How "Christians" Are Often The Biggest Cunts Of All

[Nickdfresh]

Here's one example of a "God fearing" douchebag "pastor"...

Man claiming to be pastor leaves waiter note: ‘I give God 10%. Why do you get 18?’
By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/pastor-tip-receipt-155914258.html) | The Sideshow – 3 hrs ago

http://consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/receiptgrab.png

A man claiming to be a pastor apparently tried to stiff a waiter on a tip, explaining that his work for God absolved him of having to leave one.

A photo of the receipt, posted to Reddit.com, shows a bill for $34.93 with an automatic 18 percent gratuity (or $6.29) added above a blank space for an additional tip.

"I give God 10%," the diner wrote on the receipt, scratching out the automatic tip. "Why do you get 18?" He then wrote "Pastor" above his signature, and an emphatic "0" where the additional tip would be. (The automatic gratuity, however, had already been added to the total.)

The Reddit user who submitted the image explained in the comments section that the receipt was part of a total bill for a party of 20, which is why the gratuity was automatically added.

“Parties up to eight ... may tip whatever they’d like, but larger parties receive an automatic gratuity," the server wrote. "It’s in the computer, it’s not something I do.”

The server added: “They had no problem with my service, and told me I was great. They just didn’t want to pay when the time came.”

Scribbling notes on receipts has become something of a trend. Earlier this month, the manager of a North Carolina Red Robin surprised an overdue pregnant woman by comping her meal.

“Once seated, a manager came up to us and started talking,” the woman's husband told Consumerist. “He was extremely friendly and jokingly asked my wife if this was her last meal before heading to the hospital."

When the check came, a note from the manager next to her portion of the bill read: "MOM 2 BEE GOOD LUC."

“It was a pleasant surprise and made my tired-of-being-pregnant wife a little more cheery," the man said.

[Kristy]

As if working in a tax-free environment wasn't enough. Let's see the average salary of a pastor at a "mega-church" can be anywhere from $50,000- 80,000 whereas that of an average waitress is less than $10,000 and most of that does come from tips. So much for the theory blessed are the poor.

[ELVIS]

That makes Christians the biggest cunts of all ??

[Nitro Express]

That's ok. Jesus is on his way.

[Kristy]

That makes Christians the biggest cunts of all ??

Um, yes.

[jhale667]

That makes Christians the biggest cunts of all ??

Certainly indicative of their typical holier-than-thou cunty-ass attitude, yeah.


Saw this on FB earlier, and the best suggested response was "because God didn't bring you your cheeseburger, bitch."

[Nitro Express]

There's assholes everywhere. I keep thinking there is one spot on the planet there are not any but I haven't found it yet.

[jhale667]

There's assholes everywhere but it takes a special kind of a-hole to complain about your deserving a bigger tip than the invisible sky daddy.

[Nitro Express]

Too bad it didn't happen in a country where he could lose a finger or a hand for theft. It's not cool to stiff the servers; especially, if they served you well.

[fraroc]

If we're talking about Christians that are total fucking cunts, let's not forget this douchebag.

http://www.nndb.com/people/558/000022492/falwell-port.jpg

[fraroc]

http://christwire.org/2010/08/are-string-bikinis-and-speedos-ruining-americas-summer-at-the-beach/

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/21753315.jpg

[cadaverdog]

Figures you people don't recognize a hoax when you see one. How would the computer know it was a party of 20? It's only 34.93. Somebody's lying.

[Dr. Love]

Certainly indicative of their typical holier-than-thou cunty-ass attitude, yeah.


Saw this on FB earlier, and the best suggested response was "because God didn't bring you your cheeseburger, bitch."

I thought you were against broad sweeping generalizations based on the actions of a single individual

[Hardrock69]

cadaverfucker once again shows us his level of intelligence is somewhat lower than that of your average everyday tree stump.


How would the computer know it was a party of 20? It's only 34.93. Somebody's lying.

Do you fucking read Engrish you stupid cunt?

Why do you open your mouth?

Either it is for your wino customers to stick their cocks in or else you seem to have a severe need to show people how fucking stupid you are.

You obviously did not read the article, as it contained a lot of big words that you do not understand.

You obviously wanted to make comments solely for the purpose of demonstrating that you are a poster child for brain-damaged fuckheads.

Tool.

:yo:

[Warham]

I'm not really in favor of automatic gratuities added to tabs, even for large parties. But the guy should have gave her at least 15%.

One of my first jobs was bussing tables, so I'm well aware of how servers are paid by restaurants (usually below minimum wage), therefore I've always tried to tip well.

[Hardrock69]

Agreed.

[Nickdfresh]

That makes Christians the biggest cunts of all ??

You're a prime example in fact. You quote scripture right before hurling foul taunts, vaguely racist posts, and acting like a judgmental, sanctimonious prick!

[Nickdfresh]

I'm not really in favor of automatic gratuities added to tabs, even for large parties. But the guy should have gave her at least 15%.

One of my first jobs was bussing tables, so I'm well aware of how servers are paid by restaurants (usually below minimum wage), therefore I've always tried to tip well.

If they don't want an auto gratuity, then they can always have their big party somewhere else...

[cadaverdog]

cadaverfucker once again shows us his level of intelligence is somewhat lower than that of your average everyday tree stump.



Do you fucking read Engrish you stupid cunt?

Why do you open your mouth?

Either it is for your wino customers to stick their cocks in or else you seem to have a severe need to show people how fucking stupid you are.

You obviously did not read the article, as it contained a lot of big words that you do not understand.

You obviously wanted to make comments solely for the purpose of demonstrating that you are a poster child for brain-damaged fuckheads.

Tool.

:yo:
Even if the computer program knew their was a party of twenty and split the bill up how do you know the waitress didn't do it or that the customer was really a pastor? You don't. Simular hoaxes have made the internet before. Asshole!!

[Nickdfresh]

Even if the computer program knew their was a party of twenty and split the bill up how do you know the waitress didn't do it or that the customer was really a pastor? You don't. Simular hoaxes have made the internet before. Asshole!!

Is that the kind of stuff you do before stiffing or "dining-and-dashing?"

[jhale667]

I thought you were against broad sweeping generalizations based on the actions of a single individual

In general yes. So allow me to clarify: Zealot Christian douchebags (not to be confused with actual christians, who would never to something this cunty) annoy the fuck out of me, and deserve absolutely no respect. This is obviously some pious asshat who's also a cheapskate. Even if it is a hoax, it's certainly not unbelievable, nor as bad as some of the shit I've seen people like this do personally.

One thing is certain: Organized religion on the whole sucks. Hope that clears things up. :baaa: Dominionists, on the other hand, are fucking dangerous, but that's another thread.

[Little Texan]

Figures you people don't recognize a hoax when you see one. How would the computer know it was a party of 20? It's only 34.93. Somebody's lying.

The 34.93 was part of the bill, not the full bill.



The Reddit user who submitted the image explained in the comments section that the receipt was part of a total bill for a party of 20, which is why the gratuity was automatically added.

[Nitro Express]

It's best to leave the matter in the lord's hands. He has his way of dealing with those Christian assholes.

[lesfunk]

I think the biggest cunts are right here at the Roth ArmY! :jesuslol:

[jhale667]

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/jhale667/483132_571881376173055_1365915059_n.png

[Hardrock69]

The waitress got fired for posting the receipt and posting about the incident.

The stupid bitch pastor has apologized for getting the waitress fired. Her identity has been revealed as well.

Stupid fucking idiot.

[Hardrock69]

The 34.93 was part of the bill, not the full bill.


DING DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!

Congratulations, LT! You can read and understand English!
Something beyond cadaverfucker's capabilities, obviously. :hee:

[Hardrock69]

Here is the guestbook at the website of the stupid kunt's "church".

Feel free to leave comments, but if you are going to use foul language, misspell the words, as they have a filter on:

http://www.stlouischurches.org/Truth-in-the-Word-Deliverance-Ministries-3955/send-message.html

[Nickdfresh]

Apparently the KKK is now under new "Christian" leadership, making them a kinder and gentler Klu Klux Klan:

The Colbert ReportGet More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

[Hardrock69]

What is strange is the article claimed a "man claiming to be a pastor" left the note on the receipt, when in fact, it was a woman who claimed to be a pastor.

[jhale667]

Apparently the KKK is now under new "Christian" leadership, making them a kinder and gentler Klu Klux Klan:




OK, so FUCK THEM still... only ever-so-slightly kindly and gently going forward. :fufu:


GREAT idea for the new hoods, though... :hee:

[FORD]

Figures you people don't recognize a hoax when you see one. How would the computer know it was a party of 20? It's only 34.93. Somebody's lying.

Maybe the pastor learned how to do that thing that JC did when He fed the entire crowd with one kid's picnic basket?

[jhale667]

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/jhale667/FACKyouApplebees_zps17856474.jpg


Uh-oh, if the eventual boycott gains any traction, it could seriously cut into C-dog's "action"... :lmao:

[FORD]

Depends on whether or not his niece is boycotting, since she's probably the one who paid Sockfucker's tab. :biggrin:

[fraroc]

Whoever posted this on MSN is a CUNT with a captital-C.

"Gays just don't get it. God weighed in on this subject from the beginning of time when he created a man and a woman. The only fruits and nuts he created was on the trees in the garden. He did not intend for two men to get together and take turns pretending to be a woman or two women taking turns pretending to be a man. ANY church or pastor that condones this is a church or pastor in name only and has nothing to do with God. It's like a crackhead pastor or Reverend Molestor. All these Gay pedophiles are just drooling at the prospects of getting at these innocent children. It's just like Newtown, but much worse because these kids will be damaged for life. Our Bi-sexual president went down to Connecticut and cried for the kids at Newtown but yet he is condoning and promoting this immoral lifestyle to his kids and other people kids to be placed in the presence of sick and depraved pedophiles. What a sick bastard."


I would love to punch this guy who wrote this in the goddamn face.

[Dave's Bitch]

I love how Gay and Pedophile mean the same thing to some people.

[philouze]

I love how Gay and Pedophile mean the same thing to some people.

Amalgamation...
Other examples:

French/Winos
British/Gays
Brasilian/Trannys
Australian/Kangaroo fuckers
Chinese/Dog eaters
American/Heroes

[jhale667]

I love how Gay and Pedophile mean the same thing to some people.

If by "some" you mean ignorant zealot fucktards... ;)

[ELVIS]

Why do you hate Christians so much ??

[El Bastardo]

Because it competes with their religion

[ELVIS]

What, Porn ??

[El Bastardo]

not porn. Liberalism

[ELVIS]

Aren't they basically the same thing ??

[El Bastardo]

No. Seriously, These "progressive secular" types are some of the biggest religious zealots ever known.

[ELVIS]

And the most authoritarian...

[El Bastardo]

My the way, My Avatar is a nice pic of the first lady don't you think?

[ELVIS]

This one would be better...

http://images.sodahead.com/profiles/0/0/0/2/8/9/0/9/2/Moochelloween-59970543702.jpeg

[FORD]

My the way, My Avatar is a nice pic of the first lady don't you think?

Looks more like the previous unelected occupant of the White House to me.

[El Bastardo]

No. He's a Chimp. That's a Howler Monkey

[El Bastardo]

Oh and BTW, It's not racist. If she were caucasian she would look like a white howler monkey

[Dr. Love]

She was fired for exposing the company to publicity they didn't want, damaging their image. Now they have to contend with customers wondering what the staff will post on reddit/facebook/wherever. For a company trying to manage its imagine, uncontrolled events like this by employees lead to termination.

She should have known better than to post it, and this was a foregone conclusion as soon as she did. If she hadn't mentioned what restaurant she worked at, or posted the picture, she probably would have been fine just telling an anecdotal story. Actions have consequences, even unpleasant ones.

[Zing!]

Certainly indicative of their typical holier-than-thou cunty-ass attitude, yeah.


Saw this on FB earlier, and the best suggested response was "because God didn't bring you your cheeseburger, bitch."

That's priceless!

[Hardrock69]

Whoever posted this on MSN is a CUNT with a captital-C.

"Gays just don't get it. God weighed in on this subject from the beginning of time when he created a man and a woman.

That is not correct even there.

The "beginning of time" is unknown. The Universe has only existed for 13 billion years. Supposedly 6,000 years according to Christians.

The thing is, if you ask a Christian when God was created, they will have no answer. But if they go all literal and shit, Man and Woman were not created until the 6th day. So they were NOT created at "the beginning of time". Fucking idiots.


I love how Gay and Pedophile mean the same thing to some people.

Stupid is as stupid does....

[Jesus Christ]

My children, ye need to stop branding people with vulgar names.

If ye want to know whether or not somebody is worthy of the name "Christian" then there is only one question ye need to answer:

Do they keep and practice My teachings as they are written in the Gospels?

If they do, then they are My disciples, and ye would hath no reason to call them such names in the first place.

If they do not, then they are not "Christians" at all. For verily I say unto you that the word "Christian" itself means to be "like Christ". And ye cannot be like Me, if ye do not keep My teachings.

[Zing!]

WWJD I say!

[El Bastardo]

What's the difference between Jesus and an oil painting?
It only takes one nail to hang an oil painting.

[Nickdfresh]

She was fired for exposing the company to publicity they didn't want, damaging their image. Now they have to contend with customers wondering what the staff will post on reddit/facebook/wherever. For a company trying to manage its imagine, uncontrolled events like this by employees lead to termination.

She should have known better than to post it, and this was a foregone conclusion as soon as she did. If she hadn't mentioned what restaurant she worked at, or posted the picture, she probably would have been fine just telling an anecdotal story. Actions have consequences, even unpleasant ones.

Good thing none of us work for them or we would have been fired over the Applebees' Thread...

[kentuckyklira]

Why do you hate Christians so much ??

I despise anybody who thinks he deserves some special treatment because of the ridiculous fairy tale he believes in. Especially, I hate people trying to force their morals onto others, which Christians are especially good at.

[ELVIS]

So, Christians have forced their beliefs on you two tards ??

[Hardrock69]

No dumbass, but they sure tried.

[ELVIS]

You were there too ??

[lesfunk]

The only time I noticed any Christians were forcing their beliefs on me is when I watched MSNBC and they told me so. Everywhere else they seem just like normal people

[jhale667]

You're supposed to be guaranteed freedom of and FROM religion in America... too bad the latter isn't taken more seriously.

[ELVIS]

To have more dumb fucks like yourself ??

[lesfunk]

Aren't we?

[Dr. Love]

You're supposed to be guaranteed freedom of and FROM religion in America... too bad the latter isn't taken more seriously.

Really? Where does it say that?

[Headly1984]

Saw a bumper sticker today some of you might like ..

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-attributed to Gandhi

[LoungeMachine]

Really? Where does it say that?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. .

:gulp:

Establishment Clause, First Amendment

[Headly1984]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. .

:gulp:

Establishment Clause, First Amendment

The American education system has failed many - best not to try to argue with idiots, they bring you down to their level, then beat you with idiot experience ..hahaha

[DLR Bridge]

I know a few born again Christians who spend their time (on Facebook) trying to proselytize whomever will read their posts. Why do the born agains want so bad to recruit? Why not just live with their beliefs and leave it at that?

[Headly1984]

Catholics and Christians like born again folk the way Jews like Jews for Jesus lol!

[Dr. Love]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. .

:gulp:

Establishment Clause, First Amendment

That doesn't say you have freedom from religion. All that says is that Congress can't pass laws establishing a state religion. It also goes on to say that Congress can't pass laws preventing you from practicing your religion.

[Nickdfresh]

That doesn't say you have freedom from religion. All that says is that Congress can't pass laws establishing a state religion. It also goes on to say that Congress can't pass laws preventing you from practicing your religion.

How can anyone not be free from religion if the gov't cannot respect the establishment of a religion...

[Dr. Love]

Doesn't mean that you don't have to put up with other people shoving it in your face, which is what people were bitching at when jhale posted that people have a "freedom" from religion and other people don't take that seriously.

[fraroc]

Why do you hate Christians so much ??

I just hate the ones that are cunts. Sadly a lot of them are.

[lesfunk]

The only sensible solution is to outlaw Religion.
Then outlaw guns
Then hamburgers and all other unhealthy foods
Then Capitalism

[Dr. Love]

The only solution is to outlaw Religion.
Then outlaw guns
Then hamburgers and all other unhealthy foods
Then Capitalism

You forgot that first they have to outlaw sodas over a certain size. :biggrin:

[Headly1984]

Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of another man's nose

if you don't like proselytizers, ignore em like ya would a Scientologist or Mormon, lol! (sorry to any Mormons I may have offended)

I lived around the corner from a planned parenthood and the clap board people would walk in circles - some neighbors or passer by folk would honk or engage them, I just ignored em. I may not like what you have to say, but you have the right to say it.

What a fun morning it was when the bomb squad was there - oy vey !

[DONNIEP]

The only sensible solution is to outlaw Religion.
Then outlaw guns
Then hamburgers and all other unhealthy foods
Then Capitalism

You have to burn the books too. Can't forget that.

[jhale667]

I know a few born again Christians who spend their time (on Facebook) trying to proselytize whomever will read their posts. Why do the born agains want so bad to recruit? Why not just live with their beliefs and leave it at that?

Because they're cunts.

[Seshmeister]

Keep the hamburgers and capitalism...

[DONNIEP]

Keep the hamburgers and capitalism...

And my guns :biggrin:

[Satan]

If you want to live in a place where you are eternally free from religion, I've got a suggestion... http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/teufel/d010.gif

[Nickdfresh]

Doesn't mean that you don't have to put up with other people shoving it in your face, which is what people were bitching at when jhale posted that people have a "freedom" from religion and other people don't take that seriously.

The problem is mainly the reverse, that many Christians feel persecuted by nature and having to put up with (more fantasy that not) people "shoving" atheism in their face...

A prime example of a Christian cunt would be Rick Sanitarium and how he conveniently combines everything he doesn't like and labels it an anti-God agenda...

[lesfunk]

I think the reason we get into these arguments is because we often make sweeping generalizations about people.
Obviously all Christians are not cunts, I would wager most are not.
All Repukes are not Chicken Hawk, banker buttlickers and all Democunts are not Socialist Pinkos and tree hugging homos

[fraroc]

Some Random Guy: I don't hate Gay people, I think they are human beings just like us, I don't have a problem if a guy wants to wear a speedo at the beach either. Let them wear whatever the fuck they want! I wouldn't nessicarily want to see that on a daily basis, but if I did see it, it wouldn't bother me!

Christian Zealot Cunt: DISGUSTING! YOU ARE MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE! YOU HATE FAMILIES AND SUPPORT PERVERTS! BEING GAY IS ANTI-CHRISTIAN, ANTI-FAMILY, AND ANTI-JESUS! NO STRAIGHT MAN WEARS THOSE DISGUSTING SPEEDOS (even professonal swimmers :P) EXCEPT FOR PINK COMMUNIST FAGS YOU'RE A MARXIST, YOU ARE A PINKO! YOU ARE A TERRORIST! AND YOU HATE AMERICA BECAUSE WE ARE A CHRISTIAN NATION!

Some Random Guy: Ok, can you please calm down and try to be rational?

Christian Zealot Cunt: I....I WAS JUST ATTACKED FOR MY BELIEFS! I AM A VICTIM OF ANTI-CHRISTIAN BULLYING!

[lesfunk]

Exhibit A

[Nickdfresh]

I think the reason we get into these arguments is because we often make sweeping generalizations about people.
Obviously all Christians are not cunts, I would wager most are not.
All Repukes are not Chicken Hawk, banker buttlickers and all Democunts are not Socialist Pinkos and tree hugging homos

The thread doesn't say "all" are cunts. But many are, and comfort themselves with the moral vanities they have of going to church on Sunday and sometime act enabled as a result; like they are "special" or "chosen" or some shit...

[Seshmeister]

I think the reason we get into these arguments is because we often make sweeping generalizations about people.


Also I think people aren't used to even discussing or debating it. Maybe because people used to get killed when people argued about religion(and still do in some places) the custom became not to discuss it outwith your particular tribe. If your average baptist goes to dinner with a catholic it would be unusual I think, for him to start asking how in the name of fuck anyone could think that a communion wafer literally became a bit of Christ.

The downside to this politeness is that in a modern world because there is a culture of not questioning religion even the parts that are clearly and patently nuts are not debated away. Then people come on the internet and it takes them a while to adjust.

[jhale667]

The problem is mainly the reverse, that many Christians feel persecuted by nature and having to put up with (more fantasy that not) people "shoving" atheism in their face...

A prime example of a Christian cunt would be Rick Sanitarium and how he conveniently combines everything he doesn't like and labels it an anti-God agenda...



Anything not slobberingly overt in Jesus-y-ness is "anti-God" to them. It HAS to be a production number. Funny how they miss the part in the Bible that says it should be the exact opposite...

[Headly1984]

What I find nice about a Sunday Sermon is it gives me inspiration sometimes & something to consider during the week

Sure I can read theology or philosophy all I want, but it is nice to be part of a congregation and share a community with mostly like minded folk.

Kinda like Hoping DLR & CVH get back on the road and / or put out some kick ass new music - both would be inspiring it and I would look forward to sharing it with people who dig it

[Hardrock69]

http://www.alternet.org/belief/busting-myth-christians-are-more-generous-non-believers



Busting the Myth That Christians Are More Generous Than Non-Believers
Many religious people believe giving to the church is the be-all and end all of generosity.


February 5, 2013 |





The story has gone viral: A group got together at Applebees. When the tab came the minister wrote on the ticket, “I give God 10 percent, why should I give you 18?” She scratched through the automatic large-group tip and substituted a fat zero and signed it with the word “Pastor” in front of her name. The waitress posted an image on Reddit. The pastor called to complain. The waitress got fired. The internet went wild. Last I saw, one story had 80,000 comments and counting.

In reality, the pastor simply exposed something that is all too common to Christian thinking: the sense that giving to the church and to religious charities is the be-all and end all of generosity. As indignant reactions to the Applebee’s incident show, service workers sometimes pay the price:


“I worked at the Outback Steakhouse for 3 years and we ALL dreaded Sundays.”

“The Sunday after church crowd were always the worst tippers. I found another line of work.”

“As a former waitress who frequently served large parties of CHURCH members and pastors, I can attest to the fact that the majority of them were very demanding, condescending, dismissive and cheap. When 1 or 2 from the party of 12 -15 did tip they would leave pennies and loose change.”

“I have waited tables in the past and I am sorry to say this behavior is not unusual. Often Ministers come into restaurants with their parishioners and treat the staff there to wait on them beyond poorly. They usually come in rather large parties and often leave very little tip for the poor server, who goes out of their way to care for the group.”

“I also provide a service to the public. It is ALWAYS the churches that want something for free or don't tip.”

“I waited tables for over 30 years and I have been stiffed many times by people like her.”

I grew up in a community in which tithing was expected. My parents gave regularly to the church and provided sustaining support to missionary organizations ranging from Wycliffe Bible Translators, which targets isolated tribes for conversion, to Child Evangelism Fellowship which views America’s public schools as a mission field. Our church showcased individual missionary families as well as smart, far-reaching organizations like Focus on the Family. In my memory, it never encouraged generosity toward groups whose primary mission was justice or aid or stewardship. Similarly, church members were encouraged to take care of the elderly and ill—but only those within the church community or those being targeted for conversion. Whether and how to tip a hard-scrabbling waitress simply wasn’t a part of the conversation.

The practice of tipping taps into two very basic moral impulses – perhaps humanity’s two most fundamental moral instincts: reciprocity and empathy. The reciprocity aspect is obvious: you give good service, I give you a good tip. (Tipping is the reason service is better here than in France.) But as comment threads about the Applebee’s waitress indicate, many of us give generously to wait-staff because we know what it’s like to be in their shoes. “Servers work hard for little money. A lot are just trying to pay their way through college or even just trying to make a little cash in high school, or even supporting a family.” “My friend works in a restaurant and I asked him how much he get paid. He said $2.00/ hr. and only depend on tips. I said, that's against the minimum wage law? I need work just to survive to eat. Thinking about him, I always give at least 18% or 20 for the services they do.” Generosity is rooted in empathy.

Researchers are starting to apply the tools of the social sciences to study religion, and one of the big questions they are asking is whether religion makes people more generous. The answer is complicated and much debated. Religious people make more tax deductible donations, but without controlled research it has been hard to sort out how much of their giving is simply to promote their own religion or to pay for what economists call “club benefits.” A recent study by the Nottingham University Business School suggests that religion has little effect on generosity per se, except toward insiders. In one task, Malasians of different religions faced a situation in which they had an imaginary sum of money that they could share or not share with another person. The other person could give part back, in which case that part would be tripled. Religious participants, including Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists became more generous than nonreligious only when they were told that the other participant was a member of their own faith.

One factor this particular study doesn’t address is that religion provides social expectations and mechanisms for giving, and even sometimes establishes a duty to give a certain amount, as in the case of tithing. Stanford Professor Robert Putnam co-authored the book American Grace in which he lined up evidence that religious Americans give more than secular Americans. Contrary to much of the follow-up crowing about compassionate conservatives, he actually found that religious liberals were more generous than religious conservatives. The key to giving appeared to be not piety but community, the question of how many friends a person had that were a part of their church: “Faith is less important than communities of faith,” Putnam said.

Religious institutions sometimes exploit and redirect empathic or generous impulses, converting them into a means of simply feeding the beast more dollars or adherents. My friend Kent recently received a mailer titled, “They’re Crying Out for Bibles. Please Help!” It told of one “dear elderly” woman in China who had been waiting for a Bible all her life. When Haiti was devastated by an earthquake, a different missionary organization used the disaster to raise funds and ship Haitians much needed solar-powered Bibles. At the time of the Asian Tsunami, a Seattle mega-church sympathized on its website and then advised parishioners to pray for those affected, give to their church-building ministries (aka conversion activities) in India, and give to Mars Hill Church. A hip newspaper published by the same church, advises that God want you to give first and foremost to your home congregation. The formula has worked beautifully for them.

But the very same mechanisms that can direct the generous impulse to fill church coffers and pews can also elicit or shape generosity for other purposes. In his book and TED talk, Atheism 2.0, Alain de Botton argued that people who have moved beyond supernaturalism should adapt and keep the best of religion. One aspect of that is a structural, institutional emphasis on service and giving.

Nonbelief in America is growing rapidly, and as it does, nascent secular groups are asking what it might mean for them to be giving communities. A Kiva lending team that calls itself “Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists, and the Non-Religious” is Kiva’s the top ranked team in terms of total microcredit lending. The Foundation Beyond Belief recently created added tools to build on-the-ground volunteer groups centered on “compassionate humanism. Religious communities increase giving by making it easy and fun to give and sometimes by making it uncomfortable not to. Many churches offer automatic monthly withdrawals. Mormon bishops have been known to have face to face discussions in which they actually review a family’s finances and level of giving. While few of us want the secular equivalent of bishops rooting around in our bank statements, doing a blood drive together, swapping notes about favorite charities, or teaming up on an aid project can be immensely rewarding.

So can cultivating a sense of empathy and a habit of generosity toward folks who work hard for a living.







“As a former waitress who frequently served large parties of CHURCH members and pastors, I can attest to the fact that the majority of them were very demanding, condescending, dismissive and cheap.

In my line of work, I have found from EXTENSIVE experience, that those people who loudly proclaim how "Christian" they are, are more likely to either try to rip me off or nickel and dime me to death.

If they show up and in the course of doing business with someone they start to go on about how they are a "good Church-going man" or some kind of "God-fearing Christian", it throws a red flag up.

The hypocrisy is disgusting.


The worst bastard was a noted "Christian" author, who was a vice-president of some national religious organization based here in Gnashville who had written several financial books with titles like "How To Achieve More Giving From Your Congregation".

He actively tried to rip the company off that I worked for, and was FURIOUS that we demanded actual PAYMENT for services rendered.



When Haiti was devastated by an earthquake, a different missionary organization used the disaster to raise funds and ship Haitians much needed solar-powered Bibles.



?????

"Solar-powered Bibles"????????

Since when does a fucking BOOK require electricity?

Sounds like they were scamming people, to me.