Why does a religious body (church, temple, mosque etc.) require so much money

[beetcoin]

i love how those christian evangelists have this veneer of charm that most people with an ounce of intelligence can see through.. except for a shitload of christians.

[sana8410]

The only Christian congregation I've ever admired were the Friends. The local chapter, I'm pretty sure, is a typical Friends group. They do not believe in ostentatious display or proselytizing. They borrow gathering space from other churches.

I attended one of their services. There are no accoutrement, there is no hat passed around. The first half of their meetings consists of quiet meditation and some singing, the second half was a discussion of the futility of war.

Clearly, religion does not require any capital at all to function or thrive.

Now, if a congregation wanted to raise money to donate to a shelter or sponsor a needy family, of course that is reasonable and I'd think it's a fine cause.

Anything beyond that, I would immediately question.

people tend to forget religion is the congregation. It's not the building where they have their meetings, or the cars their preachers drive, or whatever.

[activebiz]

Well people who work in the church also have to take care of families, the church and the needy. Its really very necessary to donate to church

[bryant.coleman]

Well people who work in the church also have to take care of families, the church and the needy. Its really very necessary to donate to church

We are not talking about the donations we make to the orphanages and other charitable institutions run by the religious bodies. We were talking about the religious bodies building super-sized and expensive places of worship and buying expensive vehicles with the donated money.

[beetcoin]

what's the point of church if you don't got no bling? the lord wills it.

[acs267]

Well people who work in the church also have to take care of families, the church and the needy. Its really very necessary to donate to church

We are not talking about the donations we make to the orphanages and other charitable institutions run by the religious bodies. We were talking about the religious bodies building super-sized and expensive places of worship and buying expensive vehicles with the donated money.

Errg. This is so true where I live. Every corner I turn, there's super-sized building claiming to heal you of sickness, yet, they put up posters saying specific people aren't allowed.

[spazzdla]

You are not going to like the actual answer or believe it, so I won't bother going on from here.

[bryant.coleman]

Errg. This is so true where I live. Every corner I turn, there's super-sized building claiming to heal you of sickness, yet, they put up posters saying specific people aren't allowed.

Why they are not allowing specific people? Based on race / sexuality / gender / income level?

[noviapriani]

Our Church leases a school and sets up chairs every Sunday AM. This keeps our costs down. Some Churches do the opposite and spend a fortune. The Bible does not say to do this. In fact, those 'statues' of Jesus you see in Catholic Churches ..... those are a 'likeness' and the Bible says NOT to create those.
Money collected at our Church is completely voluntary. It is used to pay for the pastors etc. However a huge part of it goes to help people. Sometimes to make a mortgage payment for them after a job loss, or stock their cupboards and fridge, or for travel costs to a far away hospital for health treatments.
These amounts are all itemized in the accounting books which are open for any Church member to review.
So, I guess what I am saying is that not all Churches are the same. I agree that your question is a good one. Please just don't assume that corruption and misuse is always the case.

[Tedward]

God loves you but he needs your money.

[bryant.coleman]

God loves you but he needs your money.

That is why I have been saying all day long that religion was invented by some really intelligent people to make money from the less intelligent. The modern religions are perfect business models.

[zolace]

People like money and power. Churches are run by people. These people then want lots of money and power and stupid people who think they hear voices in their head hand over their money. It's really pretty simple.

[Dogtanian]

God loves you but he needs your money.

That is why I have been saying all day long that religion was invented by some really intelligent people to make money from the less intelligent. The modern religions are perfect business models.

I don't think they were necessarily invented to make money, but most are now big businesses.

[hilariousandco]

God loves you but he needs your money.

That is why I have been saying all day long that religion was invented by some really intelligent people to make money from the less intelligent. The modern religions are perfect business models.

I think different religions were created for different and varying reasons. Some for good, bad, fame, power, wealth or a even mixture, but somewhere down the line they usually become monopolised and capitalised on and turned into corporations. Just look at Scientology and the famous quote from L Ron Hubbard himself: "The way to make a million dollars is to start a religion".

Oh, and I think that was a George Carlin line you quoted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ8hefESt7c