On Occasion I listen to the local Christian radio broadcast, and happened upon a sermon regarding tithing and giving God your money. While I was listening to the "guilt Trip" and the "Prove your a Christian" message in this, I still would not see why an all powerful God would need your money. Why would an ALL Powerful and All Knowing God need our money?

Dear DarkM, I am playing Devil's Advocate here just a bit...

In Iowa, when I was with the project of supporting women after prison, it was the religious organizations who could hear the message about "throwaway women," and they responded.

And because of my warm experience with atheism, I saw to it that we contacted every atheist organization in the state; however not even one even gave us the courtesy of a reply.

* * *

But in the beautiful eyes of all those religious people who invited us in, listened to our presentation and gave support in many forms, in those deep wonderful, peaceful eyes you could just see:

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

God doesn't need my money, but I'm happy to give it.  Aside from keeping the power on, it keeps our church food pantry and clothing closet stocked for those in need.

I worked for a time in Thousand Oaks, So Cal. My office was opposite the headquarters of a Christian "fundamentalist" broadcasting station ( it was 15 years ago, but I'm guessing that it is probably still there).

We watched the Rolls Royce of the station's founder arrive most mornings.

I wonder it God gave him the money......

Or did he get it somewhere else?

So God has in fact asked you for money?

How does that square with your atheism?

This brings to mind some years ago when Pat Robertson (yes, nutjob evangelist Pat Robertson) was pleading on his faux "news report" for some absurd sum of money to be donated to his foundation, lest "he would be called home", if his lofty goal were unreached. It was pathetic. He's still around, alas, perhaps God was pleased with his shameless TV grifting.  I digress.

God doesn't need money, his self-appointed human intermediaries do. They have the same needs and expenses any normal people have, just lacking a job, or trade skills nor producing any product like normal people do, leaves them in the lurch for cash. So they beg, though again, not like normal people.

Gone is the age when clergy would travel about selling special dispensations, plundering the coffers of heretics, or pressing hapless lay-folk into unpaid service of the church for fear for their eternal souls. Now there's TV.

Theirs is a carefully crafted tale of imposed sharing, like a tax, but enforced by guilt and wrapped in God's blessing; the sales pitch still manages to separate the decieved from their money.

May I quote from that fine Christian evangelist, George Carlin?

"God has made a list of 10 things you may not do and if you do any one of them he will put you in Hell where you will burn forever. But he LOVES you. And he needs money."

It's always been so, Dark, and is one of my big beefs with the Christian church. They've always got their hands out and the people they exploit are often those who are least able to give. The parable of the widow's mite gets trotted out by every sideshow barker in every pulpit in Christendom.

Of course, some of the money gets donated to worthy and charitable causes. Big deal! Some major criminals also don a veneer of respectability by  shows of "philanthropy".

Don't confuse what the church does and what God wants.

Tithing, is mentioned in the bible and is not designed to prove faith in God .. But faith in the Church. They use the angle of showing support for the Church and further that you are not a "slave" to money. You know the " love of money is the root of evil" kind of thing. Funny though, how some "higher ups" can utilize that money which has been connected to an "evil" component for their own personal gain while those who have tithed experience financial hardships. 

Given the obvious corruption in "the Church" in terms of those people who are using the Church's funding from tithing for their own personal benefit, I find   It painfully obvious that tithing is not only NOT being used as it was originally intended but is supporting corruption and greed (the exact opposite of what it was intended) ... rather paradoxical, don't you think?

If the money was received in it's 'true spirit' it would be utililzed to bring light to those in the dark .. not buying fancy cars, or monumental structures but to provide relief where there is conflict and desperation. 

Why not provide funds to individuals and families struggling to feed their children, or provide for those in desperate need .. Like .. victims of crime, abuse, even weather disasters...etc etc.  Giving hope to those who need it most strengthens faith and answers prayers ... THAT .. at least to me is what people pray to God FOR. God is often prayed to for help .. why not give it to them in a way that can bring peace to someone's life.  Why not do God's work in ways that would bring hope to those unfortunate souls  .. instead of parading around in fancy cars, having copious amounts of food, living the life of  so called luxury ,, while others starve both literally and figuratively .. physically and spiritually by getting beat down by the world around us.

One of the reasons I don't belong to church. I would rather give money directly to charity of my choosing. One where books are kept and one can access how their money is spent. I have faith in God but not in organized religion.

"On occasion I listen to local Christian radio broadcasts, and happened on a sermon regarding tithing"

Is this your guilty confession Dark?

|t's ok,  say five Ramens, and the FSM will forgive you.

Churches have always been about money. Their greed has nothing to do with God nor Jesus who says, "Cure the sick,raise up the dead,make lepers clean,expel demons. You received free,give free." Matthew 10:8  Jesus disciple were empowered to help many free of charge and his true followers are doing the same today.