[zwillis]

New Christian Finance Magazine Seeks Funding for its Spring launch. I'm posting our press release to give better explanation.

New Christian Magazine Delves Into the Financial Realm Head-First

Faith and Finance magazine will be launching in the spring of 2008 to reach those desiring more than just the mediocre as their money and faith confront each other head-on.

Sierra Vista, AZ (Bluehost) December 13, 2007 -- The collision of finances and faith has finally happened in more than the simple privacy of homes; it has reached American in the eye of the public. Faith and Finance magazine will be launching in the spring of 2008 to reach those desiring more than just the mediocre as their money and faith confront each other head-on.

Faith and Finance magazine seeks to help transform Christians into the people they are called to be. No longer bound by debt, Christian's effect on the world would be truly limitless. Proverbs 4:7 says, "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding." Through the insight Faith and Finance magazine offers, readers will be able to pay off debt quicker, make wiser investments, and be a blessing to people and communities around them. With an expected readership of over 2 million in the first year, imagine what can happen.

According to Barna Research, thirty-three percent of U.S. born-again Christians say it is impossible for them to get ahead in life because of the financial debt they have incurred. The media is swarming over the reports of pastor's lavish living and church's spending. Yet, in the midst of it all, Faith and Finance magazine offers hope; we combine the wisdom of over 20 writers that include Bob Barber, Matt Chipman, Thomas Cloud Jr., William McDuffie, Jim Paris, DeWayne Reeves, Mark Sanborn, Tim Sanders, Robert Tamasy, and so many more.

The coming generation is searching for a balance of their faith and the hope of their futures in regards to their money as the realization of the lack of Social Security, housing markets in turmoil, the constant threat of war, and the stock market's seeming instability become as real as the air they breath. It is obvious that faith and finances are more intertwined than ever. In this new world of faith and finance, God is calling His people back to a Holy standard.

Zane Willis is the Executive Founder and Publisher of Faith and Finance. He has numerous years of marketing experience and holds a B.A. in graphic design.

[akula]

weird, weird people
I can't beleive you're exploiting people's faith to sell some sort of financial pornography

[TheCDAllenGroup]

Originally Posted by akula

weird, weird people
I can't beleive you're exploiting people's faith to sell some sort of financial pornography

Where is the exploitation? How is communicating financial education from a Biblical perspective deemed as 'financial pornography'?

[akula]

gr8 question
the misrepresentation is that by associating the financial information with religion, the publisher is representing that his information is somehow more accurate, or more reliable, or more relevant..when in actuality, it's obviously going to be of vastly inferior quality to a secular magazine like Smart Money (because the religious content that's gonna be in the mag is irrelevant from the perspective of money management, but is gonna take up most of the space)

in that way, his point of differentiation (Christian Finance) exploits people's trust that what ever comes from religion is good for them

[TheCDAllenGroup]

Originally Posted by akula

the misrepresentation is that by associating the financial information with religion, the publisher is representing that his information is somehow more accurate, or more reliable, or more relevant..when in actuality, it's obviously going to be of vastly inferior quality to a secular magazine like Smart Money (because the religious content that's gonna be in the mag is irrelevant from the perspective of money management, but is gonna take up most of the space)

How do you know the content is going to be of 'vastly inferior quality' when you haven't even read the information to begin with?

How do you know that 'the religious content that's gonna be in the mag is irrelevant from the perspective of money management'? Again, the publisher hasn't disclosed even a "sample" of the content - so how do you know that the content will be irrelevant?

in that way, his point of differentiation (Christian Finance) exploits people's trust that what ever comes from religion is good for them

Incorrect. His point of differentiation is targeted to existing Christians who already regard the Holy Bible [with its several instances of principles on prosperity, investing, and basic personal finance management] as a legitimate, credible authority on such issues.

No one's trust can be exploited by resource of information [in this case, the Holy Bible] that has been proven repeatedly in their own personal lives.

Seems to me that you are making personal vendetta fueled assumptions about this 'irrelevant religious content' without having read it.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

After reading the posts to this thread to this point, I would have to ask the relationship between the two topics: Christianity and finance. Is there a link between the two ... some type of correlation, common ground, or synergy? Or is this an attempt to just bring two subjects together both of which certain individuals might have an interest? If the latter of these is the case, is there a true conviction on the part of the publisher to merely provide two subjects of interest through one common source, or is it, as Akula suggests, an attempt to cater to a group of people who will embrace the publication for its self-proclaimed religious affiliation rather than its quality?

[TheCDAllenGroup]

Originally Posted by jmenq2

After reading the posts to this thread to this point, I would have to ask the relationship between the two topics: Christianity and finance. Is there a link between the two ... some type of correlation, common ground, or synergy?

Yes, there is a link. A definite link.

There are several instances where the Holy Bible provides timeless principles and insight into personal finance management, basic investing, and prosperity, much like the Babylonian principles presented in George Clayson's classic book, The Richest Man in Babylon.

If the masses of poorly financially educated individuals here in the U.S. [and abroad] managed their finances and adhered to the basic investing principles presented in the Scriptures [which are thousands of years old], we would not witness the countless instances of families buried in bad consumer debt, little savings, and poor financial decisions.

Or is this an attempt to just bring two subjects together both of which certain individuals might have an interest? If the latter of these is the case, is there a true conviction on the part of the publisher to merely provide two subjects of interest through one common source, or is it, as Akula suggests, an attempt to cater to a group of people who will embrace the publication for its self-proclaimed religious affiliation rather than its quality?

The group of people whom the publication is hoping to cater to [evangelical and fundamentalist Christians] recongnize that its target market regard the Holy Bible as a credible resource and would be more open to advice and council given on personal finance mangement from a primarily Biblical perspective [given that it is written well].

Again, I think Akula is simply making an assumption that any publisher who regards 'religion' as a credible resource to resolve an alleged social or economic issue, is out to 'exploit' individuals. That is simply not the case, and clearly the thinking of an individual with an apparent opposition to religion in general.

Furthermore, I am amazed how Akula could possibly deem the content, and quite publically, of this publication [if their startup is successful] as 'irrelevant', and hasn't had the opportunity to even read it.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Originally Posted by TheCDAllenGroup

Yes, there is a link. A definite link.

There are several instances where the Holy Bible provides timeless principles and insight into personal finance management, basic investing, and prosperity, much like the Babylonian principles presented in George Clayson's classic book, The Richest Man in Babylon.

If the masses of poorly financially educated individuals here in the U.S. [and abroad] managed their finances and adhered to the basic investing principles presented in the Scriptures [which are thousands of years old], we would not witness the countless instances of families buried in bad consumer debt, little savings, and poor financial decisions.



The group of people whom the publication is hoping to cater to [evangelical and fundamentalist Christians] recongnize that its target market regard the Holy Bible as a credible resource and would be more open to advice and council given on personal finance mangement from a primarily Biblical perspective [given that it is written well].

Again, I think Akula is simply making an assumption that any publisher who regards 'religion' as a credible resource to resolve an alleged social or economic issue, is out to 'exploit' individuals. That is simply not the case, and clearly the thinking of an individual with an apparent opposition to religion in general.

So it is my understanding then that you are aiding in the production of this publication. Is that correct?

[TheCDAllenGroup]

Originally Posted by jmenq2

So it is my understanding then that you are aiding in the production of this publication. Is that correct?

I have nothing to do with this publication. Just like you, this is my first time hearing about such a publication.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Originally Posted by TheCDAllenGroup

I have nothing to do with this publication. Just like you, this is my first time hearing about such a publication.

Well, that is where the problem lies then.

There is only one person, as far as I know at this point, who can answer all of the questions that I posted - specifically regarding the intent of the publisher.

My thought, due to your defense of the publisher's intent without any knowledge whatsoever, is to lump you into a comparable category into which you are trying, rightfully or not, to lump Akula - a category of those who make an assumption that any publisher who includes religion in a work is NOT out to exploit individuals, and who clearly think with a seemingly-automatic acceptance of anything with a cross next to it.

I am not taking a position as to whether this publication is exploitation or not, I am just able, as an outsider, to realize that you are as guilty here of the same crime of which you are accusing Akula. In fact, I would suggest that you are exactly the type of person who the publisher COULD be trying to exploit, if that is HIS purpose.