Plan B Forum

Imagine being able to sell, absolutely nothing.

Imagine that in selling nothing, you could make extravagant claims for it, that it will heal the sick, give everlasting life, and joy forever. You can ask for a regular payment for this product, but actually give the recipient nothing in return.

Better than that, you would never ever be called on to prove these claims, or provide evidence of efficacy. There would be no government oversight or regulation of sales or production.

Better than that even, you would be allowed to offer threats that those who do not buy your product would suffer forever.

Imagine that for selling this nothing, the government not only gave you tax breaks, but also allowed you influence and status.

www.christianchurchbalmain.info

I can't find information on that website about where I should send money!

You can make money selling nothing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SDqa1hw2-M

Cheers Strop. I'll arrange for my salary to be deposited straight into their account.

The world is full of crackpot religions. WGAS about this particular tiny little one?

People want to be deceived.


yrs,
rubato

rubato wrote:People want to be deceived.

So true ...

It's not only religions that sell nothing for good money.

Look at the number of worthless diet pills and idiotic food supplements that are sold constantly on cable television. Look at all the pills and such that promise to give Grandad a woodie.

Look at all the exercise programs and gadgets that are sold on television, promising that you can lose weight and get "ripped," simply by following their easy program for a couple weeks or months. All lies. All worthless.

As a golfer, I've seen hundreds of people selling training aids, special clubs, and "secret" swing techniques - some of them for a lot of money - and virtually all of them are worthless.

Look at bottled water. I rest my case.

dgs49 wrote:It's not only religions that sell nothing for good money.

Look at the number of worthless diet pills and idiotic food supplements that are sold constantly on cable television. Look at all the pills and such that promise to give Grandad a woodie.

Look at all the exercise programs and gadgets that are sold on television, promising that you can lose weight and get "ripped," simply by following their easy program for a couple weeks or months. All lies. All worthless.

As a golfer, I've seen hundreds of people selling training aids, special clubs, and "secret" swing techniques - some of them for a lot of money - and virtually all of them are worthless.

Look at bottled water. I rest my case.

Physical products which cost to produce, can be tested, and their virtues challenged. The church sells nothing...

Exactly, the Church "sells" nothing.

You go there if you want, put money in the collection basket - as little or as much as you want. And if you don't like the Church or what you think they are doing or not doing with your donations, you stop going there.

How is that selling anything?

No church can "punish" anyone. You can be ostracized or excommunicated or whatever they choose to call it, but no church as a monopoly on anything. Stop going. Stop donating. Go someplace else.

If you find that the church you trusted to spend "your" money in one way has spent it some other way, leave.

Are alms given on a contingent basis? Does any rational person expect a refund? Ever?

I used to give money to a foundation that supposedly supported Vietnam Veterans. Then I found out that the foundation never spent a dime on any particular veterans; they spent their money to hire lobbyists, who tried to induce Congress to fund programs for Vietnam Veterans. This was something I found nauseating so I stopped giving them money. I did not ask for a refund.

So what? What's the problem with this Church? They spent the alms to keep the pastor in a lavish lifestyle? Some people have no problem with this. People still give money to Jimmy Fucking Swaggart! Go someplace else.

Not a particularly unique argument, dgs. You could say the same about anything - "Don't like the burger/iPod/watch? Go somewhere else". The problem is that A church has the monopoly on god. People are indoctrinated to believe. If I don't like a watch I can buy another watch - or DECIDE TO NOT BOTHER BUYING A WATCH. Most of those indoctrinated can't decide not to believe in god and leave all the churches behind - becuase from what I have seen, they are all as bad as each other.

Err Not at all Sure some chuirches clain they are the only way to God but that is far from the reality. FFS Have you ever went to a UU church? They're so watered down as to allow just about anything. Heck I had planned on spending my life as a non-Church going believer because I been rubbed the wrong way by far too many "churches". But I managesd to find one that has a sound docrinal basis and a "no gossip" policy. (In other words If it's not something so dire that you believe it warants direct discussion with the party in question or the church "elders" Mind your own fucking business.)

It is true, CP - I am sure you can find a church that doesn't waste money on bishops/back stab/abuse children/lie through their teeth and who aren't hypocritical. Just that my experience is that there are not many of them - I have not come across any: so if you happen to be a believer and live near a decent church then great.For the others they have a dilemma - often their indoctrination means they have to compromise between sating their need to worship something and going to a crap church.

As I said are there no UU's in the area? they'll work for just about anyone who can stand their particular flavor of Hippy-dippy religion lite.

I don't think so - but then I live in the country, with straw and everything. Very little choice here - CofE or Methodist locally

In this Country UUs are everywhere Don't know how they Stand across the pond. No doubt the CoE cuts into thier "eh whatever" appeal

It might be because true faith, practices true humility and doesn't need to 'sell' itself.

The Buddha said; “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”




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More mundanely, I wonder why atheists always go after dogmatic Christians? When it seems like secular Scientologists (they say they're not a religion but a church ) falsely profit/prophet much more than any other dogma in history.

Why not criticize the Hare Krishnas? They require their congregations to give 50% of their household incomes to the temple. ...but no, Christianity is the over-generalized culprit, to any narrow-minded, Evangelical Atheist.

Oh boo fucking hoo. Feeling hard done by are we?
Do you have a cross you could nail yourself to?

Atheism is the only true non-prophet organisation!

I humbly ask you: what cross?

loCAtek wrote:I humbly ask you: what cross?

Do you have a cross to bear?