Taxing Churches

[jesse]

Probably an old topic but it recently came up in my town and it is currently going around facebook. Should religious institutions be taxed? Apparently we lose 71 Billion a year from tax exemptions of religious institutions. (I don't know if that is 71 billion world wide or just the States or what)

I suppose on the one hand, why should Atheists have to pay for Religious institutions and their activities.

On the other hand, anyone who thinks that the government should have more money or will make better decisions should probably get their head checked.

Yes we could have 28 more Mars Rover missions a year.... However that might actually be what they spend it on... which is why i would think the government should not have the money.

If the money was taxed would the poor be getting as much help as they are right now? I personally doubt it. However I can see where helping pay for Creflo Dollar's new car is a bit of a pain. (or some other prosperity gospel guy)

Anyways thoughts?

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[-SEEKING-]

I believe all Government whether Local/State/Federal, need to tay a pay cut. Putting more money into a bag with holes is not a solution. You need to patch the holes.

[Reynolds357]

Probably an old topic but it recently came up in my town and it is currently going around facebook. Should religious institutions be taxed? Apparently we lose 71 Billion a year from tax exemptions of religious institutions. (I don't know if that is 71 billion world wide or just the States or what)

I suppose on the one hand, why should Atheists have to pay for Religious institutions and their activities.

On the other hand, anyone who thinks that the government should have more money or will make better decisions should probably get their head checked.

Yes we could have 28 more Mars Rover missions a year.... However that might actually be what they spend it on... which is why i would think the government should not have the money.

If the money was taxed would the poor be getting as much help as they are right now? I personally doubt it. However I can see where helping pay for Creflo Dollar's new car is a bit of a pain. (or some other prosperity gospel guy)

Anyways thoughts?

378196_10151997327655082_678724809_n-1.jpg

Religious organization are tax exempt because they are non profit organizations. Red Cross, Soup kitchen, tornado relief, etc. etc. etc. is tax exempt. Athiests receive tax deductions for charitable giving as well.

[NHL Fever]

I believe religious organizations should not be tax exempt. But this has nothing to do with economics, I think it is actually bad for the church in the long-term. When the government is involved in giving you a tax break, they have their foot in the door and potentially direct your activities. Eventually the government will be able to demand that churches accept gay ministers, marry gay couples even if against their belief etc. The tax exemption just gives them a weapons to use. Would churches suffer financially because of this? Yes Is a financially sound environment the one churches traditionally experience growth in? No. I think getting out of the game would help to purify churches a bit and be in a less compromised position.

[jesse]

Religious organization are tax exempt because they are non profit organizations. Red Cross, Soup kitchen, tornado relief, etc. etc. etc. is tax exempt. Athiests receive tax deductions for charitable giving as well.

That is true! It is also often also left out of the debate by the atheists. However, in their defense, non religious tornado relief does not push any kind of belief system. Atheism is most assuredly a belief system, but they are not necessarily proselytizing the great unwashed masses with Atheistic poppycock at the expense of everyone. They let Bill Mahar and Joe Rogan do that. :p

[jesse]

I believe religious organizations should not be tax exempt. But this has nothing to do with economics, I think it is actually bad for the church in the long-term. When the government is involved in giving you a tax break, they have their foot in the door and potentially direct your activities. Eventually the government will be able to demand that churches accept gay ministers, marry gay couples even if against their belief etc. The tax exemption just gives them a weapons to use. Would churches suffer financially because of this? Yes Is a financially sound environment the one churches traditionally experience growth in? No. I think getting out of the game would help to purify churches a bit and be in a less compromised position.

This is somewhat in the range of ideas i find myself. Although i never thought of government influence. It seems like if they taxed churches maybe it would cull out the people who are in it for the lavish lifestyle and Mega Church ambiguity. Maybe it would force churches back into the homes... sort of an homage to the days of the early church. Or maybe we could all go to Chick Fill A and worship God?

On a side note i wonder if Atheism always leads to Socialism/Communism or if it is just coincidence. And Maybe they should open a Chick Fill A in Canada? Never been to one.

[amazzin]

Every dollar we receive has a return that goes beyond what any government program can offer. Our free access to ministries, food kitchens and social programs seldom hire a huge staff to run and are staffed by volunteers who see this as their ministry. so a greater percentage of the funds goes directly to free access to ministry than any other organization. You tax the churches and many of these free ministries will close their doors putting the onus back on the government and their failure to provide like churches do.

[the rookie]

I believe religious organizations should not be tax exempt. But this has nothing to do with economics, I think it is actually bad for the church in the long-term. When the government is involved in giving you a tax break, they have their foot in the door and potentially direct your activities. Eventually the government will be able to demand that churches accept gay ministers, marry gay couples even if against their belief etc. The tax exemption just gives them a weapons to use. Would churches suffer financially because of this? Yes Is a financially sound environment the one churches traditionally experience growth in? No. I think getting out of the game would help to purify churches a bit and be in a less compromised position.

I agree with this point. The church in the U.S. has lost a little bit of its edge in the name of the ol' 501c3. I don't like it - the church needs to be the primary voice holding politicians accountable to the people, and instead, we've been intimidated by a little tax break. I say pay the tax, then prophesy

[tango]

I believe religious organizations should not be tax exempt. But this has nothing to do with economics, I think it is actually bad for the church in the long-term. When the government is involved in giving you a tax break, they have their foot in the door and potentially direct your activities. Eventually the government will be able to demand that churches accept gay ministers, marry gay couples even if against their belief etc. The tax exemption just gives them a weapons to use. Would churches suffer financially because of this? Yes Is a financially sound environment the one churches traditionally experience growth in? No. I think getting out of the game would help to purify churches a bit and be in a less compromised position.

Based on the current tax system I can see the merit in this argument. Personally I think a better solution would be a massive downsizing of government so it took less tax across the board. At a stroke we'd lose all the wrangling about whether this or that should be tax-exempt, reduce the reach of government and free people to make their own success (however they define "success") and give power back to the people.

[tango]

Probably an old topic but it recently came up in my town and it is currently going around facebook. Should religious institutions be taxed? Apparently we lose 71 Billion a year from tax exemptions of religious institutions. (I don't know if that is 71 billion world wide or just the States or what)

I suppose on the one hand, why should Atheists have to pay for Religious institutions and their activities.

On the other hand, anyone who thinks that the government should have more money or will make better decisions should probably get their head checked.

It's easy to argue "why should atheists have to pay for religious institutions" but it's no less valid to ask why a healthy person should pay towards another's healthcare, why the rich should pay for someone else's welfare, why those without children should pay for schools and so on.

We don't "lose 71 billion" from tax exemptions, it just means the government doesn't take as much. It's better to start from a perspective of asking why the government needs the money, than from asking whether certain activities should be tax exempt. Otherwise the assumption is that the government is entitled to anything we can't justify the government not taking.

[episkopos]

Every dollar we receive has a return that goes beyond what any government program can offer. Our free access to ministries, food kitchens and social programs seldom hire a huge staff to run and are staffed by volunteers who see this as their ministry. so a greater percentage of the funds goes directly to free access to ministry than any other organization. You tax the churches and many of these free ministries will close their doors putting the onus back on the government and their failure to provide like churches do.

Granted there are benefits to not being taxed...but what is the real cost we have to pay spiritually? I think this question "At what cost?" should always be asked.

At what cost has Christendom become the recognized state religion? At what cost has the eternal made a deal with the temporal?

Just sayin'......

[keck553]

I believe religious organizations should not be tax exempt. But this has nothing to do with economics, I think it is actually bad for the church in the long-term. When the government is involved in giving you a tax break, they have their foot in the door and potentially direct your activities. Eventually the government will be able to demand that churches accept gay ministers, marry gay couples even if against their belief etc. The tax exemption just gives them a weapons to use. Would churches suffer financially because of this? Yes Is a financially sound environment the one churches traditionally experience growth in? No. I think getting out of the game would help to purify churches a bit and be in a less compromised position.

I think you made a good point. I also think that churches that say it would curtail their giving - I gave to ask, where is thier faith? God provides much more than any tax exempt advantage could possibly achieve. Plus, I rather like the opportunity to "disconnect" from the government. It would allow a much better platform to exercise free speech.

[Reynolds357]

Every dollar we receive has a return that goes beyond what any government program can offer. Our free access to ministries, food kitchens and social programs seldom hire a huge staff to run and are staffed by volunteers who see this as their ministry. so a greater percentage of the funds goes directly to free access to ministry than any other organization. You tax the churches and many of these free ministries will close their doors putting the onus back on the government and their failure to provide like churches do.

Amazzin, just think, the Federal govt. could probably do for $125 what you do for $10.

[keck553]

Amazzin, just think, the Federal govt. could probably do for $125 what you do for $10.

Wow, that's being rather gracious to the government.

[TomH]

Every dollar we receive has a return that goes beyond what any government program can offer. Our free access to ministries, food kitchens and social programs seldom hire a huge staff to run and are staffed by volunteers who see this as their ministry. so a greater percentage of the funds goes directly to free access to ministry than any other organization. You tax the churches and many of these free ministries will close their doors putting the onus back on the government and their failure to provide like churches do.

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've stated.

Although I know nothing on the tax systems of Canada, and speaking soley to the US system, I wonder how our churches would fare if tithes could no longer be written off as a tax credit?

How is the government able to say, "You can keep a percentage of your tax money, as long as you give it to a non profit organization, not crossing the line between church and state?

Writing off your tithes and having the church being taxed is simply detouring around the fact that tax money is going a great distance to get to the same place a simple step would take.

Sometimes I think the church has this fear that the members won't support the church if they don't receive the benefit of a tax deduction for their tithe.

Of course, I'm just being jaded today. Forgive me for not having much faith in human nature.