Why don't they sell everything they own and give it to the needy? I mean, look how much money and land both the Christian & Catholic churches own. Surely it's better to 'give' than receive? Honestly why do your leaders live in such grand opulence, why can't they live a simple life, after all, Jesus did, right?
212446
Seriously, if they really care about the world, they wouldn't come here to attack you if you're an antheist!! Besides, they wouldn't push all the religion sh*ts to you!
56540
Are you crazy?  Only 10% of Catholic even go to church each Sunday.  Are you asking why are they not preaching on street corners, or knocking on doors.  I accept there would be value to that.  \n\nThere are some small groups, Legion of Mary for example that visit homes and encourage prayer and practice.  St Vincent de Paul Society carry out welfare work in the name of the Church as well as praying together.  Orders of Nuns have set up Hospitals.  Many orders (nuns and brothers) set up schools.  Chaplains and lay-people are appointed to help Seaman at ports, the blind, defence forces personal, Scripture lesson at state schools- buy the thousands, the elderly, the deaf, the house bound, prisoners; there are priest scientists, church sponsored counsellors, marriage guidance, pregnancy help, I'll stop...  it surprises me just how many Church Ministries are carried out without making a big fuss.
194078
I agree with you 100% on that. That is such a great point. I don't understand it, maybe it's an issue they don't touch because they don't believe they will get enough out of it or something. It's really all about greed and the almighty buck.
627915
Why does the government ask you for money to send for relief efforts?  They don't have enough money?  What kind of question is this?\n\nBesides, you don't have to open your door.  They might be inviting you because that's what they do ... they seek to convert others to their faith ... that's like a requirement ...
190010
I'd like to know the answer too. It's a phenomena that links Christians to the political right and thus to gas-guzzling, Bush-supporting SUV's. My vote for a church that believes that "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions?"...Try United Church of Christ. Its a socially progressive denomenation that truly looks at the words of Christ and tries to make a difference in the community. Good question.
626164
Catholic churchs operate like franchises. IE: McDonalds.\n\nSo much of the money they earn go to the Vatican.\n\nWhere as , say, Baptist churches are all "independently owned and operated" like say Subway.\n\nThey have a regional office that they can "order" materials, sunday school programs, music, etc.. but they keep the money in house, and redistribute to where THEY want the money to go, missionaries, the local poor families, or whatever.\n\nNow, ask which way Jesus would have preffered. I would say he would "prefer" the locally owned churches.
179696
:}\nBelieving and practicing Christians have already received more than they deserved from G-d. Most are more interested in how to serve him than what he will bring on Christmas.\n\nI admit there is the prosperity theology movement afoot but then there is always going to be a mixture of error\n\nThe call is to pick up the cross an follow him. I would like to see everyone do that but I would caution them that there is a cost that should be considered. Christians are often called to suffer.
650065
I honestly think it is a financial issue.  I think the problem with organized religion is the organization itself and the fact that it requires money to maintain.  Once you have a mortgage and mouths to feed, you have to focus on fundraising - and that means building and keeping a congregation.\n\nI think many feel that to do that, you need to prove to the faithful that your version of the Universal Truth is the correct one and the others are false.  The worse you can make the punishment also seems to help to keep people in line and making their weekly donations.  I think it is a shame, but a harsh reality of our capitalistic society.\n\nCouple that with the histories of bloody intolerance on all sides (the Roman pagans fed the Christians to the lions, the Christians invaded and murdered the Celtic Pagans, etc.).  No one side is at fault - with the aggressive nature of humans, this is a natural consequence of growth and the development of our warrior nature.\n\nThere is a way to rise above it, though.  I think that if we look at the religions of the world, we can see commonalities, similarities - a basis in love, truth and good will.  If we could focus our attention more on the similarities and let the donation chips fall where they may, we could come out of this as 1 planet ,1 people, infinite diversity for maximum prosperity for all.
523870
The conservatives give way more to their churches and charities. I'll find the link...\n\n"In 2000 [citing 2000 SCCBS data], households headed by a conservative gave, on average, 30 percent more money to charity than households headed by a liberal ($1,600 to $1,227). This discrepancy is not simply an artifact of income differences; on the contrary, liberal families earned an average of 6 percent more per year than conservative families, and conservative families gave more than liberal families within every income class, from poor to middle class to rich."\n\nGee, I guess the evil conservatives aren't really the rich ones either, huh? More money from less income.\n\nhttp://volokh.com/posts/1164012942.shtml
333707
The Vatican loves it when lots of poor ignorant people have sex and lots of kids...that keeps em dependent and looking for help, which keeps the Catholic Church in business. \nChurch is just as much a racket as anything else is, and guys like that are looking for another gullible 'flock' to exploit, and they're as much to thank/blame for the US/Mexico problem as anyone else. I think it's time for the Church to pay taxes and do ALL their business in public view, right in front of 'god' and everybody! LOLOL Time to broom out the corners, there....
558990
The people that claim to be men of God that ask for money are in reality Satans ministers. A TRUE man of God does not ask for money.\n\nAnd no Anton Szander Laveys Church of Satan did not require tithes.
189012
So, how much do you think the Vatican has in the bank?\n\nI think you would be suprised to learn that the Vatican is only "worth" a couple of billion dollars US.  Imagine, Bill Gates has more money than the Pope, and does far less with it than the Catholic Church does.\n\nThe Church is called to be the good steward of the spiritual riches of Christ’s Mystical Body while also exercising a stewardship of her material resources for the temporal and eternal well being of all humanity. \n\nDiscussion: The vast majority of the Church’s property (e.g., churches, schools and hospitals) is specifically dedicated to the service of people, especially the poor. \n\nWhen U.S. urban centers declined in the 1970s and 1980s, the Church didn’t try to sell off her properties before they became devalued. Rather, parishes in Detroit, Chicago, and elsewhere were kept open as long as possible. By the time the Church decided to close and sell them, the property value of the churches had significantly decreased.\n\nThe Vatican does own property of substantial financial value. The Church could sell these items, but she considers herself the guardian of these treasures for the whole world. She makes them available for pilgrims and tourists to enjoy when visiting such places as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the various Vatican museums. The Church has also allowed her art holdings to be used in tours to countries including the United States, for those who cannot visit Italy and elsewhere. Revenue obtained by displaying these items is then used to assist the needs of people everywhere.\n\nCritics have also objected to the use of costly vessels, including, in the past, even diamond-encrusted chalices. The Church has always used precious metals and other valuable materials in the construction of sacred vessels because they hold the Body and Blood of Christ. This tradition dates back to Old Testament times, when God ordered the use of precious metals and other costly materials in the construction of the ark of the covenant, the temple, and the furniture in the temple. These materials included gold, silver, bronze, fine linens, acacia wood, spices for oils and incense, and onyx stones (see e.g., Ex. 25-31). By giving our best to God, we are reminded that everything we have is a blessing from Him and that we need to seek Him first and trust in Him (cf. Mt. 6:33), instead of relying on ourselves and our own plans.\n\nThe Church’s preferential option for the poor is also expressed through her many charitable works at the parochial, diocesan, national and international levels. In times of moral crisis, the Vatican has used her wealth to aid people, such as selling gold to stave off the extermination of many Jews during World War II.\n\nIf the Church sold all of her various holdings, poverty would continue to be a lasting concern (cf. Mk. 14:7) and the Church, the greatest champion of poor and oppressed people throughout the world, would not have the resources to provide assistance. The Church will always be a world leader in addressing poverty, but just as she is called to be the good steward of the spiritual riches of Christ’s Mystical Body, she also exercises a certain stewardship of her material resources for the temporal and eternal well being of all humanity.
515644
Who needs a church? Who says you have to pray inside of a certain building in order to be saved? Can't you pray just as well at your own home? My church is nature, which I guess makes it where ever I choose to stop and worship the Gods, Goddesses, and Ancestors. And as far as the door-to-door religious sales people. They are upset and their panties are in a bunch because the whole world isn't part of their religion. They're angry because there are other religions out there besides their own. They'll only be happy when they've converted everyone to their faith. Too bad people like me aren't convertable.
597212
Rich televangelists have their rewards right now.\n\n(boy, did that sound pompous!)
135393
Isnt it funny how the bible says that and yet the church is the biggest corporation in the world? They bring in billions of dollars every year.... they must be filled to the brim with evil.
72786
Because it's the best they've got?  I don't believe any religion, including Christianity, is inheriently dogmatic, misleading, or manipulative.  I do believe that some of the people who have had power and influence in the church over the years have made it so.  It's a drawback of the hierarchical setup.  I think there are many aspects of Christianity which are very valuable, and from which all people could learn - such as forgiveness or being of service to fellow human beings, (believe it or not) of being accomadating and non-judgemental.
420814
its not really the medias job. coz they never do a good job anyway. we here plenty about the starving kids in Africa, but we never hear about all the awesome things that are happening over there coz of the people who care. we never hear about the rich people who get some compassion and send enough money via world vision to pay for an entire community to have enough drinking water for a year, we never hear of the great churches who go over there and build orphanages, and dig wells and start schools and give clothing and stuff.\n\npeople dont care. and those that do care, are so discouraged by the enormity of the situation that they dont bother to help coz they dont think they can make a difference. if they only saw the awesome difference people are making already, they might be encouraged to at least sponsor one child or something.\n\nplus.... some of these poor countries? you go to one side of the country and there is NOTHING. absolutely 100% poverty, then the other side of the country is full, overflowing with riches and wealthy businesses and stuff. if one side of the country helped out the other side, it would be one awesome steady country. it would prosper. but people cant even look over there shoulder to the other side of the country. its ridiculous.\n\nthe media, suck at there job. but we cant talk. we dont bother to seek out who needs help ourselves. Education will help a little. but most still just say "oh how sad" and get a little down from it for a day or so, then move on with there financially stable eyes without batting an eyelid at ther wallets.\n\nwe need education alright. we need the bible. we need GOD. He shows us that we are to give give give give give to the poor.. and more! maybe we should put Jesus back into the classroom. He sure does the job right.