Should the US begin taxing religious institutions?

[Durandal]

With the current problems in the economy and the possibility of higher taxes on the horizon, we've overlooked the most obvious solution: start taxing the fuck out of churches. It's time they started contributing to the nation which allows them to practice their beliefs. There is no reason to exempt religious institutions from taxation other than this assumption that religion is the be-all and end-all of human achievement.

I say tax the motherfuckers retroactively, so they start paying everything they owe.

[Knife]

I agree completely. If they have enough money to build churches all over the world, and they have enough money to buy mainstreet here in Utah, then they have enough money to pay taxes......

[Mr Bean]

As long as they are not Taxed they have no say in Goverment its that simple, Considering the fokes we are talking about, I'd like them to have as little say as possible
No to Taxing Relgions

[Knife]

As long as they are not Taxed they have no say in Goverment its that simple, Considering the fokes we are talking about, I'd like them to have as little say as possible
No to Taxing Relgions

That would be nice if it were true, there are the so called voters guides that alot of churches put out to their sheep. They boil down to "God and us think you should vote for X.

[Stormbringer]

Tax them the same as you would anyother group of similar aims and methods. No special treatments for them, they're in no way special.

[Durandal]

As long as they are not Taxed they have no say in Goverment its that simple, Considering the fokes we are talking about, I'd like them to have as little say as possible
No to Taxing Relgions

Churches already politically influence their members, whether we like it or not. If priests wants to play Politics, they should pay the entrace fee, just like everyone else.

[Shadow WarChief]

Well let's see what the 18th president of the United States has to say.


In 1850, I believe, the church property in the United States, which paid no tax, amounted to $87 million. In 1900, without a check, it is safe to say, this property will reach a sum exceeding $3 billion. I would suggest the taxation of all property equally.
-Ulysses S. Grant

How can anyone argue with Ulysses....

[Sea Skimmer]

As long as they are not Taxed they have no say in Goverment its that simple, Considering the fokes we are talking about, I'd like them to have as little say as possible
No to Taxing Relgions

Agreed. It is a part of separation of church and state and should stay that way.

[punkgothhippie]

I don't think that religous groups should be taxed. Only of coarse because i one day hope to have a religous cult so that i do not myself have to pay taxes

[jegs2]

Should religious institutions in the US be taxed? I think it depends on what that particular institution does. If it is a Jessie Jackson fundraising device, or Republican device (like Christian Coalition), then yes. If it is a church, synagouge, or other type of center for worship that does not raise money for political causes or sell things for profit, then no.

[fgalkin]

Should religious institutions in the US be taxed? I think it depends on what that particular institution does. If it is a Jessie Jackson fundraising device, or Republican device (like Christian Coalition), then yes. If it is a church, synagouge, or other type of center for worship that does not raise money for political causes or sell things for profit, then no.

That's what I think, too.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[neoolong]

Should religious institutions in the US be taxed? I think it depends on what that particular institution does. If it is a Jessie Jackson fundraising device, or Republican device (like Christian Coalition), then yes. If it is a church, synagouge, or other type of center for worship that does not raise money for political causes or sell things for profit, then no.

I don't do that sort of stuff in my house either, but I still have to pay property taxes. I say they should have to. Property is property.

[Colonel Olrik]

I don't know how the situation is in the States.

Here there are several services provided by the Church, like caring for old people / children with difficulties, providing moral support in isolated villages (ah, the portuguese remote interior, a dissapearing reality) that are and I think should be supported by reducing taxation.

Others are taxed.

[Patrick Degan]

As long as they are not Taxed they have no say in Goverment its that simple, Considering the fokes we are talking about, I'd like them to have as little say as possible
No to Taxing Relgions

Agreed. It is a part of separation of church and state and should stay that way.

Actually, it can be logically argued that by exempting churches and religious institutions from taxation, that does amount to the State giving preferrential treatment to the Church over and above every other property owner subject to taxation, and thus violates the constitutional principle of church/state seperation.

You can't have it both ways.

[Darth Wong]

As long as they are not Taxed they have no say in Goverment its that simple, Considering the fokes we are talking about, I'd like them to have as little say as possible
No to Taxing Relgions

By that logic, taxes on corporations make the corporations part of government!

Taxes should apply to everyone. By giving them special exemptions, the government is in fact violating the anti-establishment clause. A church should only be allowed to claim tax-exempt status if it meets the criteria of a charity organization. The Catholic Church and Mormon churches, for example, which spend a large proportion of their money on self-glorification and property expansion, should not qualify.

[Mr Bean]

By that logic, taxes on corporations make the corporations part of government!

To a certian extent they do, However I have to admit that if they where acutal sticking to the Rules(IE Mentioning of Politics in Church is the same as Cursing your Parents IE stoned to death ) then we could not, kinda tax them

Ok the logic is kinda flimsy there so I'll abondon the position

[Master of Ossus]

Many people on this board lose the fact that religion actually does bring comfort to many people, providing a valuable service to the community. That being said, they should have to pay what any other institution has to pay. We have a separation of church and state, and if we can't fund parochial schools because many of them are religious, then there's no reason a church should be exempt from paying taxes that the rest of us have to deal with.

[pecker]

Oh yeah, this poll isn't a thinly (and poorly) veiled attack on those whom you don't agree with.

You know, for all the 'brainwashing' you guys claim religion does, don't the Democratic and Republican parties do the same thing? Everh heard of straight party voting? Yet they don't get half the hell you gusy give Churches.

That said, I don't see any problem taxing religious institutions.

[Darth Wong]

You know, for all the 'brainwashing' you guys claim religion does, don't the Democratic and Republican parties do the same thing? Everh heard of straight party voting? Yet they don't get half the hell you gusy give Churches.

Yes they do, but they get it from everybody. Nobody runs around saying that the Democratic and Republican parties are the source of morality in this country, do they? There's no reason for us to criticize a myth that does not exist.

That said, I don't see any problem taxing religious institutions.

Good. As I said, a religious charity has the same right to tax exemption as a secular charity. But a religious organization that offers a service (hell, they even call it a Sunday "service") and takes payment for those services is basically a business, whether they admit it or not.

[pecker]

You know, for all the 'brainwashing' you guys claim religion does, don't the Democratic and Republican parties do the same thing? Everh heard of straight party voting? Yet they don't get half the hell you gusy give Churches.

Yes they do, but they get it from everybody. Nobody runs around saying that the Democratic and Republican parties are the source of morality in this country, do they? There's no reason for us to criticize a myth that does not exist.

Oh, you'd be surprised. I know some people who take the Word of the Democrats as Gospel.

However, if Religious institutes are taxed, do you think that things such as private schools should then receive federal funding?

[Patrick Degan]

Nobody runs around saying that the Democratic and Republican parties are the source of morality in this country, do they?

Well, Newt Gingrich might make that argument on behalf of the GOP. That is when he's not divorcing a wife to make room for his mistress.

[Darth Wong]

Oh, you'd be surprised. I know some people who take the Word of the Democrats as Gospel.

Yes, but most people already regard such people as idiots. As I said, there's no reason to waste time attacking myths that don't exist. Creationism and the religious basis of all human morality, however, are far too commonly accepted, hence our aggressive criticism.

However, if Religious institutes are taxed, do you think that things such as private schools should then receive federal funding?

Why? I'm taxed, and I don't receive federal funding.

[Durandal]

Oh yeah, this poll isn't a thinly (and poorly) veiled attack on those whom you don't agree with.

"Thinly" and "poorly" veiled are two ways of saying the same thing. Of course, I don't think I veiled it at all.

You know, for all the 'brainwashing' you guys claim religion does, don't the Democratic and Republican parties do the same thing? Everh heard of straight party voting? Yet they don't get half the hell you gusy give Churches.

The Democrat and Republican parties are not responsible for hundreds of millions of deaths during the course of their respective existences. The churches are.

[pecker]

Oh, you'd be surprised. I know some people who take the Word of the Democrats as Gospel.

Yes, but most people already regard such people as idiots. As I said, there's no reason to waste time attacking myths that don't exist. Creationism and the religious basis of all human morality, however, are far too commonly accepted, hence our aggressive criticism.

However, if Religious institutes are taxed, do you think that things such as private schools should then receive federal funding?

Why? I'm taxed, and I don't receive federal funding.

Actually, you do indirectly receive federal funding in the form of public schooling.

[Durandal]

However, if Religious institutes are taxed, do you think that things such as private schools should then receive federal funding?

Religious schools should not receive anything resembling federal funding, and there are good reasons to simply ban religious high schools from granting high school diplomas. Religious schools are nothing more than indoctrination camps.