Is Religion Just Another Big Business?

[idiosyncrasy]

It appears that most religions appear to be making money than giving the spiritual guidance.
Hae you noticed how their leaders get large salaries and live in luxury?
This would appear to be especially true of the TV evangelists, remember the scandal a few years back in the US?

[naomi24]

Billy Graham is said to have amassed a fortune of $25 million.

[bookbinder]

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a18565083/billy-graham-net-worth/

[brian j john]

The Catholic Church is the largest and topmost Christian organization which has an estimated wealth of more than $30 billion as of 2022

[Atheist]

But surely god must have known all this would happen when he sent his son down!

[bookbinder]

Who pays these large salaries?

[Atheist]

The private US churches pay themselves from the dough that they tell their flocks that god wants them to give to the churches.

[bookbinder]

https://eu.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/readers/2014/09/03/reader-letter-billy-graham-charge-admission/15012639/

[Patsy33]

Yes.
A snare and a racket!

[archibaldy]

Been going on since the beginning of the thing. Moses didn't miss a trick - 'God' wants 10% of all your seeds, crops and animals, and if you want to keep them you can give cash instead but it'll cost you an extra 20%, and by the way your cattle have to be chosen at random not just give me the scrawny ones. Lad.

[idiosyncrasy]

Brian J John @ yes it appears that one Catholic Bishop amassed church funds to well over 4 M dollars and used them trips and renovating his residence.

Bookbinder@ while the religious leaders get rich, it is the poor usually because they think they are pleasing God especially in the poor and undeveloped countries.

[idiosyncrasy]

Archib aldy@ bit of a difference there. Today we are not under the tything law. That was only for the Jews.

[idiosyncrasy]

Patsy@ definately! Religion is a snare and a racket.

[idiosyncrasy]

When we look into the Bible do you think God approves of this mixing of religion and business?
Jesus didn't. If you remember your religious classes at school didn't he cast out those who were selling in the temple?

[idiosyncrasy]

I remember the Billy Graham concerts. They were very well attended. I never attended one but I understand from reports at the time that people became frenzied (for want of a better word). It was almost like the concerts of Elvis Presley.

[naomi24]

//Jesus didn't. If you remember your religious classes at school didn't he cast out those who were selling in the temple? //

But he lived on charity ....

[Atheist]

Probably all religious organisations have relied on charity. The preaching religious needed it so that they could devote their time to spreading the word rather than earning a living; presumably it was holier to talk about god rather than to toil.

[goodlife]

The Bible is clear in that God does not accept all religions or forms of worship. (Matthew 7:21-23) A prophecy likens all false religious organizations to a prostitute because they form alliances with governments for money or other favours and exploits people of all nations. It goes on to show that God will soon execute judgment on all false religion.—Revelation 17:15-17.

Yes, God does not want the bad actions of false religion to deceive people or to distance them from him. (Matthew 24:11, 12) So, he urges all sincere ones to learn how to serve him acceptably and to get out of false religion.

[naomi24]

//Matthew 7:21-23//

Perhaps he was talking about you, Goodlife. Now there's a thought!

[Zacs-Master]

Goodlife - Is that the same bible which Catholics (you know, the ones who own vast swaths of property and adorn their churches with gold and silver whilst many of their worshippers live on the breadline) use?

[vulcan42]

goodlife, can you prove the religion you follow isn't false? Quotes from the bible, written by man, is not proof.