When they pass the plate, basket or what-have-you in churches all over America....

[postalanthrax]

Are they not saying....

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need?

[inenemyterritory]

1. Yes

When I give that is the case. What is your point?

[postalanthrax]

4. Just wondering if church-going rightwingers ever make the connection...

Socialism isn't all bad.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

2. when it happens in a church...you can let the plate pass

or you can fill it up. the choice is yours...try that with your taxes. also, in a church, you might actually have some influence over how it is spent (granted that is dependent on the church)...

sP

[baldguy]

7. You have a choice on how your taxes are spent.

Every election day.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. no you really don't

if you don't like how your taxes are spent you still get to pay them. and saying that election day lets you make a change is horse hockey...the last 30 years or so proves that out.

sP

[davidinalameda]

15. bullshit

[Psephos]

28. Last November my choices apparently had zero connection to how taxes are going to be spent. n/t

[Horse with no Name]

3. Not hardly.

They are usually telling you to give until it hurts, and then give a little more.

[postalanthrax]

5. But the principle is what I stated.

[baldguy]

6. Just like Christmas.

[Recovered Repug]

9. No. There is no requirement to give or how much.

The richest member could give as much (or less) then the poorest member.

[postalanthrax]

12. So then I am wrong in assuming....

that when the basket is passed, the principle I stated above is not what the church is asking....

They aren't asking me to donate within my ability to give so that they can help others with that donation who are in need?

[Recovered Repug]

19. I have always interpreted it as asking for donations

based on how much they WISHED to give. We must go to different churches.

[postalanthrax]

20. I understand....

that your donation is coming from what you wish to give. But what you wish to give, isn't that coming from your ability to give?

[Recovered Repug]

22. No.

One may WISH to give a lot but not have the ability. One may have the ability to give but not the desire.

[Dappleganger]

30. The last church we were in, the biggest donors make all the decisions.

The folks who could only give time and hard work were treated as 2nd class members.

Yes, we left.

[Brickbat]

10. Some churches do have pretty strict recommendations, such as 10 percent of your annual income.

[badtoworse]

11. Mormons are the only ones that mandate tithes to my knowledge - nt

[RandomThoughts]

13. Who defines need.

The thou shall not want is a paradox, some think it is about excepting anything. Or thinking everything is in its place.


It is a long topic, I mentioned a definition of show doctrine, it says that the world is a show.

There is another definition of show doctrine, watching your life happen as someone else decides all that you do. Many people let something else guide them or drive them, and there life is just watching their life happen.

Or the highlanders drive people, while the watchers are the people being driven. Also the concept of Go'uld from Stargate tv show.


Want is not always bad, if it was, then you would have to think you do not exist or that you do not choose anything, and that people do not mean anything.

I need wants. And things I want I need, although I also have a mind and heart to know that life should be in moderation and not to do anything to get what I want, even if I need it.


Wants can be bad when outside of love for instance, or outside of better results, but having no wants always is to not exist. Wants can create some hardship of the discrepancy from where you are to where you should be, having no wants changes being where you should be, to accepting where ever you are, to remove any feelings of being somewhere else. The counter is the grass is always greener. If you think you will always be where you should not be, then no want can help with that.

The problem is that many think having any wants is bad, 'thou shall not want' can be used to help in some feelings with some wants, but with no wants, you really don't exist. Want can create anxiety, but thinking where every you are is correct is undershooting, accepting lack of existence.

[Psephos]

29. interesting post n/t

[davidinalameda]

14. no

some denominations like the Mormons expect everyone to give 10% of their income no matter what

[postalanthrax]

21. I didn't know that was a requirement of the Mormons.

They want 10% no ifs, ands or buts? Ugg...

[Mark Maker]

16. So you really can't distinguish between voluntarily associating with

a religious institution, and contributing as you see fit, and the government confiscating a portion of your labor under penalty of law?

There is absolutely no correlation between the two.

[postalanthrax]

18. So you don't believe in paying taxes?

[Statistical]

25. Did you stop beating your spouse yet? n/t

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

26. 10% is the techincal "tithe" i think

I grew up in Evangelical churches, and my dad always gave 10%.

But, it's not something that I've ever heard a pastor say or anything. I attend church off and on, and I've never really giving anything to the general offering, although I've given to special specific offerings.

[lunatica]

17. I don't go to church

But I believe in helping people nonetheless.

[Ozymanithrax]

23. No. They are saying this organization needs money to pay the bills. n/t

[lynne]

24. Contributing to the church plate, basket, etc. is optional - eom

[krispos42]

27. Wait, you can take out of plate too?

Shit, I'm going to church on Sunday!

[Dappleganger]

31. People also put into the plate expecting to get something in return...

prosperity gospel and all.