Reduce the Deficit-Tax the Churches
Read Time:3 Minute, 24 Second
Why are churches tax exempt? They rake in billions of dollars from unwitting and uneducated dupes who can barely pay their rent or feed their families, so why shouldn’t they pay taxes on that money? Clearly they aren’t feeding the poor.
I’ve always questioned the priority we place on religion and it’s formal institutions. As a country, we give a significant amount of latitude to the christian denomination and I for one have never fully understood why. There seems to be this assumption that every single citizen within a so called “christian nation” shares the ideology and value systems of christians. This is fallacious at best.
A long time ago my girlfriend of the moment convinced me to attend her church, and, because the relationship was new, as well as everything that went with it, I did, for about three Sundays. My first impression was one of astonishment as I sat in this cavernous hall, clearly dripping with money, as TV screens the size of those found at movie theaters distributed throughout, played FOX News before the service began, when they started playing Jesus nonsense. There was also an actual band, about 8 pieces complete with trumpets, guitars, drums, violins, and the inevitable organ.
When the preacher started preaching, much of the nonsense he was spouting was just that, as he meandered on and on about voting Republican, condemning gays, and passionately hating on abortion, while implying that everyone who didn’t agree would no doubt be cast into the fiery pit when Jesus came a calling, an inevitability according to this “man of the cloth.”
I determined rather quickly that, as a devout Atheist, I wasn’t inclined to listen to this sort of hate and political pandering in the guise of religious propaganda. Naturally, my church going days came to an abrupt end as did the relationship with my fundamentalist girlfriend.
All that being said, the question remains: why aren’t these religious businesses paying taxes? Wasn’t Jesus alleged to have said in the synoptic gospels:
“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s?”
Don’t Jesus’ followers want to see the scriptures fulfilled, or is this just one of those awkward sayings that are overlooked or interpreted to suit the financial needs of the churches? Churches are businesses. The billions and billions of dollars they generate a year should be taxed. That money, which would be substantial, could be put to good use indeed, such as stem cell, climate change, and cancer research just to mention a few.
At least one lawmaker is doing something about it. Atheist Senator Ernie Chambers, an independent, proposed legislation, LB675, in Nebraska that would force the that would essentially force tax churches and other religious organizations. to pay their share of taxes. The bill is simply a copy of the existing statute with the word “religious” crossed out at each mention among groups that are currently exempt from property taxes.
The lawmaker, who is the longest-serving senator in Nebraska history, suggested the measure to generate more revenue and reduce local government reliance on state funding.
Chambers has previously sued God to make a point and unfavorably compared the Catholic Church to the Mafia, saying that if their members were “raping children, they’d off them.”
We need more legislators with this sort of courage and conviction, but many of them are in the pockets of the religious so I doubt we’ll see another Ernie Chambers anytime soon.
Democracy is dynamic and ever changing while the church is dogmatic and static. If we allow the church to continue to be exempt from paying taxes while playing politics from the pulpit, then we will find ourselves in a society that is hostile to individual thought and opinions. We risk creating a society that will exclude all minority views and anyone who chooses to be different. I’m not prepared to base people’s rights and freedoms on faith and what I believe. What about you?
Sign the petition to force the government to tax the churches.
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I think I must have set my compass to LIBTARD to have arrived here!
There would be no U.S.A. without G.O.D. You Libtards needs some lerning for sure and bye some bachbones for real
Whenever I see an insult like libtard, I know I am reading a post from someone who is incapable of any original thought. Maybe no thinking at all.
No USA without god? What a moron you show yourself to be. Actually our founding fathers hated Christianity. Here is what some of them had to say:
“The Christian God can be easily pictured as virtually the same as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, evil and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed, beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of the people who say they serve him. The are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites.” – Thomas Jefferson
“During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.” – James Madison
“Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man” – Thomas Jefferson
“I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies.”–Ben Franklin
“As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion…”–The Treaty of Tripoli 1797, Proposed by President John Adams, Ratified by Congress
“Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption, all of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects.”–James Madison letter to William Bradford 1774.
“And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors.”–Letter of Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, April 11, 1823
Nope, the USA was not founded upon the evil and perverted religion you claim. Now, go away and try to think of something original. For that matter, try to have any thoughts at all.
BTW, it’s “learning” and “backbones”. Why are all you neo-con babble bashers so ignorant of common English? But education and rational thinking are fatal to any religion. It’s no surprise you avoid both.
Geez James! That’s a post in and of itself. Good job man!
I have collected so much stuff like this I could probably do a post like this a day for months. I like to save it for people like Global Bush.
How soon do you think we’ll see a reply from this one? This looks like another “drive-by” posting. They take a quick shot and are never heard from again.
Five grammatical errors in one sentence and you want to suggest that someone else “needs some LERNING”? So tell us, exactly when was it that you became a member of MENSA?
You bald bastard
Geoff, you aren’t even trying to fool anyone. So how about that offer? Remember, I’ll bring a guitar.
“Bald Bastard?” You are the one using “bald.” FYI, it isn’t even an insult, it’s a description of a genetic condition such as having blue eyes. Or, in your case being astoundingly stupid.
Are you also the one posting under Dean Fiddle, the well-known stalker, liar, coward, and fool? If so, are you going to commit slander here, too? Be advised, this site is heavily populated with current and former police officers. It would be a certain route to court appearances where you will be held responsible for your actions.
Bald? WTF are you talking about?
As I mentioned above, this person, I hesitate to call him “human” in the Dean Fiddler persona has decided that “bald” is an insult, not a genetic condition such as blue eyes. It’s ironic as the photo he uses as Dean is of a bald man.
But you cannot expect reason or rational thinking from someone who has demonstrated many times that he is a troll, a stalker, a liar, coward, and fool.
I’ll do as a please, Jimmy, you idiotic, busking vagrant. Call me a coward and I will shove that guitar where the sun don’t shine.
You are a coward. Face me and see how things turn out. Then again, I’ve no doubt that Mr. Smith could make short work of a worm such as yourself.
You need a good ass kicking Barnes, and you might find there’s a few people over here more than capable. So, why don’t you take yourself out of here and leave the place to the decent folk who inhabit it you miserable troll.
Tell you what, Geoff. I’ll pay your way from whatever septic tank you live in to where I am or anywhere else in the world so you can make good on your threats ans insults face to face.
Oops, the ball is now in your court. You either have to put up or pretend that challenge was never made. Then you can quietly slink away and declare victory somewhere that they don’t know you ran like the coward you are.
FYI ignoramus, I a not a busker. When I play it is for my own entertainment or that of friends.
So how about it. I’ll bring the guitar.
He’s been blocked James. He can read what you write but can’t comment. We don’t need dirt bags like that here.
Oh, too bad. But that’s your call.
It would have been amusing to see how he tried to squirm out of the hole he’s dug himself. I suspect he’s already making up his excuse list. It doesn’t matter, I’ve heard them all before.
As have I my friend. We are fortunate that we don’t entertain too many trolls here. They are vexations to my spirit. Anyway, just think how spitting mad he has to be given he can read what we write but can’t comment. Now that’s an appropriate punishment.
P.S. What the f*ck is a busker?
I think he’s back and proudly displaying his cowardice and ignorance. I don’t think that is punishment, I suspect he is proud of doing it.
A busker is someone that performs i public such as a sidewalk or in a park, hoping for donations. One often sees them with an instrument case open at their feet. They usually “seed” it with some cash hoping others will toss i some more. Sometimes, it even works.
Obviously, you are a cowardly asshole that loves displaying his complete ignorance on all subjects.
Substantiate your statements, especially your insults.
LOL. Geoff go somewhere you are wanted. No one wants your kind here.
I thought I told you to shut your face. It was Smith who was the irritant here.
No. You’re the irritant here asshole. You are. Buy a mirror.
Oh dear, Mickey. You are almost as annoying as Smith. I am getting sick of hearing your cretinous thoughts.
Obviously, you are not tired of displaying your mental deficiencies in public, though.
Somehow, we all missed the announcement that you have been appointed czar of the internet with the authority to tell others what to do and to insult them as you please.
Kindly give us a link to that announcement.
Exactly how have I been an irritant? By telling the truth? I do understand that many despise the truth and those that tell it. I also understand why. Truth never supports your favored delusions.
Ah, Smith, you ridiculous chump. Obviously, you are not widely read and are a very small-minded fool.
dude i swear you are the bomb!
Haha this article is kinda funny in a ridiculous way. If you’re gonna open the door to taxing churches then hopefully you’re ready to open the tax door on political and certain non profits who receive tax breaks. Its not just Christian churches yet this mad Mike fellow only seems fixated on christians. The only way to reduce the deficit is to cut spending. We’re already being taxed more than enough. Cut government spending and cut the tax rate. We’ll be fine that way and the separation of church and state ideology will remain intact.
When did anyone say to tax only christian churches?
The separation of church and state will remain intact? It isn’t separate now. To bad you’re so fixated on your Tea Party ideology that you are blind to the realities of the world.
You are dumb from being willfully ignorant and stubbornly stupid. If you would start to use a little rational reasoning when you read this site, you might learn something and wold not have to hide behind an absurd fake ID. All you are doing with that ID is admitting you are embarrassingly ignorant and don’t want anyone to know who you are.
A Jesus jumping Tea Bagger in our midst.
And making almost as much sense as my soap dish.
LOL LOL! At least your soap dish serves a purpose 🙂
Good point but actually, I use only liquid soap so it serves no purpose at all. That furthers the resemblance to “Dumber than…” doesn’t it?
You really are a miserable assh0le James Smith. Your posts are pathetic and you look like a chump.
Actually Geoff you look like the asshole here. Can’t you remain civil?
As usual, you pitiful people use the internet to toss out insults you would never dare say to my face.
You don’t even give reasons for your insults. You just revel in being obnoxious. At that you succeed amazingly well.
He is good at that isn’t he James? Then again I’ve blocked better.
Everyone is good at something. In this case it’s to provide an example to others of how not to be respected even for differing opinions.
Please sign and share to tax religious institutions! Thanks! http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/end-religious-privilege
Signed, shared and will be embedded in the post itself later today. Thanks.
The Church Of England is pretty much bankrupt from what I hear. The congregations have stopped going.
Mind you, now football is played on a Sunday you can’t really blame them eh?
Football only on Sunday? What a novel idea. here, futebol can be seen 24/7 all the time. Either a current match, on n delayed broadcast, highlight tapes, or a “classic” match from decades gone past.
Even on the taped ones from decades ago, people will still set off fireworks if their favored team does something good, like almost score a goal.
I’m dreading the World Cup. I expect to get very little sleep until it is long over.
The tinier churches here are doing something different. They are renting out space in our schools on Sundays for their sermons and on Mondays it’s been said students are finding holy roller pamphlets everywhere. THAT needs to be stopped yesterday because I don’t want my tax monies used for that bullshit. I know my old high school won’t consider it because it’s in an affluent area but there are others all over the place giving up space to the holy rollers for services because they might be able to fund (insert something they need here).
Maybe if they charged the churches $1 for every pamphlet or other material left after they left, it might be an incentive to stop trying to sneak their trash into others lives.
After all, in the end it is all about the money so you have to speak in a way they want to understand.
When I owned a mobile hope park, I had it written into every lease that there would be a $100 charge for every late payment or returned check. Yes, some, (OK many) complained. I’d always ask them, “How much do you expect it to cost you each year?” As it was a rather upscale park, no one would admit it might cost them anything. In point of fact, it never did. I didn’t collect it even once.
Same thing with this. Maybe $1 isn’t enough to get their attention, I’ll bet $100 would.
Mobile hope, how does that work anyway 😉 If you are moving there’s still hope or what. I like your ideas and may soon subscribe to your newsletter.
Home! Mobile HOME park. Damn computer.
I hate this machine,
I wish they would sell it.
It never does what I want,
Only what I tell it.
I knew what you meant to say I was messing with you 🙂
I know, I was messing back. 😀 Remember the Ray Charles song, “The Mess Around”? 😉
Tell the Freedom From Religion Foundation about this problem. They work hard to keep church and state separate and handle cases like this on a regular basis.
Good idea. Thanks.
James it irritates the hell out of me so hear these bible thumpers proselytize about social issues such as abortion, gay marriage, and etc., not to mention politics, and then not have to pay taxes. Screw these thieving, blood sucking charlatans. Make ’em pay I say!
I’ve held the same view for decades. I’m not sure if the 71 billion dollar number is accurate, but that’s not the point. If it were $71, they should still pay.
I’m personally tired of allowing these arrogant free loaders to waltz about blithely ignoring commonsense, human decency, and what is right and wrong.
Maybe if enough people started a tax revolution and refused to pay what they calculate religions are costing them, the resulting publicity would start a real change.
The irony of it is christians are basically paying for Muslims who are paying for Jews, who are paying for Scientologists, and so on.