Studies Show Bible Belt States Are Most Charitable (minority, charity, children)
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And some people give without thoughts of receipts other than feeling good.
Utah was mentioned as a shining example of religious minded charity . I have a good friend who has a close co -worker and friend who is a Mormon. According to this Mormon, he meets with his church once a year, WITH his tax return, to prove his income and prove he has tithed the proper amount . I admit to not checking this out , but why would a Mormon lie about this?
I once tried to get my conservative S Baptist church to engage in a ministry to draw children from minority apartment complexes around the area into coming to our church . I was told by the Minister of Administration that such " social work " was what the " liberal churches " do .
Pure , true charity to the populace at large is not a strong suit of conservative churches . They don't hold repeated fundraising drives pointing out that they are not meeting their operating budget because their parishioners are willingly filling the church coffers to overflowing .
(snip) such " social work " was what the " liberal churches " do . (/snip)
Translation: we don't want the ding to our precious social standing, and the disadvantaged can't give us as much money, anyway.
Jeff, all your post proves is that the southern states have more disposable income. Can you provide solid numbers that link charitable donations specifically to the donor's religion?
This is where we differ. My beliefs are not based in mysticism.
Neither are mine.
Quote:
I think a society's job is to give a helping hand to it's poor and unfortunate. I don't need to see it done in the name of a god. Nor should it. Charity should be given for no other reason than people are in need. The best way to do that fairly on a large scale is through secular government.
Good luck with that. The fact is, if people wanted to, they would. They wouldn't feel the need to make a government program to use other peoples' money instead of taking responsibility for it themselves.
God wants people to give with a cheerful heart. Otherwise, don't even bother. Government programs are forceful charity. God doesn't want that. Someone has to pay for all those government programs, you know.
So a disabled Vet with a mental illness should not bother to live?
I pay a lot in federal and state taxes every year. I do not complain when people need services and assistance. Ever.
I like children with full bellies and a good education. I like bridges without gaping holes in the road way. I like my roads cleared of ice and snow. My government does that and, I am very happy to do my share.
I once tried to get my conservative S Baptist church to engage in a ministry to draw children from minority apartment complexes around the area into coming to our church . I was told by the Minister of Administration that such " social work " was what the " liberal churches " do .
Pure , true charity to the populace at large is not a strong suit of conservative churches.
No, because charity to the populace at large (aka: "the unchurched" aka: "the unwashed masses") is decried as "the social gospel". That is seen as "condoning" the notion that people's practical (read: material) needs are more important than their spiritual needs. It is also denying the implicit notion that meeting people's spiritual needs will automatically cause their material / practical needs to be met (because, god -- or something).
I can't tell you the contempt in which any degree of organized effort towards people without strings simply because they are poor, disadvantaged or vulnerable, was held -- at least in the churches I was involved with. When I have seen a heart for alleviating human suffering apart from some evangelistic component, it is something that individuals do informally but never officially spearheaded, coordinated, overseen or sanctioned by the church itself.
So your Minister of Administration's reaction is spot-on with what I have seen, many a time and many a place. That's not to say there aren't exceptions; I just personally never saw any.
Utah was mentioned as a shining example of religious minded charity . I have a good friend who has a close co -worker and friend who is a Mormon. According to this Mormon, he meets with his church once a year, WITH his tax return, to prove his income and prove he has tithed the proper amount . I admit to not checking this out , but why would a Mormon lie about this?
I once tried to get my conservative S Baptist church to engage in a ministry to draw children from minority apartment complexes around the area into coming to our church . I was told by the Minister of Administration that such " social work " was what the " liberal churches " do .
Pure , true charity to the populace at large is not a strong suit of conservative churches . They don't hold repeated fundraising drives pointing out that they are not meeting their operating budget because their parishioners are willingly filling the church coffers to overflowing .
Drawing out just children? Not interested in their parents? Seems, odd choice of words.
Were you going to offer candy? Was there a lost dog involved? How were you getting them away from their parents?
So a disabled Vet with a mental illness should not bother to live?
I pay a lot in federal and state taxes every year. I do not complain when people need services and assistance. Ever.
I like children with full bellies and a good education. I like bridges without gaping holes in the road way. I like my roads cleared of ice and snow. My government does that and, I am very happy to do my share.
Well woop dee do, you do your civil duty like all of us. Paying taxes is not charity. That's my point.
Drawing out just children? Not interested in their parents? Seems, odd choice of words.
Were you going to offer candy? Was there a lost dog involved? How were you getting them away from their parents?
Oh please . Don't be so ridiculous .
A) Children are at the mercy of what their parents want . If parents don't care to go to church, most likely the children will not be allowed to, so some means of reaching and interesting the children and providing them a means to go to church overcomes the apathy of the parents .
B) If the children become interested , quite often the parents follow and become interested . We gained a number of adults through the children coming .
Well woop dee do, you do your civil duty like all of us. Paying taxes is not charity. That's my point.
My taxes pay for government programs. You have problems with these programs and expect the needy to live cheerfully. That is my point Jeff. You complain and yet your taxes pay for every program you and I use.
A) Children are at the mercy of what their parents want . If parents don't care to go to church, most likely the children will not be allowed to, so some means of reaching and interesting the children and providing them a means to go to church overcomes the apathy of the parents .
B) If the children become interested , quite often the parents follow and become interested . We gained a number of adults through the children coming .
Your words. Draw out children. Minority children in apartment complexes. Seems odd not to mention drawing out low income parents and their children.
You groom poor children. Ministry... that's it. All for God. I have seen this before. It usually not end well for children.
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