Religionists (professing Christians) are stingy

[Kate Shaw]

"Sell all of your goods and property and put the money in a common purse- where all members of the church can come an take as needed" Some pretty nice common wealth happening in the original Christian movement...Try going to the Vatican who has stored up a hundred trillion dollars of the the late 1800 years..You would think they would have remembered the last part- "take as needed" - Try asking the Pope or your local Anglican minister for some rent money- You are going to get a smile and a blessing..........that's it...organized Christianity loves to collect money- but they sure don't like to give it up.

Those are Lifeboat Rules that were made when the return of Jesus was expected instanter. That's the way you live when you have a terminus ad quem. It's been more than 2,000 years now and if we were still living in a lifeboat we'd all be dead and our bones would be dust.

By the way, I object to your indiscriminate slopping of Tar over all us Christians. There are some of us that hew to Matthew Chapter 6 and do not blow trumpets and beat drums when we practice our charity. Lots of us in these parlous times have family that need our help first above everyone else. Give us a break.

Oh, and here's a story that I saw with my own eyes on Bloor West, at "Bread and Roses" one afternoon.

A man was begging at the outdoor tables and mostly being ignored or told to move along. He came up to an elderly, frail looking lady, who took out a little change purse and extracted two dimes and a nickel and handed them to him. The beggar said, "Sure you can spare it?" in a rather tired, sharpish voice.

"No," she said quietly, "I can't. But it's the right thing to do."

The man said nothing for a couple of breaths. Then he touched his hat and said, "Thank you, ma'am" and walked on.

[RedDog]

Here locally there are shelters with decorator woodwork and the finest wrought iron light fixtures. There is no need for "homeless" to be begging in the streets. The one's who are don't conform to the rules expected of them at places like Safe Harbour (where I've photographed that woodwork and decorating for their brochures). They will have showers, clean linen and good meals there adhering to the rules.

Do not give them money on the streets. You are just just doubling up what you already paid in taxes. The cash is buying booze, drugs and cigarettes, none of which are allowed in the shelters. There's no reason for them to be hungry. You start with the basics and that begins with rules, responsibilities and expectations.

[The Islander]

A man was begging at the outdoor tables and mostly being ignored or told to move along. He came up to an elderly, frail looking lady, who took out a little change purse and extracted two dimes and a nickel and handed them to him. The beggar said, "Sure you can spare it?" in a rather tired, sharpish voice.

"No," she said quietly, "I can't. But it's the right thing to do."

The man said nothing for a couple of breaths. Then he touched his hat and said, "Thank you, ma'am" and walked on.

Some people are just 'classy" people. Good for her!

[goldhound]

Here locally there are shelters with decorator woodwork and the finest wrought iron light fixtures. There is no need for "homeless" to be begging in the streets. The one's who are don't conform to the rules expected of them at places like Safe Harbour (where I've photographed that woodwork and decorating for their brochures). They will have showers, clean linen and good meals there adhering to the rules.

Do not give them money on the streets. You are just just doubling up what you already paid in taxes. The cash is buying booze, drugs and cigarettes, none of which are allowed in the shelters. There's no reason for them to be hungry. You start with the basics and that begins with rules, responsibilities and expectations.

Totally agree!
If you find one that wants to split some wood or mow your lawn in exchange for dinner, congrats! You have found a "better time" machine.

[Alec Bachlow]

"Sell all of your goods and property and put the money in a common purse- where all members of the church can come an take as needed" Some pretty nice common wealth happening in the original Christian movement...Try going to the Vatican who has stored up a hundred trillion dollars of the the late 1800 years..You would think they would have remembered the last part- "take as needed" - Try asking the Pope or your local Anglican minister for some rent money- You are going to get a smile and a blessing..........that's it...organized Christianity loves to collect money- but they sure don't like to give it up.

Those are Lifeboat Rules that were made when the return of Jesus was expected instanter. That's the way you live when you have a terminus ad quem. It's been more than 2,000 years now and if we were still living in a lifeboat we'd all be dead and our bones would be dust.

By the way, I object to your indiscriminate slopping of Tar over all us Christians. There are some of us that hew to Matthew Chapter 6 and do not blow trumpets and beat drums when we practice our charity. Lots of us in these parlous times have family that need our help first above everyone else. Give us a break.


Just playing the devil's lawyer for a bit. No- I do not want to smear tar over all Christians..nor myself for that matter- If I have I will give to a beggar- if I have not - I won't...Yes I remember the days of real benevolent charity- someone would show up at the door and quietly send in a few boxes of good fresh food..if the news was out that the father was ill or had died...There was no blowing of trumpets- NOW- as far as the state is concerned- the state broadcasts and taints the reputation of the poor ...and hangs a sign on the door that says "welfare case" - There trumpets are deafening.

Having said that- There is no more real charity- and what was once handled by the church is now handled by the state/// could it be that we have run out of Christians ? It looks like church has sold itself off to the state...It was better when the poor would receive help in good faith that was not a facilitation of institutionalizing the poor - and keeping them poor...as does the welfare state- that is storage of the poor till they perish and no longer are a burden.

Oh, and here's a story that I saw with my own eyes on Bloor West, at "Bread and Roses" one afternoon.

A man was begging at the outdoor tables and mostly being ignored or told to move along. He came up to an elderly, frail looking lady, who took out a little change purse and extracted two dimes and a nickel and handed them to him. The beggar said, "Sure you can spare it?" in a rather tired, sharpish voice.

"No," she said quietly, "I can't. But it's the right thing to do."

The man said nothing for a couple of breaths. Then he touched his hat and said, "Thank you, ma'am" and walked on.

[Alec Bachlow]

"Sell all of your goods and property and put the money in a common purse- where all members of the church can come an take as needed" Some pretty nice common wealth happening in the original Christian movement...Try going to the Vatican who has stored up a hundred trillion dollars of the the late 1800 years..You would think they would have remembered the last part- "take as needed" - Try asking the Pope or your local Anglican minister for some rent money- You are going to get a smile and a blessing..........that's it...organized Christianity loves to collect money- but they sure don't like to give it up.

Those are Lifeboat Rules that were made when the return of Jesus was expected instanter. That's the way you live when you have a terminus ad quem. It's been more than 2,000 years now and if we were still living in a lifeboat we'd all be dead and our bones would be dust.

By the way, I object to your indiscriminate slopping of Tar over all us Christians. There are some of us that hew to Matthew Chapter 6 and do not blow trumpets and beat drums when we practice our charity. Lots of us in these parlous times have family that need our help first above everyone else. Give us a break.


Just playing the devil's lawyer for a bit. No- I do not want to smear tar over all Christians..nor myself for that matter- If I have I will give to a beggar- if I have not - I won't...Yes I remember the days of real benevolent charity- someone would show up at the door and quietly send in a few boxes of good fresh food..if the news was out that the father was ill or had died...There was no blowing of trumpets- NOW- as far as the state is concerned- the state broadcasts and taints the reputation of the poor ...and hangs a sign on the door that says "welfare case" - There trumpets are deafening.

Having said that- There is no more real charity- and what was once handled by the church is now handled by the state/// could it be that we have run out of Christians ? It looks like church has sold itself off to the state...It was better when the poor would receive help in good faith that was not a facilitation of institutionalizing the poor - and keeping them poor...as does the welfare state- that is storage of the poor till they perish and no longer are a burden.

Oh, and here's a story that I saw with my own eyes on Bloor West, at "Bread and Roses" one afternoon.

A man was begging at the outdoor tables and mostly being ignored or told to move along. He came up to an elderly, frail looking lady, who took out a little change purse and extracted two dimes and a nickel and handed them to him. The beggar said, "Sure you can spare it?" in a rather tired, sharpish voice.

"No," she said quietly, "I can't. But it's the right thing to do."

The man said nothing for a couple of breaths. Then he touched his hat and said, "Thank you, ma'am" and walked on.

[Alec Bachlow]

"Sell all of your goods and property and put the money in a common purse- where all members of the church can come an take as needed" Some pretty nice common wealth happening in the original Christian movement...Try going to the Vatican who has stored up a hundred trillion dollars of the the late 1800 years..You would think they would have remembered the last part- "take as needed" - Try asking the Pope or your local Anglican minister for some rent money- You are going to get a smile and a blessing..........that's it...organized Christianity loves to collect money- but they sure don't like to give it up.

Those are Lifeboat Rules that were made when the return of Jesus was expected instanter. That's the way you live when you have a terminus ad quem. It's been more than 2,000 years now and if we were still living in a lifeboat we'd all be dead and our bones would be dust.

By the way, I object to your indiscriminate slopping of Tar over all us Christians. There are some of us that hew to Matthew Chapter 6 and do not blow trumpets and beat drums when we practice our charity. Lots of us in these parlous times have family that need our help first above everyone else. Give us a break.


Just playing the devil's lawyer for a bit. No- I do not want to smear tar over all Christians..nor myself for that matter- If I have I will give to a beggar- if I have not - I won't...Yes I remember the days of real benevolent charity- someone would show up at the door and quietly send in a few boxes of good fresh food..if the news was out that the father was ill or had died...There was no blowing of trumpets- NOW- as far as the state is concerned- the state broadcasts and taints the reputation of the poor ...and hangs a sign on the door that says "welfare case" - There trumpets are deafening.

Having said that- There is no more real charity- and what was once handled by the church is now handled by the state/// could it be that we have run out of Christians ? It looks like church has sold itself off to the state...It was better when the poor would receive help in good faith that was not a facilitation of institutionalizing the poor - and keeping them poor...as does the welfare state- that is storage of the poor till they perish and no longer are a burden.

Oh, and here's a story that I saw with my own eyes on Bloor West, at "Bread and Roses" one afternoon.

A man was begging at the outdoor tables and mostly being ignored or told to move along. He came up to an elderly, frail looking lady, who took out a little change purse and extracted two dimes and a nickel and handed them to him. The beggar said, "Sure you can spare it?" in a rather tired, sharpish voice.

"No," she said quietly, "I can't. But it's the right thing to do."

The man said nothing for a couple of breaths. Then he touched his hat and said, "Thank you, ma'am" and walked on.

It was better when church did not suck up to the state and become the state- When benevolent Christians would drop off some food and cash to the newly widowed...and avoided placing the stamp of humiliation that the welfare state with their very loud trumpets do .

[Kate Shaw]

The Church still does charitable work, quietly, in the USA. In Canada, because almost nobody actually goes to church save apparently to socialize, the practice has been relegated to the Government.

I tried for the first year (1998) that I was in Canada to find a charitable organization to carry on the volunteer work I had done in America, and was rebuffed at every turn. The last straw came when I finally set up a lunchtime interview with someone at Ronald McDonald House, for which I had worked several years in Atlanta, only to discover when I arrived that she had gone to lunch with her girlfriends. I telephoned her after I got back to my office, and she said, "Oh, I didn't think you'd show up."

Whereupon I quit trying.

It took me 10 years to find a church to join that wanted me as a member, by the way, and the one I belong to does no charitable outreach through the congregation. (Our priest runs Iron Man triathalons to raise money for such things as a portable stage for the parish hall.) Besides that, having opted for carpeting in the sanctuary, it has no candles we can light for prayers. For that i have to go to a church I formerly attended, which ought to have written over the door "I was a stranger, and you did not welcome Me."