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Yes -- the methodology is very shady, and the creator of the "generosity index" even admits this. Depending on the factors you used, you could come up with an equation that could put any state on top of the "giving index." I think that they were purposely looking for a method that would give them a particular result . . . so, while it's an interesting figure, it's hardly accurate. There are just too many factors being overlooked -- the overall income, the lack of volunteer TIME being put in, etc.
I'm from a blue state, one that ranked in the bottom 5, I think, with this formula. You know how much money I've donated to charity in the past five or so years? Probably about five bucks. Do you know how much time I've donated? Literally hundreds upon hundreds of hours. Do you know how much STUFF (food, clothes, books, old furniture) I've given to charity? A lot. Many of my friends are similar -- most of our giving is based in forms other than giving our income away, but rather in time, stuff, or helping to raise money.
I wasn't raised with a religion, so no tithing here, but I don't really see tithing as being one hundred percent charity, and if the reports are based on that, I find them flawed. I don't see giving to a church (a church which's services you benefit from on a weekly if not daily basis) to be charity, unless the church is giving that money away to people who need it. And in that case, why not go directly to the charities rather than working through the church?
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