Prosperity Theology: Gospel or blasphemy?

To many "Prosperity Theology" or "Prosperity Gospel" represents nothing more than praying to God for money. The prosperity doctrine is gaining in popularity thanks to engaging televangelists like Joel Osteen and books and movies like "The Secret."

Believers in this doctrine often preach that those whose finances are bad just haven't had enough faith in God. Those who can't seem to lose weight just aren't praying hard enough and thinking thin thoughts. You can have anything you want if you pray hard enough and believe that you can have it.

But that amounts to blasphemy for many devout followers of God and the Bible. People don't become sick because they lack faith in God. Hard times don't come upon us because we don't believe in God enough or want prosperity enough.