As an example of using the ideas in this thread in game:
I recently combined two ideas from this thread. In my modified Unther/Mulhorand-campaign the Isis-temple in Unthalass practises "temple prostitution", as the Ishtar-temple that preceded it did for thousands of years. Recently the temple aquired some old gold pieces depicting the symbol of Ishtar on one side and a rather explicit scene on the other side - coins that were used in old times in the temple for donations (the goddess did not accept mundane money, the pious had to exchange their money for those sacred coins in the temple and then donate those coins (and receive the services of the temple in return). Apart from the explicit services there were coins for blessings, healings etc.
When the PCs were charged by the temple to investigate the origin of those coins they discovered a thief cursed by a priestess of Ishtar to guard as an undead those coins he had stolen millenia ago. That undead was stalking a couple of soldiers who had plundered his tomb. Only the two soldiers who had, unkowingly, donated the coins to the temple (and therefore given back the stolen gold to its rightful owners) were spared. When all the coins were returned to the temple the undead was freed from his curse and dissolved into dust.
