so you give 10% of your income to your church in addition to other (religious ?) charities
That's what tithe means, 10%. Yes, I donate time and money to religious charities and to
secular charities too, in addition to the tithe. So do most Christians I know, especially American Christians. That's what the stuff I posted about who gives the most to charity is about. Why are you so surprised?
To Straw and to tu_holmes, what I posted about who gives the most to charity has nothing to do with giving to the church, though Christians do give to their church too.
There are hundreds of Christian charities in the US and around the world that help not only the poor, but also people who have other needs too like victims of disaster and victims of human trafficking.
Top Ten Christian CharitiesWhether you'd like to sponsor a child to provide him with basic needs, help health workers distribute care to AIDS victims, or donate funds for disaster relief, there is a Christian charity with the infrastructure to help. And, in contrast to many secular philanthropic organizations, Christian charities help address the spiritual needs of the people they serve.
World VisionThis charity's arms are wide; reaching over 100 countries and influencing many different social causes, from hunger to health. World Vision's infrastructure is able to serve, in particular, "earthquake and hurricane survivors, abandoned and exploited children, survivors of famine and civil war, refugees, and children and families in communities devastated by AIDS in Africa, Asia, and Latin America." One of World Vision's calling cards is child sponsorship. In sponsoring a child, a donor sends a given amount of money every month, and with those funds World Vision provides the child with basic needs like food, healthcare, and education. If a more hands-on approach is your style, there are many local and international ways to volunteer with World Vision. Additionally, World Vision employs over 30,000 employees in varying fields of expertise.
Salvation ArmyWe all know them as the bell ringers outside the grocery store during the Christmas season. The Salvation Army, however, does much more than bell ringing. It began in 19th century England under the leadership of William Booth as an evangelistic effort and has now has grown to include many areas of social service, like community care, disaster relief, adult rehabilitation, combating human trafficking, and elderly services. The main focus of the Salvation Army remains evangelistic, but it calls itself a "total ministry for the total person." The toughest philanthropic grading institution, the American Institute of Philanthropy, grades the Salvation Army with A's and A-'s depending on the territory. This means the Salvation Army's financials are some of the most reliable among philanthropic entities.
Other Organizations of NoteChurch World Service is a popular international relief organization, serving the needs of people plagued by poverty, disease, injustice, natural disasters, and other forms of suffering. Bread for the World, on the other hand, is focused on serving those who suffer from hunger. Both of these organizations are rated highly by the American Institute of Philanthropy (A and B+, respectively). Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, United Methodist Committee on Relief, ChildFund International, Catholic Relief Services, Lutheran World Relief, and Habitat for Humanity each address different social issues, and are all highly ranked Christian charities according to the American Institute of Philanthropy. There is generally a Christian charity organization serving nearly every kind of human need.
http://www.ehow.com/list_6026651_top-ten-christian-charities.html
