Anonymous wrote:The idea that priests are God's representatives on earth is nonsense. They are servants of the church, there to serve the members of the church. Church members contribute money to support them and their work, which often includes providing assistance to members and nonmember in need, because they think it's worthwhile.

Priests are servants of the church and paid by the church who is paid by donations from the faithful who are taught to believe that they need the church's assistance in order to get into heaven. That's not to say that the church does not provide some useful benefits to the living, but social service agencies, or government benefits, or family members, or friends and neighbors can provide that too. Only God's official representatives can get you into heaven.

Anonymous wrote:The idea that priests are God's representatives on earth is nonsense. They are servants of the church, there to serve the members of the church. Church members contribute money to support them and their work, which often includes providing assistance to members and nonmember in need, because they think it's worthwhile.

Not really. Catholic sunday school teaches that the priests are God's intermediary - blessed by God to help his people on earth to know God's ways.

The idea that priests are God's representatives on earth is nonsense. They are servants of the church, there to serve the members of the church. Church members contribute money to support them and their work, which often includes providing assistance to members and nonmember in need, because they think it's worthwhile.

What's all this about money? Don't churches need to pay the rent, staffs, insurance, lights, etc.? Yes, God is all-powerful, but the way he provides for his churches is to give people who go there willing hearts to help each other. If you attend a church, you benefit from being part of the community, and the Christians I know give gladly out of a thankful heart to support not only the church but the ministries within the community that they help out. I've never been to a church that made it a REQUIREMENT to give money. They always pass the offering basket anonymously, and no church that I know of would kick someone out for not giving enough. Christians under the new covenant of Christ are told to give whatever we've decided in our own hearts to give, "because God loves a cheerful giver." I know for myself that without a doubt God has provided me income at times because it's absolutely nothing I could account for out of my own doing. I am more than glad to give back to others out of that goodness that God shows me. Nowhere are Christians commanded to tithe, that is, give 10 percent of their income. Tithing is an Old Testament concept that was to provide for the Levites, who were the priests, so that they could devote themselves to the temple of God. Christians are free to give as much or as little as they want. It's unfortunate that there are TV preachers who fleece people for money, and that is undoubtedly a problem, but these are aberrant preachers who do not truthfully teach the word of God. And if you'll pay attention to what's going on in their churches, many of the people give money out of greed themselves, because they are told that if they give, they are planting a "seed" and will reap greater rewards for themselves. It is not out of gratitude to the LORD, nor is it to take care of the church and the less fortunate. All the cynics on this thread, please feel free to go attend a church and see if you're told you're not welcome unless you pony up. I promise you won't be.

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Anonymous wrote:And those who do put their faith in God must tithe one tenth of their gross income to church. If you do not do so you are robbing God.

Yes, God needs money -- to build and maintain buildings where humans can come to worship him - and for salaries for people to lead others in worship. God is omnipotent, but he can't support his worshippers without their monetary assistance.

Why can't God allow people to worship in their homes?

Why do I need to pay someone to read the bible to me?

priests, reverends, ministers - all as bad as other "middlemen" like lawyers and insurance sales reps

there are many kind, good clergy who provide the same sorts of support you can get from a social service agency, family members or close friends. The difference is that clergy are also associated with a religious institution that requires monetary support from its members. Another difference is that clergy supposedly are God's representatives on Earth and can help solicit divine intervention, if you believe in it or think it will help in a way the other support networks will not.

yes, priests are gods representatives on earth, and god is hungry, therefore you have to give money

No, the preists are hungry -- they are human, after all, and have dedicated their lives to helping people understand and become close to God, so they can serve him on earth and be happy with him in Heaven. Other people who work get paid, why shouldn't they?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And those who do put their faith in God must tithe one tenth of their gross income to church. If you do not do so you are robbing God.

Yes, God needs money -- to build and maintain buildings where humans can come to worship him - and for salaries for people to lead others in worship. God is omnipotent, but he can't support his worshippers without their monetary assistance.

Why can't God allow people to worship in their homes?

Why do I need to pay someone to read the bible to me?

priests, reverends, ministers - all as bad as other "middlemen" like lawyers and insurance sales reps

there are many kind, good clergy who provide the same sorts of support you can get from a social service agency, family members or close friends. The difference is that clergy are also associated with a religious institution that requires monetary support from its members. Another difference is that clergy supposedly are God's representatives on Earth and can help solicit divine intervention, if you believe in it or think it will help in a way the other support networks will not.

yes, priests are gods representatives on earth, and god is hungry, therefore you have to give money

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Anonymous wrote:I really like the God and Jesus stories. Both old and new testament. But, I don't care too much for the idea of human sacrifice and that seems to be the only way God can really be pacified. So, he creates you to be how you are, then he doesn't like how he made you, so he has to punish you, and then that doesn't get it done, so he sends an emissary, who then has to be killed to pacify him for making you how you are.

Human and animal sacrifice seem to be SOP in the bible. I just don't get that at all.

I think anytime you read the Bible like a Fundamental Baptist, you completely miss the point. Read the Bible always mindful of the context. Consider the time and place. In the OT, people were trying to make sense out of their world. When good things happened, they assumed God was happy. When bad things happened, they assumed God was angry. Many of the laws were written to keep people healthy. It's critical that we don't read the Bible as if it were written in our time by people like us.

If you read metaphysically, you'll find the Bible full of amazing stories of love, faith, perseverance, humility, compassion, bravery, ...... The Genesis stories are beautiful poems that were never meant to be read as literal. Instead of questioning the idea of a talking snake, ask yourself what the author might have been trying to convey. What does the snake symbolize? The apple? The tree of knowledge? Eve? Read with a metaphysical mind, the Bible is fascinating. No one with the ability to think critically would read the Bible as literal.

sorry, some of those OT stories are not beautiful poems -- they are chilling. and if it's supposed to be a special book to live by, why should we have to try so had to make it mean something? It almost sounds like you need a course in ancient literature to understand it and apply it correctly to your life.

Anonymous wrote:I really like the God and Jesus stories. Both old and new testament. But, I don't care too much for the idea of human sacrifice and that seems to be the only way God can really be pacified. So, he creates you to be how you are, then he doesn't like how he made you, so he has to punish you, and then that doesn't get it done, so he sends an emissary, who then has to be killed to pacify him for making you how you are.

Human and animal sacrifice seem to be SOP in the bible. I just don't get that at all.

I think anytime you read the Bible like a Fundamental Baptist, you completely miss the point. Read the Bible always mindful of the context. Consider the time and place. In the OT, people were trying to make sense out of their world. When good things happened, they assumed God was happy. When bad things happened, they assumed God was angry. Many of the laws were written to keep people healthy. It's critical that we don't read the Bible as if it were written in our time by people like us.

If you read metaphysically, you'll find the Bible full of amazing stories of love, faith, perseverance, humility, compassion, bravery, ...... The Genesis stories are beautiful poems that were never meant to be read as literal. Instead of questioning the idea of a talking snake, ask yourself what the author might have been trying to convey. What does the snake symbolize? The apple? The tree of knowledge? Eve? Read with a metaphysical mind, the Bible is fascinating. No one with the ability to think critically would read the Bible as literal.

I really like the God and Jesus stories. Both old and new testament. But, I don't care too much for the idea of human sacrifice and that seems to be the only way God can really be pacified. So, he creates you to be how you are, then he doesn't like how he made you, so he has to punish you, and then that doesn't get it done, so he sends an emissary, who then has to be killed to pacify him for making you how you are.

Human and animal sacrifice seem to be SOP in the bible. I just don't get that at all.