The money's suppose to help the church and the missions.

 

I'm not religious but my wife gives to her church. They want a certain % too but she gives what she can. No, she's NOT Mormon (but she might be an OXYMORMON, though).

 

It's too bad that your priest's/pastor's/rabbi's family has to eat, that your place of worship decays over time, and that the poor people who could have been helped DO have use for money. It's too bad that the people who could afford to support the church usually don't, while the people who need the church the most usually can't.

BTW, the churches that I have attended sporadically have never asked for 10%. They generally ask for a sliding scale based on your income level (and therefore discretionary income) or ask you to "aspire" to the 8% or 10% level.

 

no religious group has ever made me feel comfortable so i don't give money to any religious group.

 

with all due respect for the beliefs of others ( a novel concept for some on this site in times past ) if g*d is so all powerful and all that stuff, how come he/she is always in need of cash, and if you're working for him/her shouldn't he/she foot the payroll tab? it's just the fleecing of the flock in my eyes.

 

Can you say, "Holy Jimmy Bakker, Batman!" "I need mo' money for ma mansion renos and ma Rolls is in need o' mo' gold plating! Hep me! Hep me!"

 

I am an Athiest as well, However I come from the what have you done for me, sort of thinking. It dosen't mean I don't give to charity, help my community, and other such things.
What I do with my money is my business.
I personally feel that regardless of circumstances, nobody has the right to ask me for money.
I give where I want, simple as that.
If giving 10% of your salary makes you feel good about yourself, have at it. If you feel pressured to contribute, feel like you have to match the others, find yourself another church.
If you really want to help society, buy a homeless person a meal, and a shave. Simple kindness shouldn't be a Sunday only thing.

If this is offensive, just ask me to have it deleted.

Mike

 

I don't know if that is symptomatic of atheism and certainly isn't part of my philosophy. That line you could delete .

In fact I think a many an atheists beliefs come from the same source as the 'what have you done for me' thing, but not mine. Us atheists get a bad enough rap without being accused of being selfish.

 

Badly structured sentence, I was saying that's the way I think, NOT because I'm an Athiest, but cause of who I am.

Consider it ammended.

 

My earlier comment was a bit of cheek I fully agree with S2R in that you should give what you feel you have to offer. Sometimes money is not the solution but instead some time helping people or helping in other ways.