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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercule" data-source="post: 2724041" data-attributes="member: 5100">It makes sense if put into a real world context.  The purpose of the church is to increase membership of the religion (and spread doctrine, etc., but the assumption is that members == believers).  Members are expected to tithe, etc. to further the mission of the church, this helps to pay for all the costs incurred by the church's operations.  This also means believers are free to partake of the services offered by the church.If a non-member (thus, non-believer) needs service from the church, and approaches them in a manner that does not indicate any willingness or interest in joining the church, then it really does become a business arrangement.  Anything else is a throwback to the days when membership in the Church was assumed and tithes were paid in the same manner as taxes.Example:  My church conducts weddings (as do most churches -- duh).  Use of the facilities is free to any member of the church (although there are fees for the janitor and other secular needs).  Non-members, on the other hand, are charged $300 (soon to be $500) for the use of the building, etc.  In my understanding, this is not unusual at all (in fact, I'm pretty sure my church is on the cheap side, despite having a beautiful building).IMC, I handle things pretty similarly.  If a PC walks into a church they don't frequent and requests healing, they are shown the "recommended donation rates" for the service.  On the other hand, if they are allied with or members of a church and do things like tithe and quest for the church, most services are free.  Services that use expensive material components usually still involve the PCs paying for those.  Anything that costs the priest XP will involve a quest, rather than gold, and is (typically) only available from churches where the PC is a member.</blockquote>

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