Why does a religious body (church, temple, mosque etc.) require so much money

hilariousandco

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Quote from: bryant.coleman on April 30, 2014, 06:25:43 AM

Quote from: Tedward on April 30, 2014, 05:50:31 AM

God loves you but he needs your money.

That is why I have been saying all day long that religion was invented by some really intelligent people to make money from the less intelligent. The modern religions are perfect business models.

I think different religions were created for different and varying reasons. Some for good, bad, fame, power, wealth or a even mixture, but somewhere down the line they usually become monopolised and capitalised on and turned into corporations. Just look at Scientology and the famous quote from L Ron Hubbard himself: "The way to make a million dollars is to start a religion".

Oh, and I think that was a George Carlin line you quoted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ8hefESt7c Cheesy

Dogtanian

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Quote from: bryant.coleman on April 30, 2014, 06:25:43 AM

Quote from: Tedward on April 30, 2014, 05:50:31 AM

God loves you but he needs your money.

That is why I have been saying all day long that religion was invented by some really intelligent people to make money from the less intelligent. The modern religions are perfect business models.

I don't think they were necessarily invented to make money, but most are now big businesses.

zolace

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People like money and power. Churches are run by people. These people then want lots of money and power and stupid people who think they hear voices in their head hand over their money. It's really pretty simple.

bryant.coleman

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Quote from: Tedward on April 30, 2014, 05:50:31 AM

God loves you but he needs your money.

That is why I have been saying all day long that religion was invented by some really intelligent people to make money from the less intelligent. The modern religions are perfect business models.

Tedward

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God loves you but he needs your money.

noviapriani

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Our Church leases a school and sets up chairs every Sunday AM. This keeps our costs down. Some Churches do the opposite and spend a fortune. The Bible does not say to do this. In fact, those 'statues' of Jesus you see in Catholic Churches ..... those are a 'likeness' and the Bible says NOT to create those.
Money collected at our Church is completely voluntary. It is used to pay for the pastors etc. However a huge part of it goes to help people. Sometimes to make a mortgage payment for them after a job loss, or stock their cupboards and fridge, or for travel costs to a far away hospital for health treatments.
These amounts are all itemized in the accounting books which are open for any Church member to review.
So, I guess what I am saying is that not all Churches are the same. I agree that your question is a good one. Please just don't assume that corruption and misuse is always the case.

bryant.coleman

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Quote from: acs267 on April 29, 2014, 04:10:55 PM

Errg. This is so true where I live. Every corner I turn, there's super-sized building claiming to heal you of sickness, yet, they put up posters saying specific people aren't allowed.

Why they are not allowing specific people? Based on race / sexuality / gender / income level?

spazzdla

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You are not going to like the actual answer or believe it, so I won't bother going on from here.

acs267

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Quote from: bryant.coleman on April 29, 2014, 02:13:09 PM

Quote from: activebiz on April 29, 2014, 12:52:43 PM

Well people who work in the church also have to take care of families, the church and the needy. Its really very necessary to donate to church

We are not talking about the donations we make to the orphanages and other charitable institutions run by the religious bodies. We were talking about the religious bodies building super-sized and expensive places of worship and buying expensive vehicles with the donated money.

Errg. This is so true where I live. Every corner I turn, there's super-sized building claiming to heal you of sickness, yet, they put up posters saying specific people aren't allowed.

beetcoin

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what's the point of church if you don't got no bling? the lord wills it.

bryant.coleman

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Quote from: activebiz on April 29, 2014, 12:52:43 PM

Well people who work in the church also have to take care of families, the church and the needy. Its really very necessary to donate to church

We are not talking about the donations we make to the orphanages and other charitable institutions run by the religious bodies. We were talking about the religious bodies building super-sized and expensive places of worship and buying expensive vehicles with the donated money.

activebiz

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Well people who work in the church also have to take care of families, the church and the needy. Its really very necessary to donate to church

sana8410

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The only Christian congregation I've ever admired were the Friends. The local chapter, I'm pretty sure, is a typical Friends group. They do not believe in ostentatious display or proselytizing. They borrow gathering space from other churches.

I attended one of their services. There are no accoutrement, there is no hat passed around. The first half of their meetings consists of quiet meditation and some singing, the second half was a discussion of the futility of war.

Clearly, religion does not require any capital at all to function or thrive.

Now, if a congregation wanted to raise money to donate to a shelter or sponsor a needy family, of course that is reasonable and I'd think it's a fine cause.

Anything beyond that, I would immediately question.

people tend to forget religion is the congregation. It's not the building where they have their meetings, or the cars their preachers drive, or whatever.

beetcoin

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i love how those christian evangelists have this veneer of charm that most people with an ounce of intelligence can see through.. except for a shitload of christians.

Garryashas

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Quote from: Lethn on April 21, 2014, 07:23:07 PM

Those miracles don't pay for themselves Tongue

Indeed. How can one turn water into wine without some money?

kuroman

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Quote from: golem on April 22, 2014, 08:28:47 AM

Don't confuse zero interest rates as free loans - they are not - they charge a 'profit'.

No, You can have a loan for free with no profit behind (depending of the type of loan investiment from the bank of course) , as the bank will get it profit from somewhere else. It's a bank not just a loan institute

Enjoy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_banking

golem

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Don't confuse zero interest rates as free loans - they are not - they charge a 'profit'.

kuroman

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Some religions does, other do not, It's better to check your stuff before making that mistake, and usually religions that requires proxy are the ones that requires money (even if you look at the religion core, there is no mention of the need of some proxy of some sort)

Quote from: bryant.coleman on April 22, 2014, 07:38:39 AM

Most of the Islamic sects are also following a business model, encouraging conversions and all. There are hundreds of thousands of Islamic missionaries around the world. Islam was perhaps the first religion to make use of the demography, in order to strengthen their influence across the globe. They also possess very advanced financial aid groups to utilize the money, such as the Islamic Bank.

As someone who traveled a lot, I've never seen such a thing, I've meet, Christian preachers, I've got several times a Bible copy and other books, I've even had some preachers knock my door to talk about Christianity here in Europe, but never seen that happening with Islam, also you are confusing the role of Islamic Banks, (which are just cooperative banks with Zero interesst rates when it comes to loans)

but again I might be mistaking, you can share your experience if you had encountered one ^^

bryant.coleman

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Quote from: Dogtanian on April 22, 2014, 06:44:26 AM

I agree with Christianity, but how so about Islam?

Most of the Islamic sects are also following a business model, encouraging conversions and all. There are hundreds of thousands of Islamic missionaries around the world. Islam was perhaps the first religion to make use of the demography, in order to strengthen their influence across the globe. They also possess very advanced financial aid groups to utilize the money, such as the Islamic Bank.

golem

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If you follow a religion, well then you want a place to worship.

Since govt don't just give money - some form of donation is required. Now a religion that says you _HAVE_ to give X or go to HELL or otherwise - thats just not kosher.

My 0.02 satoshi Tongue

Topic: Why does a religious body (church, temple, mosque etc.) require so much money (Read 909 times)