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Church provides social benefits and social cover / respectability. There are many motivations for participating in religious ritual, other than spiritual beliefs.
The Romney's are fairly devote, and as we all know from the recent election, that family's pretty well to do.
But anecdotal evidence really means nothing, of course there are some religious rich people. What would mean something would be a scientific survey of the 1% to see how religious observance differs amongst that population compared to other people who live in their communities (like, say, are rich people in NYC more or less religious than the average NYC resident)
I think, if you are a politician, you'd best show up in church every now and again. It's no indication that you are a believer, but that you wish to impress the great unwashed that you are 'safe'. In Europe professed atheists can be elected as head of state, but not yet in the US, where we cherish so much our freedom to be individuals.
I can state for a fact that the wealthy do attend church. The congregation I pastor has a number of very wealthy families, some with estates in the 8 digit range. They come for the same reasons as others, to be fed spiritually. One thing I have learned with them is not to look at them as a pot of money to be used to help the church; view them as no different and they will rise up as needed and make things happen.
Do the very wealthy like millionaries and billionaires go to church? It seems that the more wealth people attain the less religious they become.
do the very wealthy donate all their money to the poor?
it seems not, and that is strange because supposedly 'it is harder to pass through the eye of a needle than for a camel to go to heaven' , or words to that effect
do the very wealthy donate all their money to the poor?
it seems not, and that is strange because supposedly 'it is harder to pass through the eye of a needle than for a camel to go to heaven' , or words to that effect
so how about that?
Do the poor do all they can do to help themselves?
Some do, some don't.
What was that about casting pearls before swine?
- and removing the mote in your own eye before criticizing others?
so it all just comes down to counter-arguments and refutations, from selected biblical passages - the same old game of interpreting a quote in the way that benefits the reader.
all quite pointless really - we all do whatever we want anyway, and either hide behind the selected passage or just disregard it.
I think that once a person has money to give a sizable chunk to good causes he is confronted with the dilemma of choosing the cause.
In NYC there are many street beggars who are just running rackets.
Friends and relatives are out, as I'm sure you've heard of the fact that almost all lottery winner are broke shortly after winning, all because of mooching friends and family who do not know you after your money is gone.
There are organizations, like Charity Navigator, that try to vet out the charities that give most of their proceeds to the cause and not just eat it all up in administrative salaries and advertising costs.
So, you have that, and probably the most responsible of all, take time to volunteer in small local groups where you can see the decision making being done and people actually being helped. But again, that takes time.
I think, if one gave ALL one's money to the poor one would hardly make a dent in the population of poor. I really believe that a lot of the poor got that way by their own resources, making bad decisions in life, not studying in school, not applying themselves, having kids when you are not economically, mentally, or spiritually ready for them. Many people dig their own holes, and even after that they will blame the world around them and not accept responsibility.
So, where can you really give money where you are sure it will be put to good use? Maybe the Union of Concerned Scientists, or the Innocence Project or some local animal charities.
Really, instead of spouting platitudes, seriously consider what you would do concerning contributions if you were wealthy without feeling that you were just throwing it away?
Very wealthy people got wealthy by playing the game and manipulating people's perceptions. Going to church (whether you are a believer or not) can be a very productive way to do this. People will most readily give you their money if they trust you, and churchgoers trust other churchgoers.
This is not a question about religion. It is a question about the confidence game and racket of life in a monetized society.
There is a huge gulf of difference between what motivates people to virtue, and to wealth.
Very wealthy people got wealthy by playing the game and manipulating people's perceptions. Going to church (whether you are a believer or not) can be a very productive way to do this. People will most readily give you their money if they trust you, and churchgoers trust other churchgoers.
This is not a question about religion. It is a question about the confidence game and racket of life in a monetized society.
There is a huge gulf of difference between what motivates people to virtue, and to wealth.
Related to that some people have turned Church into being a very profitable business. There is more than one "Pastor" "Minister" etc that has become quite wealthy by making his church his profession. Some wealthy people may attend church because it is their primary source of income.
NOTE: This does not apply to all wealthy people who attend church and is probably a very small minority. But, some people will have no scruples over how they make a living.
how about charging people to go to church - say $5/time?
what would happen then?
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