Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
The first time I heard of "charging to practice a religion" was when I went to a Santera and she was telling me a bit about the Lukumi faith. You pay for the animals, the clothing, sacred jewelry statues, and statues, etc. People pay over $1,000 towards being a Santera/o and it is a life long devotion. Nothing overnight.
Nichiren Buddhism, the same thing. Except for the sacrament was I think $20.00, the Butsadan a little more, and the candles, flowers, etc. Less than a thousand.
All the people I spoke with said something like this, "how do you expect everything to be paid for. Money has to be given to do what we do" type of thing.
Fare enough.
In a business, maybe a service exchange, and things like that, I'd expect money for service...
but for "god"???
I told one Catholic who asked why I didn't give tithes, and I told her "that's like paying Jesus to save me."
Nichiren Buddhism, the same thing. Except for the sacrament was I think $20.00, the Butsadan a little more, and the candles, flowers, etc. Less than a thousand.
All the people I spoke with said something like this, "how do you expect everything to be paid for. Money has to be given to do what we do" type of thing.
Fare enough.
In a business, maybe a service exchange, and things like that, I'd expect money for service...
but for "god"???
I told one Catholic who asked why I didn't give tithes, and I told her "that's like paying Jesus to save me."
I know the realistic side of needing money for objects; and, on the religious side, how does money fit in to your spiritual belief besides just getting the items you need for practice?
Is your religion or practice based on the money that goes into the sacraments (things held sacred) since without the money, you wouldn't have the objects of worship?
I always wanted to ask this. When I gave my $20 to get the Gohonzon and Gongyo book, I felt I was giving up the core of my practice by the exchange of money. (I was paying to be a Bodhisattva). On top of that, when Nichiren Shonin was imprisoned, people gave him food, clothing, etc not money.Is your religion or practice based on the money that goes into the sacraments (things held sacred) since without the money, you wouldn't have the objects of worship?
I know the practical side of it; but, how does the money play in when needing it for religious or spiritual purposes?
Last edited: