialized medicine and imposing vaccine mandates to control the population. To accomplish his aims, Welch sought to recruit 'a million men' who would impose an American-style version of authoritarianism: 'The John Birch Society will operate under completely authoritative control at all levels. … We mean business every step of the way.' The John Birch Society quickly grew to a membership of 30,000 with a staff of 240 employees and more than 400 bookstores across the U.S. with an annual income of $1.3 million. Robert Welch attracted support from the middle class and the well-to-do. As Barry Goldwater noted, 'Every other person in Phoenix is a member of the John Birch Society. I'm not talking about commie-hunted apple pickers or cactus drunks. I'm talking about the highest cast of men of affairs.' What made the John Birch Society popular was its appeal to conspiracists who saw the government as the enemy. Welch even went so far as to call Dwight D. Eisenhower a 'dedicated conscious agent of the communist conspiracy,' a charge that infuriated Eisenhower. Conservatives eventually came to despise the John Birch Society. William F. Buckley wondered how its members could tolerate 'such paranoid and unpatriotic drivel.' Yet today, Robert Welch's dream of taking over the Republican Party and imposing an authoritarian-style regime has come to pass. Writing in The Bulwark in 2022, Robert Tracinski declared: 'The Birchers are back. And they're winning.' Tracinski noted the signs of conquest were everywhere: a belief in 'the machinations of a secret cabal that controls everything from the intelligence agencies to the schools,' the 'rapid spread of crackpot theories to otherwise normal and respectable people,' the disarming of conservative critics as 'weak-kneed appeasers handing over the country to its enemies' and an 'uneasy balancing act of conservatives in the media and in politics who don't want to denounce the crackpots for fear of angering their party's base.' Trump's second term has brought about the final victory of the John Birch Society. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy has incorrectly denounced vaccinations as causing the rise of autism in children, while claiming the measles vaccine has not been 'safely tested.' He has virtually dismantled the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has been charged with demolishing that agency through the questionable use of a presidential executive order to fulfill Trump's promise to return education to the states 'where it belongs.' The Birchers would be delighted with the virtual elimination of USAID and Trump's pause on all foreign aid, including suspending George W. Bush's President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief that has delivered medication to 25 million people in 54 countries. The United Nations has become a place where Trump cast-offs like Michael Waltz are sent into exile. Trump has installed Kash Patel as FBI director and Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, where both are firing those they believe belong to the 'deep state.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio is dismantling of the National Security Council staff, which one White House official gleefully described as the 'gutting' of the 'deep state.' We are also witnessing the targeting of bureaucrats such as Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs, whom Trump deems as 'egregious leakers and disseminators of falsehoods.' Finally, we are seeing fluoride bans in public drinking water in Utah and Florida, with other states poised to follow suit. No wonder one Bircher exclaimed, 'God has delivered Donald J. Trump to save the United States of America.' John F. Kennedy once described members of the John Birch Society as those on the fringes 'who have sought to escape their own responsibility by finding a simple solution, an appealing slogan, or a convenient scapegoat.' Trump's reelection has given Welch and the John Birch Society something they desired but never really thought imaginable: victory. John Kenneth White is a professor emeritus at the Catholic University of America. His latest book is titled 'Grand Old Unraveling: The Republican Party, Donald Trump, and the Rise of Authoritarianism.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump 2.0 is the final victory of the John Birch Society
In 1958, a group of prominent business leaders founded the John Birch Society. Led by Robert Welch, inheritor of a vast candy fortune, these titans of wealth believed a vast communist conspiracy had penetrated the U.S. government. In 'The Blue Book of the John Birch Society,' Welch presented an apocalyptic vision where politics was no longer a staid battle between the two political parties but a conflict 'between light and darkness; between freedom and slavery; between the spirit of Christianity and the spirit of the anti-Christ for the souls and bodies of men.' Welch claimed these non-Christians sought to replace Christianity with a 'pragmatic opportunism' governed by 'hedonistic aims.' He dubbed his followers 'God's Angry Men.' What energized the Birchers was their belief that the U.S. government was engaged in a plot to strip Americans of their individual rights and impose a collectivist regime on an unsuspecting public. To them, the evidence was conclusive: To accomplish his aims, Welch sought to recruit 'a million men' who would impose an American-style version of authoritarianism: 'The John Birch Society will operate under completely authoritative control at all levels. … We mean business every step of the way.' The John Birch Society quickly grew to a membership of 30,000 with a staff of 240 employees and more than 400 bookstores across the U.S. with an annual income of $1.3 million. Robert Welch attracted support from the middle class and the well-to-do. As Barry Goldwater noted, 'Every other person in Phoenix is a member of the John Birch Society. I'm not talking about commie-hunted apple pickers or cactus drunks. I'm talking about the highest cast of men of affairs.' What made the John Birch Society popular was its appeal to conspiracists who saw the government as the enemy. Welch even went so far as to call Dwight D. Eisenhower a 'dedicated conscious agent of the communist conspiracy,' a charge that infuriated Eisenhower. Conservatives eventually came to despise the John Birch Society. William F. Buckley wondered how its members could tolerate 'such paranoid and unpatriotic drivel.' Yet today, Robert Welch's dream of taking over the Republican Party and imposing an authoritarian-style regime has come to pass. Writing in The Bulwark in 2022, Robert Tracinski declared: 'The Birchers are back. And they're winning.' Tracinski noted the signs of conquest were everywhere: a belief in 'the machinations of a secret cabal that controls everything from the intelligence agencies to the schools,' the 'rapid spread of crackpot theories to otherwise normal and respectable people,' the disarming of conservative critics as 'weak-kneed appeasers handing over the country to its enemies' and an 'uneasy balancing act of conservatives in the media and in politics who don't want to denounce the crackpots for fear of angering their party's base.' Trump's second term has brought about the final victory of the John Birch Society. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy has incorrectly denounced vaccinations as causing the rise of autism in children, while claiming the measles vaccine has not been 'safely tested.' He has virtually dismantled the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has been charged with demolishing that agency through the questionable use of a presidential executive order to fulfill Trump's promise to return education to the states 'where it belongs.' The Birchers would be delighted with the virtual elimination of USAID and Trump's pause on all foreign aid, including suspending George W. Bush's President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief that has delivered medication to 25 million people in 54 countries. The United Nations has become a place where Trump cast-offs like Michael Waltz are sent into exile. Trump has installed Kash Patel as FBI director and Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, where both are firing those they believe belong to the 'deep state.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio is dismantling of the National Security Council staff, which one White House official gleefully described as the 'gutting' of the 'deep state.' We are also witnessing the targeting of bureaucrats such as Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs, whom Trump deems as 'egregious leakers and disseminators of falsehoods.' Finally, we are seeing fluoride bans in public drinking water in Utah and Florida, with other states poised to follow suit. No wonder one Bircher exclaimed, 'God has delivered Donald J. Trump to save the United States of America.' John F. Kennedy once described members of the John Birch Society as those on the fringes 'who have sought to escape their own responsibility by finding a simple solution, an appealing slogan, or a convenient scapegoat.' Trump's reelection has given Welch and the John Birch Society something they desired but never really thought imaginable: victory. John Kenneth White is a professor emeritus at the Catholic University of America. His latest book is titled 'Grand Old Unraveling: The Republican Party, Donald Trump, and the Rise of Authoritarianism.'
