Religion - the perfect scam?

[FreeTony]

It's so good:

1) You just have to read your followers a book each week, and then they "donate" loads of money to you (tax free of course). Don't directly ask for the money, just heavily imply donating it is a good idea.

2) You don't even need to buy a different book each week, you can use the same one - great cost saving.

3) Your followers will raise their own children so that in the future they also donate money to you. If they try and escape then they will be vilified and emotionally guilt tripped into staying.

4) Not only that, but they'll also go around trying to get you more followers for free!

So don't bother starting a pyramid scheme and risk being sent to jail. Take advantage of religious people instead, because it's easy.


On a slightly less tongue-in-cheek not, donations to US churches are very approx $100 billion a year. Think what good could be done with this money (yes, I realise some of this is spent by churches on charitable causes). I am also aware that Church attendances are falling, so it isn't actually quite as easy as that to make money out of Christians.

[Minimalist]

Don't directly ask for the money,

The fuckers have no trouble asking.

[KUSA]

When I quit going to church I noticed that I had more spending money.
If you are a Christian and want more money become an Atheist.

[Godscreated]

It's so good:

1) You just have to read your followers a book each week, and then they "donate" loads of money to you (tax free of course). Don't directly ask for the money, just heavily imply donating it is a good idea.

2) You don't even need to buy a different book each week, you can use the same one - great cost saving.

3) Your followers will raise their own children so that in the future they also donate money to you. If they try and escape then they will be vilified and emotionally guilt tripped into staying.

4) Not only that, but they'll also go around trying to get you more followers for free!

So don't bother starting a pyramid scheme and risk being sent to jail. Take advantage of religious people instead, because it's easy.


On a slightly less tongue-in-cheek not, donations to US churches are very approx $100 billion a year. Think what good could be done with this money (yes, I realise some of this is spent by churches on charitable causes). I am also aware that Church attendances are falling, so it isn't actually quite as easy as that to make money out of Christians.

Who is the you?

[KUSA]

It's so good:

1) You just have to read your followers a book each week, and then they "donate" loads of money to you (tax free of course). Don't directly ask for the money, just heavily imply donating it is a good idea.

2) You don't even need to buy a different book each week, you can use the same one - great cost saving.

3) Your followers will raise their own children so that in the future they also donate money to you. If they try and escape then they will be vilified and emotionally guilt tripped into staying.

4) Not only that, but they'll also go around trying to get you more followers for free!

So don't bother starting a pyramid scheme and risk being sent to jail. Take advantage of religious people instead, because it's easy.


On a slightly less tongue-in-cheek not, donations to US churches are very approx $100 billion a year. Think what good could be done with this money (yes, I realise some of this is spent by churches on charitable causes). I am also aware that Church attendances are falling, so it isn't actually quite as easy as that to make money out of Christians.

Who is the you?

Your preacher.

[Godscreated]

Who is the you?

Your preacher.

My preacher has no control over the money brought into the church, there's a board that has control over all that's spent and only then if through a vote the congregation approves. The money is divided up among a couple of dozen different things, the pastors salary in only a portion of that. I've even seen a pastors salary lessened to make sure money was available for other programs.

GC

[Popsicle]

Some of them are pretty fucking direct in asking for the cash.

[FreeTony]

Some of them are pretty fucking direct in asking for the cash.

How so? I've never really been to church apart from the odd carol service so not sure how it all works. When you're not brought up with this stuff it all just seems weird and pointless.

My impression was that they engineered it so that you would be publically shamed if you don't give cash. Though given you have to give 10% of your salary I'd imagine this is done through a bank transfer? How does it all work?

At best I guess it could be seen as kinda like a service such as a gym, and you are paying for that service. They obviously don't want you to see it like that, but that is essentially what it is. I'm not sure however that you can claim your money back if you find out later your pastor has been teaching you the wrong stuff (well according to the pastor at the church down the road).

[KUSA]

The last church I went to one of the associate pastors gave a mini sermon EVERY Sunday before the service began. It was full of guilt, duty, and promises of reward.
They would pass the collection plate around looking if you put something in it. They even had a tithing machine that looked like an ATM. They had someone stand there watching you swipe you debit card and transfer money to them.
The church way paid for and they had so much money they didn't know what to do with it. Although the church was modern and in great shape they had it remodeled and had the parking lot repaved. The parking lot was fine before. It wasn't cracked up or bad looking at all. What a waste of money.

[FreeTony]

What sorts of amounts are we talking say per week or per year?

The tithing machine sounds amazing. I guess not all science and technology is the work of Satan.