Topic: Quotes we disagree with

[andrewclunn]

eta: I think churches specifically (not religious nonprofits--iirc, something like the Salvation Army is considered a non-profit but not a church) aren't considered not-for-profit. but again, a lawyer would be better qualified to explain this.

They are.  My father is a pastor and mother a lawyer.

[GodSlayer]

One might wonder, if we have a separation of church and state, why does the State treat churches differently than any other non-profit?

indeed.

if they are non-profit, and all non-profits get this, who cares what kind. if they're not, then tax them/temples/mosques/scientology fortresses/etc. . that something is a religion is meaningless.

[GodSlayer]

I disagree pretty strongly with the government making any distinction regarding what does and doesn't qualify as a religion.

what we need is a Hollywood religion, where Wesley Snipes and fortune 500 guys can tithe their income to the institution and receive 99.9% of their income in charitable donation from that religion, thereby making a tax-deductible donation of their income, saving them money. maybe at that point the government would cease to consider somethings' status as 'religion' relevant. ...pushing an increase in absurdity in the name of equality seems like the only way to get them to recoil from their current absurdity.

[GodSlayer]

I prefer keeping religion out of politics, because I believe that religion more than other ideologies is damaging to society when it gets mixed up in trying to rule populations. at the same time, secular shouldn't dictate religious organizations.

agreed

iirc, something like the Salvation Army is considered a non-profit but not a church)

they've recently had a TV ad campaign here saying 'remember, we're also a place of worship blah blah blah'.

[arthwollipot]

I'm risking starting a massive flame war with this one, but what the hell.

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

I will happily give up my essential liberty to make you unsafe, if it means you give up your essential liberty to make me unsafe.

[Johnny Slick]

Well, yes, when you misread the quote, you can disagree with it more easily. On a similar vein, I really hate that old maxim "beauty is only skin deep" because it says that beauty is way more than skin deep and I really don't agree with that idea. For that matter, what's up with "haste makes waste"? Everyone knows that if you rush something it might turn out more poorly than if you were methodical at it. I don't need an aphorism telling me I should rush through everything I do.

For added protection, please note the adjectives "essential" and "temporary". It's actually a very pertinent quote given what our government has done in the wake of 9/11.

[arthwollipot]

For added protection, please note the adjectives "essential" and "temporary". It's actually a very pertinent quote given what our government has done in the wake of 9/11.

I'm sure it is. I very rarely have encountered that quote used moderately. It's usually when I tell people they should be wearing a seatbelt or helmet, or express the opinion that lots of people owning guns makes me feel unsafe.

[GodSlayer]

I tell people they should be wearing a seatbelt or helmet

what are your grounds for telling other people what they should do?

[pandamonium]

they've recently had a TV ad campaign here saying 'remember, we're also a place of worship blah blah blah'.

if all it took to gain tax-exemption were to declare yourself a place of worship, I'd be the Pope of Awesome and you all would pay me tithings of beer.

[arthwollipot]

I tell people they should be wearing a seatbelt or helmet

what are your grounds for telling other people what they should do?

My concern for their safety.

[Chew]

I tell people they should be wearing a seatbelt or helmet

what are your grounds for telling other people what they should do?

My concern for their safety.

Ah, I see you've met our resident troll.

[pandamonium]

I tell people they should be wearing a seatbelt or helmet

what are your grounds for telling other people what they should do?

My concern for their safety.

pft, typical liberal prattle. keep your "concern" out of my "safety" commie.

[arthwollipot]

I tell people they should be wearing a seatbelt or helmet

what are your grounds for telling other people what they should do?

My concern for their safety.

pft, typical liberal prattle. keep your "concern" out of my "safety" commie.

You know, you should really be more polite to*mfffmfbmbblllll*

*thud*
*drag... drag...*

[GodSlayer]

they've recently had a TV ad campaign here saying 'remember, we're also a place of worship blah blah blah'.

if all it took to gain tax-exemption were to declare yourself a place of worship, I'd be the Pope of Awesome and you all would pay me tithings of beer.

aah, I was referring to your comment to note that the SA also market themselves as a church, here...recently.

[GodSlayer]

I tell people they should be wearing a seatbelt or helmet

what are your grounds for telling other people what they should do?

My concern for their safety.

that's why I tell people they shouldn't drive cars, or become police officers, or have sex, or eat without someone trained in the heimlich maneuver present...