Can you justify to me not taxing religions or taxing them on the other hand.
2007-09-25 08:42:31 · 11 answers · asked by bulletproofmoth 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If the government were to tax religious institutions, it would have a vested interest in having those institutions thrive and making sure that they had many, many contributing members--thereby increasing the government tax base--which could muddle the whole separation of church and state issue.
2007-09-25 08:46:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Religions should not be taxed. I can only speak from the Christian perspective, so my answer is based on what Christians do with the money. First of all, none of the money we collect is for 'profit'. The money is collected first of all to 1. pay the bills and the preacher's salary. 2. Send to missionaries who are ministering in other parts of the world. 3. provide charity for those who are in need- such as food pantries, helping needy families with rent or bills. 4. Repairing the existing building.
None of it is used to line the pockets of anyone. We do not profit from the collections taken. For the government to tax the church, means taking food out of the mouths of the homeless, taking needed medical supplies and necessities away from missionaries who have no other means of support. It means paying even lower wages to a pastor who may not earn that much to begin with. The church is a charity organization, which bands together solely for the purpose of worship and service to the community. It would be ludicrous to tax them.
2007-09-25 15:53:44 · answer #2 · answered by Dawn C 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, because of one of the founding principals of our country no "taxation without representation." If the government wants to keep religion out of politics then it shouldn't be allowed to tax it. Separation of Church and State has to work both ways. The reason why we can vote is basically because we pay taxes.
Also, despite what some would like to believe, church's do not make a profit, and use the money to basically do what the goverment should/would be doing anyway - helping the poor.
2007-09-25 15:49:49 · answer #3 · answered by Thom 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
IMHO No charity should be taxed.
But what is a charity? I think that this definition should be changed so that it includes a provision that at least 60% of the money given to it passes on to perform actual charitable actions.
Anything not meeting this criteria gets it's income and property taxed just like any other business.
2007-09-25 15:49:17 · answer #4 · answered by Simon T 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They should be taxed. Some of the richest businesses in
the world hide under the religion umbrella. Since
governments, such as the US, are among the largest donors
of charity, religions should help support the efforts of those
countries in which they thrive.
2007-09-25 15:58:00 · answer #5 · answered by TruthSeeker 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The 'godly' governments did not 'tax' the Levites, the ungodly ones did tax them accordingto scripture. Which is our government?
2007-09-25 16:06:05 · answer #6 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if not all taxes at least the ones that pay for street maintenance, garbage pickup, fire and police protection. Services they use and rely on.
It does seem funny that my donations to a church are untaxed as are the church's activities.
2007-09-25 15:52:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The minute they support a political candidate, they become a PAC and should pay taxes.
2007-09-25 15:54:16 · answer #8 · answered by Ũniνέгsäl Рдnтsthέisт™ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They should be taxed. They are a profit making organization.
2007-09-25 15:45:09 · answer #9 · answered by glitterkittyy 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
All businesses have to pay taxes. *shrug*
2007-09-25 15:45:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋