The tax exemption for churches used to exist for a reason.

[strategery blunder]

If churches paid taxes, said churches would expect and demand a say in how those taxes are spent, like any other taxpayer. The tax exemption theoretically takes away this expectation, because why the hell should churches have any say in appropriations if they don't pay taxes to appropriate? In this manner, the exemption helped to maintain the separation of church and state, by keeping the churches out of politics.

And it's not like churches were the only organizations that had church-exempt status. Nevertheless, the above, in a nutshell, is why churches are eligible.

But, before I get flamed, I would also like to point out that this system has broken down under the Bu$h administration.

I'm sure it won't be long before we get all kinds of Dominionist links on this thread; I don't have them handy right now. But suffice it to say, that RW fundie televangelests weren't content with this sort of "live and let live" policy regarding religious taxation and political influence. They wanted to have their cake (churches not paying taxes) and eat it too (complete control of the country).

Which brings me to a certain Baptist church in North Carolina.

Said church never paid taxes, and therefore should have left political decisions up to the members of the congregation, who did. But instead, said church tried to intimidate its congregants into voting a certain way, and just had to whore for Bu$h*, making it, as far as this Christian is concerned, a Republican party front.

Now, I made political contributions, and I didn't even try to deduct them from my taxes, because I know better. This church, in claiming tax exemption while engaging in political activity, and attempting to influence the state, defrauded the government and gave up its right to tax exemption.

This Christian believes that, if said church cries "OMG!!shift+111! Religious Oppression!!11!!!" when it loses its tax exemption, said church needs to shove it. Because such claims are bullcrap. Christians are not persecuted. I've been persecuted a hell of a lot more by "Christians" than I have been by atheists.

I'm sorry if this is somewhat incoherent, but meh.

Edit for punctuation

[IChing]

1. Congress give Christian School $1 million (37 students)

Aid to Christian School In Alaska Spurs Lawsuit
By Brian Faler
Special to The Washington Post
Monday, May 9, 2005; Page A21


There are those who complain that Congress does not care about the concerns of the little guy. But those people do not attend Alaska Christian College.

The school, founded five years ago and affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church, has 37 students. It is not accredited and does not grant degrees. It offers, instead, certificates in biblical studies at the end of a student's first year and certificates in biblical and general studies to those who complete a second. Over the past two years, Congress has given the school more than $1 million.



That amounts to a significant chunk of the school's annual operating budget, although its president declined to say exactly how much. It is also an unusually large amount of federal aid for a school its size, some outside education policy experts said. It has proved enough to attract critics -- more critics, perhaps, than the school has students -- who complain that the school is a thoroughly religious institution that, by law, is not eligible to receive the money.>>>>snip


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1455703&mesg_id=1457402

[followthemoney]

2. The church tax exemption is a subsidy. The load they don't

carry gets covered by those who do pay taxes. If they want to freeload they should shut up, as O'Reilly would say. If they want to be political organizations then they should carry their own weight and not always be looking for a handout from those not affiliated with their program.

[ohtransplant]

3. Some of these fundies should check their history.

When church and state get too close, it's the church that does the state's bidding, not vice versa. As a result, they're risking the very existence of their churches but can't see the forest for the trees.

[strategery blunder]

4. And it's happening again

The fundie churches are doing the bidding of booooooooooooooo$h*, but what are they getting in return?

The Rethuglikkkans have retreated from their gay rights amendment (for now). They'll prolly bring it up again right before the next election, of course...:eyes:

Oh, and the Rethuglikkkans will also keep abortion around so they can pull its strings in future elections.

Meanwhile, the Rethuglikkkans are using the fundies as cover while they rape and pillage the Treasury of the United States.

[ohtransplant]

5. And all the while...

Nero fiddled as Rome burned...

Their "leaders" should be exposed for what they relly are. Greedy, power-mongering profiteers.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

6. Chief Justice Marshall: "The power to tax involves the power to destroy"

That's another aspect of the tax exemption for churches. If the government could tax churches, it could theoretically favor one denomination over another, or use its taxing authority to decimate a religion which opposes current policies. The Quakers, with their longtime objection to war, come to mind.

One problem that the founding fathers didn't anticipate was the rise of televangelism and the mega-church. Where the political activities of a small church might not warrant attention, it's another thing to have the ability to use religion to require several thousand parishioners to vote for specific candidates.

In addition, these mega-churches remove sizable amounts of property from the tax rolls, while requiring the community to use its resources to provide fire and police services, as well as the infrastructure to support the facility. In this aspect non-member taxpayers are subsidizing the religious beliefs of others.

[strategery blunder]

7. Yes, I overlooked this.

My bad.:)

In other news, I'm surprised this thread hasn't turned into an üb3rmegaflamefest yet. A religion thread on DU is supposed to be an instant 100 replies, at least five of which get deleted.:evilgrin: