Social Principles

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Charles

While attending services, or any social event isn't my cup of tea, I tend to agree with you that organized religion is more often than not a positive attribute for society.

A lot of really decent folks attend church. After all, they're not ALL used car salesmen, insurance agents, or LAWYERS!!!

Take care,

Chas

The adventurous pastors love lawyers. We give them a special challenge.

Regards,

D-Ray

[BlueStreak]

I work with two men who are pastors.

One does not accept compensation for preaching. He has considered giving it up because it often eats up too much of his time. But, he just can't seem to walk away.

The other one accepts money from his church and plans to go supplement his income with it when he retires from his regular work.

Now, I don't care if one makes money off of it, if the congregation is willing to pay him. Whatever, that's their business.

But, I do know which one I have more respect for.....................

Dave

[Charles]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

The adventurous pastors love lawyers. We give them a special challenge.

Regards,

D-Ray

Lawyers always present a "special" challenge.

Chas

[Oerets]

A lapsed Catholic perspective and experiences. Basically in a nut shell, talk a good talk but fail to walk the walk.

My first eye opener was when my Father was in Vietnam and my Mother with five kids was living in Government assisted housing and receiving Government Cheese. Because even though my Father was a CPO qualified due to salary. (lack there of!)

Well the Church we were attending and members of were told in clear terms. Pay up! That her volunteering was appreciated but the amount my Mother was giving was not enough. So we had to either pay up or quit Catechism and other benefits of the church. Walked away and the sting never really left inflicted to her and us. Years later started attending when the boys were small but still the wound that never healed of years ago was there. Found not all Churches were equal some were better then others. Not worried about the all mighty dollar. But now in the days of the traveling Fathers it is hit or miss. Plus the Catholic church has gone way over the edge on conservative issues.

The last straw for me with them now it seems was when my Father N Law laid dying in the hospital and the number of calls to get a priest to administer the Last Rites. Kept getting "is he a member in good standing"? Kept telling them he was home bound for years. I did find one eventually, a Father in the hall at the hospital and said he would report what had happened.

Other denominations seem to have similar problem from being overtly political to out stretched hands. The few times my a$$ was in attendance anyway. My Sister N Law and her husband just had to sign a pledge so their church could build a mega monstrosity. To compete (keep up) with the one down the road.



Barney

[Rex E.]

Originally Posted by Oerets

A lapsed Catholic perspective and experiences. Basically in a nut shell, talk a good talk but fail to walk the walk.

My first eye opener was when my Father was in Vietnam and my Mother with five kids was living in Government assisted housing and receiving Government Cheese. Because even though my Father was a CPO qualified due to salary. (lack there of!)

Well the Church we were attending and members of were told in clear terms. Pay up! That her volunteering was appreciated but the amount my Mother was giving was not enough. So we had to either pay up or quit Catechism and other benefits of the church. Walked away and the sting never really left inflicted to her and us. Years later started attending when the boys were small but still the wound that never healed of years ago was there. Found not all Churches were equal some were better then others. Not worried about the all mighty dollar. But now in the days of the traveling Fathers it is hit or miss. Plus the Catholic church has gone way over the edge on conservative issues.

The last straw for me with them now it seems was when my Father N Law laid dying in the hospital and the number of calls to get a priest to administer the Last Rites. Kept getting "is he a member in good standing"? Kept telling them he was home bound for years. I did find one eventually, a Father in the hall at the hospital and said he would report what had happened.

Other denominations seem to have similar problem from being overtly political to out stretched hands. The few times my a$$ was in attendance anyway. My Sister N Law and her husband just had to sign a pledge so their church could build a mega monstrosity. To compete (keep up) with the one down the road.



Barney

Sad but true....

I once asked my father why he had not considered Catholicism for a religion and he told me when he was a boy living in northwest Missouri on the farm he'd see the "fathers" come out to the widow of a farmer and demand she turn the farm over to buy her husband out of purgatory......sad........

[Rex E.]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I work with two men who are pastors.

One does not accept compensation for preaching. He has considered giving it up because it often eats up too much of his time. But, he just can't seem to walk away.

The other one accepts money from his church and plans to go supplement his income with it when he retires from his regular work.

Now, I don't care if one makes money off of it, if the congregation is willing to pay him. Whatever, that's their business.

But, I do know which one I have more respect for.....................

Dave

I agree Dave. I have no respect for a "preacher" who makes his living off of preaching. The religion I was raised in did not do such things. I explained this to a few folks I work with and they said "how did he make money", my reply, "He went to work at a job like you and I".

Sickening to see some of the salaries that folks make off preaching......

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Rex E.

I agree Dave. I have no respect for a "preacher" who makes his living off of preaching. The religion I was raised in did not do such things. I explained this to a few folks I work with and they said "how did he make money", my reply, "He went to work at a job like you and I".

Sickening to see some of the salaries that folks make off preaching......

I have different take. I have always attended churches where the pastors had advanced degrees. I much prefer that perspective to many of the amateur preachers I have seen. The education gives them the ability to teach from an historical perspective and to provide trained pastoral counseling. There are significant demands from the congregation for visitation, and of course for organizational management. They also have to work their way up the ranks, working first as associate pastors. Some have the responsibility for two or more churches from small towns. I don't begrudge someone who has devoted a significant portion of their lives to obtain education and training to also earning a decent salary.

Regards,

D-Ray

[merrylander]

Where I grew up the pastor had our Union Church and the United Church across the river and he sure was occupied so likely could not have held down a job. Well he did hold down a job, he was paid to minister to both congregations.

[Rex E.]

Making profit off the word is wrong to me. Seems much like collectors in the temple.....to each his own.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Rex E.

Making profit off the word is wrong to me. Seems much like collectors in the temple.....to each his own.

I don't think I would have called it profit, nrithrt congregation was exactly wealthy. It kept bread on the table and not much more. In summer he could cross by boat and in winter cross over the ice, spring and fall was a PITA.