It remains fascinating that in the age of televangelism and the megachurch movement, the Catholic church has ceded ground to the prosperity preachers who offer wealth health, success and instant miracles for cash fist and last. Religious indulgences have staged a comeback, apparently, only this time not in the Catholic church. Religion as a market franchise. will take on cargo of any and all dimensions – other than that of the crown of thorns.
-Lamin Sanneh, Summoned from the Margin: Homecoming of an African (2012).
David W. Swanson 