General Discussions > Religion / Philosophy Talk
What is the argument for taxing churches?
Neutral Milk:
I was listening to the Reasonable Doubts interview with PZ, and they were discussing what atheist organizations can do. One of the things that came up as a long term goal was to tax churches.
I told my girlfriend that this was an excellent idea, but she had arguments as to why it wasn't that I couldn't think of a decent response to.
Her points:
-While some churches do evil and selfish things with the money most don't make very much, and use the funds to keep the lights on in the church and feed the employees.
-It's a slippery slope to tax churches. What's going to stop you from funding other secular non-profits at that point.
There was much more than that, but I'd like to hear what the arguments in favor of taxing all churches.
I've always used the argument "but when they make a political statement they are breaching church and state!" but that's only a select few. It doesn't make it right to tax all churches.
Evil Eye:
What does a church do that offers anything another person couldn't get elsewhere?
There are non profit (tax exempt) atheist organizations too.
Personally.. I am on your side. They should all pay taxes.
What I don't agree with is when a church gets tax exempt status on a property 3 blocks away where they play a game of soccer every other Wednesday. (example only)
Neutral Milk:
--- Quote from: Evil Eye on Apr 30, 2009, 08:47:17 PM ---What does a church do that offers anything another person couldn't get elsewhere?
There are non profit (tax exempt) atheist organizations too.
--- End quote ---
But that's the point.. Plenty of churches do charitable things, and most spend their money internally or on charity only. If you tax them then what is to stop you from taxing the no profit atheist organization?
Hanes:
I think we should tax churches as a rule, just like any organization. If they can show that they are, in fact, non profit, then they can be tax exempt. The problem now is that we're assuming they're non profit, and it allows for douchebags to make a fortune off of idiots (without the government getting a slice).
Non profit atheist organizations have to prove they're non profit in order to avoid taxes. It should be the same for religious organizations.
Neutral Milk:
--- Quote from: Hanes on Apr 30, 2009, 08:53:42 PM ---I think we should tax churches as a rule, just like any organization. If they can show that they are, in fact, non profit, then they can be tax exempt. The problem now is that we're assuming they're non profit, and it allows for douchebags to make a fortune off of idiots (without the government getting a slice).
Non profit atheist organizations have to prove they're non profit in order to avoid taxes. It should be the same for religious organizations.
--- End quote ---
That's the ticket!
[/thread]
Seems so obvious. Why couldn't I come up with that argument?
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