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 ?

Yes, God will and does provide, it’s all of God’s resource and it all goes into our local independent church to pay for our building and expenses. There was a couple in the bible who tried to keep their money secret from God, Ananias and Sapphira, and they died for their deceit. But none of that is important without salvation, truly knowing you’re going to heaven, you can know for sure you’re going to heaven too. Acts 16:30,31 “...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” “...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved...” explains it easier in this video, nothing matters if you’re not saved, going to church won’t save you, being a good person won’t save you, none of us were ever good enough to get to heaven on our own or Jesus would never have had to die for us, it’s just believing in your heart, Jesus paid for your sins, and asking him to save you.

No, I go to a service now and again and give to the collection plate. Its probably about once every six weeks.

I am on a low income but I do give a small monthly donation to Mind and a local charity close to my heart. But they are very small amounts because I cant afford anything else.

No

I presume you are talking about tithing. I've never tithed but once all bills were paid I'd count up what was left and work out what I could spare for particular causes. That was years ago when money was tight and obviously there were times when I could spare nothing!

In recent years I give on an ad hoc basis and by standing order to a few charities. I've never worked out the percentage but I do not believe in being legalistic.

No. I try to support my wider family, I volunteered for a charity for ten years before I had dc, I have been lucky enough never to have claimed benefits, and I have paid higher rate tax for most of the last 30 years.

Now I focus on providing for DC. Once he is bigger, I plan to be a foster mum. That’s enough.

I don’t believe in God. Religion is the root of most wars.

The other thing I have noticed is that, for every church with a thriving community and lots of outreach, there are churches where not much goes on apart from a service on a Sunday. It could be a rather easy life in some respects!

I'm atheist. My PILs were religious. They tithed, and I have to say that their church did (and presumably still does) some wonderful work for the vulnerable with that money.

Despite having no belief whatsoever, I find the unkind generalising about those with faith, and their churches, REALLY annoying. Most of the time it's just lazy, and the who sky fairy/flying spaghetti monster thing is just pain smug nastiness.

I'm involved in a couple of volunteering roles. The organisations I work for are not religious, but like the majority of charities, they were founded by religious people. When it comes down to it, there's a moral code in most faiths that leads to most churches putting themselves out to help others.

I agree that the dismissive name calling is nasty.

Generalisation is lazy too. But there is nothing wrong with applying a little critical questioning to organisations which are, after all, handing around a collection plate and asking you to put money into it in an environment (church service) where you cannot immediately ask a question about where the money is going.

Why?

Maybedoctor. Our church prints regular newsletters with articles about the charities it supports. Many church members are directly involved with the charities. It also says each week as the collection plate gets passed round that it is for regulars and not visitors who no one has to give without knowing exactly what the money is spent on.

Hahahaha no.

There are two churches near me. One is proper old fashioned CoE, jam and Jerusalem, village fete type of thing. I did chuck some money into the "help us fix the South wall" collection tin, because that church has a lot of history around it and is a bit of a local institution for everyone regardless of faith.

Church number 2 however.....

Big happy clappy coffee and Jesus type place. Before you can become a member, they get you in a room and have you hand over your bank details. I drive past it on many a Sunday, and the cars in that car park are probably the equivalent price of my remaining mortgage.

A racket for churches? Really?
How do you think they pay for the equipment for the weekly toddler group, the heating for the over 70s weekly hot lunch and bingo, the half term (free) holiday club including a day trip to the local wildlife park, the insurance on the building for the free debt advice club. This all comes from the church members who give to their church.

I wish taxes were only 10%!

Churches are incredibly wealthy. They don’t need donations in order to fund charitable events but they have chosen to keep their money.

No.

I’m pretty sure god has no use for money but I do believe that I have an obligation to give back to humanity but through action more than through money (I do donate to charity but I don’t think that it’s enough or particularly meaningful a contribution). I have had many privileges in my life. Privilege begets obligation. Because I can do more than others thanks to my upbringing and genetic gifts then I am obliged to do more. It’s people like me that are the ones who can bring humanity forwards, because we can we must. It isn’t enough for me to just get a job and give some of that money to charity/pay tax to a welfare state. I need to eventually get myself to a point where I am creating something that will have a lasting benefit to other people whether that is creating a business that will provide consumers with what they need and employees with good jobs to help them live or works of philosophical genius. It doesn’t really matter what it is so long as I am using my gifts to give rather than to take. If you have enjoyed benefits it’s not fair to use them selfishly.

Personally, no, but I admire people who do.

I don't give tenth, but I give something.

I'm a member of the parochial council, so I know how it's spent.

At the moment I don’t have enough money

But when I have been more comfortable I have given money. And I have given time when I could - I think this is something we could all do if we can

Forrandom - SS?

I think overall “The Church” has lots of cash. But your average congregation across the UK probably doesn’t, although lots of them have loads in reserves when you dig around a bit more.

I’d be interested to hear more from the Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindi mumsnetters about how it works in those traditions. They probably see all the Christian bashing on here and wisely stay away though, so that discussion probably won’t happen which I think is sad. Flinging insults around never leads anywhere good.

We have always tithed. Our church gives support to a variety of organisations at home and abroad, and we are able to see where the money goes. We have a minister's stipend to pay and a manse to keep up as well as a building widely used by and for the community. If we weren't happy with the way the church used our money we would give to charities instead.

Muslims give 2.5%, it's called Zakat and is one of the 5 pillars

@Wilmalovescake SS? Doesn't mean anything to me?

Nope. There's no poor churches. They want cash, they can sell off some of their gold, statues and other possessions......I do give to charity (air ambulance) but its not 10%. I'd be using a foodbank if it was....

I give regularly to charities but not religious organisations. I am a life-long atheist.