NationStates Jolt Archive

Here is something to think about:

In the USA, the average life expectancy is about 78 years.

Most churches want their members to go to church at least once a week.

The average mass lasts about 1.5 hours.

In total, that would be 6, 084 hours in a lifetime. We'll come back to this number later.

Minimum wage is currently $6.60 (in Washington, DC, at least). Thus, at 60 hours a week, one would earn $20, 592 in a year.

Some religions want their members to tithe 10% of their annual income. 10% of 20592 is 2059.2.

Factoring in these conditions, the life long cost of religion is $160617.6 from donations, and, still at minimum wage, the cost of going to church is $40154.4. Add those two together, and you get:


$200, 772.

That doesn't include inflation or the fact that few people merely earn minimum wage. Think about it.

"Some religions want their members to tithe 10% of their annual income."

Catholic religion is 10% isn't it?

So much for Pascal's wager.

You said it takes up at least six thousand hours. How many days is that?

Obviously you are not Catholic as Catholic Mass lasts only about an hour.

So what is your point about the money?

You're worried about 10% to the church? What about the 15% that I pay to the government, even though I am still on the bottom of the income scale, plus Social Security and Medicare?

Ok?

I have no problem giving money to the church. I DO have problems with giving my hard earned money to the government, however.

Of course, this assumes that the only alternative to church on a Sunday morning is work.


Speaking for myself, having a nice cup of coffee while lazing in bed with my wife beats both of those options....

To answer some of these points:

6000 hours is 250 days. I enjoy such statistics.

My use of 1.5 hours is simply for the sake of discussion. Where I live, it is pretty standard for church services to last this long.

While I do not deny that many churches provide for charities, consider what your taxes pay for: schools, roads, the wages of soldiers, and the like. Social Security helps ensure that when you are old, you at least have some kind of income. It would seem, to me at least, that "donations" to the government serves the general welfare, while donations to a church rarely helps those outside that group.

Okay, dont go to church.
Isnt that easy?

It would seem, to me at least, that "donations" to the government serves the general welfare, while donations to a church rarely helps those outside that group.

Does tsunami aid or the work the Salvation Army does mean anything? What about Catholic charities? There are many others that help people "outside that group." :headbamg: Besides, giving to faith based charities (churches) is voluntary taxes are not.

True, Atheist will only be happy when religion is destroyed. They are becoming more and more militant and must be dealt with sooner or later.

To answer some of these points:

6000 hours is 250 days. I enjoy such statistics.

My use of 1.5 hours is simply for the sake of discussion. Where I live, it is pretty standard for church services to last this long.

While I do not deny that many churches provide for charities, consider what your taxes pay for: schools, roads, the wages of soldiers, and the like. Social Security helps ensure that when you are old, you at least have some kind of income. It would seem, to me at least, that "donations" to the government serves the general welfare, while donations to a church rarely helps those outside that group.

Social Security, i.e. a rip off thanks. The worst return on any investment anyone has ever made with his or her money. It’s a joke. The entire country would be better off if people privately invested their money, because get this, they'd get back *more* money than social security gives them.

However, your point is moot because very few people work on Sundays in the first place. While someone could potentially work during the time they go to church it typically comes out of their leisure time. It is their choice and there are no lost wages.

Oh and the donations made to a church generally help people outside their group. After the costs of running the church are taken care of donations are directed at scholarships, poverty, 3rd world aid, food etc... and most of it ends up in the hands of people who are not members of that particular church.

True, Atheist will only be happy when religion is destroyed. They are becoming more and more militant and must be dealt with sooner or later.
Get rid of the atheists and you get rid of most of the top scientists. I hope you enjoy the dark ages to come.

erm, my religion involves lots of people dancing to drums, and expenses are some food and candles. the "church" doesn't have a bank account at all...it doesn't take donations. minimum wage here is $5.15, by the way.

Firstly, please look at my handle. "Atheistic Might." Yes, the simple solution is to not go to church.


Please note the word "rarely." The sad fact of it is, unless it is a time of crisis, people, which includes churches, rarely donate. As far as Red Cross goes, do you remember a story that 60 Minutes had a few years ago? It was about a woman whose house was destroyed by a natural disaster. Her picture was used as a Red Cross ad. The irony comes in when you learn that she received absolutely no aide from them.

Yes, donations to churches are voluntary, while taxes are not. But my point remains--unless they recieve money, governments can't do anything. Governments are all but necessary in any extremely large community. Religion is not.

Get rid of the atheists and you get rid of most of the top scientists. I hope you enjoy the dark ages to come.


Where'd you get that figure from?

Where'd you get that figure from?
I don't exactly remember the figure, but I had read a few times in the past that the world's elite scientists tend to be majority atheist. Also scientists in general tend to be more atheist than the rest of humans.

While few people work on Sundays, surely you concede that time is valuable? The whole point of it is that time spent in church is time not spent doing something else. As the TV commercial says, the reason overtime pays more is because of what you miss. What could you be doing if you weren't at church?

While few people work on Sundays, surely you concede that time is valuable? The whole point of it is that time spent in church is time not spent doing something else. As the TV commercial says, the reason overtime pays more is because of what you miss. What could you be doing if you weren't at church?

learning about God!

I think that I am being misunderstood. My main point, the one I keep trying to stress, is that organized religion is a waste of time and money. I have no problem with people believing what they want to, but if Christians can evangelize, I can certainly state my opinion that religion causes people to live life without free thought.

... I can certainly state my opinion that religion causes people to live life without free thought.

Aha, but God created man with free will. Man may do as he pleases, he may accept or reject God, and he may think what he wants. However, as in all cases man must pay the penalty or accept the glory for his actions.

Could you imagine the good we would do if we converted all churches to homeless shelters and used donations to feed them? There are at least two dozen churches in Carbondale, and it is a town of about 25,000 without the students.

I can certainly state my opinion that religion causes people to live life without free thought.

1. You, being an atheist, do not have the frame of reference necessary to make such a judgement.
2. I, however, as a religiously observant person, can tell you with hesitation or reservation that you are absolutely incorrect. ;)

Now, to the topic at hand. First of all, D.C. has a much higher minimum wage (and cost of living, etc.) than is common. Second, this exercise assumes a 60 hour work week, and hourly wages. Third, I for one wouldn't be working Sunday morning, anyway (and I spend considerably more than 1.5 hours at Church weekly).