Brian Tamaki - Unable to Sleep - Recipe in utter frustration

I know we all HATE this man but I never really listening to one of his "sermons". I sat there for about 15 minutes with a mixture of utter amusement and disgust on my face.

The programme was on "casting out demons" (which should have given me a hint it was going to be a doozey!). What struck me was how utterly utterly manipulative this man is and everything his "Church" stands for. He claimed NEED from all worshippers to give in to the authority of God. This meant giving in to the authority of those above you ("your Pastor") who got his delegated authority from God. I sat in stunned silence. Society got all out of shape when people questioned this "natural authority". This was just a highlight of many many utterances of sheer manipulative crap.

The audience clapped and sat there smiling and nodding. Whast amazes me is that there are people in our society (I'm not sure how many) that believe in people like him and raise their poor kids with that level of indoctrination. I don't know whether to feel anger that such a person does what he does or pity that some people are just too stupid and desperate for hope that they don't know any better.

Either way I was angry

But a useful experience.

Immediately afterwards the ad for the Broadcasting Standards Authority came on.... ....I racked my brain for an angle.....but came up with nothing....more thought needed.

I would say that you are very quick to condemn someone and those people that support him based on hearing him speak for 15 mins. Now I don't in any way agree with what he is saying, but the man has as much right to voice his beliefs as anyone.

'Looking for an angle' as you put it to complain to the BSE based on someone simply voicing his opinion is pretty mischievous if you ask me.

hehe...no no I have heard him speak many times before but only in very small doses and I have read often the messages of "wisdom" and "morality" that comes from this man with the "authority of God"

The way in which it is said and the references in which it is couched are utterly manipulative and prey upon the weak, the gullible and those desperately insecure and looking for meaning in their lives. It is what is said by many Churches and "religious people" but Tamaki takes it to the next level it seems. I know the quote attributed to Marx may not be a wholley accurate one but in watching this show you can surely see where "religion being the opium of the masses" comes from!

The notion of absloute free speech is a dubious one but even if it does exist it is not that I am really saddened by, in relation to this Snake. It is the fact that we as a society do not have access to a great deal of information and we all come with different quantities of sophistication. While pretty much everyone here in CA I would guess could pick through Tamaki as quick as you like, the people he seems to be preaching to, judging by the words he says, are just not much on the ball.

I have also been raised with a large dose of religious education Dr Cole. I've seen how it works and I have seen, with a few friends, just how smotehring and intolerant and hateful some places of worship and of "God" can be.

Much the same as me, Dazed. My Grandfather was a minister, and then later in life I actually spent a couple of years of my own accord heavily involved with a church, and agree that there is a lot of hypocrisy and manipulation in many cases.

But at the end of the day there are always going to be people who have that need that can only be served by 'religion' or 'faith' or whatever you want to call it. There are extremes where these things are taken to such a fanatical level that they cause harm to others and intervention is required, but I think at the end of the day it's not up to us to decided who is 'deluded' and who isn't. We all hold deluded beliefs to one extent or another, no matter how 'informed' we think we are. If he's fulfilling a need these people have by what he's saying and it makes them happy, then really who are we to say that it's wrong?

So plug yourself up to the Matrix Dr Cole and if you're "happy" then it's all good

As a rational thinking human being of course we can pass judgement on the things we see. The killing of innocents, the manipulation of the weak and the vunerable - what do you mean, who are we to pass judgement? Tamaki may not be advocating things as extreme as we see in other parts of the world but the manipulation is the same.

I appreciate what you're saying (to an extent) but your proposition that ignorance is bliss is something I find a little hard to stomach. Maybe you are right though...if there are people out there with a need to have questions answered by, not thinking, but by "having faith" and that makes them sleep better at night then maybe that's cool. And at the end of the day their kids will likely rebel anyway so maybe it's just better to not get so worried about it!

My problem was not so much with religion or with "God" but just with the status that the Pastor had elevated himself to as basically the the only way these people could reach God!

Seeking power to interfer in all aspects of their lives...and that is not God's doing...that is just one man's interpretation of what "God" would say.

Dr cole - I think you miss the point. The problem is the blackmail to not question what he says because that means you are questioning good. That is very dodgy behaviour. Extremists like this are just a slightly more moderate version of the moonies, its all brain washing.

But people have always looked to others to define faith for them.. and some people may make what looks to us like wrong decisions in who to take direction from.

For me the church didn't have all the answers.. but i'm not naive enough to think that I have understanding enough of how the universe works to condemn how someone else exercises their faith (unless as i've said they are causing others extreme harm in the process).

Manipulated they may be, but they're hardly being held at gunpoint to come to church every Sunday. They're doing it of their own volition.

And colgate adds are brainwashing

And your parents telling you if you don't study hard you'll never amount to anything is brainwashing

Could someone please clarify how this man has ruined these peoples' lives to the extent they need to be rescued.

Hitler was just misunderstood too DrCole.

now there's a valid comparison..

I thought youd agree - theres a few easy comparisons - both thought they were of some higher power - both didnt like homos and both tried to change the world in what they thought was the correct image.

And both liked wearing Mr T style gold chains and riding around suburban Auckland on motorbikes................oh no thats just Tamaki

The guy is little better than a con man who makes shit loads of money out of those he preaches too. He takes a tithe or % of what they make because that's probably what god told him to take. He wants to start up his own political party. God help us.

the man must be stopped....

I hope he does start up a political party. That way he will be exposed for the ignorant fool that he is. I would love to see him in a debate with people who know what they are talking about.

I think they have started a party already. Tamiki isnt the leader though, his "right hand man is". Cant remember the name of it.

I think the person leading it is Brian Tamaki's brother (not 100% sure though).
I do know it's called the Destiny Party (same name as the church), and that Graham Capill (sp?; ex-Christian Heritage Party) is also involved.
F**kin Christian fundaMENTALists.