tithe a thame they can't theparate their finantheth from their thpirituality

But the ministers can pay their mortgages, right?

Maybe they'll get to sleep in the Jesus-Malls mega-churches.

Barnacles!: tithe a thame they can't theparate their finantheth from their thpirituality

I spat tea. Thanks a lot.

but,but the Bible says you'll get it back ten fold.

"I read it in the Bible" is the old school version of "I read it on the internet"

This sounds splendid to me. If the rich need a trillion dollars bailout why should the religious be left in the lurch.

Is it just me or does this not belong under the politics tab?

/maybe it's one of those politics of religion things...

DamnYankees: But the ministers can pay their mortgages, high priced male prostitutes right?

/FTFY

Well, at least their homeless shelter will be well stocked.

Render unto Caesar.

if a bank has to foreclose on a mortgage it (or any other debt that is over 100% household income the repercussions (and follow-on oversight) should be near or at bankruptcy levels (the old ones, not the new crap). At the least, there should be a mandatory review of expenditures so discretionary expenses like 'charitable donations' don't screw the bank out of their money.

/not really trying to be a troll
//honest

there's a ) missing in there somewhere. dammit.

They also choose hobbies, addictions, and a slew of other things over their mortgages too. Hence why some people lose their houses.

I don't understand this journalist...or maybe I do.

I tithe to the God of beer and bowling.

I will never give that up.

Oh, and for the record, not all Christians are 'evangelical', subby.

Hey Barnacles!

You made me LOL.

What can they do? Their churches tell them "Tithe or GTFO."

The best part is that they criticize the cartoonist for not knowing god because he has him swearing and not understanding tongues. Because, of course, they personally know God and he doesn't.

That's what people never get about being offended religiously. It's not like you have any evidence to back up your claim. He's not offending you, he's displaying his lack of faith in your beliefs. The correct answer is to nod your head and move along.

/By the way, religion is not a bad thing, inherently. It has both bad and good properties.
//And I don't believe in god, for the record.

If I want to give my money away instead of paying my mortgage then that's my business, mine and whoever gets my house.

God needs 10% of your income like he needs a starship.

"Excuse me, what does God need with a starship?" Link (new window)

This is all Obama's fault. Preachers are asking for record amounts of money to build a prayer magnifying machine make sure it rains on Obama's inauguration. The flock has no choice.

cmunic8r99: Oh, and for the record, not all Christians are 'evangelical', subby.

On the first page of the article, (not the second, which is what subby linked to) it notes that evangelicals are much more likely to tithe than non-evangelicals (24% as opposed to an average of 5% for non-evangelicals.)

Organized religion is the anti Christ

I know a guy who owns a small publishing house, whose major source of revenue is evangelical Christians and also people into alternative sexual lifestyles. According to him, if you're writing a book about the salvation of Jesus, you're constantly delinquent on your payments. However, if you're writing a book about how to have sex with sheep, the everything is paid as agreed by contract.

Hobodeluxe: Organized religion is the anti Christ

FTFY. One is a concept antithetical to Christ's teachings, and one is a person who by some accounts existed in 100c.e. but is used as a bogeyman still today.

Funny thing, tithing. it's primarily a teaching of the old testement, rarely mentioned in the new testament, except in reference to they way things were before Christ.

I wonder...if they are following the teachings of the Old Testament so closely, why do they let their women outside during their period? or why don't they make animal sacrifices on the sabbath? When they sell their daughters into slavery, do they tithe a tenth of the actual income, or fair market value?


Murphyr: On the first page of the article, (not the second, which is what subby linked to) it notes that evangelicals are much more likely to tithe than non-evangelicals (24% as opposed to an average of 5% for non-evangelicals.)

yeah, i saw it right after i submitted. apologies, subby

AHAHAHAHA @ Jesus Facepalm

FTA: Dr. Roger Oldham, a member of the executive committee of the 16-million strong Southern Baptist Convention, the second- largest Christian grouping in the United States after the Roman Catholic Church, said tithing was a compelling personal commitment.

I wonder what his salary is...

Meh, God will provide. To those who really believe in Him, that is.

Even God says "F*ck 'em."

Hobodeluxe

but,but the Bible says you'll get it back ten fold.

"I read it in the Bible" is the old school version of "I read it on the internet"

I normally hate "THIS" but ...

THIS

"You can suggest that maybe they can pay their tithe in kind, through volunteer work," said Bathsheba Wyatt-Draper, a counselor at nonprofit lender NHS Chicago. "But if they react badly, you have to let it go. Period."

...

"In the case of tithing, evangelicals feel that 'this is something between me and God. I am not doing this to put myself on a pedestal and talk about the wonderful sacrifices I have made.' The whole idea is not to draw attention to yourself."

...

To stay current on the $500 monthly mortgage, she was faced with giving up a tithe to her local evangelical church of around $200 a month. Instead, she let the property go into foreclosure.

"I made an agreement with the Lord 30 years ago and I have tithed ever since," said the woman, who declined to give her name in an interview. "Nothing could persuade me to give that up. My relationship with God comes first."

Asked why she would not be named, the woman said, "I don't want people to think I'm crazy."

...

"I've had home owners who face foreclosure sitting in front of me saying, 'I'll do anything, anything to keep my home," said Ozell Brooklin, director of Acorn Housing in Atlanta, a nonprofit which offers foreclosure counseling.

"But after we've gone through their monthly expenses and the only thing left to cut is their tithe, they say 'I guess this home is not for me' and they walk away," he said.

I know not all Christians are like this and I won't generalize. But just so all of you faithful know, WHEN people make generalizations about you being crazy and stupid? This is why.

Note the part I bolded. Faith doesn't have to be an issue of hard cash. Maybe, just maybe, until you can get your finances in order, you could tithe your time and work instead of your money.

If your god wants you to lose your home so you can keep paying his bills, then your god is a total douche.

So, why did they agree to a loan with terms longer than seven years?

they should have picked a cheaper god.

AHAHAHAHA @ Jesus Facepalm

Seconding Sunshine! Hey, Wight Power, I don't think I've ever seen either a Jesus Facepalm or, as I would call it, a Jesus Wept. But, then again, sometimes, I am out of touch on such things. Anyway, Excellent!

if go was really appreciative wouldn't he send them the mortgage payment from a burning atm machine?

A guy is stranded on his roof in a flood. A boat comes by. No thanks, God will take care of me. Two more boats come by. No thanks. He drowns. He's up in heaven. God, why didn't you save me? I sent three boats after you, Numnuts.

It's in Parables. It has a moral.

such irresponsibility is just one of the many reasons we're in such a farked up mess in this country right now. makes me sick that my tax dollars will contribute to bailing people like that out.

Donald_McRonald: What can they do? Their churches tell them "Tithe or GTFO."

I have NEVER been to a church that said that. They did talk about tithing (I have never given 10% to a church), but it wasn't obligatory.

Neesie: Donald_McRonald: What can they do? Their churches tell them "Tithe or GTFO."

I have NEVER been to a church that said that. They did talk about tithing (I have never given 10% to a church), but it wasn't obligatory.

No church can make it obligatory, fairly certain that is against the law. Mormons are the strictest about it, and they just shun you if you don't pay. No temple visits, constant haranguing etc. That whole 'force you to pay' thing is why Scientology is in trouble. Makes it a business.

Bloody William: I know not all Christians are like this and I won't generalize. But just so all of you faithful know, WHEN people make generalizations about you being crazy and stupid? This is why.

Note the part I bolded. Faith doesn't have to be an issue of hard cash. Maybe, just maybe, until you can get your finances in order, you could tithe your time and work instead of your money.

If your god wants you to lose your home so you can keep paying his bills, then your god is a total douche.

I'm not sure why, but many protestants take their rejection of the works doctrine as a source of pride. The direct result of this is that they have no desire to do a damned thing for anyone.

So first supply-side economics goes down the toilet, now the prosperity doctrine? Have we no traditional American values left to defend?

Bloody William: To stay current on the $500 monthly mortgage, she was faced with giving up a tithe to her local evangelical church of around $200 a month. Instead, she let the property go into foreclosure.

$500 a month mortgage? My rent is $470. You could make $200 a month extra selling plasma (I would if not for screaming heebie jebies around needles).

Fark, if you have a $500/month mortgage then you've been there forever. If you let that get foreclosed on then you are gonna lose every bit of equity you had in that property, and the bank might even come out ahead.

"It's a simple fact that here, as in any Christian culture, you will find some people for whom obedience to God comes second to none," he said. "For those people, a contract with God is worth more than their home."

This is why the Founding Fathers separated Church and State. They knew that if you truly believed in God, and an eternal Heaven and Hell, then you would put the Church and it's preachers before the Government and its people.

Dave Ramsey says it's not the tithing, it's never the tithing. There has to be something else you can cut out. If you're broke and owe money on a car loan, you should sell the car, even though you won't get what you owe on it and get a $1000 beater with that $1000 you don't have. Oh, and you're better off to rent an apartment for more than you'd pay a mortgage on, because it's better not to have debt.

wildcardjack: Fark, if you have a $500/month mortgage then you've been there forever. If you let that get foreclosed on then you are gonna lose every bit of equity you had in that property, and the bank might even come out ahead.

Yeah, but I think reason is not one of this woman's strong suits, let alone math.

There is no way the church should be accepting her money if they know about this.

This seems relevant: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Matthew 23:23

Doesn't matter what the reason is... you shouldn't be taking out a mortgage that you can't afford.