General Discussion

Attributed to Simon Magus in the book of Acts. It's the selling of spiritual blessings or forgiveness initiated by the person in spiritual power instead of charity or a gift freely given by someone who felt the need to balance a sin. Also, someone who buys the right to sell holy or spiritual relics from Christian Churches for their own profit to sell blessings or forgiveness is guilty of Simony.

Typically punished on earth by excommunication, (unless, of course it was a higher level church politician - in those cases, they were typically barred from being able to rise to a higher office, if they gave the Bishop or Cardinal a cut to be forgiven in ecclesiastical court.)

At the time Simony was a crime (around 300 CE to around the Enlightenment) it was understood someone committing Simony was a serious form of Blaspheming God, Christ, or the Saints - and both you and the desperate noob you sold to was going to the eighth circle of Hell - near the Murderers and Traitors - unless someone really high up was able to intercede for you.

For Paula White and her Prosperity Gospel scammers, I think that's about right ..