Reverend Ike dies at 74; preached gospel of prosperity

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The minister known as Reverend Ike, who preached the gospel of material prosperity to millions nationwide, has died. He was 74.

The Rev. Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II died Tuesday, according to a statement on his website. The cause of death was not given.

Reverend Ike preached the power of what he called "positive self-image psychology" to his 5,000 parishioners at the United Church Science of Living Institute in New York.

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Filed under: * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry • Death / Burial / Funerals • * Culture-Watch • Psychology • Religion & Culture

4 Comments
Posted July 31, 2009 at 8:09 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Milton wrote:

Pie in the sky time!

July 31, 11:09 am | [comment link]
2. Adam 12 wrote:

...and who could forget “Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac!”

July 31, 12:25 pm | [comment link]
3. KevinBabb wrote:

#!. Milton:  Don’t forget:  “I want my pie now…with ice cream on it!”
And, of course:  “You borrow to pay the doctor…you borrow to pay the lawyer…why won’t you borrow to pay God?”
He actually put on quite a show, if you didn’t take seriously 90% of what he said, and knew which 10% to take seriously (Despite himself, he did occasionally stumble upon a shard of Christian orthodoxy—at about the same frequency as J-D Crossan, or Marcus Borg, who don’t even redeem their heresy, as did Rev. Ike, with the good show). The shame, of course, was the fact that he mislead so many people who took him seriously, and believed all of what he said.

July 31, 3:39 pm | [comment link]
4. Chris wrote:

#2 tell me that’s a joke!  they do not actually sing that do they??
here’s a possible second line:
“comin’ for to take me clubbing….”

July 31, 8:16 pm | [comment link]
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