Expert: Vincent M. Wales - 5/18/2005

Question
Hi,
I got really sick of those pastors and priest.
Every week, I saw my christian friends donating like 20 or 30 dollars for the church and we don't even know where the money will go. Maybe some damn pastors is planning on to be the next bill gates or happily spending everyday with some beautiful chicks.

The churches actually uses the same technique as the scientologist uses called the "dianetics", but they did it in little dose so that people aren't aware.

How can I help my friends? Why aren't the government doing anything to stop it? It sucks to see people giving their money to those XXXX pastor and seeing my friends collaspe in tears while because of the emotion-appealing music played by the church.

Their hostility towards any opposition whether its rational and evidenced-based or not made me feel worried, and sad.

When I tried to explain to them, they just easily got furious, and say that I don't understand about jesus and I'm too ignorant, and what's more, jesus told him so.

Please help.  

Answer
Well, y'know, it's never likely that you're going to "help" your Xian friends the way you might like to.  If you do want to "help" them, the best way to approach it is to have a reasonable discussion with them.  But if they're exhibiting "hostility" whenever their beliefs are questioned, you might be better off just allowing them to live in their own universe, if you know what I mean.  Belief is a very powerful force, and direct confrontation almost never causes it to falter.

As for the money they're giving, it doesn't all go straight to the pastor.  Essentially, it goes to the church itself, not straight into his pockets.

The government doesn't do anything because of the First Amendment, which basically says that government and religion leave each other alone.  And that's a good thing.  It may allow religion to get away with suckering money out of the gullible, but it also prevents religion from telling everyone else how to live their lives.