AND yes I did say forced tithe as my lds family and friends are required to show to their bishop every year their W2s, so they can be billed (yes billed) their tithes.
I wounder why I have never heard of this.
Two men were shipwrecked near an island. When they landed ashore, one of them began screaming and yelling, “We’re going to die! We’re going to die! There’s no food! No water! We’re going to die!”
The second man leaned calmly against a palm tree.
When the first man saw how calm his friend was, he went crazy and shouted, “Don’t you understand?! We’re going to die!!”Undisturbed, the second man replied, “You don’t understand, I make $100,000 a week.”
Dumbfounded, the first man looked at him and asked, “What difference does that make?!? We’re on an island with no food and no water! We’re going to DIE!!!”
The second man answered, “You just don’t get it. I make $100,000 a week and I tithe ten percent on that $100,000 a week. Wherever I am, my pastor will be sure to find me!”
Google is our friend...
And you thought dealing with the IRS was fun !!
http://tech.lds.org/wiki/Tithing_settlement
It is interesting Blue. Not every mormon has experienced that “tithing” bill. My lds friends in southern California, just made a quick reference that their bishop requires that they show their W2s and he sends them a bill each moth based on those W2s. At first I though she was joking and laughed. She wasn’t.
I asked my lds uncle (former bishop) and he said in their current ward (also southern California, different area) that is the practice as well.
There are a few former mormons on FR who have posted that they have had similar experiences with “billed” tithing. Don’t remember which ones.
Tithing is between you and God not between you and some guy.
Tithing is a form of worship, not a prerequisite to anything.
Probably because of the fact that it isn’t true.
Tithing settlement happens in December. Who has their W2 before the year is even over?
It’s done on the honour system, you are given a list of what you’ve contributed to make sure the records are correct, and then check a box to indicate if you are are full, part or non tithe payer and that is as detailed as it gets. No bill, no checking what your income is etc. The only thing that even comes sort of close to that is if you are an employee of the church I think you are required to be a full tithe payer as a condition of employment, but if you don’t like that don’t apply for a job there.
Nobody is compelled by anything other than their own personal convictions. I find if so funny that some conservatives can sound like a bunch of Occupy Wall Street goons when it comes to the financial standing of my church.