Interesting.
I have been convinced that people donating should publicly brag about it to attract other donors
It certainly seems to make sense for the sake of the cause for (especially large, well-informed) donors to make their donations public. The only downside seems to be a potentially conflicting signal on behalf of the giver.
instead of remaining silent about their donation which leads to a false impression of the amount of support MIRI has.
I'm not sure this is true. Doesn't MIRI publish its total receipts? Don't most organizations that ask for donations?
Growing up Evangelical, it was taught that we should give secretly to charities (including, mostly, the church).
I wonder why? The official Sunday School answer is so that you remain humble as the giver, etc. I wonder if there is some other mechanism whereby it made sense for Christians to propogate that concept (secret giving) among followers?
I wonder if there is some other mechanism whereby it made sense for Christians to propogate that concept (secret giving) among followers?
There may not be anything to explain: the early Christian church grew very slowly. Perhaps secret almsgiving simply isn't a good idea.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.