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Bill Maher: “Why, in heaven’s name, don’t we tax religion?”

[churchandstate.org.uk]

xenoview 8 Dec 31
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10 comments

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1

Because those preachers need to buy $50 million private jets with tax exempt money so they don’t have to fly in a tube full of demons. Geez I thought it was obvious.

1

Why not tax Religions?
For years I ran a Citizens Band Radio Organisation called " A.M.O.S." (A Mantle Of Safety) that both raised funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, broadcast MisPers ( Missing Persons Reports), had direct radio links to Police, the R.F.D.S. and Emergency Services 24/7 Australia wide, a Membership of well over 1,200 World-wide and yet COULD NOT be classified as a Non-Profit Organisation even though NO-ONE took ANY payment/s and the ONLY monies used for Organisation needs came from the Membership Fee, everything else went straight to the R.F.D.S.
In the first year of operations we raised, through various events like 72 hour Non-Stop Broadcasting, children and Adults doing publically run "Lines of Coins" ( which usually ended up being kilometres of Coins at Shopping Malls, etc, $12,000 Aust. for the R.F.D.S., helped with 30+ Emergencies in very remote areas of Australia, located 7 Missing Persons, 15 stolen vehicles and a Semi-Trailer hauling 1, 120 stolen Sheep.
I've NEVER seen nor heard of ANY Church/Religious Organization doing those things, have you?

2

Could it be that if it was taxed, it may go bankrupt? Especially since younger Generation Z and Millenials are moving further and further away from this rigmarole?

4

To bad those churches don't practise what their lord and savior told them to do; give unto Ceasar the things that are Caesar's and give unto God the things that are god's. If I remember right that had to deal with taxes.

4

If nothing else at least property taxes. 😤

They take the best land, and do nothing good with it.

3

At this point with as politically active as churches have become, I would think it would be an appropriate move.

2

If religion were taxed, it could be taxed out of existence. While that would not bother me at all, many believers would find that unacceptable.

You might not have organized religion but you'd still have religious thinking.

3

Seems like the whole concept of non-profit is dicey. If it doesn’t apply to everyone unconditionally, why should it be subsided by taxpayers. For example providing free meals providing you listen to our sermon.
Then there is that secular belief that charities amount to a hidden tax for the lower classes...

7

Taxing churches would be a very hard sell in this country.
Non-profits have to file financial statements. But churches do not.
I would be satisfied if churches had to file financial statements.
I suspect that Osteen and the other con artists would receive less support.

4

First off since heaven doesn't exist why should we tax something based on an entity that is non existent? Also, given the fact that taxes are often placed on groups that actually make a profit why should we punish groups that exist as a non-profit. Unfortunately, religion has used this bases as a loophole to worm their way into not paying taxes and the powers to be are fearful of upsetting a large majority of people that simply do not understand the game plans of their churches. In many other countries people actually pay a separate tax to support a specific religious sect so the churches are actually paid. Rules have been set up to regulate Non-profits but again the IRS is leery to obey the rules. At one point they said since they made the rules (they did not - it was under the Johnson amendment - they could break them). Of course when the IRS tries to enforce the law the ministers stir up lots of trouble among the parishioners who then threaten to vote the congresspeople out. It's called politics and as we nones approach a majority we may be able to get the IRS to follow the rules.

It's not just religions that use the nonprofit loophole.

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