View Poll Results: % of my GROSS income given to church.
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Less than 1%
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16 |
13.11% |
1% to 1.99%
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10 |
8.20% |
2% to 2.99%
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9 |
7.38% |
3% to 4.99%
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8 |
6.56% |
5% to 6.99%
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6 |
4.92% |
7% to 9.99%
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1 |
0.82% |
10% to 12.99%
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14 |
11.48% |
13% or more
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1 |
0.82% |
I don't meet the requirements.
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18 |
14.75% |
I don't go to church or synagogue or anywhere else.
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39 |
31.97% |
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For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 10:25 AM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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For church goers only. How much do you give?
Requirements:
1) Must be a regular church goer
2) Do NOT count your volunteered time. Only actual cash contribution.
3) Percentage of GROSS income, not take-home.
I'm always fascinated hearing about the suggested percentage one should give the church. So, I always wonder what the actual number is. Thanks.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 10:40 AM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,183
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
I always wonder what the actual number is. Thanks.
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You think the number this poll comes up with will be the actual number?
__________________
"I wasn't born blue blood. I was born blue-collar." John Wort Hannam
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 11:15 AM
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#3
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
If you're a Christian, its supposed to be 10% of your gross. I have a big problem with that because if you only take home 50% of your income because of taxes and off the top savings deductions ( I take home about 23%), that 10% actually comes to 20% or more of your disposable income.
Since I am very involved in my church, I know lots of people who tithe a full 10% of their gross. I know at least one couple who do this but really RESENT their gift. (This contradicts the Christian belief that "God loves the cheerful giver.") I can think of at least one other couple who tithe 10% of their gross cheerfully but have credit card debt exceeding $70K.
From time to time I do experience guilt over not giving more. However, I take solace in knowing that my contributions are freely given from the heart with no regrets. Also, my swift arrival on the shores of financial independence will enable me to contribute my time more freely.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 11:40 AM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 415
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
10% of your increase
definition of "increase" is where all the debate comes from
__________________
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Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 11:54 AM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by youbet
You think the number this poll comes up with will be the actual number?
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Yes, I believe in what most people report in anonymous poll. I know you're skeptical, critical, but it might have to do with yourself more than with what others say.
BTW, you haven't responded to my question in the other thread. How did you arrive at that "strong correlation"? Can't wait to hear your answer.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 12:00 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScaredtoQuit
If you're a Christian, its supposed to be 10% of your gross. I have a big problem with that because if you only take home 50% of your income because of taxes and off the top savings deductions ( I take home about 23%), that 10% actually comes to 20% or more of your disposable income.
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Did you make a mistake in your calculation? If you gave 10% gross, but take home only 23%, that 10% is 43% of your take home (10/23).
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 12:50 PM
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#7
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,327
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScaredtoQuit
If you're a Christian, its supposed to be 10% of your gross.
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Doesn't that depend on the sect? Also, is tithing specified as a requirement somewhere in the New Testament?
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 12:54 PM
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#8
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
Did you make a mistake in your calculation? If you gave 10% gross, but take home only 23%, that 10% is 43% of your take home (10/23).
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When I was referring to the 23%, I was only counting my paycheck from MegaCorp. Additional income comes from DW's salary and investments.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 12:56 PM
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#9
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Atlanta suburbs
Posts: 898
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScaredtoQuit
If you're a Christian, its supposed to be 10% of your gross.
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Who supposed this on you?
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 12:59 PM
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#10
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by donheff
Doesn't that depend on the sect? Also, is tithing specified as a requirement somewhere in the New Testament?
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As far as I know, the requirement to tithe comes from the old testament. "Now consider how great this man was whom Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils" -
Sorry, I can't remember the exact passage in the old testament that this comes from. I'll try to remember to look it up tonight. I think the way it works is that anything in the old testament would apply to any Judeo-Christian religion.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 01:15 PM
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#11
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
ScaredToQuit,
On the other thread, you said giving less than 10% is not an option for you unless you can find a new DW.
Were you joking?
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 01:50 PM
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#12
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 92
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
I always thought the tithe was 10% of your gross, but we recently had a speaker from the stewardship department of our denomination who said they consider the tithe as 10% of net. Also, they would count any other donations to charitable causes as part of the 10%. So I could give 7.5% to the congregation, and another 2.5% toward local or national organizations, and that would count also. I guess it depends on your denomination's philosophy.
__________________
FIREd on 12/31/2006
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 01:58 PM
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#13
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
I wonder how they come up with that suggested percentage (the actual value does not matter). Did they employ an army of accountants (to determine expense), mathematicians (to calculate the propability of people following the suggestion), and marketers (to promote the idea)? It's fascinating!
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 02:45 PM
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#14
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
ScaredToQuit,
On the other thread, you said giving less than 10% is not an option for you unless you can find a new DW.
Were you joking?
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I guess I should have said a significant reduction is not an option for me. (Don't know the exact limits that DW would tolerate) However, she is VERY serious about our committment to Church. While I have grown to believe in the importance of supporting my Church financially, my level of committment pales next to hers. Consider the fact that she insists on a nightly reading of a Bible passage and you'll have a little insight into where I am.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 02:46 PM
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#15
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailor
Who supposed this on you?
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My last response answers this queston also.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 02:47 PM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,183
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
It's fascinating!
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You're easily fascinated Sam!!
__________________
"I wasn't born blue blood. I was born blue-collar." John Wort Hannam
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 02:49 PM
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#17
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 211
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 02:53 PM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,183
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
I know you're skeptical, critical, but it might have to do with yourself more than with what others say.
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You don't know anything of the kind Sam....... I was just wondering how you determined that your sample will be representative of all church goers? Where ya going with this anyway? Bored 'cause it's still rainin' down there and you can't get out of the house and just need something to do?
__________________
"I wasn't born blue blood. I was born blue-collar." John Wort Hannam
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 03:08 PM
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#19
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by youbet
Anyone other than me notice the strong correlation between those that give none/little and those that are the most determined/proficient at finding sources of charitable help if it turns out they need it themselves? The non-givers and the determined/proficient takers often seem to be the same people!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
Yes, I believe in what most people report in anonymous poll. I know you're skeptical, critical, but it might have to do with yourself more than with what others say.
BTW, you haven't responded to my question in the other thread. How did you arrive at that "strong correlation"? Can't wait to hear your answer.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by youbet
You don't know anything of the kind Sam.......
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Oh yes, I do. And most members of this board know it too.
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
01-24-2007, 03:36 PM
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#20
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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Re: For church goers only. How much do you give?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScaredtoQuit
I guess I should have said a significant reduction is not an option for me. (Don't know the exact limits that DW would tolerate) However, she is VERY serious about our committment to Church. While I have grown to believe in the importance of supporting my Church financially, my level of committment pales next to hers. Consider the fact that she insists on a nightly reading of a Bible passage and you'll have a little insight into where I am.
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Thanks for sharing. I hear you, but I don't really understand.
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