Don't most churches operate following a socialist model?

[ColbertWatcher]

Not the prosperity gospel ones, but the ones that collect money from all their parishioners to donate to a charity or some community project.

It sounds socialistic to me.

Just asking.

[cbdo2007]

1. you're reaching on this one my friend

[ColbertWatcher]

3. Thank you, friend. And welcome to DU! Oh one question ...

... how am I reaching?

[cbdo2007]

14. Oh sorry about that...forgot to give any reasons.

Well, socialism would be striving for economic equality while most churches only request a very small percentage of their parishioners income go to the church and in turn to charity, usually about 10%. This is in no way striving for equality, but just to give a little bit to those people who don't have as much.

Charity is not Socialism, and if we define it and apply it incorrectly like the Repubes do, they'll have greater success incorrectly labeling Democrats/Liberals as Socialists.

[ColbertWatcher]

16. Hmm. So, to make sure I understand you correctly ...

... anything that strives for economic equality would be socialistic. Anything that merely helps someone isn't.

That makes single-payer healthcare not socialistic.

Right?

[cbdo2007]

23. I'm just going by the definition of socialism for my explanation...

because most churches don't want you living in a smaller house, going down from two cars to one, etc. so that you can give the rest of it to the church or charity. That's NOT socialism based on my understanding.

And No, I don't believe having a single-payer healthcare system is Socialism. It seems to me that a Government having Single-Payer is itself not Socialism because Socialism means for the government to own and run all services, not just one. Meaning it's no more socialist than say Social Security is or the military, other services that are run entirely by the Govt.

[ColbertWatcher]

24. I meant only to say that charity is similar to the idea behind socialism. n/t

[valerief]

2. Sharing = socialism to RW. They don't want to share anything. nt

[Lorax7844]

6. charity is totally socialist

why are you expecting their arguments to make sense? They don't. That's how we know that they are completely wrong.

[Cary]

4. "Socialist" is meaningless rightist rhetoric. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

7. The GOP-controlled media is using it that way.

But, I'm asking about the real meaning of the word.

[aquart]

5. Uh, maybe more feudal than "social."

There were levies for big projects.

[Muttocracy]

8. I think we need a new term akin to truthiness

how about socialish?

[ColbertWatcher]

11. LOL! Perhaps today's churches need a truthy term for charity!? n/t

[leftstreet]

9. They only raise money for 'the poor,' not their own members

Aside from salaries for their leaders, I don't think their donations benefit their members.

[bobbolink]

10. I don't really see Charity as "socialism". But, the early Christians, without a doubt, were

socialist. They had "a common purse".

Charity is at the whim of the giver.

And very often, if not mostly, humiliating.

Socialism is a different animal.

[ColbertWatcher]

18. I don't mean is charity socialism, but socialisTIC. n/t

[liberalmuse]

12. Early Christianity was Socialism, period.

And what is wrong with Socialism, anyway? I think the 'pubs have been confusing a socialist dictatorship with true Socialism for decades. Either that, or they're just fucking stupid.

[safeinOhio]

17. I'd say so

-There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need. (ACTS 4:34-35

[ColbertWatcher]

19. Can't they be both? n/t

[thunder rising]

13. modern christian churches are dictatorships ... I say that god says that you should do ...

[Dark]

15. Eh. They rely on donations, yes. But it is a choice for the parishioners.

Gov't socialism, however you may feel about it, is dependent on taxes, thus it usually takes a lot of that choice out of the equation

[ColbertWatcher]

20. So, charity is socialism AND choice?

LOL!

No wonder Dumbass started his faith-based pyramid schemes.

[Dark]

25. You don't have to give to a charity. But you do have to pay taxes.

n/t

[mamaleah]

21. It's voluntary

With the exception of the LDS church, it's not mandatory. And it's only mandatory for Mormons if they want to remain in good enough standing to actually enter a Mormon temple.

Most mainstream Christian religions ask for donations of around 10%. That's voluntary, and quite a small amount.

[jwirr]

22. Once a long time ago (in the Book of Acts) there was a short period

of time when they did live in a socialist type of community but greed got in the way and they ended it. Acts does not condemn socialism but it does show that greed can destroy any type of lifestyle. It seems we never learn that lesson.

[Cleita]

26. Yep, even when I was in high school at the height of the cold war

and McCarthy hearings, the nuns who taught me pointed to the communism of the religious life (nuns and monks) and the social programs advocated by the Church such as the Catholic hospitals of that time who took in any one who needed care regardless of their ability to pay. They always had rich patrons they solicited and ran fund raisers to pay for those indigenous folks who couldn't pay. Somewhere around the late sixties all that changed because how health care was delivered changed.

[scrinmaster]

27. Voluntary vs compulsary.