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Should Churches Lose Tax-Free Status?

By freak80   Follow   Fri, 20 Jul 2012, 11:39am   1,242 views   16 comments
In Corning NY 14830   Watch (0)   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike  

Since much of American religion is just an extension of existing political beliefs, why are churches exempt from taxes?

Both the "Religious Right" and the "Religious Left" are more interested in projecting political power than "ultimate questions."

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1. PockyClipsNow Follow Befriend 19 threads 1,534 comments Los Angeles, CA

   1   11:42am Fri 20 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (2)   Everything and everyone should be tax free. The feds should just print all the money they need from thin air and leave us alone. We already have this as 'the inflation tax' just double it and eliminate all other taxes. Isnt half the federal budge now printed money the treasury buys half the bonds needed for deficit spending. Also the govt could make money by leasing/selling more land - they own most of the damn country (except in TX which is massively privately owned)

2. Patrick Follow Befriend (54) 5,181 threads 6,153 comments 46 male Menlo Park, CA Premium

   2   11:52am Fri 20 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   PockyClipsNow says The feds should just print all the money they need from thin air and leave us alone. We already have this as 'the inflation tax' just double it and eliminate all other taxes. Yes, sometimes I wondered myself if an explicit inflation tax would actually be best. It would definitely reduce paperwork! Of course tax accountants would lobby against it for that reason. But I think it would be too unfair, because the very rich have a much smaller fraction of their wealth in cash. They have it mostly in stock and in land, which rise exactly with inflation. So the very rich would end up paying essentially no tax. I'm still in favor of a land value tax to replace all other taxes. It's very simple, public, unevadable, fair, and does not harm the economy.

3. CaptainShuddup Follow Befriend (1) 246 threads 4,658 comments

   3   12:05pm Fri 20 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (4)   wthrfrk80 says Since much of American religion is just an extension of existing political beliefs, why are churches exempt from taxes? It's a righteous thing, you wouldn't understand.

4. freak80 Follow Befriend (4) 52 threads 4,416 comments Corning, NY Premium

   4   12:33pm Fri 20 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Well I was wondering if American churches should lose tax-free status since they are primarily political organizations. Whether they should have to pay an inflation tax or a land tax is secondary.

5. CaptainShuddup Follow Befriend (1) 246 threads 4,658 comments

   5   2:00pm Fri 20 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (3)   wthrfrk80 says Well I was wondering if American churches should lose tax-free status since they are primarily political organizations. Now you're touching on something I have always agreed with. That is, if a religious organization or Union for that matter instructs members on who to vote for, or endorses political candidates, then I would be for that organization losing their tax exemption for at least 4 years. Not all churches are political shills.

6. thunderlips11 Follow Befriend (13) 49 threads 2,625 comments Premium

   6   7:57am Mon 23 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Absolutely. Churches should be taxed on missionary work, their bingo games, etc. They should certainly pay property taxes at least. I believe Plano, TX is in a fiscal bind because of the sheer number of churches.

7. freak80 Follow Befriend (4) 52 threads 4,416 comments Corning, NY Premium

   7   9:46am Mon 23 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (3)   Dislike   thunderlips11 says They should certainly pay property taxes at least. I think a case can be made for that. Churches require police, fire protection, water, sewer, roads, etc. I was making a more political statement though. It seems a lot of our "loony" politics (on both the Left and Right) start in our churches. It seems to me that churches have become a tax-free conduit for the promotion of extremist politics.

8. thunderlips11 Follow Befriend (13) 49 threads 2,625 comments Premium

   8   12:42pm Mon 23 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   wthrfrk80 says It seems to me that churches have become a tax-free conduit for the promotion of extremist politics. Just as Jefferson feared. Man, do extremists hate Jefferson. Always have: +On July 4th, 1798, President of Yale, Rev. Timothy Dwight, preached that Christians dare not support "the philosophers, the atheists and the deists" in the coming election, including Thomas Jefferson, who was running for President. Dwight proclaimed that "our churches may become temples of reason" should Jefferson win the election. (see The Godless Constitution, by Isaac Kramnick & R. Laurance Moore.) +Rev. David Caldwell on July 30, 1788, stated that the Constitution's abolition of religious tests (religious qualifications, or tests, were common in Europe) was, heaven forbid, "an invitation for Jews and pagans of every kind to come among us." (See " Original Intent," by Susan Jacoby in Mother Jones magazine. Also see here.) +Rev. William Linn, a Dutch Reformed minister, authored an anti-Jefferson tract in 1800 complaining about Jefferson's "disbelief of the Holy Scriptures; or...his rejection of the Christian Religion and open profession of Deism." (this and all subsequent quotes, see Against Religious Correctness.) +Dr. John Mason preached that Jefferson was "a confirmed infidel." +The New England Palladium wrote: "Should the infidel Jefferson be elected to the Presidency, the seal of death is that moment set on our holy religion...some infamous prostitute, under the title of Reason will preside...." http://www.religiousrightwatch.com/2012/04/the-conservative-christianization-of-thomas-jefferson.html

9. Automan Empire Follow Befriend 3 threads 89 comments Los Angeles, CA

   9   12:55pm Mon 23 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   I agree, preach POLITICS=lose tax exempt status! Totally goes against the letter and spirit of the law and constitution. As an aside, whenever I see wthrfrk's avatar, I always think it's a laser printer cartridge, not a locomotive. :))

10. freak80 Follow Befriend (4) 52 threads 4,416 comments Corning, NY Premium

    10   12:56pm Mon 23 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Don't forget the "Religious Left" too. Although that's a more recent phenomenon.

11. freak80 Follow Befriend (4) 52 threads 4,416 comments Corning, NY Premium

    11   8:03am Tue 24 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Examples: Liberation Theology, the Catholic Workers, Jeremiah Wright, etc.

12. CL Follow Befriend (12) 140 threads 1,355 comments Emeryville, CA

    12   5:44pm Tue 31 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Automan Empire says As an aside, whenever I see wthrfrk's avatar, I always think it's a laser printer cartridge, not a locomotive. :)) So do I!! :) freak80 says Examples: Liberation Theology, the Catholic Workers, Jeremiah Wright, etc If your argument is against their tax status, I'd say it's because Governments, through tax policy, either encourage or deter activity. Since religions can be deliberately affected by, or manipulated by tax policy, they need to remain exempt if we are to have real freedom of religion, no? freak80 says Don't forget the "Religious Left" too. Although that's a more recent phenomenon. freak80 says Examples: Liberation Theology, the Catholic Workers, Jeremiah Wright, etc. But those are the right interpretations of the Gospels!

13. errc Follow Befriend (7) 29 threads 1,203 comments 31 male Premium

    13   6:07pm Tue 31 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   If we are to have freedom of religion, churches need to pay real estate taxes just like everyone else that is utilizing land (and hence all the public services that come along with it) How can I be free of religions if they are able to suck up so much good land, without paying their fair share for using it?

14. elliemae Follow Befriend (25) 413 threads 6,976 comments Saint George, UT elliemae's website

    14   6:29pm Tue 31 Jul 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   CaptainShuddup says wthrfrk80 says Since much of American religion is just an extension of existing political beliefs, why are churches exempt from taxes? It's a righteous thing, you wouldn't understand. I believe that you're the one who doesn't understand that it's not a self-righteous thing. I'm referring to your constant personal attacks, such as the one above. Churches should be taxed on their income, just as all other corporations are. They should be able to write off $ they use for direct assistance such as feeding the poor or helping needy families. Instead, they make millions upon millions of dollars and pay no taxes. Examples are the Mormon church & Scientology. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/02/us/income-of-mormon-church-is-put-at-4.7-billion-a-year.html http://www.rickross.com/reference/scientology/history/history44.html

15. freak80 Follow Befriend (4) 52 threads 4,416 comments Corning, NY Premium

    15   8:11am Wed 1 Aug 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   elliemae says Instead, they make millions upon millions of dollars and pay no taxes. Examples are the Mormon church & Scientology. And don't forget the "Megachurches" and douchebags like Rick Warren and Joel Osteen.

16. thunderlips11 Follow Befriend (13) 49 threads 2,625 comments Premium

    16   8:46am Wed 1 Aug 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   And the TV Evangelicals like Creflo Dollar and Benny Hinn.