sourdough

why do theists give money to the church?
is it in hope that preachers will put in a good word for you with the big guy upstairs who will than save your soul and send you to heaven?
why would almighty omnipotent being need money??

Philosoft

I understand the child support is killing him. Absentee father of all, dontchaknow.

Evil Milkman

It's almost as funny as the concept "giving God the glory".

nXile

Yes. Some people give to get in good with "the big guy upstairs."

Others do not.

Some people give so that the pastor will leave them alone.

Some people give to get a tax break, and they give to the church because for some reason (usually perceptions, lack of trust, etc) they think the church will do the "most good" with the money.

Noone that I know gives money to the church, though, because they think God needs the money.

As for myself, I tithe (give money) because I believe that God is infinite and abundant (coming from Christianity point of view). And because I believe that, I am not going to operate from a "scarce" point-of-view and hoard what I have. God has been gracious and loving enough to give me what I have. Am I to accept that love and graciousness by hoarding OR by sharing? I choose to share, though not just with money, but with time and talent as well, though it's easier to just give money.

I can also say that even though that's what I have written, it doesn't mean I want to do it- to give - that is. It is MY human tendency to strive to make more, to save, to keep it for myself, to exchange the money for possessions, to buy a bigger house in a better neighborhood, a better car, a louder stereo etc. So there's this constant battle between what I want, and what God has given me.

Alright, so why I am I writing this? Not to convince you to give money...not to make giving money away seem less strange (it is, afterall, counter-cultural in any competitive-driven market country)...but to truthfully answer your question the best way I know how. Plus, you were dead-on about some of your observations, I guess I wanted to add to those observations of yours.

As for why God WOULD ask people to give, the giving away of something we "think" we need, shows either complete stupidity or an amazing trust (or maybe both...a complete stupidity to trust that much) in God.

So the next question is "Why does God need to see my action in that trust?" And I would say it's because it helps me remember that I'm not God, that I can't do it on my own, no matter how much I want to think and act like I'm my own God.

nXi|e

Justus

Thanks a wonderful (honest & thoughtful)answer ... However I wonder if some of the same sentiments would also come under secular humanism

thebeave

We should all give so as to help Cardinal Law defend himself and the Boston Archidiocese against those false claims of child abuse. It is truly sad how those poor priests are being railroaded like that. Please try to give more than your usual 10% over the next year. Thank you and God Bless.

Amie

many times the money is used for church improvements. many people at my church upon learning that a percentage of the money is given to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, they stopped tithing. I think many people assumed the money would stay within the church itself...

and no sourdough God does not need money...

Heraclitus Nietzsche

God would not need a materialist concept known as "money". Jesus, when given a coin with Ceaser's face on it, said: "Give unto Caeser what is Caeser, give unto God what is God's". The money is Caeser's (man), so Jesus was saying give money unto man (not God).

The church wants your money. By giving to the church (your fellow man), you are giving money unto man, not God. However, the church wants you to think they are God, right? Wouldn't the real way to give money to God be to burn it? No, the church doesn't want you to do that.

The most common reason I've heard as to why people give a portion of their hard-earned cash to the church (and therefore "God") is because it represents an individual sacrifice by giving up something that is precious to you. Don't we have much more precious items to sacrifice than money? Aren't our very lives more precious to us than money? But the church doesn't want you to give the ultimate sacrifice (ending your life). They need you around to give them money, right?

Simply put: when church-goers give money to the church they are giving money to other men. But what has the church done to earn your hard earned cash other than to swindle you out of it by convincing you your giving it to God?

diana

If Jesus has already made the ultimate sacrifice, why would this even be necessary?

Where does God ask for our money?

d

galiel

Historically, the church was a political entity. Giving to the church was a form of tax, which the church used for running the government. In fact, they were forcibly collected by feudal lords along with their own taxation of peons.

Conveniently (for the church), they still collect money, mostly through guilt and misdirection, even though they don't provide anywhere near the same level of services they did as government entities.

In our Archdiocese, for example, newly resigned head honcho Cardinal "touch me, baby" Law lives in a multimillion dollar lavish mansion, is driven around in a top-of-the-line expensive limo, and has a large staff, many of whom spend all day on public relations, managing the press, and other non-essential services.

All churches in the US, by virtue of their tax status, are exempt from auditing and from all the other oversight that all other not-for-profit organizations are subject to. They do not have to account for where the money goes, they do not have to adhere to standards that only a certain percent goes to administration. No-one knows for sure how rich the various churches are, but some estimates say that the Catholic Church alone may be the single richest entity on the face of the Earth, including for-profit corporations.

They are not subject to most civil-rights laws--in our state of Massachusetts, the attorney general, despite diligent, dogged pursuit of the matter of church child abuse, has of yet not found a single statute under which Cardinal Law could be charged with a crime.

Essentially, the church can get away with things that no other entity in this country could get away with, and its officers enjoy certain immunities that do not apply to any other living human being in the US.

God Bless America.

[ December 14, 2002: Message edited by: galiel ]</p>