What an incredible story.
I'm probably way behind the train on this one, but I love it so much I have to share it. Enjoy, and be moved.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Church, Business and Science
I had a heated discussion with a good friend of mine today about the nature of churches. He, a very non-religious person, sees churches as a business - soliciting money from their "consumers" to create a "product." As a so-called "consumer" of a certain "product" of faith, I feel entirely differently about the entire situation. I do not feel solicited at all; on the contrary, I am happy that my money - a fleeting commodity - is going to a better cause, a cause I believe in wholly. Well, let's just say it's not an easy task to try to explain this concept to a non-believer. And, with my beliefs aside, I can completely and absolutely see how he can see the church in such a way. In fact, I have no doubt in my mind that there are many churches out there that utilize such models of operation - to mold their church into a product, and a business, for profit.
I suppose I personally like to view the support of my church (and I'm speaking of my church personally, not "churches" in general - I only know my church well enough to attest to it) as charitable donations. People willingly donate money to causes they believe in - cancer, heart disease, child trafficking, political campaigns, scholarship funds, animal rescue - the list goes on and on. The financial need of a church is a bleak reality of today's world. Any sort of organization, a true business or not, cannot function without funds. I know with all of my soul that whatever money I and my fellow parishioners are "donating" to our church is being used in the best way for us, the parishioners, and for others, whether that my be to open or fund a new venue to reach out to more here in our own community or to create wells for communities in need in Africa. But, on the other hand, I also want to support the leadership staff of my church, and have absolutely no problem with a portion of our "donations" going towards retribution for the church staff. Because I believe in them, I trust them, I know they love me and I know they want only the best for me and their parishioners. They are sacrificing the stability of a guaranteed salary for the greater good of our faith. I'm willing to invest in that. Just as someone who lost a loved one or nearly lost a loved one to cancer would support the scientists researching the illness, I am supporting a cause that matters to me.
So, at the end of the conversation, I was still left wondering: Are church, business and science really all that far apart? Are they each completely segregated in their respective bubbles, or are they more intertwined than they seem to be at first thought? I certainly don't have a definite answer. I don't know if there is one at all. This, ladies and gents, could be a debate for the decades.
I suppose I personally like to view the support of my church (and I'm speaking of my church personally, not "churches" in general - I only know my church well enough to attest to it) as charitable donations. People willingly donate money to causes they believe in - cancer, heart disease, child trafficking, political campaigns, scholarship funds, animal rescue - the list goes on and on. The financial need of a church is a bleak reality of today's world. Any sort of organization, a true business or not, cannot function without funds. I know with all of my soul that whatever money I and my fellow parishioners are "donating" to our church is being used in the best way for us, the parishioners, and for others, whether that my be to open or fund a new venue to reach out to more here in our own community or to create wells for communities in need in Africa. But, on the other hand, I also want to support the leadership staff of my church, and have absolutely no problem with a portion of our "donations" going towards retribution for the church staff. Because I believe in them, I trust them, I know they love me and I know they want only the best for me and their parishioners. They are sacrificing the stability of a guaranteed salary for the greater good of our faith. I'm willing to invest in that. Just as someone who lost a loved one or nearly lost a loved one to cancer would support the scientists researching the illness, I am supporting a cause that matters to me.
So, at the end of the conversation, I was still left wondering: Are church, business and science really all that far apart? Are they each completely segregated in their respective bubbles, or are they more intertwined than they seem to be at first thought? I certainly don't have a definite answer. I don't know if there is one at all. This, ladies and gents, could be a debate for the decades.
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