In the latest issue of Christianity Today (vol. 52, no. 12, Dec. 2008), an article titled "Scrooge Lives" (pp. 24-9) looks at a new study from Oxford University Press by sociologists Christian Smith, Michael Emerson and Patricia Snell. The study, called Passing the Plate, reports on the stinginess of American Christians. According to the study, 5% of American Evangelicals give 60% of the money churches use to operate. 10% give no money at all (to any church or charity, religious or otherwise), and 36% give less than 2% of their income. Only 27% tithe.
Among the interesting findings of the study was that Mormons give the most. They give an average of 5% of their income to religious organizations and other charities. The next highest-ranking groups were Pentecostals and "other Protestants" (meaning non-denominational churches and churches from small denominations), coming in at just over 3% of their income. The fourth highest-ranking group was members of non-Christian religions; they were just ahead of Baptists and Jews, and significantly surpassed members of mainline groups like the Catholics, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. The group that gives the least-- less even than atheists-- is Jehovah's Witnesses.
Image excerpted from Christianity Today vol. 52, no. 12, Dec. 2008, p. 26.Why do Mormons give so much more than other Christians? There are actually two questions to be asked here. The first is why Mormons give so much, and the second is why other Christians give so little.
The CT article may help us answer the latter question. The article suggests three reasons for low levels of giving among Protestant Christians. First of all, "majorities in several church families (Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Catholics) say they don't have high levels of trust in the denomination's management and allocation of funds." Secondly, there is "a strong correlation between perceived expectations and readiness to give money," and many Protestant pastors are hesitant to preach about giving because it's so closely tied to their own salaries. And finally, evangelicals have a theology of spontaneity (based partly on 2 Corinthians 9:7) that tends to militate against budgeted or structured giving.
The answers to the second question may simply be the reverse of the answers to the first. The Mormons I know have a fairly high degree of trust in their church's use of funds, Mormonism has very in-your-face accountability structures in place to encourage tithing (without which you can't go to the temple and attain exaltation), and Mormon theology is more a theology of structured obedience than of spontaneous worship.
Antoher interesting finding of this study is that Mormons give almost entirely to religious organizations. Pentecostals are the same way. Other Christians and members of non-Christian religions, by comparison, give much of their money to non-religious charities. This probably says something about the priorities of the various groups, some of which tend to be oriented toward salvation the next life and some of which are oriented toward healing in the present one. Maybe it also says something about their level of trust and dedication to their own religious group vis-a-vis other charities. And finally, it perhaps says something about where the strongest pressures to give are coming from.
I think that comparative studies like this one are interesting, but I am highly skeptical when people try to use them to prove that their religion is truer or better than the others (which is not what the CT article was doing, by the way-- I'm just editorializing and generalizing now). For one thing, the difference between the various faiths is not that great. It appears to be the result of organizational and theological differences rather than of baptismal regeneration or the workings of the Holy Ghost. As a matter of fact, the more I study the religions the more I find myself convinced that no religion's adherents are demonstrably better or more regenerate than the others. Some religions have developed more effective structures for the channeling of human energies into constructive activities (just as Western-style capitalist democracies are more effective in this regard than communist regimes). But clearly no one religion has a monopoly on transformative power.
10 comments:
It might be interesting to note that the reasons that Jehovah's Witnesses give so little to their "church" is that not much is needed. The buildings are very simple and spartan, and most Jehovah's Witnesses I know spend their time, money and resources preaching the Gospel Message, not building recreation centers, etc. Also, Jehovah's Witnesses in their entire history have NEVER passed a collection plate , any time, any place. If you went to a Kingdom Hall you may have trouble finding out how you could contribute to the world wide preaching work, or local expenses if you did not know how to. (Hint: a locked collection box screwed to a table in the back of the Kingdom Hall, where support can be given anonymously). No preachers, elders etc. are paid a salary, except at the upper levels, and the "very top hierchy" lives in simple apartments with a food and clothing allowance less than my beer allowance, and what I spend on computers, etc.
The Mormons have some magnificent Temples, and it takes a lot of money to do that.
Jehovah's Witnesses often do not have windows in their Kingdom Halls, because simple windows cost more than simple straight walls.
It's all a matter of priorities.
Jehovah's Witnesses ONLY count as members those who actively preach the Gospel, currently a bit over 6 million active preachers worldwide, and providing Bibles, Study Guides, songbooks and Watchtowers and Awake magazines to the people of Earth consumes huge amounts of money. I have never seen any gold in Jehovah's Witnesses meeting places in 55 years, and I have traveled the world (unless it was gold paint on a sign for something).
Years ago, "60 Minutes" traced how money goes in all those churches in America that support the National Council of Churches , from local church, up and down the chain, to South American "freedom fighters" who used it to buy guns, ammo, bombs, bayonettes, etc.
Since Jehovah's Witnesses never involve themselves in ANYBODY's politics, we do not have that expense, or things like lobbiests, political agenda groups, etc., that the IRS is clamping down on recently, etc.
In any neighborhood, it is more likely than not that Jehovah's witnesses have the worst looking lawn and yard, and house, as they typically spend what resources they have in their rescue work.
Speaking of rescue work, when natural disasters strike, great mobilizations are made to send relief supplies to affected areas, and although we take care of our own "family" first, there is always much more sent than can be used by JWs, and the extra is freely shared with the communities, with no discrimination or cost.
just a few passing thoughts.
Maintaining, teaching and supporting a Worldwide Preaching Work does take some massive expendatures to support it, in training alone, but it is not much compared to other churches of the same magnitude.
Jehovah's Witnesses know there is no "Hell", so are not scared into "Paying the Preacher", via tithes, etc.
Tom.Rook@Technik-SA.US
Hi Tom,
Much of what you say may be true, but I'm not sure it suffices to explain the data. It should be noted that JWs not only don't donate much money to their church, but they also don't donate much money to non-religious charities. Even atheists give more. Thus the statement that "Jehovah's witnesses have the worst looking lawn and yard, and house, as they typically spend what resources they have in their rescue work" doesn't ring true, unless individual JWs are doing this rescue work on their own independently without involving any organizations. Anyway, I'm not out to bad-talk JWs. I don't know any JWs and have no particular investment or interest in the subject of whether or not they give (though of course I do think it's good for as many people as possible to give money if it's to a good cause).
Best,
-Chris
Does this survey take into consideration tithes (sorry if reading carefully would reveal that)?
For example, I'm not very surprised that Mormons have a great amount of giving to *religious organizations*, especially if this includes the tithe.
But if it does include the tithe, then in fact, I am disappointed -- the number isn't high enough. Tithes are 10% of increase (gross income), so although we shouldn't expect a full 10% in the chart (after all, not every member is a full tithe-payer), just 5% (and really, it's even less: not all 5% is going to "religious organizations") is rather disappointing.
I like your conclusion though: this doesn't say anything about the truthfulness of any religious group. Just about organizational and theological differences.
Hi Andrew,
Yes, this includes tithing. And yes, the numbers for all denominations are disappointing. (That was the major theme of the CT article, to which Mormon giving was actually completely tangential.)
Thanks for reading,
-Chris
The 5% is disappointing but it makes sense if we've got about a 50% overall activity rate, which fits with what I've heard. I wonder how fast offerings were counted: as contributions to the church, or as other contributions?
The JW numbers are definitely eye raising, but I suppose that if you believe that unrepentant sinners will be annihilated out of existence and that only 144,000 are going to heaven, I guess that cuts out your motivation to give, especially to gentiles.
Hey onelowerlight,
I'm fairly certain that fast offerings would be counted as contributions to a "religious organization." Thanks for reading!
-Chris
I just have to put my 10 cents (tithe) into the "plate". As an active LDS, my family are full tithers...10%and I venture that a majority of the so-called 50% active members also tithe their 10%, but it is not considered a public matter down on this personal level. True the LDS church is very transparent when it comes to the management of the church orginization but we as members are only asked to give as we are impressed to. (No plates are passed and no paid positions.) It is true that we must be full tithers to attend the temples and to receive exaltation but that is only 1 small aspect of the picture. I think that it is also worth mentioning that tithing is not only giving money, as Tom Rook stated that JW's spend their time, money and resources preaching the Gospel; because we also tithe our time and talents. We too are usually one of the first on the spot when disaster or famine strikes, but more importantly we are there long after all the other organizations have 'left' the scene. I know of workers that are still going to Louisana, Mississippi, and now the Texas coast to aid in the ongoing effort of clean up and restoration. I personally helped make clothes, blankets, and diapers for 3rd world countries. It is easier for me to just give a check but the true 'tithe' is when I put forth the elbow grease and pitch in with my talents. I appreciate very much the comments from Tom Rook but please know that we do not just spend money for the sake of spending. Yes, we have some really beautiful buildings, namely Temples, but my home building is also a plain simple building and it is shared by 3 congregations meeting on a staggered schedule to accomidate building and parking codes, with most buildings accomidating 2 congregations each. All of our buildings belong to our Father in Heaven and Temples are built beautifully to honor Him and His Son. I can ramble on and on but I won't. Just know that I have no problem giving my tithe in all areas of my life. It is, afterall, what we are commanded to do, but OH how wonderful the blessings are. Thank you and God Bless You!
Actually, the chart is too simplistic when it comes to LDS donations.
It is actually more complicated than just the mere paying of tithes (10%).Paying tithes is concept that is clearly and deeply rooted in the Bible. The Bible clearly states are blessings and consequences for not paying tithes. For Mormons, paying tithes is not mandatory nor required.
If anyone ever looked at an actual LDS tithing form, you'll see that members of the LDS Church have a wide range of options in making a donation.
Here's a picture of an LDS Tithing form: http://wendyusuallywanders.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/tithing_slip.jpg
In looking at the picture, you'll see that in addition to tithing (which is not required to pay), an LDS member has the opportunity to donate money to the fast offering fund, Humanitarian fund, Perpetual Education Fund which are programs designed to help the poor and needy people.
The General Missionary fund, Ward Missionary Fund and The Temple funds are not Charitible contributions but opportunities for Church members to contribute additional funds for helping the Church conduct its important activities.
Finally, in addition the LDS Church runs a charitable organization called "LDS Philanthropies" which can be viewed here: http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/
Yes, the graph shows that Latter Day Saints make donations and there are a LOT of opportunities and venues for LDS people to make a charitable contribution.
However, what the graph doesn't show is how much the various LDS charitable options recieve from their members.
By the way, here is the link to the actual Christianity Today article: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/december/10.24.html
Thanks for your comment, J. I don't know that I'd say the chart is "too simplistic", since it wasn't intended to convey the information you're referring to, but certainly there is room for further study of LDS patterns of donation.
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