Is God and religion just big money business gone mad?

Question

If you go to church or a large religious gathering and hear the story of how there was a creator called God, God exists, God is good, God created Heaven and Hell, God wrote the Bible, God will banish evil people to Hell, God will send good people to Heaven, it sure makes religious people feel good. Yes?

If you watch preacher magic helping a little old lady on stage, pushing her forehead, she falls over with joy, she’s cured of her physical woes. Just pray to God and you will be healed, it sure makes religious people feel even better, yes?

Guess what, the collection box goes round for a few dollars and you’re also asked to gift 10% of your income to the church. Everyone feels so good, so generous, so happy God loves us, and you cough up your money like sheep to the slaughter. Yes?

If the preachers told the truth. “We don’t know if God exists and we don’t know if you pray to God whether you’ll be healed or not, but we sure hope so” would you give as much money to the church?

Answer 1

Yes and no.

There are plenty of people who use religion strictly to make money. I would lump just about every TV evanglist into this group.

However, as a Christian who tithes, the money we give is a form of worship. I give my tithe as a sacrifice (and a check each month of that size is a sacrifice). I do it to support the church in its work and ministries. We maintain the building, pay the pastor, and spend about 2/3 of it to reach out to others through various missionaries, outreach programs, homeless & prisoner ministries, etc. Now, I cannot speak for every denomination, but for mine, the truth is that there is a God and we are living His commandment to love one another. We do this in part with our money.

Answer 2

You obviously don't know much of what you are talking about. Do you realize that only about 2% of the people who go to church actually give the 10% tithe. 98% of them give much less. If all Christians would give their 10%, the churches would be able to do away with world hunger, the homeless, lack of medical care, and a host of other things that plague our society. Most of the churches I know about are not getting rich from the offering plate. Many times the church has a hard time just keeping the doors open. Oh sure, there are tele-evangelists who pray on peoples fears and attempt to milk them of every penny, but you usually don't find that in your local congregations. There are scam artists in all walks of life. Why should the church think they won't try to use God for monetary gain. We don't give our money to buy blessings from God. We give it to show that we love Him and want to support His church and message.

Answer 3

God is real plain and simple. God don't want your money he's richer than all of us. There are some churches that do scams and I'm sorry that you think all churches are out for people's money but not all churches are like that. Just like any business right they collect money. You got your bill collectors, cable bills and, car insurance. All those things you have to pay for or pay to. Jesus said back in the day when Julius Caesar was on the throne, "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God." I bet you don't complain about paying the rent or house payment to stay in whatever you are living in right. If you stop paying you be out just like that. Well, just like the government to collect dues God works the same way. And like I said God does not want your money but it says in the bible to give 10% as an act of faith as a christian to test you and see if you are willing to "let go and let God." And when God sees a person being faithful, now, he can trust you with bigger things than you can imagine my friend. Its not about the money but the act of faith you are willing to pursue.

Answer 4

Anyone who listens to the electric preachers on tv is so stupid.
it is all about the money and everyone should know that.
Religion is big business. Supports the government in all that it does and preachers the young men to war. For that the government gives them tax exempt statis. Just an extension of the government.

Answer 5

it seems you know very little about the religious experience

yes?

also very little about church finances and charitable giving

yes?

if a preacher told me that he (the preacher) didn't know if God existed that might interest me, but would have no affect on my personal beliefs, faiths, and knowledges

remember, what I "know" comes from my experience, my observation, my senses

what one person says is a small part of that experience, what everyone else says (including you) is a signifcant part, but not all, of what I know and believe

yes?

Answer 6

Being a Pagan, I don't give anyway. But I know if a preacher actually said that, they would leave the church. (I've given this scenario to a couple of friends of mine... and that was their response)

Answer 7

Your chosing to look at God & Church in that light.

You could do the same to anything

Answer 8

Its a country club for Republicans to go and feel better, after they have stabbed there brothers in the back.

Answer 9

God does EXist MILLIons of Christians have Him in their hearts and they know it...cults arent to be trusted but mainstream Catholic and Protestants that teach the Trinity are on the level..
You cant see Canada but its still there right?

Answer 10

I think you have answered your own question wether it is true or not. I myself am totally against (for me) organized religion. The idea of god is not meant to be bad, it is man who expoits it.