When does it become okay for religion to become a commodity?

Question

I understand that businessmen have to make a living and that there is no crime in becoming rich but is it right to sell religion? Better yet, are we wrong for buying it? Who put the price tag on religion such as how much a bible cost or reviewing church members gross salary for tithes? Is it right to become rich off of religion just because you can?

Answer 1

>It seems to be the way it already is.<

Answer 2

Publishing any book has a cost to it, including a Bible. In comparison to other books in comparison to size and binding, I don't see the bible as a mean of any publisher getting rich. Actually it is more of a bargain. Where a publisher can get rich though is in volume. The Bible is probably one of the most purchased and read book in the world.
I haven't attended a church were the review your gross salary. Of course there is always funding issues that the church is going to encourage you to give until it hurts. That is there only income. There are a lot of churches who just survive week to week on what is collected. There are other Mega churches that their weekly income and expenditure is almost a scandal. When you have a community as large as a "church" being inclusive to all religions you can't stereotype all churches being the same. For the most part, churches are very generous or give back to the community.
As far as other commodity items businesses sale, if there is a market for it, it will be sold at a price the public is willing to pay. In short the consumer places the price tag on about everything. What makes a $100 pair of jeans cost more than a $10 pair. The same on religious items. The consumers really set the price, excluding utilities and items such as gas.

Answer 3

Well, I think you come at this argument from the wrong angle. Take the beginnings. Someone started this great congregation and they wanted to have a place to meet - so they decided to get a building. Once the building is bought, it needs to be maintained and paid for - never mind heated and lit - and so the focus shifts slightly from the spirit to the collection plate. As time goes on, this church thrives and does good work, and do they are asked to do more. They hire people (all who need salaries) to administrate their operations and to teach and preach to the faithful.

Once you have an organization of this size, you know you need so many people in the pews to maintain it, but you don't have enough seats - so you expand. Before you know it, it has grown and expanded and requires a business mentality if it is to endure and do the work it was intended to do. Once it is a successful business, the less the scrupulous start seeing opportunities.

This is how things grow with humanity. We start off with a nice idea and it grows out of control until it has twisted until it hardly resembles it's original vision. Once generations die, the original version is lost so often, even and all that is left is keeping it alive and growing - and that requires a business model.

I have always said the problem with organized religion is the organization. If people could figure out a cost effective way to handle this kind of community support it would be a real renaissance in religion. I think of the Quakers and the local Mother's Club - they know how to support community without too strong a focus on finances - but again they only reach a local community. Perhaps that is the wave of the future. Only time will tell.

Peace!

Answer 4

My friends and I were discussing this morning when we were out. I have heard many people say "I can't afford Christmas this year". Myself, I am muslim. The reason I am religious is because it only makes sense that something should transcend the meaninglessness of the material world. Religious consumerism is an oxymoron, or should be. You cannot buy spirit!
So my answer to your question would be no! It's not right to become rich off of religion. That's hypocrisy! You shouldn't sell something you don't believe in, and if you're selling religion, you don't believe in it.

Answer 5

Churches are desperate for funds in some areas, but you are right - trying to snoop in order to force tithes is not smart "business" for a church. People need to feel the desire to give from their heart or the church may need to cut corners. It sounds more like the church needs to improve their customer service rather than putting the squeeze on the customer base or they will lose their customers. Some days the church needs to remember that they are providing a service and are paid in relation to what they bring to the table. No business in town forgets that.

Answer 6

HELL NO. Religion should never become a commodity. Religion is something of the mind. It is so f-ing wrong to put a price tag for piece of mind for having faith. the guys u see on TV should burn in hell. they are cheap Elvis impersonators of the real thing. Now-a-days religion is becoming so commercialized, and it makes me sick

Answer 7

No it hasn't improve into thoroughly "beside the point and extinct", there is a few distance too a good number of those who've a may want to have self belief and opt to have self belief on the 2d for that to be the case yet I do have self belief that in the destiny Christianity will breathe its lack of life breath and we are waiting to be waiting to prise its bony palms off of society. Atheism, and that i'm atheist, does have subject matters. i have were given stated it contained in the previous yet atheism does have this is subject matters, it demands honestly everybody to be a rational, wondering and smart being and for particular now no longer each and each and each and each of the inhabitants have those features. honestly atheism may nicely be somewhat a bleak way of gazing subject matters and assorted ex theists likely adventure lost and hopeless on the realisation there is not any longer any God. technological knowledge can really bypass so some distance on the 2d even as there are though "die difficult followers", really this very morning I heard a Christian declaring the devil needs to tempt human beings far flung from faith yet even as a sinner repents the Bible says the angels throw a social gathering. for particular this is loopy talk yet they somewhat have self belief this or have really functional themselves or been persuaded this is the case and that is what's scary. Islam somewhat is on the upward push, this can nicely be some distance better scary to me. on the prospect of sounding racist (i'm now no longer) i visit declare this, there are sturdy and undesirable Muslims (or Christians or regardless of) yet I very few atheists kill interior the decision of atheism. Islam is accepted to spread basically by ability of actuality if we dare say some thing antagonistic to it we are branded as "racists", i assume i'm better outspoken antagonistic to Christianity in certain hence and because that it has had the biggest effect on my us of a (England). Christianity is likewise transforming into especially and particularly in China now no longer really Africa. precise now we on the prompt are not any more waiting yet finally humanity might want to be better efficient than this, it really is what i'm hoping and that is what's exciting.

Answer 8

Christmas has been a commodity for ages. As for becoming rich - everyone is entitled to the right to work hard and if they come out ahead, I say good for them.

Answer 9

Didn't J.C. overturn the tables of the money changers at the temple. Wasn't that His crime under Roman law? Is that perhaps why he was sen tensed and crucified? Or so I have heard.

Answer 10

It has always been that way, because of the news and the Internet it is being made known.

Answer 11

Never!!!

Jesus set the example by telling his disciples how much to charge for their powers and abilities. Matt. 10:8, "You received free, give free."

Pretty clear and straight forward eh!?