Ending God's Tax Exempt Status - Page 13

Happy Monkey · 08-22-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Yes they are. Saying "everybody else" is putting a church on the same footing with any other organization.

After I fixed your typo, I agree.

Clodfobble · 08-22-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Time to stop churches having political rallies & hosting candidates then.

Absolutely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Why would the congregation (again made up of individuals) not be allowed to give support to the candidate that best represents their values and interests?

The individuals may support whomever they like. They may not use church money (and thus church facilities, etc.) to do it.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-23-2007, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

I agree.

Thank you.

dar512 · 08-23-2007, 09:42 AM

Threads like these go on and on because no terms are defined and everyone is using similar words to mean different things.

From a quick google on the subject, a non-profit is defined as "an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit."

By that definition, my local Catholic church is a non-profit. It does not exist in order to create a profit and provides a number of valuable services to the community.

lumberjim · 08-23-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

Threads like these go on and on because no terms are defined and everyone is using similar words to mean different things.

From a quick google on the subject, a non-profit is defined as "an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit."

By that definition, my local Catholic church is a non-profit. It does not exist in order to create a profit and provides a number of valuable services to the community.

this is where you lose me.

dar512 · 08-23-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

this is where you lose me.

I don't see why it should. Our budgeting process is fairly transparent. Once a year they explain what the expected expenses are for the upcoming period and ask for donations to meet that need. No extra money is asked for. Anything left over at the end of the year rolls over to the next year.

lumberjim · 08-23-2007, 11:13 AM

you have to go back a bit farther, Dar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by L Ron Hubbard

"I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is."

L. Ron Hubbard to Lloyd A. Eshbach, in 1949; quoted by Eshbach in OVER MY SHOULDER: REFLECTIONS ON A SCIENCE FICTION ERA, Donald M. Grant Publisher. ISBN 1-880418-11-8, 1983

dar512 · 08-23-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

... my local Catholic church is a non-profit.

My local Catholic church has nothing to do with LRon.

lumberjim · 08-23-2007, 11:47 AM

your local catholic church collects a tithing, i presume? I expect that they send at least some portion of that up the ladder toward Rome? (maybe I'm wrong about that) .....

ah, I'm being cute here....my real point was that IMO, religious orginizations (religions) exist in the first place because they are profitable. if there was no money/power/security in them, they would be practiced privately in peoples homes only.

dar512 · 08-23-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

your local catholic church collects a tithing, i presume? I expect that they send at least some portion of that up the ladder toward Rome? (maybe I'm wrong about that) .....

ah, I'm being cute here....my real point was that IMO, religious orginizations (religions) exist in the first place because they are profitable. if there was no money/power/security in them, they would be practiced privately in peoples homes only.

A small amount is sent to the diocese to help support the administrative offices there. AFAIK, none is sent to Rome.

I have to disagree with the last point. Certainly a lot of praying gets done in private. But I certainly appreciate the sense of community and bonding that going to church offers. "Wherever two are more are gathered..."

lumberjim · 08-23-2007, 12:08 PM

well, who can say, really? It is what it is. I don't go to church, and I sure as hell wouldn't go if I had to pay for it....Yet, I am glad to send my $300 to the cellar every month. ....that's what every one pays, right?

DanaC · 08-23-2007, 12:19 PM

Mmmhmmm...yup....bout that....

dar512 · 08-23-2007, 01:03 PM

Well the OP was saying that churches aren't non-profit. I disagree with that and gave a counter example. That's the only point I intended to make.

I respect people who have other beliefs than mine. I only ask that others respect my beliefs. The anti-Christian anti-church posts on the Cellar over the past year have become venomous.

lumberjim · 08-23-2007, 01:25 PM

the argument was made, however that the excess income (remainder after expenses are met) that is used for expansion of the church is simply profit in sheep's clothing. semantics.

Clodfobble · 08-23-2007, 01:29 PM

Except for the fact that those semantics also apply to other nonprofit organizations who seek to grow.

08-23-2007, 09:42 AM	#184
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Threads like these go on and on because no terms are defined and everyone is using similar words to mean different things. From a quick google on the subject, a non-profit is defined as "an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit." By that definition, my local Catholic church is a non-profit. It does not exist in order to create a profit and provides a number of valuable services to the community. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

08-23-2007, 11:47 AM	#189
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	your local catholic church collects a tithing, i presume? I expect that they send at least some portion of that up the ladder toward Rome? (maybe I'm wrong about that) ..... ah, I'm being cute here....my real point was that IMO, religious orginizations (religions) exist in the first place because they are profitable. if there was no money/power/security in them, they would be practiced privately in peoples homes only. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan Last edited by lumberjim; 08-23-2007 at 11:51 AM. Reason: sp

08-23-2007, 12:08 PM	#191
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	well, who can say, really? It is what it is. I don't go to church, and I sure as hell wouldn't go if I had to pay for it....Yet, I am glad to send my $300 to the cellar every month. ....that's what every one pays, right? __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

08-23-2007, 01:03 PM	#193
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Well the OP was saying that churches aren't non-profit. I disagree with that and gave a counter example. That's the only point I intended to make. I respect people who have other beliefs than mine. I only ask that others respect my beliefs. The anti-Christian anti-church posts on the Cellar over the past year have become venomous. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

08-23-2007, 01:25 PM	#194
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	the argument was made, however that the excess income (remainder after expenses are met) that is used for expansion of the church is simply profit in sheep's clothing. semantics. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

08-23-2007, 12:19 PM	#192
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Mmmhmmm...yup....bout that....

08-23-2007, 01:29 PM	#195
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Except for the fact that those semantics also apply to other nonprofit organizations who seek to grow.

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