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You don't need to read the Bible, the Talmud or the Koran to learn about ethics and values. There are parables for good people of all faiths, as well as good people of no religious leaning, in the daily newspaper.

Express-News staff writer Abe Levy's reporting on the Eagle's Nest Christian Fellowship has attracted approximately 400 responses from readers, about half fans and half critics of charismatic Eagle's Nest Pastor Rick Godwin — the protagonist of Levy's reporting.

More on that later because, alas, the Eagle's Nest story has no conclusion at this point.

A better parable is one with a moral. Toward that end, Eileen Flynn of the Austin American-Statesman reported the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries were in a bind Nov. 15 after the Hyde Park Baptist Church pulled out of the ministries' Nov. 18 multi-denominational Thanksgiving celebration, which was to have been held at a recreational site owned by the church.

Church leaders issued a statement that said the church "cannot provide space for the practice of these non-Christian religions on church property," and asked the "community of faith" to "understand and be tolerant of our church's beliefs that have resulted in this decision."

As Flynn reported, church leaders balked after discovering that Muslims "would be practicing their faith there."

While that wasn't a very Christian thing to do, especially at that late hour, Jews at Congregation Beth Israel saved the day by agreeing to host the event at their synagogue. And, instead of an ugly story, it became a fine example of religious tolerance.

One of the best comments amid the brief dust-up in Austin was from Simone Talma Flowers, interim director of the interfaith organization, who lamented to the Statesman:

"As a Christian, my first response is, what would Jesus do in this situation?"

So back to Eagle's Nest. What would Jesus say? What would he say about Godwin and the other religious glitterati who are the stewards today of the church Jesus founded, but whose profligate spending is more reflective of Paris Hilton than Jesus Christ?

Christ preached self-sacrifice and humility. He ministered to society's outcasts, the lepers and prostitutes. He overturned the money-changers' tables in the temple and, reportedly, said: "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."

Feedback from readers seems to be following this good versus evil story line — from calling Godwin's ministry "the epitome of hypocrisy" to: "The church members will handle this, and no one outside the church needs to butt in, especially the liberal drive-by media."

But that last reader, and those like her who focus on the religious and moralistic overtones of this story, are wrong. Here's why:

Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, "following up on complaints from the public and news coverage," asked six well-known, media-based U.S. ministries, including Texans Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Paula White, for information about their churches' finances.

"This has nothing to do with church doctrine," he said. "This has everything to do with the tax exemption of an organization. ... Whether it's using a private jet, driving a Rolls Royce or Bentley, or installing a $23,000 commode, there is obviously money going down the toilet.

"As a Christian myself, and a person who believes in tithing, I feel I have a right to know where my money goes," Grassley said. "If a person gets a tax deduction for a donation, the deduction and donation should be for a legitimate purpose."

Godwin wasn't cited by the senator, yet, but he might be after Grassley reads Levy's work on Eagle's Nest.

Obviously there are worse things that can happen to a preacher than to have his ministry dragged across Page 1 of the hometown newspaper, but I have to believe a jet-set life isn't what Rick Godwin wanted when he launched his religious education long ago.

Did he lose his moral compass? Ask the Son of God, Rick, and tell us what he says.