Ultimately it's up to people to decide how and who they want to
give their money and for what reasons. There are people who give to
a particular organisation just to be cool be in with the hip
factor. It's not about whether the money/funds are being used
properly or for good means.
Just like in pop culture, fans know their money spent on
albums/concerts/merchandise goes to making their favourite
superstar rich and famous. But they give anyway, because their
intention wasn't for the money to go for some greater good or
anything.
Having said that, please stop with your petty,lame generalisation
of all Christians and churches and understand that not all churches
are the same. I myself have told you that more than once, I just
hope you don't conveniently choose to ignore that fact.
And by talking about how religous leaders take advantage of the
blind faith of followers, are you referring to the scandal about 5
years ago in Thailand where senior Buddhist monks used offerings to
buy luxurious cars and to visit BARS?
Here are some sites for your viewing. Of course if you fiercely
want to stick to your prejudices, then you'd ignore them
altogether.
In this link, the writer talks about scandals involving not just
buddhist monks but other faiths as well.
http://www.seapabkk.org/newdesign/fellowshipsdetail.php?No=57
In recent months, the international media have reported
on sexual abuses committed by some Roman Catholic priests in the
United States and elsewhere in the world, including the
Philippines. But other faiths seem to be undergoing crises as well.
Since the mid-1990s, scandals involving monks have rocked Thailand,
where Buddhism is an integral part of the local culture. Far from
following in the footsteps of Buddha, some of the countrys
saffron-robed holy men have been found to have committed sins that
range from embezzlement to sex with prostitutes to even
murder.
And another link.
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s216493.htm
COMPERE: Phone sex, real sex, dressing up in military
uniforms, rape, murder and being murdered. These are just some of
the scandals that Thailand's Buddhist Monks have been embroiled in
recently.
South East Asia correspondent, Geoff Thompson,
reports.
I'm posting these links not to discredit buddhism and I definitely
do not have anything against buddhists. Many of my close friends
are buddhists.
I just want to clarify that scandals are not restricted to one
particular faith, and as a NUS graduate to be, your view should not
be so skewed and myopic.
