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With all of the budget issues facing our government, isn't it time that we start taxing the churches? Perhaps not ALL churches, but megachurches that exceed a threshold amount of income, property wealth. These churches act just like businesses. They purchase radio/TV spots, newspaper/magazine ads, promotional events all in an affort to increase membership revenue. At my local Starbucks, I am constantly seated next to church laymen trying to brainstorm and hone their marketing message. It's no longer just preaching the word of God; it's a BUSINESS. It should be taxed like one.
With all of the budget issues facing our government, isn't it time that we start taxing the churches? Perhaps not ALL churches, but megachurches that exceed a threshold amount of income, property wealth. These churches act just like businesses. They purchase radio/TV spots, newspaper/magazine ads, promotional events all in an affort to increase membership revenue. At my local Starbucks, I am constantly seated next to church laymen trying to brainstorm and hone their marketing message. It's no longer just preaching the word of God; it's a BUSINESS. It should be taxed like one.
With all of the budget issues facing our government, isn't it time that we start taxing the churches? Perhaps not ALL churches, but megachurches that exceed a threshold amount of income, property wealth. These churches act just like businesses. They purchase radio/TV spots, newspaper/magazine ads, promotional events all in an affort to increase membership revenue. At my local Starbucks, I am constantly seated next to church laymen trying to brainstorm and hone their marketing message. It's no longer just preaching the word of God; it's a BUSINESS. It should be taxed like one.
And you know, I have yet to hear of a Christian organization that says "Buddhism is not God-centered, so it is not a religion and we should tax Buddhists in the USA". But these monkeys want to tax churches...and they wonder why atheists are the least trusted Americans:
If you don't like religion DON'T PRACTICE ONE. No one is forcing you to. If you don't like my religion than big deal, I don't care what you think...but the constant "well, you're a big dummy" cries from the minority of Atheists gets annoying after awhile.
Why push to have churches taxed just because you don't like them? I don't like the Kardashians, do you see me pushing to have news organizations taxed more every time they mention them? (not a bad idea by the way)
Well of course the atheist hate-groups are suing. That's what they do. They sue everything and everyone that has anything to do with religion no matter how indirect the association.
It comes down to this: Taxing religions is fine as long as the entire "separation of church and state" ideology gets tossed in the garbage. If the majority of teachers and students want to have prayer in school, but they allow for non-participation, then they should be allowed to do it. If the federal, state or local government wants to pay out pubic funds to help out this religion or that, and they have a majority vote in the corresponding legislative body, then so be it. If a school wants to refuse to teach evolution on religious grounds, then they don't have to teach evolution. If public schools want to offer up an elective course in Bible study (or any other scripture study for that matter), you have to allow it. In short, every rule or tradition that falls under the ideology of "separation of church and state" ceases to exist.
"Separation of church and state" is a double-edged sword. If you want to treat them like every other business or corporation, then the boot-heel of enforced silence in the public space must be lifted off their collective throats without qualification. Just like any business, unless they're breaking the law, they are free to do whatever they like, wherever and whenever they like, just like any other business.
Most of them would restructure into tax-free non-profit organizations anyways, so what's the point?
Okay, we can start taxing churches...at about the same time we start taxing Atheist organizations that receive non-profit status. Deal?
I've yet to see an opulent Atheist temple or church, have you? They're not into using this country's generous tax exempt benefits to enrich themselves.
Actually, it would be very Christian of churches to voluntarily pay taxes.
At least pay property taxes since they ultimately utilize city services such as street construction, fire and police services.
Okay, we can start taxing churches...at about the same time we start taxing Atheist organizations that receive non-profit status. Deal?
Got the names of any that might exist.
If they don't get a tax break for religious basis, what are you comparing?
They wouldn't be claiming a religious organization exemption. Duh.
Why do you think this group sued?
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