How much should one donate to charity?

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How much should one donate to charity?

Post #1

Post by 2ndRateMind »

I wonder if there is a formula for this, that we all might agree is ethical?

For example, if $X is your income, net of tax, and $Y is your basic cost of living, then maybe $Charity should = ($X-$Y) *20%, and this might be such a formula.

As ethical dilemmas go, this would seem to me to be a constant problem for all of us would be philanthropists, who still want to maintain a degree of prudent management over their financial situation.

How do you calculate your charitable donations, or do you not calculate at all, just go with gut sentiment, and what you have available at any given point in time?

Best wishes, 2RM.
Last edited by 2ndRateMind on Wed Jul 29, 2020 9:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #2

Post by Tcg »

[Replying to post 1 by 2ndRateMind]

Jesus has already shared his formula:

100%

I can't imagine a less complicated one.

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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #3

Post by 2ndRateMind »

[Replying to post 2 by Tcg]

Hmmm. I don't often disagree with Jesus, but in this instance I do. For any one of us to give away everything they own would not solve the world's poverty problem, indeed, only increment the number of absolutely poor by one, rendering them dependent on the generosity of others. That would seem imprudent and unwise and unrealistic to expect of people with commitments such as a spouse, and possibly children, retired parents, and other dependents.

So, by my calculations, there is enough wealth in the world to provide everyone with a net worth of $33k each, and an income of around $14k5 each per year. Maybe we could aim for that, since no one would go hungry, and it would seem 'fair'.

Comments welcome.

Best wishes, 2RM.
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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #4

Post by Tcg »

2ndRateMind wrote: That would seem imprudent and unwise and unrealistic to expect of people with commitments such as a spouse, and possibly children, retired parents, and other dependents.
Oh, that easy to resolve. Jesus suggests you hate them. Once you follow that advice, it'll be easy to leave them without support.

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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #5

Post by 2ndRateMind »

[Replying to post 4 by Tcg]

:D

If only life were that easy! But it seems God has deliberately made it hard for us. He must have His reasons, I suppose.

Best wishes, 2RM.
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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #6

Post by Tcg »

2ndRateMind wrote: [Replying to post 4 by Tcg]

:D

If only life were that easy!
Jesus said it is. Who are you to doubt?

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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #7

Post by 2ndRateMind »

Tcg wrote:
2ndRateMind wrote: [Replying to post 4 by Tcg]

:D

If only life were that easy!
Jesus said it is. Who are you to doubt?
Just a struggling Christian, who wants to leave the world in a slightly better state than he found it.

Best wishes, 2RM.
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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #8

Post by Tcg »

2ndRateMind wrote:
Tcg wrote:
2ndRateMind wrote: [Replying to post 4 by Tcg]

:D

If only life were that easy!
Jesus said it is. Who are you to doubt?
Just a struggling Christian, who wants to leave the world in a slightly better state than he found it.
So you as a struggling Christian are claiming to know more than Jesus? Perhaps you can explain why you are a Christian given that you disagree with everything Jesus has said concerning the poor.

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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #9

Post by 2ndRateMind »

Tcg wrote:
So you as a struggling Christian are claiming to know more than Jesus?
Yup. About some things. One of the privileges we Christians have enjoyed since the Reformation is freedom of conscience; the freedom to agree or disagree with any and/or all authority as we see fit, according to conscience. And it has to be said that Jesus lived 2000 years ago, and that He was a rabbi of His time, place and people, and that times, places and peoples have changed since, and both theology and philosophy have progressed (as I see it) since His day, along with completely new fields of enquiry opening up such as politics, economics, and sociology.
Tcg wrote:Perhaps you can explain why you are a Christian given that you disagree with everything Jesus has said concerning the poor.
I do not think that true, or that you can substantiate it.

But basically I am Christian for two reasons; firstly because I agree with Jesus on fundamental issues, if not always on details, and secondly because once, as an uncommitted theist, I accidentally found myself praying, and He answered that prayer, much to my discomfort. But my life has been an altogether richer experience since, so I am grateful overall.

Best wishes, 2RM.
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Re: How much should one donate to charity?

Post #10

Post by Tcg »

[Replying to post 9 by 2ndRateMind]

I see. Then all you need to do is pray to God asking him to resolve the issue of poverty.

Given that he answers your prayers, that should resolve it.

Another easy formula. 100% solution.

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