I have no religious home...

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Yeah, if I was visiting a church just to check it out due to cultural curiosity, I probably wouldn’t actually donate. I wouldn’t mind passing a plate. If I was a member of the church, I might feel self conscious, though.

It could discourage people from going in the first place.

With so many other reason to not attend a church, why do so many people focus on money?

Do they love money more than they love G-D?

I think the bigger issue about money here is it alright for a church to shame people over money.

Where, in heaven's name, did I ever NOT advocate that someone become a member of a church?

I believe many people benefit from being members of a decent church, or a decent religious community in general. I probably would benefit from such a situation.

I cannot join a church----because I am not a Christian. I cannot join a synagogue---because I don't believe in God, despite the fact that my mother is Jewish.

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 15 Jan 2020, 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

I do since I don’t believe in God.

Is it okay for anyone to shame anyone else over money? No.

Unfortunately, some people equate a simple request for a donation with 'shaming'. To them, a man holding a cardboard sign that says "Please Give" is shaming every driver going by.

Then again, if a person goes to church, does not donate, and feels shame for it, then maybe they should do a little soul-searching and decide for themselves which is more important to them -- money or G-D.

I don't mind the "collection plate."

I mind some preacher screaming that he needs "$46" from all the attendees of the service.

It's all in the delivery.....

Here, when you said...You should really learn to choose your words more carefully.

In such a scenario, I’d put one penny on the collection plate.

I explained what I meant....case closed.

I see no problem with a simple request for donations. I am making reference to the practice some churches seem to make in terms of trying to reserve the right to audit your finances, for example a few comments ago, KK mentioned $47 as an exact number to give. I am saying that I believe it is shaming when a church tries to micromanage someone's finances and mandate giving certain amounts. I even have heard from a family member who told me she went to a church one time and never went back because the church wanted to regularly inspect bank statements and such.

WTF? Inspect bank statements? That's a friggin cult!

What decent church would do this????

I would think that such a church has people who are absolutely out of their minds....that's what I would think.

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 15 Jan 2020, 11:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

It's sort of the same thing as political candidates seeking to inveigle you to donate to their campaign via e-mail.

And they do the "hard sell," too. They lay the guilt trips on you.

I never "joined" this particular political organization----yet they keep telling me that my membership has "expired"---at least 10 times a day!

No decent church would.

That’s definitely a cult move. It’s not all that uncommon of one, either.

In the Presbyterian church (and maybe a few other denominations), there is a request made for something called "Per Capita". This year, it came to $43. This money goes to support scholarships for pastors-in-training. It is not mandatory, and it is looked on as a once-a-year donation for one specific purpose.

Also, many churches pass two collection plates -- one for the church and local missions, and one for foreign missions -- it's a way of anonymously designating where you want the money to go.

People are asked to give, but again, it is not mandatory, so if you don't want to give, then don't give. Keep your priorities in your pockets, and ignore the needs of others. Your god is money. Worship it carefully, for it may not be there when you need it most.

That's the kind of thing I believe in.....exactly.