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BP Oil Spill and...the God business [message #62848]

Sat, 03 July 2010 21:35

chrisjames147

Really getting into it

Location: U.S.
Registered: November 2009
Messages: 630

Decidedly the non-profits in the southern US surrounding the Gulf oil spill are in trouble, donations are down, people need to keep their charity at home.

But churches? If one considers the disaster on the Deep Water Horizon oil rig to be an accident or an act of God what leg do churches have to stand upon? You might think people in such a large swath of the religious belt might run to church and pray for salvation, but it seems they are not.

Religion as a business? Of course it is but there is no tanglible product, no financial gain to the community. Tax exempt churches contribute little to local economy and what little they do contribute is less than a local Lottery.

Give it up, give them nothing. If they want to survive then let them pray, unless of course it is about the money and always has been.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/07/03/gulf-coast-churches-nonprofits-fight-survival-amid-spill-bp-undecided-paying/

[Updated on: Sat, 03 July 2010 21:36]

Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. (Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626)

Re: BP Oil Spill and...the God business [message #62851 is a reply to message #62848]

Sun, 04 July 2010 07:57

acam

On fire!

Location: UK
Registered: July 2007
Messages: 1849

Before anyone gives to a charity, ChrisJames, I think they should check the accounts to see what proportion of the gift is supposed to get to the recipients. Then see what the evidence there is that it really gets to them.

A lot of 'aid' to places like Iraq and Afghanistan is diverted into the pockets of officials and quite a lot buys weapons for the Taliban.

And if there are no accounts or if the chiefs in a charity look as if they are living too well then give nothing.

I think the world would be a better place if churches were poor and powerless.

And it seems clear to me that the claims to be made against BP are unlikely to underestimate the damage suffered by most claimants. The page you linked to seemd to be encouraging people to make a claim.

While everyone is baying for BP's blood, how can excessive claims be made reasonable? For example, will church charities claim for the shortfall in their expected 'charity' receipts from BP on the grounds that it was a side effect of the oil spill that their parishioners were poorer?
Love,
Anthony

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