GenMarshall
High Elven ISB Capt & Ghost Agent
Thats the trouble in the Sociology of Religions is clasifying Mormonism as a Sect or a Denomination (See explanation in my previous post)JerichoHill said:
Church, Relgion & People My testimony of the Evill of the corporate church
- Thread starter I am the Future
- Start date
Perfection
The Great Head.
Maybe the problem is with the classifications themselves.CivGeneral said:
I'm inclined to think so. Are we one thing or the other just because of what some people think of us? We are highly organized and larger than many Protestant organizations. That should be worth something, right?
Homie
Anti-Lefty
Your church doesn't seem like a regular church Neomega.
Homie
Anti-Lefty
I checked out the thread and you are right, you didn't say that evangelicals churches are cults, just that your church was. My mistake.
I read it that way because you mentioned it in your description of what evangelicals are.
I read it that way because you mentioned it in your description of what evangelicals are.
Underdawg
King
All right. I am from the Philippines. All the good schools there (ie Private Schools, about the only worthwhile schools to go to) are owned by the Catholic Church and Old Jesuit Sects). They hold extraordinary wealth there in the form of land, buldings, and the money they receive from tithes. They also own many hospitals. To get into these facilities, you need money. A lot of it. Can anyone explain that? Huh? Many die because they can't afford to get proper medical treatment when they start getting symptoms such as maybe they get chronic heart attacks at the age of 45 but can't afford the medicine and only realyl buy them when they are pretty much dying years later.
And, the Catholic Church is one of the major market players in the World. I'm talking global corporate level.
And, the Catholic Church is one of the major market players in the World. I'm talking global corporate level.
Maybe it's a problem in your country. Actually around in my area, the religious private schools are struggling to make ends meet.
The Yankee said:
For me too. The school I attended in 8th grade, despite being attached to the cathedral and having the president of one of the largest grocery store chains in the US as a former graduate, shut down, and my high school is struggling to raise money.
Underdawg
King
I see. Well not every place is the same. Well I guess those schools you are talking about are not part of some coporate level business like the ones in the Philippines. Well I can only speak of my own experiences.
No ill will.
No ill will.
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
Churches cost money to run. The key is making every penny accountable to the congregation. If they dont agree with how the money is spent...go to a different church.
Perfection
The Great Head.
Have you looked into your church's finances?MobBoss said:
I am the Future
Oi Oi Oi !!!
Or if you go to my church, propose a new econmic plan at the members anual meeting.MobBoss said:
MobBoss
Off-Topic Overlord
Perfection said:
Our church requires a business meeting once a quarter open to the entire membership that details all income and expenditure.
So, yes, I most certainly have.
CurtSibling
ENEMY ACE™
Didn't one of your idols say that money is the root of all evil?
Funny how christians flex the rules when it suits them!
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Funny how christians flex the rules when it suits them!
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classical_hero
In whom I trust
You might be surprised but some Christians believe that commercialism has become to deeply rooted in many mainstream Churches. I am one of them.CurtSibling said:
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
No. Eight different versions all agree on "the love of money is the root of all evil", and I'm not cherry-picking it either.CurtSibling said:
Not half as funny as when the atheists interpret the Bible and tell christians how to act.
Nice to have you back, Curt.
countalorkrin
Warlord
CurtSibling said:
true true... they do tend to do that don't they..
ironduck
Deity
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2002
- Messages
- 6,561
The OP is really about two things - a manipulative cult and the economic construction built around it. To me, it's the cult part that's most important. Many people here seem to skirt over the issue and focus on the church or cult as an economic power, but it doesn't have to be one to ruin people's lives.
There seems to be some issues with the defintions of cults and sects and they vary between languages. The way I usually define a cult is in terms of a closed, manipulative society that defines itself in terms of opposition to the outside world (the need to fight or be saved from the evil of mainstream society typically). Groups like scientology (an exploitative corporate cult, top members not brainwashed) and jehovah's witnesses (brainwashing throughout, power abuse) are obvious examples of cults following that definition.
What's important to note is that a cult ruins people's lives whether or not there is a leadership who profit from it.
Further there are plenty of borderline organizations that are somewhere in the grey zone between cult and not cult. The greater the emphasis on 'them' and 'us', the greater the chance that it's a cult.
There seems to be some issues with the defintions of cults and sects and they vary between languages. The way I usually define a cult is in terms of a closed, manipulative society that defines itself in terms of opposition to the outside world (the need to fight or be saved from the evil of mainstream society typically). Groups like scientology (an exploitative corporate cult, top members not brainwashed) and jehovah's witnesses (brainwashing throughout, power abuse) are obvious examples of cults following that definition.
What's important to note is that a cult ruins people's lives whether or not there is a leadership who profit from it.
Further there are plenty of borderline organizations that are somewhere in the grey zone between cult and not cult. The greater the emphasis on 'them' and 'us', the greater the chance that it's a cult.
This is entirely OT but CivGeneral you do need to look into the practices that gave the Catholic Church such wealth. They are immoral and sometimes downright hateful.
A few examples.
Confiscation of Jewish lands and properties and other religous "heretical" groups.
War chests from religous wars instigated by the church against so called anti christs.
Indulgences where rich people could buy forgiveness without obligation. Essentially you payed hundreds sometimes thousands( depends how much you had sinned) in "gold" thaller, Florins, whatever you want to call it, and were forgiven for all past indiscretions.
Nobles recieved many incentives to give over money, political favour and consideration was often a major part not just religous consideration.
Holding works of art confiscated from others during the second world war, by others I mean Jews, communists and other people considered apostate.
I could go on but I sugest you read your history before you make claims about the wealth of the Catholic faith, some of it was obtained by immoral acts.
Now I wont chastise a faith based solely on history, but it does beg the question, can the Catholic churches money be held up to such close scrutiny?
Religions need money to survive, quite how much is the subject of much historical debate.
A few examples.
Confiscation of Jewish lands and properties and other religous "heretical" groups.
War chests from religous wars instigated by the church against so called anti christs.
Indulgences where rich people could buy forgiveness without obligation. Essentially you payed hundreds sometimes thousands( depends how much you had sinned) in "gold" thaller, Florins, whatever you want to call it, and were forgiven for all past indiscretions.
Nobles recieved many incentives to give over money, political favour and consideration was often a major part not just religous consideration.
Holding works of art confiscated from others during the second world war, by others I mean Jews, communists and other people considered apostate.
I could go on but I sugest you read your history before you make claims about the wealth of the Catholic faith, some of it was obtained by immoral acts.
Now I wont chastise a faith based solely on history, but it does beg the question, can the Catholic churches money be held up to such close scrutiny?
Religions need money to survive, quite how much is the subject of much historical debate.
