Ending God's Tax Exempt Status - Page 3

Cloud · 08-20-2007, 12:53 AM

harsh, Jim!

08-20-2007, 12:53 AM

You calling me a malcontent, condescending and a prick. PRICELESS!
I am so happy right now!

Bruce, thank you for making my point so vividly!

elSicomoro · 08-20-2007, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Off Topic.
Also, I am not talking about government spending I am talking about more government money.
Hate?
No emotion here... at least not from me.

It's tw's brother!

Cloud · 08-20-2007, 12:56 AM

so, you've got churches, clubs, fraternal organizations, community organizations, scholarship funds, welcome wagons, international organizations and --surprise--charities! As I said, too narrow a definition.

lumberjim · 08-20-2007, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

harsh, Jim!

fuck him. he just made my ignore list. coffin dodger.

08-20-2007, 12:59 AM

Woohoo!!!!

The welcome wagon nor a frat should be exempt if they pull in enough to pay taxes.
Scholarship funds, they provide far more service than they will ever need admin to break that threshold... no problem.
I don't see the issue.

elSicomoro · 08-20-2007, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

fuck him. he just made my ignore list. coffin dodger.

Dude...mellow man. Go make another captain and coke.

Among the non-profits in my Zip...La Leche League...hooray for boobies!

Cloud · 08-20-2007, 01:00 AM

(ducks to avoid flying bodily fluids)

xoxoxoBruce · 08-20-2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

As I said, too narrow a definition.

Exactly, their message is immaterial.

Cloud · 08-20-2007, 01:08 AM

the messages may be immaterial, but the purposes are not--at least according to the tax code.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-20-2007, 01:17 AM

Their purpose is their message.

Ibby · 08-20-2007, 01:24 AM

I personally see no reason whatsoever that a church should not have to pay taxes. I see no reason why they should pay more in taxes than any other organization that draws in the same amount of money... but I see no reason why they shouldn't have to pay.

08-20-2007, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Their purpose is their message.

Which is why they buy all the land and invest so much?
Yeah... sell me another one.

08-20-2007, 01:26 AM

At one time, recently, the Mormon Church was (if ranked) the third largest business in the US.

DanaC · 08-20-2007, 05:58 AM

I think it depends a lot on which branch of the Church you're dealing with.

If you are talking about the Evangelical strands of Christianity, much of their development included concepts similar to the Methodist faiths: that to work hard is Godly, that to acquire a better standing in the community and business world was a sign that you had worked hard and were therefore Godly. Now, that may well not be what's going on in the Evangelical sects now...but from such a base it's easy to see how gaining wealth and 'doing well' was not and is not seen as contradicting their faith.

In the Catholic confession, however, whilst it was always acceptable that The Church gain status and wealth, in individual terms they had more apostolic assumptions of their clergy.

rk, I am as hostile to religion as the next dwellar (especially if the next dwellar is you :P) but we need to be careful not to make assumptions of the whole, when it's a much more fragmented picture than that.

Across the world, your own country included, much of the charity and outreach work that helps some of the world's most vulnerable people, is conducted by well meaning Christians, with their Church as the organisation funding, managing and providing that exercise. Those are genuine charities. There are no doubt churches which are run like businesses and preachers who have made themselves wealthy. They are not charities. But by the same token, there are secular charities which are scams and yet get tax breaks.

I do think churches should have to prove their charitable status like any other organisation. (though you wouldn't be able to impose that on the Catholic Church without causing a massive worldwide argument).

08-20-2007, 12:53 AM	#31
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	harsh, Jim! __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

08-20-2007, 12:56 AM	#34
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	so, you've got churches, clubs, fraternal organizations, community organizations, scholarship funds, welcome wagons, international organizations and --surprise--charities! As I said, too narrow a definition. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

08-20-2007, 01:00 AM	#38
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	(ducks to avoid flying bodily fluids) __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

08-20-2007, 01:08 AM	#40
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	the messages may be immaterial, but the purposes are not--at least according to the tax code. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

08-20-2007, 01:17 AM	#41
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Their purpose is their message. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-20-2007, 12:53 AM	#32
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	*You* calling me a malcontent, condescending and a prick. *PRICELESS*! I am so happy right now! Bruce, thank you for making my point so vividly!

08-20-2007, 12:59 AM	#36
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Woohoo!!!! The welcome wagon nor a frat should be exempt if they pull in enough to pay taxes. Scholarship funds, they provide far more service than they will ever need admin to break that threshold... no problem. I don't see the issue.

08-20-2007, 01:24 AM	#42
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	I personally see no reason whatsoever that a church should not have to pay taxes. I see no reason why they should pay more in taxes than any other organization that draws in the same amount of money... but I see no reason why they shouldn't have to pay. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

08-20-2007, 01:26 AM	#44
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	At one time, recently, the Mormon Church was (if ranked) the third largest business in the US.

08-20-2007, 05:58 AM	#45
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I think it depends a lot on which branch of the Church you're dealing with. If you are talking about the Evangelical strands of Christianity, much of their development included concepts similar to the Methodist faiths: that to work hard is Godly, that to acquire a better standing in the community and business world was a sign that you had worked hard and were therefore Godly. Now, that may well not be what's going on in the Evangelical sects now...but from such a base it's easy to see how gaining wealth and 'doing well' was not and is not seen as contradicting their faith. In the Catholic confession, however, whilst it was always acceptable that The Church gain status and wealth, in individual terms they had more apostolic assumptions of their clergy. rk, I am as hostile to religion as the next dwellar (especially if the next dwellar is you :P) but we need to be careful not to make assumptions of the whole, when it's a much more fragmented picture than that. Across the world, your own country included, much of the charity and outreach work that helps some of the world's most vulnerable people, is conducted by well meaning Christians, with their Church as the organisation funding, managing and providing that exercise. Those are genuine charities. There are no doubt churches which are run like businesses and preachers who have made themselves wealthy. They are not charities. But by the same token, there are secular charities which are scams and yet get tax breaks. I do think churches should have to prove their charitable status like any other organisation. (though you wouldn't be able to impose that on the Catholic Church without causing a massive worldwide argument).

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