I think it's messed up

[creekster]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

This is all a moo point because it is highly unlikely that exie's claim is even accurate.

Where does he even get that statistic?

The sheer concentrations of wealth and population in states like California, Florida, New York, Illinois, Texas, Connecticut (wealth, not pops)....would make it highly unlikely that Utah leads the nation in any category.

I htink on a per capita or per household basis Utah is consistently at or near the top.

Are moo points horns? (I know, pot/kettle)

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by creekster

Compulsory? Or do you mean self-serving? Why is this different than a politician ('non-beleiver') giving $ to his pet cause? SHould we discount that due to its self-serving nature? Or if the donation is based on fervetn beleif, why is it different than anyone giving to a cause in which they fervently believe? This dichotomy is false.

It seems a little different when one's eternal well-being is affected.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

It seems a little different when one's eternal well-being is affected.

WHy? You are suggesting it is a self serving donation. Ok. Most politicans donate for self serving reasons. Some big donors give to have building named after them. Others give becaseu it makes them feel good; or feeds their ego. Many others donate for a stinkin' tax deduction, for cryin' out loud. I think eternal welfare holds up pretty well comapred to these. To somehow discount the validity of these contributions, especailly when they are as proportinately large as they are, and to implicitly defend a schmuck like Biden for only giving $300 becasue (presumably) his is genuine as compared ot someone paying 10% of groos strikes me as self-serving itself.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

This is all a moo point because it is highly unlikely that exie's claim is even accurate.

Where does he even get that statistic?

The sheer concentrations of wealth and population in states like California, Florida, New York, Illinois, Texas, Connecticut (wealth, not pops)....would make it highly unlikely that Utah leads the nation in any category.

Perhaps someone can Google better than me, but I came up with this link, which does say Utah is the highest per capita. Barbara will be pleased to see that Oklahoma is #2.

I have no idea if this web site is reputable or not, so take it for what it's worth.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...w/cpid/523.htm

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by creekster

I htink on a per capita or per household basis Utah is consistently at or near the top.

Are moo points horns? (I know, pot/kettle)

A moo point. It is like a cow's opinion....it doesn't matter.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by creekster

WHy? You are suggesting it is a self serving donation. Ok. Most politicans donate for self serving reasons. Some big donors give to have building named after them. Others give becaseu it makes them feel good; or feeds their ego. Many others donate for a stinkin' tax deduction, for cryin' out loud. I think eternal welfare holds up pretty well comapred to these. To somehow discount the validity of these contributions, especailly when they are as proportinately large as they are, and to implicitly defend a schmuck like Biden for only giving $300 becasue (presumably) his is genuine as compared ot someone paying 10% of groos strikes me as self-serving itself.

Wow, creekster. Nice.

People donate to causes they believe in. Obviously the church is a cause that active LDS members believe in. They want to support what they believe is the cause of God.

No one forcibly takes tithing from members, just like no one forces them to be chaste, kind, honest, or to follow any other commandment. It's offered, often at great sacrifice, as an exercise of faith.

To call it compulsory and self-serving is quite shallow.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Tex

Perhaps someone can Google better than me, but I came up with this link, which does say Utah is the highest per capita. Barbara will be pleased to see that Oklahoma is #2.

I have no idea if this web site is reputable or not, so take it for what it's worth.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...w/cpid/523.htm

I dont know how reputable it is, either, but at least it is a start. I can see a per capita analysis. I would have been shocked if it were simply bottom line dollars, which there would be no way Utah would be anywhere near the top.

This link seems to consider only the wealthy filers and as a ratio to overall investment assets, not the entire population as a whole. But I get the point.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Tex

Perhaps someone can Google better than me, but I came up with this link, which does say Utah is the highest per capita. Barbara will be pleased to see that Oklahoma is #2.

I have no idea if this web site is reputable or not, so take it for what it's worth.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...w/cpid/523.htm

That's not ranking what you think it's ranking. The fact that Oklahoma is #2 is a giveaway.

But I think Utah would be #1 either way.

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

It seems a little different when one's eternal well-being is affected.

The desire to have one's name associated with an institution or edifice is not an desperate grasp at immortality?

Do you honestly believe that I unconsciously hand over 10% to the church; that I am unaware of exactly where it is going and what is being done with it? I've been called an idiot before but ...

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by tooblue

The desire to have one's name associated with an institution or edifice is not an desperate grasp at immortality?

Do you honestly believe that I unconsciously hand over 10% to the church; that I am unaware of exactly where it is going and what is being done with it? I've been called an idiot before but ...

tooblue, I agree with you, but you do not know exactly where the money is going and what is being done with it.

no need to overstate things to make your point.

If you indeed do know exactly where your tithing was going, can you clue me in as to how I can track mine dollar for dollar?