Tithing

I've been reading a few Facebook postings and comments about tithing to which I would like to respond.

First, I take issue with the standard teaching of giving 10% to the church.  The concept on the surface seems to be fair.  However, the idea that all should give 10% is highly regressive.  Thank goodness we don't model our tax system after this concept.  Especially since consumer goods are not set on a percentage of one's income.

Second, in our current tax system one can write off any charitable donations.  This includes offerings to a church.  How is it that I can write off offerings to the church but not the money used to purchase a gym membership?  In my opinion a charitable donation would be giving to an organization from which one doesn't directly benefit(Sitting in an air-conditioned room listening to someone preach is a direct benefit).

Thirdly, tithing and money are a constant source of spiritual abuse in the church world and basically for the reason that churchianity (Can't take credit for churchianity) today insists on functioning as a business enterprise (Just calling a spade a spade). Tithing is not only greatly misunderstood, it also causes great false fear in many people's lives. Some great Bible versus that help better explain my take on tithing comes from Deuteronomy 14:23 and Deuteronomy 26:12.

I may be atheist, but I still find it very important to be thankful for what I have and to share my prosperity to help others(shocking coming from a tight ass).  If you are currently tithing to a church, please continue.  Churches need donors in order to operate.  I just hope this post offers up a different perspective on tithing.

Further the Dialogue

I understand the message that theists are trying to convey. However, is it smart to compare your god to a mortal? Mom is human and imperfect, thus the picture is referring to god as a further evolved (developed) species that is creating an imperfect version of itself.

I also wonder if the theist baby believes that it evolved from a zygote to an embryo, and finally to a fetus?

Putting all that aside though, let's get a bit more serious.

Regardless of what you believe, one can't deny the fact that the reason for all the diversity of this planet can be explained by the process of evolution.

This series of YouTube videos was done very cleverly, and with an in-depth explanation. All of his claims can be verified in multitudes of peer reviewed journals. He does dig on religion at times, but the scientific evidence stated explains why I believe this planet evolved.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnJX68ELbAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrkjEgUDZA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnj7PlqmJ5o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80nhqGfN6t8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzmbnxtnMB4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3k0dDFxkhM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Q2Db17v5U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU-7d06HJSs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfoje7jVJpU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MXTBGcyNuc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm277H3ot6Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TkY7HrJOhc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myfifz3C0mI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYsnVMjG4lk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XHbRGiQccM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wv6kgjOEL0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGmLDKQp_Qc

and finally he admits to some errors in his series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzVbfVDDpok

Remember that I'm not posting these videos to offend anyone. I am simply trying to enlighten my circle of friends of my beliefs on how our world came to be.

It Wouldn't Be Christmas

I was going to start off by saying "This has been a very interesting Christmas." However, comparing this Christmas to ones in the past, would falsify such a statement. I once wrote a lengthy paper about the things I missed most about past Christmas's spent at my Grandparents' house. After living life for 31 years, I've come to the realization that those things were just trivial.

This Christmas we were missing a big part of our family. April, David, and Brooklyn for whatever reason were did not show.

I'm sitting here wondering what in the world I should write. I'm worried to death that I might hurt people's feelings. I try hard not to judge others too harshly, because it is my hope that others grant me the same courtesy. I feel that we have judged each other unfairly over the years and if there is one thing that should change at Christmas time, it is surely that. Once again I've missed seeing April, David, and Brooklyn around at Christmas time, and that is what saddens me this evening. If any three of you see this blog before next Christmas, know that I love you and hope to see you there next year.

Part II

I also had to play "Father" for a moment this year. It hasn't been the first nor the last time I'll have to disipline my nephew. He can be a bit of a handful sometimes. I just wish that my sister would see that Jeremy (her son) is very much like her at that age. I don't blame the situation entirely on my nephew. Mistakes were made on all parts. My sister needs to learn how to handle him in a reasonable manner and try not to create situations of confusion for him. Jeremy has to learn that it is not OK to respond by screaming or hitting his mother. My nephew is a good kid. I think with a little bit of parental tweaking life would be much easier on everyone involved in his life.

If any of my family ends up reading this, know that my words are not meant to hurt or put anyone down. Rather, they are meant to enlighten us to treat one another better. I love you all and I hope all have had a wonderful holiday.

A Big Rant

I don't even know what I would like to say in this post. Between the occupy movement and things that I've been reading from posts on Face book, I just can do nothing but shake my head.

Let me first answer a few things. If you look back on any war involving two sides you will find some common themes. I will even sum it all up into three words: Land, Wealth, and Control (power). Shocking right? Not to me. It will always be this way. If you think otherwise, get ready to lose everything.

Does anyone else feel the same way I do about reciting the Pledge of Allegiance? (drafted in 1892)

The first issue I have with the pledge is that it is directed to a piece of fabric ("I pledge allegiance to the flag"). One could argue that the flag is just a symbol that encompasses what we are as a nation. If that is the case, we should skip the flag and pledge directly to what the flag represents ("...to the Republic").

"One Nation under God"(added to the pledge in 1954) Are we really?

2.4 percent of the U.S. population (7.4 million) in 2009 claimed to be atheist, according to a Pew survey on religious affiliation. I would also add that a good many people who are affiliated with a religion live their lives in a manner that is not consistent with that religion's core beliefs. "One Nation under God" seems to be a bit of a fallacy.

I'm not suggesting that we alter the pledge. It seems to be a ritual that has become outdated in my opinion. Also, I have never been an advocate for pledges. The way I conduct myself in the American public speaks more than any pledge. If you ever see me at a school board meeting sitting silently during The Pledge of Allegiance, please do not think poorly of me.

God's Intentions?

Can I just say that it is really hard for me to truly listen to those who inject their God or their holy book into certain conversations/discussions. Lately it seems that every time I go over to my parents' house someone (by someone, I mean sister, mother, grandfather or Bill) tries to engage me in political, social, or religious discussions.

For example, I was over visiting just a couple days ago and everyone started talking about the role of male and female in society. This comment was made and I quote "I just don't see the future of this country being as good as it once was because the role of men and women are moving away from the way God intended."

I really hope that by reading what I just quoted, you have a similar reaction that I had at the time. I only wish that I had responded sarcastically by saying this "I agree. I think women should still be treated as though they are property. That they are inferior to men. That their job is to be barefoot and pregnant, because that is the way God intended." I truly believe that each man and each woman are born different. We all have different abilities, likes and dislikes, and preferences. I know for a fact that my wife could never be a stay-at-home mother. If that was the case, would she be going against God's intentions?

The social aspects of our humanity are always changing (evolving). We, as individuals, ultimately decide the role we play in society. And that my friend is how God intended it to be.

Emotion

Emotion, not as interesting of a title as some of my other posts, but a title none the less. It is also a very powerful tool. I guess you could say that without emotion, many corporations would cease to exist. The business world has mastered the use of emotion to manipulate people into handing over hard-earned money for many years. Whether it be cars, IPhones, clothes, or peace of mind, we hand our money over and blindly at times. My focus for this post will not be on the cars, IPhones or clothes because transportation, communication and clothing ourselves are fairly important to American culture. Instead my focus is on peace of mind (my favorite).

How about a quick example of peace of mind. You're driving down Sunnyside Road when the light suddenly turns red. Not wanting to break the law, you stop. While sitting at the red light you notice a scruffy old man wearing an eye patch with a dog holding a sign that reads, "Homeless! Need help for food or shelter!" Now I ask you, what is this man trying to sell you? If you gave him money, he just sold you the warm and fuzzy feeling that you get inside from helping out another human. I'm here to tell you that the feeling he just sold you is a load of shit. This is how people are constantly taken advantage of in this world.

I would love to go on with this post, but I'm afraid it would just turn into me ranting and raving as I do at work sometimes. I know the people there probably get tired of listening to me talk about such things. My hope for all of you is that you take a second and think logically about some of the decisions that you are faced with in your life, because EMOTION can cloud ones judgement at times.