Christians shying away from charitable giving because of bad economy

dadavark, says:

did anyone poll aetheists? Mormons? Muslims? Cocker spaniels? What's the point of the poll if there is no comparison? So the bottom line is a sampling of Christians surveyed said they were cutting back on charitable giving? Members of my church recently took on support of more than 500 Ugandan children. They didn't shy away or worry about the cost of petrol. Maybe the pollsters asked the wrong people?

Clay213, says:

This article is a horrible paraphrasing of the original.

'Christians are not being charitable because of the high cost of living.'

I'm sorry-- but the original article nor the study does not say that.

jtmbls, says:

I believe it's the sardonic overtone to the paraphrasing Clay213 is objecting to, which is nothing new or surprising here.

jtmbls, says:

the overtones - not the objection - just to clarify.

littlekinder, says:

Well, I'm with dadavark - is there a control group here? And what is meant by less... less overall or a lesser percentage? That's significant.

However, having said that, giving is personal and of the heart, and it's sad to me that someone's watchdogging it.

jtmbls, says:

Very significant. But it just wouldn't be PC to single out any other religion for such purposes.

See Clay - We get to be jerky right back!!

littlekinder, says:

No,don't be jerky... even if Christians don't have as much disposable income as they have previously, we are blessed in many ways that can't be measured, and that's worth sharing with everyone.

It doesn't matter what people say. To remark "wouldn't Jesus be proud" shows how little we understand - Jesus is in the business of loving, not pride. People are all about pride - comparing, competing. Just give what you can from the heart and that will be enough. Jesus could feed 5000 with five loaves and two fishes. God can take what is given and accomplish the unimaginable.

Oh, I know that sounded really sappy, sorry. I just don't know a better way to express it.

momzilla, says:

In at least some of these cases, the "charity" that they are no longer giving to is church programs such as the building fund.

My family has a couple of charities for chronic disease that we not only support, but fundraise for. We've found that churchgoers typically give a smaller donation to secular groups because they are usually already donating at church, but are more likely to donate something when approached. My youngest daughter collected over $400 all by herself for the MS society, all in $5 - $10 donations from schoolmates and teachers at her Christian school.

momzilla, says:

It didn't say that they weren't giving as much as non Christians, only that they were giving less than they did formerly. It also didn't differentiate between community and church charities as recipients of their giving.

Quoting the article, "The study found that those who attend church frequently are less likely to have the economy affect their giving, while those who rarely attend church are more likely to decrease their giving."

Clay213, says:

'Christians are not being charitable because of the high cost of living.'

Less charitable(which is what the study found) does not equal not charitable(which is what this article says).

Unless Minnie knows of some part of the study that found christians were not giving anything at all.

For the record I'm not christian.

jtmbls, says:

I'm thinking Jesus might actually appreciate my jerky-ness. In fact (or lore), sometimes Jesus got a little jerky himself.

I have to agree with Doyle when it comes to charity…Even if he does drink wine out of a box.

jtmbls, says:

"Satire (n.) - An obsolete kind of literary composition in which the vices and follies of the author's enemies were expounded with imperfect tenderness. In this country satire never had more than a sickly and uncertain existence, for the soul of it is wit, wherein we are dolefully deficient, the humor that we mistake for it, like all humor, being tolerant and sympathetic. Moreover, although Americans are 'endowed by their Creator' with abundant vice and folly, it is not generally known that these are reprehensible qualities, wherefore the satirist is popularly regarded as a sour-spirited knave, and his every victim's outcry for codefendants evokes a national assent." [Ambrose Bierce]

littlekinder, says:

Re: Pavel's question-

I only meant to point out that even if our incomes have dropped, we still have many ways to be charitable and kind. Bringing meals, donating clothing, babysitting children. Showing love, giving back what we have been given. It's the love that cannot be measured.

I in no way meant to imply that you can just "wish them well" and go on your merry way. I clearly said you should give from the heart, maybe I was unclear, I definitely meant give MONEY. My giving has not changed, but I can understand circumstances where it would become harder for some people and they should not be made to feel guilty about it, in my opinion.

jtmbls, says:

Oh darn! I really thought you were just being cheeky like so many of your lovely peg contemporaries.