DuckPhup's ideas on sueing Christianity...What do you think?

Question

First read this completely...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071006085437AAlYwgx&r=w#DrddMDL7DEH9MaxtFxVh
I noticed there were very few "Christians" that replied and seem to have avoided the question completely...What is your arguments for justification against these claims. On the subject of not taxing the Church properties there are many great points to be brought up, for instance...The 15 Billion in funding needed to insure 4 million uninsured children (which was recently vetoed by Mr. Bush) could come directly from these dodged Church property taxes instead of a 60 cent tobacco tax increase (I am guessing his little Iraq civil war could be funded by this lack of taxed property as well) Before sending any answers please read the question from this link first...http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071006085437AAlYwgx&r=w#DrddMDL7DEH9MaxtFxVh

Thank you very much for your kindness and time.










;o}

RA'men

Answer 1

I think that religion should be taxed as any other commercial enterprise. There are cities that already will not give building permits for new churches becasue the loss of property tax revenue is hurting them.

As for the lawsuit..I think it would have to be broken down by denomination. Sue the southern baptist, the methodist, the Catholic church etc until all are included. These are specific organizations that can be represented by law.

Answer 2

The Christians aren't answering because they haven't had time to ask their minister/priest. You know they can't think for themselves, don't you?

It is a great idea. DuckPhup has an amazing mind, He comes up with the most brilliant ideas and comments on here.

As for practicality, who would be able to sue the Vatican when they have more money than any nation on earth? Fort Knox even holds a large store of their gold.

I think we need to start small. Start taxing the income-producing properties the churches own. Tax the church-owned properties that are not directly used for church services. Tax the money the churches give to organizations who lobby Congress. If the church doesn't give at least 15% of their money directly to charity, tax it. etc.

You were aware that a church doesn't need to give one dime to charity to still be tax-exwmpt - weren't you? They also do not need to worship Bible God or any other deity. You can have a church that does nothing but watch sports on TV. As long as you follow the rules, you are tax-exempt. So this is NOT against Christians, or Muslims, or Jews. It is against some people getting something for nothing and making all the others pay for it. Which is Not a democratic ideal.

I just don't think anyone can tax "religion" directly.

Answer 3

He made some really good points... and I'm all for taxing Religions (ALL of them - including the Pagan Institutes - which most of those pay taxes anyway, so it wouldn't be a big deal - it's hard for a Non-Christian Religion to get Tax Exemption like that). But instead of suing something as abstract as Christianity, people should be pushing those Networks (like the 700 Club, EWTN, The Vaticans property in the states) to pay property taxes and have to go through all of the IRS BS every other corporation has to go through each Fiscal Year. They should have to show exactly where their "charity" money is going, instead of just writing it down in a book that it went to "Children Charity" (yes, that is how many of the larger churches do it... and they don't get asked questions about it - See Pat Robertson's fraud with "Operation Blessing" - links below) People like Robertson and other groups like his, should be taxed to hell and back (pun intended). But you can't sue "Christianity" as there are individuals within it that don't follow along with this type of fraud (especially on the scale this snake does it).

I would be all for suing groups like Robertson has. Take away their Tax Exemption and make them cough up their records (something they have been avoiding for YEARS!!!) They have "closed files" with the Gov't, which I believe is against the laws of CHARITY groups... even the Freemasons have to give up their files to the Gov't and are open to anyone of the public who wishes to view them. I know they do, my husband is a Freemason and I can go see the files without telling them that my husband is a Freemason. But again, we can't sue "Christianity"... but you can sure go after groups like Robertson has.

Answer 4

I think somebody hit it on the head when they said you need to specify the organization. When you say Churches or Christianity it is too general.
I would be willing to sign such a petition, but if it is filed in the USA would it only apply to the USA.
Maybe it would be a good test case for the International Courts.
I think going after the Catholics first makes sense because they are "The Mother Of All Churches" and the other sects and religions would be easy after that.

Answer 5

When I read through DuckPhup's question the first time it was exciting to imagine that there might be a way to hold Christianity accountable for its actions. What an extraordinarily good idea, I thought.

As I read it the second time, I felt myself becoming afraid. ...something that always happens when I think about the role of Christianity in American civilization.

By the third reading, I began to feel fear, cold as ice, running down my spine. I recalled what happened to Madeline Murray O'Hair and her family, just because she objected to mandatory prayer in public schools. I recalled the fate of numerous gynecologists, brutally murdered by Christian terrorists. I recalled the beatings I've suffered at the hands of Christians, because I refused to renounce my atheism and accept their ignorant superstition as a part of my life.

As much as I would love to lash out at those who have oppressed me all my life, I fear that such a lawsuit would do more harm than good. There is simply no way Christians will stand for such a lawsuit. They already imagine themselves answering to a "higher" authority than mere Federal law, how will Christians ever be restrained from marching on Washington and simply burning it to the ground? This is the sort of thing that starts civil wars. As much as I want revenge on Christianity for the incalculable damage it has done to the human race, when I think about this proposed action, all I feel is a deep abiding fear. While I think the cause is just, I don't think it benefits American civilization to be ripped apart by the consequences of this proposed lawsuit. (Yeah, that's right I'm afraid.) I vote, "No, thank you."

Answer 6

In Ontario (that's a province in Canada) we are going to elections next week.

One of the candidates, the "Conservative" (Republican) candidate WAS running his campaign on the promise to fund ALL religious schools! Well, the citizens of Ontario got so up in arms, saying their public taxes should NOT be spent on schools that want to segregate their kids in their own private establishments to teach religions they don't subscribe to!

He has stopped talking about using our taxes to fund all religions, but if we elect him ... he'll go ahead with it anyway. Guess who I'M not voting for!
.

Answer 7

I think they should pay taxes like the rest of us. The church is the biggest money making business in the world. Yes, it is a business. All other businesses pay taxes, they should ,too.

Answer 8

The only problem I have with it is that Christianity is a sort of collective unconcious. There really isn't an entity that you can sue.

Answer 9

Is it true that Moses peed on a shrub and it bloomed manna for a week?

Answer 10

So, you would sue the Salvation Army, the ones who do show up right away in emergencies like Katrina or the WTC terrorist attack on 9/11 and end their good works in the name of Jesus in order to give that money to the government thats wastes it without a thought to those in need and delays or never shows up to help in disasters?

Brilliant! End all the good done by the churches so you can give the money to that oh-so-efficient institution, the federal government. Do they allow any people with IQs over 80 to reside where you live? Stupidest idea I ever heard.

Got Christ?