In another thread, the question came up as to whether tithing should be contributed gross or net of taxes.
Which made me wonder which religions or denominations expect a 10% tithe from their members.
From the same thread, Kellner explains that in Germany a tithe is taken from employees at source if they are a registered Lutheran or Roman Catholic, but it is less than 10%.
A Swedish friend of mine explained that in Sweden, everybody has a small “church tax” levvied on them, IIRC regrdless of belief, which goes to the state church. Again, this is less than 10%.
I am baptised in my own country’s state religion: the Church of England. A look around their website uncovers a page that explains
Again, this figure is lower than would be expected if donors were paying a 10% tithe.
So does anyone have any dope on which religions or denominations expect a 10% tithe from members?
In Germany the following denominations have opted in to the Kirchensteuer system (tithes assessed and collected by the state tax administration on behalf of the churches):
the mainstream Protestant (Lutheran, Reformed) churches
the Roman Catholic dioceses
the Old Catholic church (that split off after Vatican I)
Unitarians in one state
Jewish local congregations or statewide associations of congregations, in most states
Freireligiöse Gemeinden, a nontheist denomination, in some states.
The amount of the tithe is 8 % or 9 % (depending on the state) of the income tax owed, i.e. if you are in a 9 % state and you are assessed 35 % of your income as income tax, the church tithe is 0.09 x 0.35 = 0.0315 = 3.15 % of gross income.
All religions and denominations that use the Jewish or Christian scriptures as their basis are expected to tithe. The following are some biblical verses regarding a tithe:
Leviticus 27:30
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD ; it is holy to the LORD .
Leviticus 27:32
The entire tithe of the herd and flock-every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod-will be holy to the LORD .
Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
There are 28 occurances of the word “tithe” in the Old Testament. As Roches says, ‘tithe’ means 10%. Anything else is an offering.
In Israel in the times of the temple, there were several “tithes” that were given from agricultural produce.
The first contribution was 2%. This was called terumah and was given to the kohen.
The second was 10% and was called ma’aser rishon (first tithe). This was given to the Levi.
The next was another 10% and was called ma’aser sheini (second tithe). This produce wasn’t given to anyone, but had to be taken up to Jerusalem and eaten there. If the owner was too far from Jerusalem to take it before it rotted, he could redeem it with money, take the money to Jerusalem and then purchase food there. This tithe was given during the first, second, fourth and fifth years of the Sabbatical cycle. In the third and sixth years, this tithe was replaced by a 10% contribution called ma’aser ani (the poor’s tithe) and was given to the poor.
These laws actually still apply to produce grown in Israel (i.e. terumah and ma’aser have to separated from the produce before it can be eaten. These rules do not apply outside of Israel.
In addition, Jews are supposed to give a tithe to charity. It need not necessarily be a synagouge or such. The money could be used to support the poor, support certain community services (volunteer ambulance, mikvaos, yeshivos, etc.)
And are all religions based on Jewish and Christian scripture supposed to kill adulterers and ritually slaughter animals as sacrifices? Just because a practice is mentioned in the Bible doesn’t mean a modern church has to follow it, does it?
In a thread on tithing, this has got to be my nomination for Freudian slip of the day.
For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) the following quote applies:
How a person determines what ‘one tenth of all their interest annually’ is supposed to be a prayerfully considered heartfelt personal decision that is determined by the individual member for him or herself. Church policy specifically states that no one has any authority to interpret this revelation for another person. It is up to the individual to decide whether they are paying a full tithe or not.
The following scriptures (with links) apply:
Gen. 14: 20 (Heb. 7: 2; Alma 13: 15) gave him tithes of all. Gen. 28: 22 I will surely give the tenth unto thee. Lev. 27: 30 tithe of the land . . . is holy unto the Lord. Num 18:26 for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe. Deut. 12: 6 your tithes, and heave offerings. Deut. 14: 22 (Deut. 26: 12) tithe all the increase of thy seed. 2 Chr. 31: 5 tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. Neh. 10: 38 Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes. Neh. 12: 44 for the treasures, to gather. Neh. 13: 12 brought all Judah the tithe of the corn. Mal. 3: 8 (3 Ne. 24: 8) Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Matt. 23: 23 tithe of mint and anise and cummin. Luke 18: 12 I give tithes of all that I possess. D&C 64: 23 he that is tithed shall not be burned. D&C 85: 3 tithe his people, to prepare them. D&C 97: 12 this is the tithing and the sacrifice. D&C 119: 4 tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest.