The truth about tithing

[SCcoug]

I'm sure these are the types of questions SU was asking his fellow students in philosophy 101.

[clackamascoug]

As a tithe payer, can I sublet my recommend to someone who pays tithes to me? That there is an MLM opportunity.

[CardiacCoug]

When we lived in Texas one of our neighbors said he thought the LDS "flat tax" was great because he said at his church regardless of wealth, everybody just put $10-$20 in the plate each week -- a much more regressive taxation system than the LDS version of tithing. So as far as a progressive system that hits the wealthy hard (like taxes, if that's your ideal model), I would say the LDS Church does it better than most other churches, especially when you consider that the truly poor in the Church do end up getting help from the Church that often exceeds any donations.

Like most things related to the church, you can see it as sinister or awesome depending on your perspective:

Tithing is either an evil way of for the Church to enrich itself and compel members against their will, or an awesome way to help members develop the traits of generosity and selflessness.

Home Teaching is either a way the Church spies on and controls its members or a framework that helps us give Christlike service and love.

It makes sense to me that people can view pretty much any Church practice from either of those extremes.

[byu71]

Blessings come to those who faithfully pay their tithing. You would deny the poor the opportunity to be blessed and want only the rich to receive the blessings?

[Clark Addison]

Yes!

I thought this was a good video.

Actually, it really doesn't support your view on tithing at all.

[Vic Vega]

When we lived in Texas one of our neighbors said he thought the LDS "flat tax" was great because he said at his church regardless of wealth, everybody just put $10-$20 in the plate each week -- a much more regressive taxation system than the LDS version of tithing. So as far as a progressive system that hits the wealthy hard (like taxes, if that's your ideal model), I would say the LDS Church does it better than most other churches, especially when you consider that the truly poor in the Church do end up getting help from the Church that often exceeds any donations.

Like most things related to the church, you can see it as sinister or awesome depending on your perspective:

Tithing is either an evil way of for the Church to enrich itself and compel members against their will, or an awesome way to help members develop the traits of generosity and selflessness.

Home Teaching is either a way the Church spies on and controls its members or a framework that helps us give Christlike service and love.

It makes sense to me that people can view pretty much any Church practice from either of those extremes.

Yes, and I think many people can see both sides at the same time. I wonder how many people are living the Mormon version of Pascals Wager.

Faith is an interesting thing. It's also more complex at an individual level when people are willing to break it down and explain what they really believe and why.

[Bo Diddley]

Misleading thread title.

[SoonerCoug]

When we lived in Texas one of our neighbors said he thought the LDS "flat tax" was great because he said at his church regardless of wealth, everybody just put $10-$20 in the plate each week -- a much more regressive taxation system than the LDS version of tithing.

What about linking the tithes to permission to receive religious ordinances that facilitate salvation? Not creepy at all?

[Uncle Ted]

Blessings come to those who faithfully pay their tithing. You would deny the poor the opportunity to be blessed and want only the rich to receive the blessings?

Yes, consider the members in Argentina that gave their gold fillings...

President Faust turned the ceremonial first shovelful of earth during the groundbreaking ceremony. After, he invited a young girl and boy to come help him with the digging. They not only came forward and assisted him, but the little girl also waited for him the next day at the Campinas regional conference to give him a hug of appreciation.


He emphasized the need to sacrifice for temple building and shared how members in Argentina found ways to donate during the construction of the São Paulo Brazil Temple. They gave the gold from their dental work to help pay for the temple. He said that he had purchased some of the gold fillings for more than the market price to share with congregations the nature of the sacrifice made by these members (Church News, 9 May 1998).

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/portoalegre/

I am guessing the windows of heaven were open for these people and there was not room enough in the holes in their teeth to receive the blessings.

[frank ryan]

Yes, consider the members in Argentina that gave their gold fillings...


http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/portoalegre/

I am guessing the windows of heaven were open for these people and there was not room enough in the holes in their teeth to receive the blessings.

That is seriously disturbing . Kinda horrific

[Sullyute]

That is seriously disturbing . Kinda horrific

Why? He did pay more than market price.

[Commando]

What about linking the tithes to permission to receive religious ordinances that facilitate salvation? Not creepy at all?

You make no sense at all. It's not mandatory if you just want to go to church to keep up appearances. If you do have a spiritual witness of the Gospel, you comply with the spiritual law of tithing and receive further spiritual blessings in the temple. If you want to go to the Temple just to keep up appearances, well then that's creepy and you deserve to forfeit 10% of your income.

[SoonerCoug]

You make no sense at all. It's not mandatory if you just want to go to church to keep up appearances. If you do have a spiritual witness of the Gospel, you comply with the spiritual law of tithing and receive further spiritual blessings in the temple. If you want to go to the Temple just to keep up appearances, well then that's creepy and you deserve to forfeit 10% of your income.

What about the spiritual law of paying up front for scientology auditing sessions? Is there really a difference?

[Backslidercoug]

Yes, consider the members in Argentina that gave their gold fillings...


http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/portoalegre/

I am guessing the windows of heaven were open for these people and there was not room enough in the holes in their teeth to receive the blessings.

I think we take this story the wrong way. I doubt that people were having perfectly good filling removed to then donate to the fund. More likely is that there was a dental need for them to be removed. After they were removed then the dentist gave them the gold scrap for them to do as they pleased. Instead of cashing in for themselves,they gave the gold scrap to the fund.

Maybe there are still concerns with them donating at all, but they weren't getting teeth ripped out or fillings removed just for the hell of it.

[Commando]

What about the spiritual law of paying up front for scientology auditing sessions? Is there really a difference?

I don't know what scientologists call it or how much it costs, but no, I don't believe that ron hubbard's teachings are the same just upon a cursory glance. I guess you pay a fixed sum to get to the next level? Upwards of $100,000 for level 8 of 15 alone? Sounds more like a tuition situation to me.

I do know that LDS members know what the temple is once they've gone and if they continue to receive any benefits from attending. I happen to believe that benefits of paying tithing are derived from obeying that law, independent of whether or not you go on to get your temple recommendation renewed. So again, big difference.