I agree dutch treat!

Thank you for your reaction! I think, altough I don't know so much of the Bible or Thorah, Faith, Hope and Love are the fundaments of any religion..

I am surprised that in Germany, church money comes straight out of your paycheque, if I understand that right.  We had a homestay student from Germany last year and he wasn't religious (that I know)  so maybe that is why he never mentioned it.  Wouldn't work here! too many different religions!

Well most people don't know it as it is not notified specifically it is just a part of your usual tax. Same in Germany as here in Holland you get your paycheck after all tax is paid( obligation for your employer) and after you paid your social security. We are( everybody) insured for unemployment and disabilty. The rate of taxe here depends on how much you earn. The lowest rate is 32% the highest 52% and for the insurance about 5% Next to that it is an obligation to have healthinsurance. That costs about$ 150 a month a person. But therefor you can use doctors, hospitals, surgery and almost al medications. Also nurseryhomes, elderly  homes is paid from that.

Here too, employment insurance, canada pension, taxes come out of your paycheque before you get it unless you are self employed. Medical insurance depends if you pay it or your company does for you. The lowest rate of income tax is 17 %.  Medical insurance is about $100-150 per family per mth here. Covers most things except prescriptions, massages etc. Nursing homes are the same. Your old age pension goes to the nursing home and the govt makes up the difference.

 As I understand, the tithe also paid for government which was tied to churches- I figured we could give less than 10% because we paid education ourselves, but looking at the rates of taxes from 17% to 52% in Europe makes me rethink this.  I know medical, taxes, and education costs us about 40% of our income.  Do Europeans do deductions or is it standard?  How about Canadians?

I know also how different budgeting is for a single person vs. a family, is tithing always supposed to be the same?  I know a tenth of a harvest- but that is none with standing other farm income, and barter of other goods and services- they didn't give perishables, fruit or milk or meat, I'm assuming families would be trying to create more of those products as their families grew.

Do people tithe based solely on income, or what you produce?

BTW, will be serving my church doing after school care until they can hire someone qualified.  I can't work it as I am on the school board and it would be a conflict of interest, so will be donating about $45 of labor every day.  I am planning on using actual money towards debt until they hire someone, as I gave up shifts at work to do this.   

Interesting discussion!

Tracy 

Here in Canada, giving money to the church is a tax deduction. You have to get a reciept from the church and I think it has to be over $10-20 at one time. I go to a mom's group at a baptist church one morning a week and you donate money if able for the childcare etc. If you are organized then you can go to the church office and give them a bigger sum and get a reciept instead of putting in $5 each week. I am trying for that this year :) I don't know about the 10% tithe if you are church member.

With all the discussions about it, I was going to ask some of the moms who go to church, when moms group opens next week.

Taxes here vary from 17% to 50 something %. I think we are in the 33% tax bracket at $55,000 per year. Education etc comes out of taxes. Medical is not like the US.  Basic medical is about $120 per family and covers lots. If I go to the family doctor there is no copays etc and the govt pays the doctor $35 per visit.  I don't have many medical reasons to visit the doc except for kids. But both my pregnancies, c-sections 5 days in the hospital, ultrasounds, amino, extra shots because I am negative blood plus all the visits did not cost me anything extra above the reg. med plan. The only thing I paid for was having tv and a private room. $13 per day for tv and $95 per day for private room. I think for my second I only paid $20 per day  because extended health plan though my hubby work paid for semi private.  Most jobs have extended medical which paids for prescriptions, dental etc. There are percentages to them.  Like covering only one pair of glasses every two years etc.

As I wanted to be sure I checked the website of our Churches about Tithing. Almost all churches in Holland, Protesant, Catholics and others, are joined in a foundation that is named Churchbalance. I checked the site and found out that giving money to church is based on a voluntairy base. Every year a churchmember will receive an envelope where they can put their money in. A week orso later the envelope will be collected. Altough everyone is free to donate the amount he/she wants/can, they usualy take a standard of 1% of the income after taxes. So if you make $ 20.000 a year $ 200,00 would be given. You can also have a taxdeduction but only if your total expense come to over 11% of your income. Other things which give you taxdeduction here are mortage interest, payments for healthinsurance, payments on funeralinsurance, childsupport( of paid)

During the services in church there are also donations. The church I visited before did so 3 times a service. One for the costs of the service, one for people who need support and one for a charity.

Nowhere I could find anything about the tithing so I assume here 1% is normal.

This 1% standard in Holland is very reassuring to me.  I give more than 1% of my income to charities.  (Specifically, out of $1,028/mo, $12,336/yr, I donate $126/year, which is a tad over 1%.)

 I began tithing as a child and have continued as an adult.  That's the paying 10% of our increase as a minimum donation.  We also give as generously as we can to the poor, etc.  I remember when someone at work was hassling John about giving to the United Way as their company wanted everyone to contribute and he refused.  They accused him of being sooo stingy and selfish.... he just walked away.  We truly can't judge another- too much is behind the scenes.  I just know we couldn't make it without paying tithes and offerings.  Studies have shown the "poor" actually give a higher percentage than those more affluent.  Guess it's hard for those Millionaires to cut checks for hundred of thousands of dollars.  I truly know we've been blessed above and beyond many times. We make about half what you do, Tracy but as of Monday morning we're debt free as soon as the checks get mailed. We have 8 kids and plenty of "things" come up.  Our kids work hard too and we've taught them to pay tithing ever since they were able to earn.   I believe the Lord can only bless us as much as we allow him to and as we are open to His will,  just wish I'd  been wise enough and disciplined enough to save 10% as well as give it away.  Many of these good habits are so much easier when we start young and just keep doing it.  Our challenge now is to start saving 10% and I think that will be much harder for me than tithing.  Yes I believe that by paying a full tithe I've had the windows of heaven opened and we have blessings that we don't have room enough for.(Malachi)  But which commandment is the one that blesses you with more room ?!  I've heard it's keeping the sabbath day holy.(Isaiah 58 or 59 I think) 

joan of ark