Is Christianity a pyramid scheme?

[filburt1]

I was thinking about it when I was really bored. And before people like Kovan flame me, remember that this is not meaning offense, just my train of thought on religion in general but Christianity in particular. Try to remain as objective as possible in your thinking.


A pyramid scheme's sole purpose is to recruit more members and get members to send money. This is the concept behind chain mail and spam.

Christianity is the same way. Christians (missionaries in particular) are constantly trying to get people to convert to their religion. Also, since the Church is a non-profit organization according to US Law at least, they do not get government support (retard W is trying to change that, but ignore that for now).

Christians also pay to support the Church.

Pyramid scheme? I'm not questioning the legality, but if it is a PS at all.

[Bonker Gudd]

When you sign up to be a Christian the hand book says that you should try and get as many others to sign up, therefore I suppose the answer is Yes. Chain Letter Religion

[FATBOYPEE]

Are you saying that by definition, the sole intention of Christianity is to extort money from it's members ? It's primary goal is the extortion of money for an immorral purpose or to benefit the individuals of that organisation ?

Christianity:- belief in Christ:- Christians:- followers of Christ,

followers of Christ do not necesarilly belong to any particular church.

Are you saying a church is a pyramid scheme then ? if so, you must first name your denomination before you can tar 'Christianity' with that particular brush.

FBP

[filburt1]

Christians follow a leader, or the top of the pyramid. Remember, no offense was meant by this, calm down...

[HarryW]

He is right though. Christianity isn't an institution, the church(es) is (are).

[filburt1]

What do you mean?

[HarryW]

I mean Christianity as a concept is not necessarily linked to any kind of organisation. A person can be a Christian and not be affiliated with any kind of church or sect. It can be an individual, independant thing.

What you are describing is how some sects operate.

[simonm]

I don't think Christianity is a pyramid scheme because I know of know churches (with the exception of Jehova's Witness) that expect you to send in part of your income.

Besides, that's not how pyramid schemes work. You don't send money to the "top" of the pyramid, only the level above you.

I would say, however, that it is the nature of all religions to attempt to perpetuate their own existance, otherwise they would have died out again.

[filburt1]

Originally posted by simonm
Besides, that's not how pyramid schemes work. You don't send money to the "top" of the pyramid, only the level above you.

That's recursive. Eventually it will hit the top (in concept).

[filburt1]

Originally posted by simonm
I don't think Christianity is a pyramid scheme because I know of know churches (with the exception of Jehova's Witness) that expect you to send in part of your income.
[/B]

Uh, you just contradicted yourself, dude.

[simonm]

That's recursive. Eventually it will hit the top (in concept).

No. If all the money eventually went to the top, they wouldn't be popular. They are popular because everyone believes they can make money out of it.

Even in Jehova's witness, you don't send money to the person that converted you, rather to the Kingdom hall that you belong to (I would imagine).

But, as I said before, I don't believe that christian churches, as a rule, expect you to send them money.

[HarryW]

Some sects do. I know of people (Christians) involved in such organisations.

[aknisely]

You will betray the holy church of Jesus? Then straight to satan with you!!! By the way, your collection cheque bounced.

[thinktank]

Unlike Islam , Christianity is a non-prophet religion

[aknisely]

That makes it better somehow?

[DaveAMS]

> A pyramid scheme's sole purpose is
> to recruit more members and get
> members to send money. This is the
> concept behind chain mail and spam.

Christianity is based on the principle that there is one true God, the creator of the universe. If this God were to need (or even want) something as trivial and mundane as *money* would make followers of such a God truly pitiable.

The God of Chrisitanity asks two things: (1) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and (2) You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The only purpose money may serve is for us to "love our neighbor," or help someone in need.

There are those who would use Christianity for profit or personal gain, but this goes against the very basis for the religion: Jesus Christ. A man who did not strive for money or fortune, but who gave his very life for us.

[filburt1]

Ignoring the beliefs part and think objectively.

[DaveAMS]

I rather thought I was thinking (and speaking) objectively, filburt1...

I know that there are many out there who would manipulate Christianity for personal gain. Because these people exist, does that somehow corrupt or distort Christianity itself?

The Christianity that i subscribe to is based upon helping one another. I use my money, time and talents to benefit those with whom I co-habitate this planet. I don't do this because I'm trying to earn or buy my way into Heaven, or earn some other reward. I do it because if I was the person in need...I would want someone to help me! (Golden Rule) Not all people think this way (and some may question if anyone actually thinks this way) but I believe that this is what Chrisitianity is all about.

I do what I can to track the money that I give, to (hopefully) ensure that most (if not all) goes to clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, treating the infirm, comforting the sorrowful, etc.

Some money may be used for administrative and logistic purposes. Some may end up in the pockets of the greedy. That's life. If those people extort, lie and steal for personal gain, I see it as theft, a crime.

[Jim Brown]

Originally posted by thinktank
Unlike Islam , Christianity is a non-prophet religion

JUST KIDDING... JUST CHECKING MY CAPS LOCK

But seriously Adam, did you miss this pun.......

Also, how's your SCO ....

I aM 100000% PuRe something or other

[aknisely]

Originally posted by Jim Brown
But seriously Adam, did you miss this pun......

Of course not, you think I'm stupid?

[Tygur]

Originally posted by simonm
I don't think Christianity is a pyramid scheme because I know of know churches (with the exception of Jehova's Witness) that expect you to send in part of your income.

I'm not sure what you're saying here, but Jehovah's Witnesses do not require people to pay part of their income. If people want to donate money, it gets accepted, but the donation is not required (It still is considered a good idea, though).

BTW, Jehovah ends in an "H".

PS: Should I bring back that really old religious thread or let it rest? I kept putting off a reply to it, and it seems really pointless to bother now.

[FATBOYPEE]

I still think this subject is a tad confused.

Christianity :- belief in Christ

Church:- congregation of people bound by a common belief etc etc.

The two are different things.

If you asked me if I am a Christian I would say yes. Am I then a pyramid scheme myself ? Am I obligated to part with my sinisterly earned cash ? No.

Churches need to persit themselves, to do this they need to appropriate funds. Whicever method a particular church uses to appropriate those funds is down to them. Inevitably, being human, such methods can be prone to abuse.

Does this therefore constitute that Christianty by ethos is pyramid based. OF course it doesn't.A belief in Christ is by definition individual unless used in the context of church.

Therefore ask your questions of church, not of a belief structure in general.
By the way, I'm being emotive, not fussed up by this thread at all. Just think it's a tad confused.

[Jim Brown]

Yup, then after that you get the root password

[Technocrat]

*Stands there shaking his head and laughing*

Oh I LOVE these threads...But we have been down this road so many times now its not even fun anymore. In fact it is kind of sad. Samethings keep getting said over and over again. But I do have to say pyramid scheme is really an interesting idea.

So I will leave you with the samething I always say, religion has ruined the human race.

You guys play nice now

[RSINGH]

religion has ruined the human race

Nope, humans have done done that perfectly well themselves

[Tygur]

Originally posted by Technocrat
*Stands there shaking his head and laughing*

Oh I LOVE these threads...But we have been down this road so many times now its not even fun anymore. In fact it is kind of sad. Samethings keep getting said over and over again. But I do have to say pyramid scheme is really an interesting idea.

So I will leave you with the samething I always say, religion has ruined the human race.

You guys play nice now

These threads never end up going anywhere because anyone who feels strongly enough about the subject to say anything on the matter also feels too strongly to change much. So everyone just goes on and on and nothing ever really changes in the end.

I'm not sure that it's too bad that the same things keep geting said because it shows that the forum is growing. New people coming in didn't see the old stuff so it's all new content for them.

I don't think religion itself has ruined the human race. I think religion has yielded too much power to certain people and these people abused it. So the blame rests on those people, not religion itself. They just used religion.