Veerrry interesting stats on charitable contributions by State....I wouldn't have guessed it.

[A Little Weird]

195. Churches are not required to disclose how they spend their money (or even how much they get)

Most 501c3 charities are required to fill out form 990 but churches are exempt (http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Churches-&-Religious-Organizations/Filing-Requirements).

Having attended several churches in the past, I have some ideas of how tithes are spent. Most goes to the day-to-day operations of the church and/or other church properties (youth center, parsonage, etc.) - stuff like paying the electric bills, building maintenance, etc. Then there's a lot that goes towards programs within the church - stuff like buying craft materials for youth classes, buying sound equipment, song books, etc. I think most churches (but not all) spend quite a bit on salaries - pastor, assistant pastor, youth pastor, music director, etc.

In every church I went to, there were some expenditures, but always a very small amount, that I would consider truly charitable - giving money to a local family down on their luck, sponsoring some sort of community food drive, etc. But often those types of events were funded by special collections and not through regular tithes.

So based on past experience and knowing that churches have no oversight, I have to agree with the poster you are responding to that the numbers in the OP are 100% bullshit.