Tax the Churches

[wxtornado]

Originally Posted by Gwydion

Out of curiosity, why do you feel that Scientology is "one of the most dangerous cults in our society?"

Surely that is an exaggeration.

Wow, I wouldn't even know where to start. Instead of rewriting it, try here, especially the part titled "The Harm it Does to a Person".

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by This_person

No religion, nor lack thereof, is treated preferentially. That was the point of saying they ALL get tax-free status. Were they a business, they would be treated as such. Those religions that begin to act as a "for profit" business do risk losing their tax free status. For example, the constant talks about the churches that allow politicians to speak, or the LDS church about 20+ years ago and their "investments", etc. There are pretty strict guidelines.Well, those actions are given a tax free status. Deductions, just like the ones you take on your taxes. However, they're taxed on their profit-side.

Why strike out against the LDS?? You seem to think none of the other churches has investments? Portfolios? Real Estate? Stock? Gold? Silver?

[Nucklesack]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Why strike out against the LDS?? You seem to think none of the other churches has investments? Portfolios? Real Estate? Stock? Gold? Silver?

Sheesh dont you know, LDS is a cult, thems aint no Christians

[tommyjones]

Originally Posted by Nucklesack

Sheesh dont you know, LDS is a cult, thems aint no Christians

thats right, i mean their jesus wears a blue robe, i seen it in the pictures, and EVERYBODY knows that real jesus wears a red robe.....

[ItalianScallion (Premo)]

Originally Posted by tommyjones

thats right, i mean their jesus wears a blue robe, i seen it in the pictures, and EVERYBODY knows that real jesus wears a red robe.....

:you'resoclueless"
Jesus wears a WHITE robe.

[PsyOps]

After watching so many tele-evangelists get rich on the backs of poor, unassuming viewers; and now watching the Rev. Wright hypocrisy (you know… that $10,000,000 home he’s having built for himself in a white neighborhood with two $50,000 cars waiting to be parked there?), I’m feeling that perhaps they should be taxed.

For a short time I was a member of a church down on the panhandle of FL; one of those charismatic churches that spoke in tongues and performed prophesy and all that. The pastor of that church preached endlessly about giving and “dig deep” when it came to the poor, . Then the pastor would leave in his (one of 4) Cadillac to his 4500 sq ft home. The guy was rolling the dough.

Every year this church would throw a “Jesus Celebration” concert. All sorts of local musicians would play. One year they had a band called David and the Giants. After they played, the pastor passed around the collection plate. People gave. Then The Giants played some more while they counted the money. The pastor had the nerve to get up on the stage and demand people give more and passed around the plates again.

I quit that church. I’m sorry to say this but churches have become a money-making racket. Not all of them, but a great many of them. The first thing I look for when I seek out a church is what kind of car the preacher is driving.

Yes, I have become more convinced that churches should be taxed.

[ItalianScallion (Premo)]

Originally Posted by PsyOps

After watching so many tele-evangelists get rich on the backs of poor, unassuming viewers; and now watching the Rev. Wright hypocrisy (you know… that $10,000,000 home he’s having built for himself in a white neighborhood with two $50,000 cars waiting to be parked there?), I’m feeling that perhaps they should be taxed.

For a short time I was a member of a church down on the panhandle of FL; one of those charismatic churches that spoke in tongues and performed prophesy and all that. The pastor of that church preached endlessly about giving and “dig deep” when it came to the poor, . Then the pastor would leave in his (one of 4) Cadillac to his 4500 sq ft home. The guy was rolling the dough.

Every year this church would throw a “Jesus Celebration” concert. All sorts of local musicians would play. One year they had a band called David and the Giants. After they played, the pastor passed around the collection plate. People gave. Then The Giants played some more while they counted the money. The pastor had the nerve to get up on the stage and demand people give more and passed around the plates again.

I quit that church. I’m sorry to say this but churches have become a money-making racket. Not all of them, but a great many of them. The first thing I look for when I seek out a church is what kind of car the preacher is driving.

Yes, I have become more convinced that churches should be taxed.

True. Many, but not all, are going in that direction. They're mainly out for the "numbers" (membership). I've always said that, if I get to pastor a church again, the first thing I'd do is do away with it's tax exempt status so that I never have to fear "free speech". That's ironic isn't it?

[This_person]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Why strike out against the LDS?? You seem to think none of the other churches has investments? Portfolios? Real Estate? Stock? Gold? Silver?

I wasn't striking out against it, I brought it up because it was one of the churches in the news that almost lost (as a whole, not a local church) it's tax exempt status due to it's actions. It was a big deal in the news years ago, and I haven't heard of too many churches that were that close to losing their status on a national level.

If I knew of any others that big, I'd have brought that up, too. No attacks, just information.

[PsyOps]

Originally Posted by ItalianScallion

True. Many, but not all, are going in that direction. They're mainly out for the "numbers" (membership). I've always said that, if I get to pastor a church again, the first thing I'd do is do away with it's tax exempt status so that I never have to fear "free speech". That's ironic isn't it?

You might have to elaborate on how being taxed equates to free speech (or restricting it).

[Gwydion]

Originally Posted by wxtornado

Wow, I wouldn't even know where to start. Instead of rewriting it, try here, especially the part titled "The Harm it Does to a Person".

Haha, I am certain I could find a billion articles online about how each and every religion is damaging to an individual.

But certainly, claiming that scientology is one of the most dangerous cults in america is downright idiotic.

Neonazis
Crips
Bloods
Any other gang
That texan cult that was just discovered