This article just reminded me that on top of the money drawn from tax payers in several countries of the EU to the Churches, Catholics in addition have in function the payment of indulgences for the salvation of the believers' souls.

Chronicles explain that the Pope and German bishops opposed the selling of indulgences for the remission of sins, but the practice quickly extended everywhere, and it became a quick source of enrichment for the clergy all over. The payment of indulgences is setup to shorten the stay of peoples' souls in the purgatory.

In countries where people believe in the power of urban mythology, corrupted clergy make their good fortunes by suckling on the faith of the believers. Stories about indulgence are not part of Bible record, as Jesus - the Jewish person - did not speak in favor of paying money for the faith and the salvation of peoples' souls when he was around. On the contrary, when asked, he is alleged to have said, "Give it to Caesar..." - to the State.

The (bad) habit of claiming money for the faith, seems to be a newer invention of the Catholic Church that later on was emulated by all the other Christians. In countries of the Third World, where the Christians have total control of the peoples' minds, the indulgences are still being taken from the people. However, not only Catholics are that badly behaved. Think for example on the many motivational speakers who make a living spreading Bible blabber to the public by television, radio, internet, etc.

Televangelism's sales rise into the millions, based on the naivety of the followers. There seems to exist some ingredient in the culture, that makes people follow people in the search for salvation. Such businesses are very powerful, and it is unlikely that the few people who can see through may become able to prevent the huge majority of believers who are jumping down he abyss for the faith they believe to confess.

Don't get me wrong: I am in favor of religious freedom and I sympathize with those who have faith and live decently. But, I don't think that the salvation of sins could and should be equated to such forms of economic pressure being set upon the customers.

From Wikipedia:

Because of the great demand from associations that their favourite prayers, devotions, places of worship or pilgrimage, their processions and meetings, be enriched with indulgences, there was a tendency to forge documents declaring that such indulgences, sometimes of extraordinary character, had been granted. Indulgences were attached to many works that were not only good but also served the common good, both religious and civil: churches, hospitals, leprosaria, charitable institutions and schools, and also roads and bridges

Abuses:

In 1392, more than a century before Martin Luther published the 95 Theses, Pope Boniface IX wrote to the Bishop of Ferrara condemning the practice of certain religious who falsely claimed that they were authorized by the pope to forgive all sorts of sins, and exacted money from the simple-minded among the faithful by promising them perpetual happiness in this world and eternal glory in the next.

Protestant Reformation:

While Luther did not deny the Pope’s right to grant pardons for penance imposed by the Church, he made it clear that preachers who claimed indulgences absolved buyers from all punishments and granted them salvation were in error.

Quote: An indulgence, in Roman Catholic theology, is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven

The Vatican's website explains with perplexing clarity that the souls have to go to purgatory as God's loving punishment, for their betterment. This is meant as an act of God's divine love. However, in legal language that would be considered, "domestic violence." It is clear that the language used in the politically correct United Nations is not necessarily the language involved in the formulation of salvation offered by the church. This example should serve to educate the audiences on why it is not possible to use the arguments of religion in the talks of human rights. The areas are separated by the barrier of faith, and faith cannot be written in the text of law that handles human rights decisions in the humanities' councils

But, if money is the root of all evil... then why is the Pope telling 260,000 people in a public meeting that money is not important, if Catholicism is one of the wealthiest institutions on the face of the world?

Recently, pilgrims went to Rome to present the Pope a new tiara. Scattered over were 2000 precious stones, an emerald of rare type, 27 lesser emeralds, 397 rubies, 79 diamonds, 1000 little diamonds and 150 oriental pearls. And, that is only one crown owned by the Pope. The Vatican controls hundreds of millions of dollars in the Wall Street market system. The Pope directs the finances of Vatican, and even his clothes are embroidered with pure gold. Alone the attire he wears is not at all a sign of poverty vows.

According to Catholic dogma, everybody who dies a Catholic, goes to purgatory for a long time after death. Every Catholic sends money to the Vatican for the Salvation of their relatives from the fire of Purgatory, so that they can go to heaven. One ethical problem seems to be, that for rescuing the souls of the deceased from the fire of purgatory, mass has to be said for those who died. But, each mass costs money to the relatives or friends of those who died. They teach the people about vows of poverty, but their own lifestyles are rather monarchical.

And they teach the poor people to fear from death, from the fires of a purgatory***, to keep them trapped in the economic obligation of paying to the Vatican for saying mass, to rescue the souls of their beloved deceased from the fire, so that they can go to heaven? These people are going around doing real financial management in Wall Street, by using money they take from the poor of the world, basing their economy on the propagation of a belief in fear?

*** (the fear from a purgatory is not even mentioned in the Bible - it is a full invention of Rome)

Said by Friend Oscar: In old times, good talkers could fool the population that they got a message from God, or that they talked to God. With the modern communications, the small, educated percentage of the world population are not that easily fooled. However, the majority still bevieve the messages of convincing preachers of all religions, not only Islamic militants, such as Bin Laden, but also several Christian preachers, Catholics and Protestants alike.

In India, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad first President of the Republic and Democratic India and Mr. Jawarhar Lal Nehru all have openly supported religion personally and on the floor of Parliament.

There are many holidays in the name of fictitous religious days such as Ram Navmi and Janma Asthmi both for the Hindu Religion and similar ones for Muslims. There are separate laws for birth, marriage and death according to religion.

Yearly more than 25 times the President of India and the Prime Minister of India greet the nation or visit officially for religious days or places at the cost of tax payers.

I would like to know how much money is used for religion in poor India, a country of 1,100 million people.