What a waste of money. I can only imagine how much that cost. Isn't a huge part of the Bible giving your time and money to those that are needy? Such waste breaks my heart.
...Don't look now, but I think the monotremes are out to get me...
Since we don't know how much that church gives to the needy or other ministries, it's hard to make a judgment (no double meaning intended).
I understand your point and even sympathize with it but them spending money on the tank doesn't mean that they don't spend money on ministry.
I know some people who feel the same way about "family centers" that have basketball courts, racquetball, swimming pools and coffee shops in them. And I can see where they're coming from. I guess the idea is to create a sort of community with these churches and centers. Must be nice to have the money to do that. My church is way to small to even think about it. Heh.
There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick.-Doctor Who
Even if they DO give away butt-loads of money, that's STILL $50,000+ that could be used to help people. Instead, it's just "Oh, pretty!".
At least basketball courts and whatnot get people working together in an enjoyable pastime. How many people do you think are going to bond over a fishtank? People are going to look at it for fifteen, twenty minutes (not even interacting with each other, if my experiences at aquariums and Rainforest Cafe are anything to go by), and then pass on by.
...Don't look now, but I think the monotremes are out to get me...
Missing the point, I think. Those fish are creations of their Lord, so that big tank I guess is like a reminder of the glory of their God, that He can create such things. But I dunno, I'm agnostic. Also American, so I say, their money, their choice. Not ours.
share[deleted]
I'm Agnostic too, but even if I wasn't....I couldn't have said it better myself!
If we wanna hear you talk, I will shove my arm up your ass and work your mouth like a puppet!
Even if they DO give away butt-loads of money, that's STILL $50,000+ that could be used to help people.
Didn't see the episode so didn't realize it was so big and expensive. Yikes.
After reconsidering the issue, I'd rather the churches give the money or spend it on something more useful--like starting a homeless shelter, or halfway house. Something...
I'm cool, you're cool, we're cool, thank you, good night!-My Science Project
Loaves and fishes. I'd imagine the church wanted to remind their congregation of the story from the Gospels of Christ taking just a few loves of bread and fish and miraculously feeding thousands so that they might be more likely to donate.
And any church with that much to money have one of these tanks built for them probably does donate quite a bit to charity. Churches in my area (I'm not sure about the rest of the nation) are supposedly tax exempt, but I'd be willing to bet churches that donate a lot to charity fill out tax forms so they get a tax deduction for their donation.
Churches in the US are tax-exempt, so they don't file tax returns, therefore they don't get a tax deduction.
shareMore than likely the tank cost little to nothing to the church since they appeared on the show. But I get your point.
"Eat some makeup because you are so ugly inside" - Olivia Blois Sharpe
More than likely the tank cost little to nothing to the church since they appeared on the show.
I bet it's brought more people to that church's services than would ordinarily be there. And more people means bigger collections. That tank probably paid for itself already.
Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!
Better a tank which everyone can benefit from, rather than being spent on hookers, blow and vacations for the Pastor ;-)
shareI was upset when I saw this as well. What a waste of money. THIS is where the member's donations are used on?!? Not only do they build a tax free state-of-the-art church from the ground up, spend two years designing the huge tank, buy all of the expensive fish (at least 600), then fly the members of ATM out there at least a few times, plus spend all the money to employ a full-time marine biologist on-site?? There are SOOO many better things that they should have spent these donations on.
So God in his infinite wisdom decided to create all different types of fish to live throughout the ocean. This man thought he could do better and moved them all together into an artificial tank in a church "IN 'His' NAME".
Oops, some of our rare fish went belly-up. Better get more donations so we can buy more...
If I lived in Texas I would boycott this church because of their frivolous spending. Such a disappointment.
I bet that tank paid for itself by new members coming to that church. idk. Personally I don't go to church by I probably would to see that aquarium. ...I bet alot of people did the same. It may be expensive but if more people attend and more people donate it really isn't a huge expenditure.
shareDo you realize how much some cathedrals cost to build? Churches have been "wasting" money on decorations since they were invented.
If it really was all about giving to the needy they would just meet up in shacks and coordinate charity events from there.