If you no longer pay tithing — reflect….

I still pay. I’ve realised it’s habit since being a kid. £1 pocket money meant 10p into the tithing envelope. I’ve also been fearing the financial impact of not paying. But that’s irrational fear.

I think it’s reasonable to make some contribution for attending. Based on the Canadian figures, a ward needs 1% (not 10%) for cash expenditure, then I would guess another 1-2% for bills and maintenance.

I quite like some of the work that JSP.org does and also like some of their media productions (new testament videos). So that probably takes it up to 3-4% as a reasonable contribution for the level of participation and costs I incur the organisation.

I think you might be reading negative intent into my post Ray, when it doesn’t exist. Or maybe some other intent. I thought people would come out with the reasons they DID pay it. Might have even awakened wholesome thoughts…

I find that I am more objective when I step back a bit from an experience that at one time was an intimate, regular experience. Kind of like when you look at a picture of yourself 15 years later and draw new conclusions about your personna. However the perspectives of people who still do pay could also be interesting — I simply think I probably heard them before.

Anyway, to answer my own question, at the time I used to pay, I would have said I did it because it was a commandment, and expected. I think part of me felt a sense of security in paying — that somehow, paying tithing granted me a measure of control or support over my financial situation in a world that seems to always want to take it from me. Particularly if I lost my job since I worried about that a lot. And then, the idea of not holding a temple recommend wasn’t something I could not accept at the time. I remember once I actually felt good about paying it because I attended a ward that really, really lived the gospel. For a short period, the church experience nourished me spiritually and the organization seemed like a worthwhile place to put the money because I saw the difference it made in a lot of people’s behavior. People who were more advanced than I was in their spirituality and ability to execute were there in droves and I found it inspiring.

I see also that I am highly influenced by the behavior of the people around me in my own commitment to the gospel….however, I need to be around strong people to really believe it is what it says it is….Jesus did say that by their fruits ye shall know them….that litmus test is tough though, when people vary so much in their “fruits”.

Seriously, I personally didn’t read negativity from you into this post, SD, and I didn’t think it was an attempt to promote negativity – but lots of posts could be written that exclude active members, and those posts are more likely to focus on the negative than ones that are open to everyone. Look around the internet at sites that are exclusive in nature. Furthermore, I think if you go back and re-read the post as objectively as possible, you will see that there absolutely is a valid way to read negativity into it. For someone who doesn’t know you and us very well, this looks like a stereotypically negative post. Seriously, try that and see if you don’t understand what I mean.

More than that, this is an open forum, and our discussions are meant to be for everyone. The title, as worded, only applies to some of our participants – and the people it excludes are, explicitly, those who still pay tithing. Further, it forces those it excludes to comment only in an adversarial role, if they stick to the question of the post. For example, as worded, I cannot comment on this thread, except to question or challenge those who do, since I pay tithing and always have – and that isn’t our mission. We aren’t established to have some of us only able to participate in that manner.

If the other admins feel differently, I will step aside and stop commenting in this thread – since I refuse to comment in a way that simply is oppositional to those commenting.

Seriously, I personally didn’t read negativity from you into this post, SD, and I didn’t think it was an attempt to promote negativity – but lots of posts could be written that exclude active members, and those posts are more likely to focus on the negative than ones that are open to everyone. Look around the internet at sites that are exclusive in nature. Furthermore, I think if you go back and re-read the post as objectively as possible, you will see that there absolutely is a valid way to read negativity into it. For someone who doesn’t know you and us very well, this looks like a stereotypically negative post. Seriously, try that and see if you don’t understand what I mean.

More than that, this is an open forum, and our discussions are meant to be for everyone. The title, as worded, only applies to some of our participants – and the people it excludes are, explicitly, those who still pay tithing. Further, it forces those it excludes to comment only in an adversarial role, if they stick to the question of the post. For example, as worded, I cannot comment on this thread, except to question or challenge those who do, since I pay tithing and always have – and that isn’t our mission. We aren’t established to have some of us only able to participate in that manner.

If the other admins feel differently, I will step aside and stop commenting in this thread – since I refuse to comment in a way that simply is oppositional to those commenting.

I think you are way over reacting. I seriously doubt someone feels they can not make a comment if they still pay tithing, if that is what you are referring to. It is hard to tell.

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Yeah. This. I paid because I felt like it was the right thing to do. It was duty, and was building up something special…and I wanted to be part of the “in group.”

Two years ago I had to stop. I had been a full TP for 16 years. After the fallout with church and family, and the pain and frustration of lack of transparency when cedar creek and the rumors of the GAs obscene salaries, abd the miniscule amount of money being used for charity, and canning all the janitors….

Just can’t do it anymore. I still try to be very generous with my money, but I can’t give money to the church in good conscience.

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If you no longer pay, but used to be a full tithe payer at some point in your life — why did you pay? What were the two most powerful reasons that motivated you to give such a substantial amount of your income to the LDS Church?

I’m a full tithe payer. I don’t know exactly why I’m willing to do it, but it’s not out of fear. I like the idea and it’s obviously not unique to Mormons.

The sticking point for me is it being a requirement for a recommend. I’d never heard the expression “pay to play” until going online this last year, and I have to admit that I’m uncomfortable with it. Maybe it’s also my kids getting older and becoming more aware of marriages/sealings from which people are excluded.