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by TheOtherHobbes 2582 days ago
Churches label themselves as charities, so by this reckoning donations that swell a property portfolio and a pastor's impressive lifestyle are considering "charitable". (Never mind that some churches lean heavily towards barely-disguised political activism.)

The amount of money spent on genuine good works is rather lower.

I'm sure genuinely giving people exist in religions, and they may even be encouraged by belonging to them.

But the standard rhetorical implication is that all religious people are like this and all non-profit spending falls into this category - when the reality is very different.
1 comments
pnongrata 2582 days ago
It's also important to note that you don't need religion to be charitable or help other people. There isn't a single "good" that church does to other people that couldn't be done by secular means.
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challenger22 2582 days ago
On average, religious people are more charitable than non-religious people, even when you discount the money they give to the church. This is a good outcome and is evidence that religion is good.
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dylan604 2582 days ago
Seeing as how most religions require a minimum 10% tithe, their followers would of course seem to be charitable. But is it really charity if it is a requirement? I’d call it a tax.
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umvi 2582 days ago
> But is it really charity if it is a requirement? I’d call it a tax.

It's not a tax. You can't get your passport revoked if you don't pay tithing. You won't go to jail for tax evasion, either. In fact, probably nothing will happen. You can continue to go to church every Sunday without paying tithing and most congregations would still welcome you with open arms. Ecclesiastical leaders might remind you that tithing requires faith and that you would receive more blessings if you paid your tithe, but as long as said leaders do not profit from said tithes, I don't see a problem with it as there is no conflict of interest.

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challenger22 2582 days ago
>even when you discount the money they give to the church

is key.

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umvi 2582 days ago
> It's also important to note that you don't need religion to be charitable or help other people.

Right, and you don't need a running club to motivate you to run or a school to help you learn. But for a lot of people, they sure do help if being charitable/running/learning is your goal.

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