Making Religion A Business

It's really sad to see that the church is getting to be a business. We had been to a new church in a nearby province built in honor of Padre Pio, the saint. Even before entering the church compound, there was this big poster of cookies that were supposedly blessed, huh. And blessed for what?
There are candles for sale with different colors and the poster indicates the color of the candle for a particular petition like green for good health, yellow for material and financial blessings, etc. I wonder how those candles would have an effect on our wishes.

I was born and raised as a Catholic and had studied in Catholic schools from grade school to college. But I don't approve of such fanaticism and... sorry if I cannot find another term for scam.

 

Whenever I see things being sold at a church, I think of the story about Jesus chasing the money changers out of the temple.

 

My Dad had an interesting slant on Church and money. Some of you will not like it. @Corie Henson perhaps.

He believed that since Churches are being run like businesses, their fair share of taxes ought to be paid in, just like that of any other business. It surely would reduce the tax burden for the peons. Rich? Are Church organizations rich?

When I was in Germany, we toured a Church-owned place, I cannot remember exact details of what it was or where (1972), but hanging on the walls here and there were draperies woven from solid gold thread, the tour-leader said. The cloth was so exceedingly heavy, special fastenings had to be devised.

Frank

 

Gotta agree with Frank. My dad felt the same way about churches and taxes.
In my area, we have churches buying up large tracts of land on what was then the edge of town, building a new church on only a small bit of it. But all the many acres were off the tax roles. Another church bought a strip mall, even though they have a large church in the down town area. Same thing about the tax roles.

 

I agree churches should pay taxes. Churches are business, big business. Churches own more money and property than any business in the world.

 

Definitely any church with a substantial number of followers is rich in terms of money. Take any pastor and check his pocket, surely you would find more money there than in your pocket (that's an idiom). I am a religious person but my faith is realistic. I have to believe in my religion because I think every religion has its faults and mistakes. What's important is my religion gives me inspiration to strengthen my faith. In all honestly, people depend on the promise of eternal life or life after death but that's only a promise and there's no guarantee to that. But the church is raking in money with that promise.

 

@Corie Henson I am glad my remark about my post perhaps offending you, did not. I should be more careful about opening my big mouth inappropriately. Sometimes it is better to not be "up-front" all the time. Frank

 

@Frank Sanoica, this is a forum that is open ended so I guess we are speaking in general terms and not being critical of a person particularly a member here. Remember, I was the one who started this thread.

@Ken Anderson, I agree with the term mega churches which is synonymous to mega bucks, huh. I have seen the rise of a small denomination that started sometime in the 1980s. It gained followers because the leader is so good in memorizing the Bible verses that he talks like a constitutionalist lawyer - quoting verses in the Bible to prove his argument. His group now owns a lot of properties including a tv network. But he insists that his religion does not approve of tithing (that 10% of your income that you contribute to your church) so what more with churches that practice tithing?

 

Sure much of religion is a business.

One thought on the cookies though: If they are reasonably priced and taste good, go for it!