all other forms of business are taxed, why not religion? it is, after all, the biggest business there is. why, the vatican alone holds billions of dollars worth of real estate, priceless artifacts, antiques and works of art and collects billions more in 'contributions' from the faithful. if all this 'income' were taxable, think of the suffering and misery that money could help to lift up the masses of people around the globe who find themselves in utterly dire circumstances. tax religion now! let it put its money where its mouth is!
2007-03-21 03:22:28 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
AMEN! Preach it brother!!!
If churches are so influential in politics its only fair that politics becomes influential in churches. If preachers determine how their congregation votes and where their congregation donates money, the government should be able to be more involved with the church.
Either churches stay out of politics or politics will handle the church. It should be a ultimatum...either quite your political influence or you will be taxed for your government involvement.
I bet when the economy is bad enough and the church keeps sticking its stupid nose into political issues, it will happen.
When will the world get smart????
2007-03-21 03:29:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Twenty years ago, 1987, owning a computer was something of a priviledge, something well-to-do families had. Those who didn't own a computer at the time were not handicapped in the professional or educational communities by not having one.
Today, computers are so common and so necessary, that there are significant barriers in the way of people who do not own at least one in their household.
Yesterdays priveledge becomes today's necessity, and the bottom of the pyramid moves up... but it's still the bottom of the pyramid.
The poorest American Citizens, the homeless and disposessed, are still living in better conditions than most citizens would have even a hundred years ago; the average person has more disposible income and is more likely to donate, meaning better health care and more sheltering organizations. All the same, they are our disadvantaged and disposessed because they are still at the bottom of the pyramid.
No matter how much you elevate the pyramid... someone's still going to be at the bottom.
2007-03-21 03:32:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. Churches already set aside money in their budget for the poor (in addition to the money in the budget that is used for buildings & maintenance). If you put a tax on tithe income, then the churches will simply give less money to the poor, since they now have to budget money for taxes. The extra expense of tax will have to be paid for somehow, which means that money for the poor will probably be sacrificed first.
I think that you may be a little naïve about economics if you think that government charities will be more efficient than private ones. Governments tend to spend money on parking lots, buildings, & pork barrel projects too, not the poor, and they tend to be less efficient about it.
2007-03-21 03:41:14 · answer #3 · answered by Randy G 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dojoman, how are you going to tax the Vatican when it's not in your country???
As far as a church, most churches are not wealthy. Some are, yes, but most of the money for the buildings and supplies are from donations of the people in that congregation. If a church is good, it's also tithing out 10% towards missions and other outside ministries. Most churches I know also set aside money for a benevolence fund to help others.
2007-03-21 03:28:17 · answer #4 · answered by Searcher 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't think that the poor people would ever see it, because the politicians would find some way to spend it on themselves. Besides there are some benefits to poverty. The book of James says "has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom." A person would be far better off to be poor in this world and have an eternal home with God then to be rich in this earth and lose their eternal soul.
2007-03-21 03:31:25 · answer #5 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No government will ever solve the problem of poverty. Poverty is a state of mind that has to be unlearned. To eliminate poverty, we need education, not taxation.
Why take money from the orginazations that are making a difference and put it into the hands of a government who is already mismanaging their funds to the tune of 5 TRILLION DOLLARS????.
2007-03-21 03:28:22 · answer #6 · answered by Dr. Linder 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well this would help in reducing poverty in a few smaller
countries.But Islam has a better practical solution to eliminate
poverty.The second pillar of Islam is called Zakat.{charity]
Allah the almighty commands the Muslim who has a saving of
more than 85 grams of gold held for one Financial year, then
it is compulsory to pay an annual charity of 2.5% of this wealth
To be distributed to the poor and the needy, Imagine if all the
rich people of this world follow this Isalmic system of Charity
poverty will be eliminated from this world.!
2007-03-21 03:42:06 · answer #7 · answered by sonu 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Religion" or churches already contribute very much to relieving the misery of others. My church alone gives millions to the needy every year, and others give as much or more. How about if everyone in secular society started helping out as well? If we ALL started sharing what we have, there would be no hungry or homeless people anywhere. I give money to charity every month, how about you?
2007-03-21 03:58:00 · answer #8 · answered by Susan H 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If religion were taxed, It would be more beneficial for that additional money going to reduce my taxes.... mmmmkay?
If you want to reduce world poverty then how about eliminating the governments that are keeping their people in poverty.
2007-03-21 03:26:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Taxes are not the solution to poverty.You must change the poverty mentality.
2007-03-21 03:35:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋