2007-11-14 07:06:42 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My question is not ridiculous if some people are answering 'no.' I'm sure some people think only "real" religions deserve the rights governments give religions. (non-taxation, access to Jails, etc)
2007-11-14 07:13:13 · update #1
We have the right to practice religion freely in this country, so yes, they should.
But we are not as free as we think we are.
2007-11-14 07:08:49 · answer #1 · answered by Wizzle 4 · 10⤊ 1⤋
I WOULD HOPE SO!
WE are supposed to be living in a Nation if you live in the USA and this is the USA section of Y!A not the British so I don't wanna hear you yanks and crap because this is the USA section and hence wanker off bugger!!
Anyways, the USA is founded on FREEDOM OF RELIGION as well as FREEDOM of Speach and other rights, so ALL religious legaly accepted faiths in the USA get the same tax breaks as a Catholic CHurch does, you just have to show and prove that you are a priest or preistess of a legititametly accepted Religious organization withing the USA and they DO have a list of accepted PAGAN and Christian as well as Jewish and Arabic tax exempt laws for all.
It just falls to proving you are a true priest or priestess if you are Pagan in an accepted faith of the US government, and they deserve all the same rights as the other churches ONLY THOUGH
I do not beleive that the church no matter which faith it is even my own should not have to pay taxes, for that just inceases property taxes for local citizens. If churches paid taxes as we do then they could reduce Nationally a huge amount of our property taxes and we all know it. What gives them a right to have all this land for free? SURE I can see the spot where the actual church or place of worship is no problem, but not houses and land donated to them by individuals after they die. That is not fair.
See what I mean? So yes they should have all the same rights but none should have free taxes except at the actual places of worship or true holy lands, not giften and bought land.
2007-11-14 15:38:16 · answer #2 · answered by Legend Gates Shotokan Karate 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. It is my understanding that some wiccan 'churches' are non-profit too (I could be wrong). Our country was founded on freedom for all--so even if we do not believe in what that church has to offer it doesn't mean they should be treated any different. I am a Christian, and even though I wish we all thought and worshipped the same way, the fact of the matter is we don't and we all have to play nicely with one another. We all need to treat others as we wish we would like to be treated, and I think if all religions were more 'forgiving' of one another (I really dont' want to use the word tolerant) things would go much more smoothly in this great country of ours.
2007-11-14 15:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by tamisue 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not ridiculous but I think it's misworded. I've never heard of pagans having a church organization. But the gist of your question remains, and I'd say yes. If they lose their freedom to worship--or not worship--as their conscience dictates, so could everybody else. I wouldn't take that freedom away from anybody.
Edit--by no church organization I mean that church is a Christian term, not to imply they never gather for communal worship.
Edit--LabGrrl, I did not mean to imply anything insulting, but most non-Christian religions do not like the blanket term "church." They want the correct term--coven, temple, mosque, etc. If pagans call their gathering church, I apologize for not knowing that. But the main point remains, everybody should have freedom to worship or not, as they choose.
2007-11-14 15:18:01 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First of all, Pagans do not worship in a "church".
Second, why would a person of any faith not be awarded the same rights as any other?
Your question is ridiculous.
[edit] So, how long has the government relied on you personally to define what a "real" religion is?
2007-11-14 15:10:01 · answer #5 · answered by Celestian Vega 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Paganism is a religion. They are protected under the U.S. Constitution just like any other religion.
2007-11-14 15:19:32 · answer #6 · answered by mollyflan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Any religion that obeys the laws of the land should be allowed the same rights and freedoms as other law abiding religions.
2007-11-14 15:12:34 · answer #7 · answered by gumby 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Freedom of Religion.
It's in the Bill of Rights.
Go read up on your history and law.
2007-11-14 15:12:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely.
2007-11-14 15:10:03 · answer #9 · answered by War Games AM 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely.
2007-11-14 15:09:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
They are not "churchs" in the common form so much as sacred spaces. And YES they do.
2007-11-14 15:37:47 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋