Is it very expensive to convert to another religion?

Question

I'm trying to figure out how some people's minds work. I just read two questions.

The first one stated that Protestants are jealous of Catholics, because Catholics have a virgin Mary. The second one stated that atheists secretly want to be Christians, because secretly they all have God in their hearts anyway.

I always assumed that if a persons wants to follow a certain religion, he can just do that. No need for jealousy or denying yourself to believe in what you want to believe in.

But I'm obviously missing something. Do certain religions have very high membership fees which make it almost impossible to join? Is that why people are jealous of other religions or deny themselves the beliefs they 'secretly' have?

Answer 1

None of them require membership fees (ok, apparently scientology does, but who on R&S takes that religion seriously? :P), but most religions do take a good portion of your income once you're ''in.'' Take a look at Islam. A woman who converts to Islam needs to buy new clothes due to lovely dress code. Or take a look at Zekat (Islamic tax) - it's obligatory to give 2,5% of your income. Not to count donations. If you don't give them people talk behind your back. Then take a look at the costs of performing Hajj. Phew! Or how about maintaining 4 wives?! That surely must be tough.

But since that really isn't the point of your question *winks* I'll just say that you get ''in'' for free (in material sense) - the real price you pay is your integrity.
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Answer 2

It is when every TV preacher on the face of the earth wants your soul. But they'll settle for cash instead. Have you ever noticed that when churches ask for money they could care less whether you need to eat, just that God needs a new Crystal Cathedral, or cash for politicking. Jesus said to believe in him and we would have eternal life. It was a statement free of qualifications, or mailing and handling charges, let alone surcharges on the style or type of worship. Any other religion does ask for sacrifice, all well and good, but usually those sacrifice come at an altar and involve cattle, sheep, birds, or types of food. In watching Christianity, living as a Christian, knowing I am a Christian, so often Christian's are asked to sacrifice not just money but their trust and credulity in an all or nothing bid for salvation.

And that's where no atheist would take up the mantle of a Christian or any other religion. It's all too true that Christianity as done more to harm one's faith in God, over the centuries history has given many atheist's pause, and for good reasons. Faith doesn't mean we lay aside our credulity, it means we believe in the original message, unadulterated, with no talking head in between. Oh, the Church has a place for directing and preserving what we must believe as the kernel of faith, and it has a right to expect a certain allegiance, but the truth of our spirituality is husbanded by the Church, not taken advantage of. Those looking to dupe social security dependent seniors of their money don't know what it means to be Christian. A true Christian helps the widow and the orphanage, they don't go subbing green prayer cloths in their hands as the cheque is plucked from it. How do you expect an atheist to give credit to Jesus when so many followers of his have been no more than confidence men with crosses on their necks or waving Bibles?


VSMON

Answer 3

Jesus said that it's very expensive to be a Christian - it costs one's whole life. Now that doesn't mean physically, so please don't twist my words to say it's some cult that makes you "drink the Kool-Aid," 'cause we all know that's not what I'm saying.

There are many PCs, or "Professing Christians" who think that because they believe some basic doctrinal/theological points and have "prayed a prayer" that they are "saved." The truth is, there is much more involved with it than that. By nature, all of mankind loves sin and unrighteousness and hates God because He is holy and just. Our will is contrary to His. Unfortunately, the PCs running around saying, "I love Jesus," and "Just ask Jesus into your heart, it's easy," think they're saved, not caring about sin, not caring that people say the churches are filled with hypocrites because of people like them. It is only when God's Holy Spirit works in the heart of a man to change his will, to make him hate the sin he once loved and now love the righteousness he once hated that someone is born again. Essentially that person is laying down all claims to his/her life, saying that God can do with it whatever He pleases. Expensive.

Answer 4

Being a member of a religion really only means that you follow a system of belief and possibly a certain lifestyle. You should just try to learn about the religion you are thinking of converting to, and follow the beliefs.

Answer 5

Memebership expenditures? money? Wow you have somewhat strayed from the element of religion. i'm a Catholic, I carry on with Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us to be sort to stay a existence as his. Now in case you think of giving somebody a grin or assisting somebody out expenses money, you're completely lacking the element. the entire bickering between the Protestant Church and Catholic Church is that each and every thing we do is puzzled and tried to be shown incorrect. So we ought to stand up for our ideals. And somew human beings, not understanding the thank you to regulate their mouths make it a hateful concern.

Answer 6

Well you have the "cancellation fee" which is usually very expensive could be as much as your whole family. Then the initial one time "sign up fee" of abandoning your roots and starting over. Followed by a 10 to 50% weekly expectaion on your wages. So all and all I would say that yes it is quite expensive.

Answer 7

There are no "membership fees" that I am aware of in any Christian denomination. They do encourage you to contribute 10% of your earnings in "tithes" to the church, and some are less forgiving than others if you put little in the collection plate. However, anyone can walk into any Christian church and worship God without fees, and skip the tithes if they cannot afford it. Worship of God is the most important aspect of any church.

Answer 8

There are no membership fees associated with being a Christian. You are expected to make charitable contributions to support your church. Some denominations are pretty forceful about insisting on a tithe.

Answer 9

I agree with you that it is relatively free to join or quit any religion. There are some drawbacks however:

1) Some religions require their followers to kill those that leave. Some other religions only require them to shun those that leave.
2) Joining certain religions require a donation of 10%-15% of your income.

Answer 10

It's not the start-up fees that are bad. The indulgence fees can be killer though.

Most churches these days tap ya for about 10% of your gross, but that's on a voluntary/guilt basis.