BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Mormons

What scares me is that all of that money taken in by religious organizations is not taxed. Something just ... bugs me ... about that.

Absolutely, AMEN to that.
Churches have way too much power because of the position they have in this country.

Just because people choose to believe in something it doesn't mean they are brainwashed. Donating to a church you truly believe in is no different than donating to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Relief Fund or another charity. You donate because you believe by doing so you are helping others and making the world a better place.

The LDS church also operates many businesses as a source of income - they do not rely solely on donations. In fact, more money comes from the business side than the donations.

Donations are only used to pay for new buildings and materials. None of the 50,000 plus missionaries are paid, neither any of the clergy, teachers, or other leaders. They are all volunteers who pay their own way.

The whole point is that you don't CHOOSE to practice a given religion when you are raised and indoctrinated at a young age. That choice was made for you.

This thread seems a little misguided...

Many members of my family are Mormon - none of whom have more than five children incidentally - and my husband is Mormon. He has just two siblings. Let me emphasize that Mormons are not polygamists. The rlds, fclds (fundamentalist church of latter day saints) and other cults are NOT members of the Mormon faith!! They are sick abominations who abuse Gods gifts of marriage and birth. They are groups that when the Mormons renounced polygamy, refused to accept it and formed the tangents we see today. These groups abuse and violate their women and warp the minds of their unfortunate "family" members.

Please refrain from lumping your Mormon friends and neighbors in with these folks. Remember that they (rlds, flds) are not Mormons and that Mormons feel the same disgust and horror as everyone else when confronted with the aweful stories that emerge from polygamist cults.

I have never met a Mormon woman who felt that her only use in life was creating children and I have never met a Mormon man who would inflict such a thing on his wife. Certainly such people do exist but please keep in mind that they are shameful embarrasments and are the minority. Dont panic: The Mormons down the street from you are certainly not involved in some sort of secret baby-making obsessed lifestyle...

XD take it with a grain of salt and avoid stereotyping people.

Sure the Mormon church has lots of money. But did you know that not one member of the clergy is paid for what they do? It's all volunteer work from people who feel that God has called them to aid the church and spread His message. Theres nothing to fear from a church that has money. Separation of church and state was actually designed to protect the church because the state - the govt - has no reason toworry about a churchs financial success. And all those donations? Many of them go to humanitarian causes. Who aided Katrina survivors before even the military was there? The Mormons. And they dont even get paid for it...

I am LDS and would love to have children but may never be able to. The reason I want to have children isn't because I am "mormon" it's because I really just want them. (and by the way, I don't think I could handle more than 3) The lds church does focus on families but it doesn't promote people having child after child unless that's what they want. People of other faiths desire families the same as mormons. I defenitely don't agree with polygamy but I think if a woman wants to have 10 children and have her insides fall out on her way to the funny farm more power to her!!!!! I just hope I'm never that woman!