Do you believe it’s your duty to give a tenth of your income to god/charity

[Lardlizard]

Or not partually a tenth but A certain amount ?

I am happy to give a bit of money to church collections, in order to maintain buildings. I attend occasionally, on high days and holidays.

However, there is often lots of talk about what churches and ministers of religion do to support the community: visiting the sick, working with schools, helping the needy etc. But scratch the surface and it often turns out that what they actually mean is helping members of their own congregation or visiting their affiliated CofE school.

If a church actively assists those who are unbelievers or those who do not engage with the religious services, then that is genuinely charitable. Otherwise it is just a self-serving club.

As for ministering to the dying, I have twice seen that those whose attendance at religious services had tailed off as they became ill and frail were pretty much forgotten about in their final days (two different religions). Yet the faith leaders and congregation were out in force at their funeral.

I don’t give a tenth of my income, I do give time. The church I attend feeds 100 people once a week and gives out many food parcels as well. I have donated things like a baby cot to a family in need and many people gave items to a family whose house burned down, they did not attend church but it was local to our church. My friend that is a Muslim does give 10% of their income. Almost no one that comes to the lunch attends church. We are just about to offer a free cookery course.

The church I go to does loads of stuff for people who are not in our congregation from the homeless and elderly in care homes to running toddlers groups. We do of course also help those in our congregation but that should be expected. Some of our congregation have health problems (mental and physical) are on very low incomes, have children with disabilities, suffer from dementia etc, just like any other cross section of society and of course we want to help each other too.

I do give to the church. They do a lot to support the local community (not just members) and there is of course a cost for upkeep of buildings etc. If none of the congregation donated, there would be no church and no outreach. When I was able I also gave my time to host at the food bank, and I try to still regularly give food.

RC here. We give 7% during the year and a bit more during Lent and Advent which goes to a home for the elderly run by The Little Sisters of the Poor.

Nope! Charity starts at home and I have 2 kids to feed. When I go to church I stick whatever spare change I have in the collection but that's about it!

@tararabumdeay an aside really, but an exempt charity is still just as much a charity as a registered one. It is just that they are regulated by a body other than the charity commission - the Housing Corporation (or whatever it is currently called) for Housing Associations. And similar bodies for other exempt charities.

And you don't need to feel apologetic or like you need to explain- those of us who are able to give so that those who can't don't have to/can benefit.

I think it entirely depends on your income and outgoings. A poorer family are better off spending money on themselves to reduce impact of poverty longer term.
The rich should support the less affluent in one way or another.It might be via charity giving or direct assistance to neighbours but it’s immoral to sit in luxury and watch others struggle without doing something to help.

I used to, well more than 10%. I left my religion a few years ago, continued to pay until about a year ago. A few years ago I would have happily defended my churches purchases and wealth, now I find it horrifying. It's tend to hide it's financial information, but it was leaked a month or so ago that it had more than £100 BILLION in reserves, the church accepted this but tried to justify its wealth.

I guess a few years ago I would have defended it saying it was wise to protect its money and we don't know what the future brings, but now I know it's charitable spends are around 6billion, which is generous but in comparison it's a drop in the ocean. I can't help but think they often take from the poorest people, encourage those to pay in faith even if it leaves them short on rent or for food etc and it has that much wealth, so much can be done with that.

I'm perhaps over critical because of my experiences with my past religion but it makes me uncomfortable.

So I have given, now I don't, I do give to charities and I do give a lot of my time to volunteering but I'm fortunate enough to be able to do that. Plus I am saving thousands a year from not giving to a church.

I give to our local church as we occasionally attend. I don't give to any collections that are for use beyond our actual church. It isn't a particularly significant amount.

We donate considerably more to other charities. Mostly to one homeless organisation where we live. We have gotten to know the people there very well, volunteer regularly, our children have all volunteered there and we give a large sum to them every year.

We also give to other charities/not for profits but not as much.

Duty? No, it's a choice. I believe in giving back, we all have something to give that makes a difference. I give up time I would otherwise be working and earning to volunteer. It amounts to a lot more than 10% of (what would be) my income. And every bit of it goes straight to the charity.

Every church I've been part of does this. It's not about gold candlesticks as mentioned below but misuse

Well Ive been to quite a few churches and have never seen this- they've all been very very transparent about where their money goes so to generalise about "all churches" is simply untrue

Nope, spending it all before I go.

I donate money to charity each month. I would never ever give money to the church. They completely and utterly failed my mother. What others do with their money is of course completely up to them

Categorically never give to any organised religion/related charity.

Donate regularly both personally and through my business to charities either close to my heart or doing good work in the community.

Errr... no?

I have just looked up the annual accounts of a large Pentecostal church organisation.

£12.1m in reserves.

No I'm an atheist so would never give to any organised religion. I give every month to the abortion support network.

1/10 would be for me would be £140 a month there is no way I could afford to give that away. I do support our local church by buying thing in the charity shop they run and I also donate £5.00 a month to a few charities.

I give to the British Red Cross through my payroll and RNLI through a standing order each month. Not 10% but it is what I can afford. We donate to the food bank and the local animal charity every week at the supermarket

I do, as part of my faith, but unfortunately it’s not at the 10% mark due to not currently being all that financially secure. It’s more like 5% at the moment. I give what I can, maybe I do need to give more to religious organisations and charities.

No you don't, @namechange84. You've already said you're not financially secure and you give what you can.

No, I don't. But I am currently fostering a teenager and supporting her mum both materially and personally. Is it 10%? Probably not - but I am a single parent with two DDs to raise.

I am an atheist - there is no religious motivation in what I do. I will help people who have less than I do where I can, but I will not see my kids go without.

I would never give money to a religion.
I would give money to Shelter/ Mind/ good banks/ Cancer charities though.