Who Was Oral Roberts and Why Should You Care?

By Sam Brand Posted Dec 15th 2009 06:47PM

He's not a hygiene product found in your grandma's bathroom cupboard. Oral Roberts isn't just a college either (though maybe you picked the Golden Eagles to make it into the second round of the Big Dance in 2008). He is, or rather was until today, a living and legendary man. And a very famous and wealthy and devout one, at that. But the 91-year-old televangelist died on Tuesday after suffering a weekend fall. The man might be gone, but his controversial legacy lives on.

Oral Roberts – Born in rural Oklahoma in 1918 to a poor reverand and his wife, Roberts grew up to become one of the most successful traveling faith healers of all-time. In the years out of college, Roberts attracted thousands to his tented sermons and public healings. By the mid '50s millions were watching him deliver his "prosperity gospel" on television. By the '70s, Roberts' program 'Oral Roberts and You' was the highest rated religious telecast in the United States. And by 1980 Roberts was recognized by 84% of Americans, second only to the President and fellow evangelist Billy Graham. According to the New York Times, estimates suggest Oral Roberts "personally laid his hands on more than 1.5 million people during his career, reached more than 500 million people on television and radio, and received millions of letters and appeals."

Oral Roberts University – Oral Roberts claims he was obeying a command sent from heaven when he founded Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1963. The university is alive and kicking today with an enrollment approaching 4,000 students, and even today, each ORU student is required to sign an honor pledge promising not to drink, smoke, or engage in premarital sex. And yes, the Oral Roberts mens basketball team made it into the NCAA tournament 3 consecutive years (2006-2008).

Oral Roberts Scandal – The controversial preacher was no stranger to scandal during his 91 years on earth. His theatrical healings provoked outrage from religious and secular critics alike throughout his career. In the '50s a group of Arizona ministers offered $1,000 to anyone who could prove Roberts had indeed healed them through his touch. Nobody claimed the reward. And Roberts frequently sought donations from his followers under dubious pretext. In the mid '80s he told a TV audience God would "call him home," which many interpreted as a suicide threat, if he didn't raise $8 million. He ended up raising $9.1 million. At another time Roberts said he built his gaudy City of Faith Medical and Research Center after a 900-foot-tall Jesus appeared before him in a vision. And Roberts and his son Richard were implicated in a lawsuit alleging the family used University money for their own personal use.

Oral Roberts Death – Roberts survived two heart attacks in the 1990s. He survived his son's ouster from the board of Oral Roberts University in 2007 after being accused of misusing school funds. He survived to see his denomination, the Pentecostal movement, become the largest protestant group in the world. He survived the tumble he took over the weekend, but he did not survive the pneumonia that followed. On Tuesday he died at a hospital in Newport Beach.

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Comments

(26)

Wednesday 16 December

By everet

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moderator you discrimanated against me.YOU ARE A PHONY TOO, SO GO SICK A PICKLE. popeater suc** too by your actions.

By barry Hersh

If he prayed for the stupid you must have been the first in line.

By Mertia

I'll pray for you and your attitude and trust that you see the light of God's glory before it is time for you to stand before His judgement throne one day

By Anthony Neely

Oral Roberts was a courageous trailblazer of faith in God's word, one of the leading figures of the 20th Century -- in any field.

By lekan

Everyone will give an account of every word spoken. Be careful of what u say. it's better to be quiet when you are not sure of your view. Oral is gone but you are still running

Friday 02 September

By Tracy

Bible--Acts 9:34
Bible--1 Corinthians 12:8-10

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