Pulpit, power, and predation: “Yahoo men of God,” prosperity theology, and the twin fraud triangles

Abstract

We analyse public discourse on pastors’ unethical financial exploitation within the charismatic Christian community. Using qualitative content analysis of social-media responses, we examine how the public perceives, discusses, and interprets these cases, privileging emic viewpoints. We find that faith leaders are seen to exploit congregants’ social trust and spiritual devotion for personal gain. Grounded in Donald Cressey’s Fraud Triangle theory, we identify key components of fraudulent behavior in religious contexts while extending the framework to introduce the “Twin Fraud Triangles.” This expanded model incorporates both the cultural logic of perpetrators and the subjective experiences of their congregations and observers, providing a more nuanced understanding of fraud in religious settings. Our findings call for greater awareness and community-led safeguards to protect spiritual and financial well-being. This study contributes to ongoing debates on trust, authority, and moral economies within religious institutions, offering insights that could inform future community responses and interventions.