Taxation

[LV426]

Topic came up in another discussion and so I decided to post it here and see what people have to say.

Should Churches and Religious Organizations pay taxes?

[FMtRIS]

I think that it might be a good thing except that there would then be that separation of church and state which people make screamy noises about lately. I am reaching far here but that tends to be why the screamy noises happen anyway so let me elaborate. The taxes taken from individuals and businesses are used by state and federal institutions for various "improvements" and by taxing religious institutions, it would include them in the federal budget for such things, therefore they would have an establishment within the tax system just the same as anyone else. However, religions being as they are, this feasably could be used to their advantage to press for interests in particular to those that manifest their religious doctrine. If federal or state money (taxes) is used for a federal or state sponsored program then religious foundations would have a stronger part because it would be their tax money sponsoring the programs. In a manner of speaking, it becomes the representation of taxation with the religion being representative within the tax base.

This is just off the top of my head and there are probably some things that I am not accounting for because the IRS has methods that are so esoteric that I can't begin to fathom them all. It would be a career otherwise.

[Hagakure]

Isn't their slogan "Jesus paid the ultimate tax" or something?

[MichaelCra]

Well if you think about it the way churches make money is by Tithing so it would just be considered a charity. I mean you can take tithing out of your taxes (fun fact :D), well there’s a reason other than separation of church and state. Also not to be the ranting Christian but how can you say he paid the ultimate tax what he did has nothing to do with taxes. It’s “Jesus paid the ultimate price” because if you want to go into it, all the sacrifices everyone made back then was a way to try and make amends for their sins. Him letting himself die paid for everyone’s sins who believed in him as their savior.

[Buddha Monkey]

Ok, I was the loan dissenter on in the original discussion, so here I go again.

I mean you can take tithing out of your taxes (fun fact )
And that's money that should be going to improving the country. Some people only tithe because they can take it out of their income tax for more back. Or to pay less. Not because it's the "right thing".

I'm agnostic. I don't tithe, what is it, ten percent of my earning's. Why should I have to pay for everything I make, when those that tithe don't?

Why should some religions pay tax, and other's don't? (the only way that churches get out of tax is if they are "official" religions in the country.)

Why do I work with a Bishop that has a $500,000 home? That money went into his pocket, not to help others?

I go into most churches, and the first thing I notice is the amount of money that went into building the church, not to mention the amount it cost's to get most of their icons?

When I watch TV, and I see ad's for the "Christian Foundation", or other church sponsored charities, I wonder how much money it cost out of those donation's to get said ad on TV.

[MichaelCra]

Ok well me I live in the middle of the desert the church I go to is poor and I don't tithe to pay less on taxes and tithing is not mandatory. If you go to a church you don't have to give money and if the church tries to make you feel bad whatever I don't like those and the "T.V. AD Churches" are crap. I think if you’re going to give money to one, give it to one that needs it like one that has a good message and is giving summons in a bunch of mobile homes stuck together like mine used to be. I'm not saying a lot of churches don't do what your sayimg, im just saying not all do you'll see what you siad anywhere in anything you just got to look for the good ones. Also i was just stating that as a fact i knew, i don't know many :confused: lol.

[blueeyes]

Why should I have to pay for everything I make, when those that tithe don't?
The idea is that by encouraging people in general to donate money in the way of tax deductible charities, which include religion and secular art, the culture of an individual area will progress. Because people are innately greedy, to the point where they'll give up everything they have to get more, any major group should try to improve their social standing in order to get more tithes in the future. Bigger, higher cost churches, community service, and other typical money sinks happen to be a fairly good and completely voluntary way for people to redistribute wealth with a remarkably high efficeny... in theory. After all, local work can't be outsourced very cost-effectively, and most improvements on a church or work at a local battered woman shelter doesn't require a Ph. D, making the money tend to go to the lower tiers of currency in the area.

In real life you get people like the bishop with the 500k house, but that's when life can bite them in the flank. After all, if it becomes well known that any man of the church is abusing his rank, people probably won't trust him talk about giving away to help others.