Why are churches tax exempt?

I don't think they should be, if they catch fire does the fire department not come, if a crime happens do the cops not take a report, do there parishioners not take the roads to get there.

Thoughts?

 

Because we wrongly give special deference to religion. You are right, everyone who benefits from this society should play a role in funding it.

 

They are tax exempt because of the idea of the separation of church and state. Back in the day, the church and the state were two arms of the same beast, with the church deciding what is good and bad, and the crown meting out the punishment for being bad. Both required the existence of the other. Without the crown, the church was a toothless old man complaining about how we're all doomed. Without the church, the crown was a vile and despicable tyrant.

 

The average bakery, department store, gas station, or restaurant isn't considered part of the government - yet they have to pay taxes, and religious groups actively promote political beliefs/action.

Please explain how taxing churches would violate separation of church and state.

 

They are tax exempt because we live in a theocracy and our politicians want to appear pious when in fact they are lecherous horn dogs!

We should have a flat tax for every church, temple, mosque, pagoda, shrine and what have you.

 

Why is Stink Progress and Media matters tax exempt?

 

Non sequitur. they are tax-exempt because we give special deference to religion in this society. There is no violation of chuch/state separation by asking religious institutions to pay their fair share. A religious organization is like any other - comprised of voluntary associations of consenting adults. That they wish to collect assets and own property is their choice - one that should not be subsidized by the rest of us who may make other choices.

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We should have a flat tax for every tax-paying entity. Period.

 

They, like the NRA, the Council of Conservative Citizens, and the National Pro Life Alliance, and BlackLivesMatter, are bona fide non-profit organizations. by the way they should pay their taxes, too. Everybody should pay - a lot less than we do now, but we all should pay.

 

If you pay taxes, you are paying for the government, so you are part of government. You have a valid say in how your money is spent. By not taxing the church, you are not giving the church a say in how government should operate.

Ask all those lefties why they want big money out of government. It's to make it so that whoever has the most money has the most influence. Taxes are money.

 

How are they being subsidized? If there's a subsidy involved, I think that should be removed. For example, if a fire breaks out, let it burn.

 

Whats missed is the church may still influence its members on political matters. There is no separation of church as far as the church influencing the government goes. In fact they wanted it to. All the 1st amendment states is that CONGRESS can not establish a church of America. Other than that it can make no law concerning religion or the free exercise there of. It is a one way street

 

Of course the church has influence on people. That's an unfortunate aspect of religion that I don't see a way out of. So long as there is no law saying I have to go to church and pray to the almighty obama, that's as good as you're going to get.

I can certainly understand wanting to tax churches. They do enjoy all the things that our taxes pay for, without really paying for them. Especially when I see some of those places. Those ministers aren't exactly missing any meals. It's just that I do know a bit about history, and realize that you don't want the church and the state to be too comfortable with each other. Once that happens, head for the hills!

 

I give up, why are they?

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Religious people can't vote?

 

You've just illustrate exactly how they're being subsidized. Not being taxed while everyone else is is a subsidy.

 

That's not the fault of the church, but the state.

Try looking at it as if they should be separate entities. If you want that, then fine. But saying that you will provide a state funded service, and then saying that because of that service, they should be taxed is just BS.

It's like the church offering to pray for the state, and then saying "because we're praying for you, you should put some money in the collection plate".

 

Congress shall make no law........

The best laws are the ones based on bright shining lines. Here it couldn't be more succinct. Government, stay away, no good can come with you manipulating religious beliefs.

Cheers
Labour

 

Hey....considering the amount of money churches take out of the pockets of average citizens...they should tax them.

AboveAlpha

 

Do you want a separation of church and state? If so, then how do you suggest going about it? By demanding that the church bribe your politicians?

That's what taxes are.

And yes, religious people can vote. want to let them off the hook as well as the church? I'm pretty sure you won't get much disagreement there. Let the atheists pay taxes.

 

Right.

We know how that will work out, the unfavored will be taxed more and the lesser belief systems will be subsidised. It's what government does, chooses.

F that.

Cheers
Labour

 

I know this would never happen but you have to admit the amount of money various religions take out of the pockets of people is astounding.

The Vatican as example has a level of wealth that is off the chart.

AboveAlpha

 

Agreed.

Cheers
Labour

 

If you let the fire burn, it could put others in harms way.

 

So now it's a sin tax?

I really have to ask. What is it about the separation of church and state that you don't understand? Perhaps it's the reason for why they should be separate, in which case I would point you to the excesses of the catholic church in Spain, where the church became the state. Or perhaps in England where there was a long-standing feud between the church and the state, with the state telling the church to essentially (*)(*)(*)(*) off.

The two are at loggerheads with each other at the best of times because they both desire power.

And of course now in the states, the democrats are all about the state and pope Obama, and let's give him all of the power and force those stupid christians to pay for the power of the state.

Do you not understand the checks and balances involved in this dichotomy between the church and the state? Is it just a "let's tax those religious fruitcakes" mentality without even the most basic comprehension of the sordid history between these two organizations?

 

Should make for some rather onerous fire insurance premiums if your house is next to a church.

 

And you obviously can't tell when a member is just thinking out loud per say.

I am well aware that churches will never be taxed.

I am just amazed how easy some people with very little to begin with are so eager to give what little they have away.

There will never be such a law passed but I would hope that some people smarten up.

AboveAlpha