Americans give record $295 billion to charities in 2006

[vhawk01]

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What I'm talking about is taking Mass in a huge, beautifully furnished church and having my kids get Sunday school with all kinds of great toys and resources. This all counts as charity, some might call it tuition.

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Ya, but I don't think most people have that stuff in mind when they give to the church. Regardless of how the money is actually spent, the motivation is all that matters to me. I guess it's hard to say it isn't in the back of their mind that they might be getting some use out of it. But if I give $1,000 to some community of many people, it's hard to believe that's the best thing to do with my money, if just satisfying myself was my intention. Having nice churches might be a nice side effect, but I think the money given is mostly a result of generosity and very little by way of perceived utility. It just isn't a sound way to spend your money, so I don't think the claim that this is self-interest holds much water (unless you think all giving is ultimately self-interest, which like you say, is a dull argument).

I wouldn't call it tuition, cause you could get almost just as much out of the experience without paying. Tuition is required.

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Good point, tuition was most certainly the wrong word. I understand what you are saying, and I feel like a moron for getting involved in this discussion in the first place. I have no problem at all with the data, or with contributions given at church, or even finding out that atheists are in general a bunch of selfish pricks. It doesn't bother me, and wouldn't really surprise me. My sole point was really just a nit, trying to explain that tithing isn't exactly the same as giving to Santa in front of Target. I didn't do a very good job of arguing that point.