Atheism is a religion? Christianity is not a religion? Really?

Question

If that's actually true, as various Christians claim, shouldn't we put Christian churches on the tax rolls and give a tax-free status to atheists instead? The First ammendment to the U.S. Constitution addresses freedom of religion, not "relationships with God", so it seems to me that Christianity really does not deserve these protections.

Pappas&Beer, on Yahoo! Answers it has been stated time and time again by numerous Christians.

The real point of this tongue-in-cheek question is not about taxes, but rather about Christian attempts to elevate their beliefs above those of others and insult those with no religion at all.

Answer 1

Isn't it the other way around?

Answer 2

First, um...Dawn?

"i got a better idea .. why not just get rid of income tax altogether since its unconstitutional .."

I have an even better idea - let's read the Constitution:

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived"

It's the Sixteenth Amendment, sweetheart.

As to the question, I'm assuming some asinine weird pseudo-Christian was trying to argue a philosophical point and/or say that they are Christian, but they don't follow the teachings of the Church (Only the Bible). And then there are the people that believe Atheism is a religion, little knowing the difference between religion and belief.

As to the first, more power to them. Christians are one of the the biggest problems in the world today. I agree with Gandhi: "I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians." Follow Christ if that's what you want to do. Have fun. There's nothing wrong with an old-school hippie, walking around with long hair and a long beard in sandals talking about peace and love...

As to whether or not Atheism is a religion, or lack thereof, unlike Christianity, Atheism doesn't really have founding documents or a real set of rules. About the only thing that all Atheists can agree on is that there is no God of any variety. (and even that varies by degrees - I've heard of Deists being a more, for lack of a better word, liberal sect of Atheism) However, that leaves open the possibility of an Atheist being Buddhist, Taoist or almost any other philosophical belief that doesn't stem from one of the three "Desert" or "Abrahamic" religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

There are, of course, exceptions, like the Native American religions, Hinduism and Greekism (if that's what it's called) to name a few, but you get the point.

As far as taxation goes? I fully support a 25% tax on everyone that makes more than Poverty (with no tax able to make their net income fall below Poverty) and every institution with no returns or loopholes. (Imagine how much money the government would have if everyone paid 25%)

However, the problem is that, although businesses can get help from the federal government for startup capital or get bailed out of a fiscal jam, churches can't. Since they really can't use the services offered to other service companies by the federal government (plus they're supposed to be a non-profit group [Admonishment to you Catholics]) I would say that they should be immune from federal tax or pay a very little amount because of the few services they can use (DHS/FBI); however, they use local services like police, fire, ambulance, etc, like everyone else, so they should have to pay local, state and property tax just like everyone else.

Answer 3

People who say that "Christianity is not a religion" OR that "atheism is a religion" aren't distorting the term religion...they are insisting on a complete and accurate definition instead of the popular definition that makes belief in a diety the defining characteristic of a religion. I've always objected to someone putting a "religious" label on me, because I absolutely detest religion. My most significant problem with the term religion is that it smacks of collectivism...a one-size-fits-all approach to pleasing God (whatever god the religion worships) and earning heaven (or whatever another god offered). Religion also implies the construction of various "structures" on top of small set of foundational beliefs...a complex set of things that people must do or must not do in order to be a "true believer". I view such structures as a barrier to finding the truth for yourself. Now I've seen and heard atheists and Christians (and many other groups, except perhaps agnostics) say and do things that smack of a collective approach...and I've met atheists and Christians that don't have a need to ask others what they should believe and think to be a "true atheist" or a "true Christian" (or anything else). In my mind, the former are BOTH religious, while the latter are non-religious believers or non-believers.

Answer 4

I an atheist who thinks religion is just another form of social control and for that reason should be tax free but atheism is just as much a religion as on with no leader can be. An athiest doesn't belive in cheating anyway, we belive in man and its creations and would like to see them directed into more productive branches..... So in a sence if its not broke don't fix it. Its kinda nukinfuts.

Answer 5

I'm going to assume you're joking because that's not what the First Amendment says.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or restricting the free exercise there of."
So don't tax Atheists, Christians, or anyone who follows a religion.

Answer 6

I have seen that response often too.
I believe that everybody should pay taxes, religious or not. If a business get taxed so should a Church. If they want to claim charity or nonprofit status then they can open their books for auditing like every other charity has to.

Answer 7

Jesus said,when asked about the law,"Render unto Ceasar those things which are his, & unto God those things which are His."
Christians are followers of Christ,not any other sect or group.
Christ came for His church,so therefore we are the church of Christ & we have no dues to the govornment as Christians,but as citizens of that region,we must pay taxes & follow the laws.No one can tell us who to worship or when,except God.

Answer 8

Christianity is a religion, you just have those stupid hippies who say: "Praise the Lord!" all of the time...They prefer the term 'relationship with God'...Atheism isn't really considered a religion, atheism is the absense of all religions...Though, some Atheists are Satanists...Satanism is a religion...

Answer 9

I pay loads of taxes, and I paid them when I was a Christian.
Now I am a Child of God and I still pay loads of taxes, and when I was an Atheist I paid loads of taxes. I've never had a tax shelter in my life.
I apologize, but I don't get it. Are you telling us you're an Atheist and you don't want to have to pay any taxes or are you telling us you have a "relationship with God" and don't want to pay any taxes.
Or do you just want to see everyone contributing equally, in accordance with their income?

I think that if an organization calls itself a non-profit organization, then they should not show enough profit to hire a minister, ever.
They certainly should not use loopholes in the law to prosper in their organization and misappropriate government subsidies set aside to pay for health care and food for the poor.

I think we might actually agree, but I'm not quite understanding your question..

Try again

Good luck

Answer 10

said this before-churches should not be tax free-just dont think this one will change for a long time-as for atheism being a religion-i will pass-dont think i want one---enjoy the night

Answer 11

Atheism is a religion - the atheist by denying god first conceives a god and then denies it. But believes in another concept -'not-god'.
-Christianity by its name itself believes in the concept of the religion created by Christ - it is not Godianity.

So, if a religion is something in which god has a place, it is in atheism because the atheist believes - but not in the form or name created by religions.

Religions believe more in themselves than in god because to the followers -
the Religion is more important than god.