Bullshit. That isn't what most churches are doing. As much as I can't stand a lot of Baptists, they have little churches all over the place and they look like they are about to fall down - hardly rich places. They have parishoners (or whatever you call Baptists who go to church) who give money and those churches are sending a group of people down to Belize or some place like that all the time. They give to food pantires and they help people out with medical expenses. Other churches are doing the same thing.

You are making a gross generalization and don't know what the hell you are talking about.

You don't like religion, we get it, but really it has nothing to do with you. As far as twisting those people's beliefs, while I don't agree with a lot of those beliefs (see Baptists above), they are their beliefs. You don't understand how they can believe what they do, and I am sure they can't understand how you can not believe.

If I am not mistaken, and you would have to ask some Protestants on here to be sure, but I think the members of a lot of the Protestant churches actually vote on who their preacher/preacher/reverand or whatever is. If they were disatisfied about where their money was going removal should be fairly simple.

All those little Churches you speak of are to busy sending as much money as possible to Southern Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention USA, Conservative Baptist Association of America, American Baptist Churches USA, American Baptist Association (Landmark Baptists), among others. Just like Catholic Churches are busy funneling funds to the Archdiocese.

I'll drop my objections just as soon as churches start returning 70% of the funds collected, to the poor and needy, AND PROVE IT. Otherwise they are no better than any other scam artist.

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If you want change stop electing "liberal: democrats and "radical" Republicans. Find and support true Conservatives; those who believe in fiscal responsibilities, individual accountability, and a smaller government, with less control of your daily life.

They are sending money to lots of places that need money like helping out people in different areas of the country or out of country. They are giving money to people for medical expenses, they are putting on food drives and feeding hungy people, they are buying Christmas presents for kids who don't have anything, they are doing lots of other things to help people with this money. I am sure that for every one church you find abuses in you will see 25 others who are not.

Fact is, they don't have to prove anything to you and I doubt your objections means anything.

People who make gross generalizations are intellectually lazy in my opinion, and that is what you have done in this instance.

OK, just keep feeding their portfolio's. But I'll keep striving to remove their tax exempt status, and eventually force them to open their books for inspection, just like charities.

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If you want change stop electing "liberal: democrats and "radical" Republicans. Find and support true Conservatives; those who believe in fiscal responsibilities, individual accountability, and a smaller government, with less control of your daily life.

I don't feed any portfolio because I don't tithe. A big difference between you and I is that I say people can do what they want with their own money whereas you are overly concerned what other people do with their own money.

I'm glad to hear that you're OK with scam artists, bunco artists, etc. running around ripping people off. There actions are fine with you, as long as all they do is lie and deceive to separate the gullible from their money. I'm glad the rest of society isn't as forgiving as you are.

Thank God, I and my children didn't have teachers with your attitude.

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If you want change stop electing "liberal: democrats and "radical" Republicans. Find and support true Conservatives; those who believe in fiscal responsibilities, individual accountability, and a smaller government, with less control of your daily life.

I am glad that you feel that you are in a position to make the determination that all religious people are scam artists. You say they are lying but the fact is that the people giving money have different beliefs than you do. You say they are all scam artists because you don't agree with religion, big deal, you aer in no position to tell peopel what they can believe and what they can't.

Again, you make gross generalizations on churches (you did say MOST) and it is not only irresponsible but ignorant to do so.

My attitude? What, you mean letting people make their own decisions what to do believe in without passing judgement? Do you mean that kind of attitude? Give it a rest buddy, you don't have a fucking clue what I do and don't rely on hillbillies for your information.

You don't understand their beliefs and you ridicule them which is why you think it is silly they give money. Fact is, they don't have the same beliefs as you and whether you like it or not, it is OK that they don't have the same beliefs as you. I don't know if you ahve ever said this or not, but I do think it is fucking hilarious when people like you bitch about the influence of religion and how they try to change people's beliefs . . . you guys need to look in the mirror.

You need to read better. I never said, nor mentioned ALL religious people. I said MOST churches. Nor have I ridiculed any beliefs. Now you spin shit any way you want, but until they are WILLING to open their financial records, and start practicing what they preach (about divesting themselves of worldly goods), it just proves they are hiding their theft, not to mention the hypocrisy of their actions.

Again people are free to believe what they want. I take exception with people (clergy) who twist those beliefs for monetary gain. Name one religious denomination that has not gotten rich of the backs of it's followers. When they start returning 70% of the funds collected, and open their books, I'll adjust MY BELIEFS.

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If you want change stop electing "liberal: democrats and "radical" Republicans. Find and support true Conservatives; those who believe in fiscal responsibilities, individual accountability, and a smaller government, with less control of your daily life.

If people believe in the cause they are giving money to then you ARE ridiculing their beliefs. You think these people are being scammed . . . but they are not. They are freely giving their money and they know what it is going for at MOST churches. This is true, whether you want to admit it or not.

Churches I have been to not only tell how much was raised the previous week but also how it was spent. If they disclose to the people giving the money then your gripe is null and void.