Swaggart preaching in Sal Salvador, El Salvador, March 1987. Getty // Cindy Karp
Q1. On Tuesday, pioneering televangelist Jimmy Swaggart died at age 90, following complications from a heart attack.
In 1987, at the height of his popularity, Swaggart’s televised sermons reached an estimated 500m people in 145 countries. Those appearances, plus his gospel recordings and merchandise sales generated more than $200m in annual revenue.
His professional decline started in 1988, with two prostitution scandals and disapproval of a South African apartheid proxy group in Mozambique he promoted. By 1992, Swaggart’s audience was down 80%.
What was your view of Swaggart, and of televangelists and mega-church preachers in general today?
In 1987, at the height of his popularity, Swaggart’s televised sermons reached an estimated 500m people in 145 countries. Those appearances, plus his gospel recordings and merchandise sales generated more than $200m in annual revenue.
His professional decline started in 1988, with two prostitution scandals and disapproval of a South African apartheid proxy group in Mozambique he promoted. By 1992, Swaggart’s audience was down 80%.
What was your view of Swaggart, and of televangelists and mega-church preachers in general today?
(Image: Swaggart preaching, 1980. Getty // Thomas S England )
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Don't care
2%
2%
0%
2%
3%
2%
0%
3%
2%
1%
Q2. In 1988, a fellow minister named Marvin Gorman, angered at Swaggart’s role in exposing his (Gorman’s) extramarital affair, captured Swaggart on camera entering a hotel with a prostitute.
After the photos became public, Swaggart gave what is now known as his “I have sinned” televised speech, confessing to offenses against his wife, child, and God, saying he had been succumbing to temptation since he started his ministry 30 years prior.
The core of Swaggart's preaching, both before and after his scandals, was the struggle of good v evil, and resisting temptations of the flesh.
Do Swaggart’s actions and confession make him better or worse equipped to help others overcome their own struggles v temptation?
After the photos became public, Swaggart gave what is now known as his “I have sinned” televised speech, confessing to offenses against his wife, child, and God, saying he had been succumbing to temptation since he started his ministry 30 years prior.
The core of Swaggart's preaching, both before and after his scandals, was the struggle of good v evil, and resisting temptations of the flesh.
Do Swaggart’s actions and confession make him better or worse equipped to help others overcome their own struggles v temptation?
(Image: Parishioner during "I have sinned" sermon, February 1988. Getty // Thomas S England)
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Better equipped
21%
25%
18%
40%
6%
8%
8%
20%
30%
15%
Worse
21%
18%
23%
10%
21%
28%
22%
22%
16%
26%
Neither
39%
37%
42%
36%
46%
41%
36%
38%
37%
47%
Don't know
10%
7%
12%
11%
10%
9%
23%
6%
10%
6%
Don't care
9%
12%
6%
3%
17%
13%
11%
15%
7%
5%
Q3. In 1991, Swaggart was stopped by police for driving on the wrong side of the road. In his car was a woman who said she didn’t know Swaggart, that he had picked her up "..for sex. That’s what I do, I'm a prostitute."
In his next sermon he said of the encounter "The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business."
Generally speaking, which reaction would you prefer from a leader caught in such situations, a confession or it's none of your business?
In his next sermon he said of the encounter "The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business."
Generally speaking, which reaction would you prefer from a leader caught in such situations, a confession or it's none of your business?
(Image: Swaggart at funeral of his first cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, 2022. Getty // Gerald Herbert )
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Confession
47%
47%
48%
56%
53%
37%
52%
30%
55%
49%
None of your business
4%
2%
6%
2%
2%
6%
19%
1%
1%
4%
Depends on the leader and incident
19%
21%
18%
19%
15%
21%
20%
25%
18%
14%
What is said after is irrelevant
25%
27%
24%
22%
22%
28%
10%
34%
23%
28%
Don't know
2%
1%
3%
1%
2%
3%
0%
6%
1%
1%
Don't care
3%
2%
2%
1%
6%
3%
0%
4%
2%
4%
Poll Comments (38)
