Yes, speaking of the wealthy paying their taxes. It's a cold winter week here, & I notice that the nonprofits running the warming shelters, providing healthcare, meals and humanizing games & laughter are NOT any of our local churches. They need to pay their share.
There should be a shirt, saying to all who love our constitution to call all your favorite congressional representatives and ask them to uphold section 3 of our 14th amendment. Insurrectionist Trump cannot hold hold office, unless we don’t support our constitution.
I'm just saying we're talking a big game for a trade we don't actually want. If Congress proposed a bill to do exactly this, every one of us would be on our way to DC to protest.
When I first saw this, I thought, “Yeah! Damn straight!” But after thinking about it, I don’t want religion in schools, AND I want churches to pay taxes.
Oh cool. What god? The one that says no child should starve, no child should go unloved, no child should go uneducated, the god that says we need homes for the people not more mansions for the minority. It's been hard as an agnostic/atheistic/deismist without a god to use as a crutch; Oh thank god.
Yes I know, before anything else existed I became bored and created gods to amuse me. Alas all to easy to understand gods, so I created humans to really befuddle me.
Churches and non-profits should be required to use a certain percentage of their income yearly for the common good and public outreach to qualify to be tax-free. Some non-profits are 100 percent volunteer and give all, while the mega churches give nothing.
What if we taxed them out of existence and used their hoards of riches to provide mental healthcare to the people. Seems like it would help to me. Undone, no; Remedied partially, maybe.
Nah. Arrest churches - COLLAR & CLOTH- that violate Separation. Report violations to IRS, the enforcement agency of tax-exempt status compliance.
Anonymous IRS form is online. Easy.
Right, it's absurd that such ideologically driven systems of control face no taxes while getting ever more involved in politics.
If they want to be political, particularly with their bigotry, patriarchy, and oppressive ideologies... they need to pay for it at tax time at the very least!
It made me very angry when my trumper Aunt told me that her pastor had pushed members of the congregation to vote for trump, so 'yes' tax the hell out of them and maybe real Christianity will make its way back into the church!!
Those taxes could fund social programs. That’s why the church isn’t taxed is because they are supposed to help those in need. We know where that money goes. Joel Osteen is a perfect example.
What really gets me is the king James Bible specifically states the separation of church and state. Give that which is Ceasars to Ceasar. Yet these Bible scholars???. Sorry my golden shovel award.
I don't disagree. To be honest, he looks quite ill and I do not think he is long for this earth. His successor is unlikely to be as liberal as he has been.
Increasing taxes on the wealthy could also decrease the tax burden on regular people that live paycheck to paycheck. Everybody would like it if their taxes suddenly dropped, and the wealthy wouldn't see a dent in their net worths. Plus the rich have strategies to lower their taxes anyway.
A billionaire could afford to pay 80% of their wealth to taxes, and they'd still be rich. Plus they can afford to find strategies to lower their tax burden legally. I don't know you, but I bet you'd go broke if 80% of your money went to taxes. A flat tax for everybody would be crazy.
I never understood how a smart person could support a flat tax. That tax would either be way more than a 9 to 5 worker could afford to pay, or it would be so little that the rich would practically be paying pennies. That would destroy social security, and everything else.
Social security is running out of money, and Republicans and Dems rely on it. That's why both Biden and Trump have vowed not to touch it. Increasing taxes on the wealthy wouldn't impact their way of life at all, and it would fund necessary federal programs like SS. There's no reason not to.
Yeah, you're not thinking about income. Anybody who pays you already had their income taxed. You have to do the same for your income. When churches are small it's fine, but megachurches are getting away with a lot. They're basically whole communities themselves making millions tax-free.
No, IRS in churches does not infringe on rights of people but religion in schools DOES. I am sorry, I ain't making any compromise just like Ragan said, "we don't negotiate with dumbasses"
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The question would be, which religion there are many of them in US. So no that wouldn't be possible. Mega-churches that are in reality businesses should pay taxes that's for sure.
Feeding people, clothing, counselling, uplifting, healing, sheltering, employing and empowering the people maybe could get a reduced tax because they are doing the work of a functional society’s government. While the actual government often does not do so.
Gudwaras and sanctuaries do their share
Yep. Ithink the intellectual and balanced study of religions in school and the effect in history, the connection of belief and how of changes action belongs in schools. I think that churches that are just money piles need to pay their share to benefit society, but I think the church communities —-
The idea that churches should not be taxed is rooted in the concept that churches are providing services to the community that would otherwise fall to the government. Tangible services like feeding, housing, clothing people in need. They should have to prove it annually to maintain their status.
Best comment here! This is exactly what should be happening. A certain set percentage of their proceeds should be required to go to local charity as well. We have churches all over town. If they all helped our homeless population we would have a much better chance. They’d rather finance hate.
All churches were created by power hungry people and as a means to manipulate the masses. If you believe in a supreme power you don't need these manipulators telling you how to refer to it and trying to defraud you in the process.
You get that, the pipeline is this - Next few generations are all indoctrinated into religious extremism, they become the government of tomorrow, they repeal the taxation of churches, but keep the religious indoctrination. Offer a trade and they'll always repeal your half the moment they can.
no thanks, that is not fair - no religion in school except teaching about all religions. Then fixing IRS loopholes and increasing IRS scrutiny to prevent abuse of the church exemption.
Religion out of schools gays off the planet. The only thing the 30,000 sects of Christianity the Sikhs the branches of Islam and Judaism and Hindus agree on is no taxes on our buildings and land and businesses.
That would be great of course but lawmakers on both sides are always afraid to enact laws that will cost them their re election particularly the evangelical Christians. Now when it comes to cutting down Veterans, Medicare and Social Security benefits, let's see who makes the first move!
I’ve been told that the prostitute mentioned in Revelation 17 actually means religion around the earth that has power over governments. It says that the governments, represented as a beast, will destroy her.
Funny, when I mention the need for the IRS to complete a review of all churches, to identified those who have become multi-billion dollar businesses, don't actually provide charity or are political entities, the fanatics go silent. Hmmmm
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"The Establishment Clause prohibits school administrators and other school employees from promoting or discouraging prayer or any other religious expression or activities. They are, after all, government employees."
Why not? Not everyone follows Christianity. Some people still follow the pagan gods/traditions, some follow other religions. You either teach all forms of religion or none at all. No-one should be forced to listen to christian prayers/teaching if they are NOT Christian.
I'm agreeing with you. And I think that people should be taught about religion, not to follow it. Their parents may teach them to follow it, but if they understand that it's not based on provable facts (that's the point of religion IMO -- faith in something you can't prove), 1/2
Informed decision making would help people recognize the false, cult-like churches and may help solve some of the problems. I grew up in a small church and did not understand all of the anti-church mentality until I started paying attention to some of these other "pastors".
These pastors, live in houses that drip excess. some Mega-Churches, those Pastors are worth MILLIONS, but there are people living hungry all around them. Greed. They live like the mega rich and should pay taxes like the rest of us. Perhaps research scripture on humility. "Thou Shalt not Covet."
Existing law prohibits tax exempt organizations from engaging in political activity, but the government is afraid to enforce the law against churches since religion is the third rail of politics.
Unfortunately, too many of those places cloak, the sexual abuse of children
I’m not saying they’re all like that. I’m just saying the ones that are need to be weeded out, it’s literally a plague
Ok lets get this started, and just to be extra fair make sure the taxes they owe are retroactive for past years just like anyone else would be charged when evading taxes.
i want "god businesses" and "church building based political organizations" to be taxed to fund all the social safety net programs that "christian" republicans want to cut, since they're supposedly all about charity and such they shouldn't mind doing their part? simple solution.
Not only that; but if you attend, charge admission/tickets for seating, charge for anything purchased within, and have all donations sent directly to the IRS to be divided between funding absolute necessities that the country needs.
I’m sick of the mega churches raking in millions - involved in no social programs - evading state & fed taxes. In many communities, they are the only organizations able to afford large buildings while independent entrepreneurs struggle to cover rent & taxes.
The ComparativeReligion course I took in college should be required for HS seniors & the bible should be taught as literature…but make sure both teachers are atheists!
Comments
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Just because you are unable to understand God, does not mean he does not exist.
Oh and by the way, your "God" isn't a he.
I guess you discredit the Bible as factual, except when it suits your narrative.
Sorry you should know this.
You must have faith. You must believe. I, don't have to prove shit. It's one of the things I taught your "God".
PS you should read some of the stories the bible was based upon. Way way earlier, still by man though, like your bible (lol King James right?)
#TaxTheCurches
Anonymous IRS form is online. Easy.
I was raised atheist, prayer made me feel as if I didn't belong!
If they want to be political, particularly with their bigotry, patriarchy, and oppressive ideologies... they need to pay for it at tax time at the very least!
Just look at the right side misspellings.
Hiding this post, like I hide all "AI" "art" trash, no matter who posts it.
@isabelsantos.bsky.social
wait...was that inappropriate?
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Their theater is top-notch, though.
Gudwaras and sanctuaries do their share
https://ffrf.org/
Why do we have these megalomaniacs like Charlie Kirk? Joel Osment?
TAX THE CHURCHES.
No church needs a damn amphitheater.
"The Establishment Clause prohibits school administrators and other school employees from promoting or discouraging prayer or any other religious expression or activities. They are, after all, government employees."
FACT: theoretically its your job...
If u're unfit or incompetent etc...minimum FIRED ! logic ? 😀
Unfortunately, too many of those places cloak, the sexual abuse of children
I’m not saying they’re all like that. I’m just saying the ones that are need to be weeded out, it’s literally a plague
https://youtube.com/shorts/bFyL78-n11o?si=US7tDLK4DF6-X4Iy
…AND keep religion out of schools!
Both are essential to #SeparateChurchAndState!
The ComparativeReligion course I took in college should be required for HS seniors & the bible should be taught as literature…but make sure both teachers are atheists!