In every country there are people who are gullible and who can be easily deceived and cheated. This is worse in the so-called developed countries especially in the US. This is why well-known evangelists and faith healers like Benny Hinn thrive in the US and become billion heirs within a short period of time.

When I was in Trinidad in the West Indies, Benny Hinn visited Trinidad about a year ago. His visit was given much publicity and he arrived with much fanfare. Advance group of about 15 people came a week ahead to make elaborate arrangements at the Savannah, a place similar to Galle Face Green. A massive stage, with sophisticated sound systems, was constructed. Benny Hinn arrived in his private jet with a party of about 100 people. Two floors of the Hilton Hotel were reserved for him.

On the day of mass healing, his usual talk about his communication with the God and God's advice to him were revealed to a large gathering. Then the healing started with sick persons coming on state, touched by Benny Hinn, fainting and his well dressed uniformed staff taking care of the sick. They all walk away fully or partially cured. He went back to US and announced his usual congregation that he cured a lot of patients and chased away lots of ghosts and demons from Trinidad.

About a week later, one by one, those who claimed to have been cured, wrote to the press or were interviewed by the TV and claimed that the so-called healing was very temporary and that they were back to the same position as before.

The truth is that when these sick people come on the stage they have already conditioned their minds that they are going to be healed by God with the touch of Benny Hinn. They are so charged with emotion and faith, their minds are set for cure. It is a kind of Hypnosis that gives them this temporary cure. When the emotions die down and the minds are settled, they come back to their normal mental and physical self.

It is beyond one's comprehension that Benny Hinn, who wears the most expensive suits, who leads a super luxury life, with his private jet and limousines, and who does all that with the money collected from the innocent and gullible people, has communication with God almost every day as claimed by him. Jesus Christ, accepted by all Christians as the Son of God or representative of God, as humble as he was, never claimed to have had communication with God everyday to deceive people. If that was so, he would not have mingled with lepers and attend on them. He did not fleece the poor to lead a luxurious life. God, he did not use to commercialise the religion like the faith healers of today. Hypocrites will thrive so long as there are gullible people in the world. - Douglas Premaratne