What is your view on giving, tithing, etc.?

**gamecock43** · 07-30-2008, 09:04 AM

I never gave before a few yrs ago. Then I grew up and grew a moral standpoint. I realize that my goals for the world will not get done if everybody 'thinks' about something but does not 'do' something. Nothing gets done without money and I am not poorer/richer than the next Joe Schmoe, so I might as well step up.
I contribute $42 a month to 3 different charities. It gets billed on my credit card.

1 charity, the ASPCA, I KNOW is working hard. The other 2, are more my ideals, rather than me thinking they are making alot of progress. Those two only get 1/2 the monthly amount the ASPCA gets.

Thats a bit over what I can afford right now, but I was once able to contribute $40 a month, and will once again, and it's just frugal living in between.

**ActYourWage** · 07-30-2008, 09:10 AM

"I never gave before a few yrs ago. Then I grew up and grew a moral standpoint. I realize that my goals for the world will not get done if everybody 'thinks' about something but does not 'do' something. Nothing gets done without money and I am not poorer/richer than the next Joe Schmoe, so I might as well step up."

How about giving to something you don't expect any thing in return or that really doesn't makes human logical sense?

**gamecock43** · 07-30-2008, 09:19 AM

Like the tithing? People argue that religion does not always make logical sense...and I dont tithe. But the ASPCA does not really do anything directly to me for the money. I guess there are less stray cats/dogs around...but I dont really see the benefit. I just 'feel' the benefit everytime Sarah McLaughlin comes on begging for money for the charity. LOL.
And one of the other charities is for GLT equality. I am not gay. not lesbian. nor transgender, but think it's important for that community to be considered equal. So I definately dont get anything out of that charity directly. Plus thats the charity that is making the least amount of difference in my viewpoint, but I still contribute. That does not seem to make logical sense.

**ActYourWage** · 07-30-2008, 09:25 AM

Does the 'feeling' come into play when giving? I will say that when I have gave to someone, it did 'feel' good. I am trying to figure out what makes people give, tithe, etc. The core reason.

**Aleta** · 07-30-2008, 09:38 AM

I think it goes furtherthan tithing and giving. There are people that are in dire need of money for various reasons. Ever so often on the TV a network is featuring a family who has gone through some kind of tragedy and asks the community to help by donating to a trust set up just for that purpose.

If you see someone that is having a hard time fiancially, you can pick up some items that the kids may need. Some people feel funny when you give them money but will often accept items that are bought.

It's important to me knowing where the money is going and that most of it goes to the area that I have designated it to rather than to all of the people disgnating the charity. Yes, it feels good to give.

**gamecock43** · 07-30-2008, 10:02 AM

Ok Act, I maybe get what you are asking.
I contribute the lazymans way. You can 'do' something to help people, like bring them items, check in on them. Or you can 'pay' someone else to do that for you. I 'pay' to get it done.
I have selected 3 things that I want to see improved in the world and pay money to those organizations assuming they are helping the cause.
I want my money to have a direct benefit. I do not know if it does or not. Maybe the charity is a ripoff.
But giving to charity might increase my 'feel good' feeling rather than directly helping someone. $22 a month to help feed hundreds of thousands of stray animals does not exactly do much. But since I am not buying the pet vood or paying the vet bills, I get to imagine my money goes farther than it does.

**feh** · 07-30-2008, 10:17 AM

Most of what we give goes to our local United Way. Smaller amounts go to causes we believe in (Southern Poverty Law Center, Heiffer Int'l, local fund raisers for people in the community hitting rough patches, etc). My wife and I do this because we believe in helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

We do not tithe, as I think most religions cause more harm than good, but that's another conversation...

**ActYourWage** · 07-30-2008, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by gamecock43 View Post

Ok Act, I maybe get what you are asking.
I contribute the lazymans way. You can 'do' something to help people, like bring them items, check in on them. Or you can 'pay' someone else to do that for you. I 'pay' to get it done.
I have selected 3 things that I want to see improved in the world and pay money to those organizations assuming they are helping the cause.
I want my money to have a direct benefit. I do not know if it does or not. Maybe the charity is a ripoff.
But giving to charity might increase my 'feel good' feeling rather than directly helping someone. $22 a month to help feed hundreds of thousands of stray animals does not exactly do much. But since I am not buying the pet vood or paying the vet bills, I get to imagine my money goes farther than it does.

I don't necessary see that it is lazy to pay for someone else to do something for you, it is the hard earned money you made.

I am trying to figure out what makes us give. Is there something inside us that just thinks we should give or help out someone? Or do we look for the benefit to make us feel good about giving. Would we give if we didn't have any "good' feelings or strings attached to giving? I am searching my heart to truly see what my motives are when I give.

**disneysteve** · 07-30-2008, 11:05 AM

I don't believe in tithing or being "required" to give X amount of my income to any particular charity. I think everyone who is able should help those less fortunate and it should be up to the individual to decide how much he is comfortable giving and where he would like his money to go. I hate when I hear about employers that require employees to give to United Way. I think that should be illegal. I also hate when I read of people who are struggling to pay their bills but they still tithe 10% of their income. You need to take care of your own needs and those of your family first. Only once that is done should you consider donating to help others.

I also think giving involves more than money. It might mean baking brownies for the church picnic. It might mean volunteering to help paint the local homeless shelter. It might mean answering the phone during the annual fund drive. Time is just as valuable as money. Charities need both dollars and manpower to function effectively.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 07-30-2008, 11:11 AM

I give but not to organized religion. I give to food bank I volunteer at once a month. I also give to the women's shelter I volunteer at as well once a month.

I hope to instill this in my children. Growing up my mom volunteered because we were poor and she was a social worker so she could give services! Imagine a social worker helping out free!

It was to show me there were those less fortunate than myself and stop being so darn selfish. And that money wasn't everything.

I like to think that my mom gave way more than 10% of her income by giving her time! I also like to think she will still go to heaven without tithing!

**ceejay74** · 07-30-2008, 11:27 AM

My family used to give; $20 here and there to charities that hit us up, plus larger sums (a couple hundred bucks) once in awhile. Now we're taking a conscious break from any giving until we get ourselves somewhat out of the hole we've dug ourselves.

One of us volunteers; the other two are taking a break since our last volunteer tours of duty ended. I may again, but so far nothing's really caught my attention.

We really want to start giving again, gradually at first, once we get better financially. This feeling has intensified since I started wanting kids, because I want to make sure I'm trying to better the world a little before I leave it to them.

I like the idea of giving a fixed amount (though I'm not religious and thus wouldn't "tithe"). I like the One Percent Club's philosophy, that if everyone who didn't currently donate gave either 1% of their net worth or 5% of their income annually to nonprofits, there would be a big change. We'll probably use that as a goalpost at some point.

I'm not sure about the motivation question. It is interesting and I've pondered it before. I figure it's an instinct, an evolutionary element that keeps our societies bonded and somewhat stable. Though I guess you could argue it goes against the "survival of the fittest" side of evolution, since most of us are drawn to helping those who struggle physically, emotionally, financially or mentally. I hope it is a long-term evolutionary strain that keeps us from destroying our species and our habitat.

**ActYourWage** · 07-30-2008, 11:38 AM

"It was to show me there were those less fortunate than myself and stop being so darn selfish. And that money wasn't everything."

I like that.

**gamecock43** · 07-30-2008, 11:45 AM

We are herd animals. I would assume it is to keep the 'group' as healthy as possible. We are only as strong as our weakest link.
If you look at it from an evolution standpoint....

**ActYourWage** · 07-30-2008, 11:48 AM

@ceejay74

"I'm not sure about the motivation question. It is interesting and I've pondered it before. I figure it's an instinct, an evolutionary element that keeps our societies bonded and somewhat stable. Though I guess you could argue it goes against the "survival of the fittest" side of evolution, since most of us are drawn to helping those who struggle physically, emotionally, financially or mentally. I hope it is a long-term evolutionary strain that keeps us from destroying our species and our habitat."

That is an interesting take on it. The two seem to collide.

What is your view on giving, tithing, etc.?