Ending God's Tax Exempt Status

Originally Posted by DanaC

Unless as a nation you are prepared to do what it takes to resolve problems like homelessness, drug-abuse, poverty and assorted other ills, I suggest you allow some of those churches to continue their outreach work. They take up a lot of the slack in the system. There are no doubt many are deserving of greater scrutiny, but just as the Church has historically been a force for obedience and acceptance, it's also often been the one organisation that has sought to ameliorate some of the worst conditions for poor communities.

Allow?
This changes none of that.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Was there something about "showing that they are using the funds to provide the service intended" that confused you?

No. Is there something about what "service" a church is "intended" to provide that confused you?

Yes. What "service" does it provide that should give it tax exempt status?

Art like theatre helps everyone and they can show that 80% of their income goes directly to providing art to ALL people who walk through their doors. You gonna' draw a comparison with a church.
80% who walk through the doors can be shown not to go to hell? LOL!!!!

[Clodfobble]

As I already explained to Spexx: walking through the door, being a member, giving any dollar amount, or taking part in the church services do not give you either forgiveness or salvation. You have no idea how an average local church operates.

I would be willing to bet that 80% of a church's attendees have been to a wedding or funeral at that location, and/or received a positive, comforting experience from their attendance. That's what they came for and that's what they got, just like a theatre performance.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

As I already explained to Spexx: walking through the door, being a member, giving any dollar amount, or taking part in the church services do not give you either forgiveness or salvation. You have no idea how an average local church operates.

I would be willing to bet that 80% of a church's attendees have been to a wedding or funeral at that location, and/or received a positive, comforting experience from their attendance. That's what they came for and that's what they got, just like a theatre performance.

So the local bar should also be tax-free.

Apparently, and they do a better job, one that can be quantified.

I love it... religion is art now... at least we are acknowledging that it is a lie.

[Clodfobble]

Wait, when did you go back to being "HungLikeJesus?" You're confusing me, man!

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Apparently, and they do a better job, one that can be quantified.

Wow. I was giving HLJ the benefit of the doubt, that his post was a joke. You are obviously aware that a bar owner takes home a profit while no one takes home a profit with a non-profit organization.

The funny thing is you apparently think that I believe churches should stay tax exempt. I don't really care if they are or not, if they were they'd likely just set up separate organizations for their charity work so people could donate directly. I'm just trying to show you how your definition of what constitutes a "non-profit" and a "charity" and a "service" are skewed and hypocritical.

I was joking as well. Geez... well in that a church and a bar are the same thing.
My definition is neither.
Show me why. Be clear and specific, otherwise yours is just an ad-homonym statement meaning nothing.

[Clodfobble]

So do you agree that this makes a church equivalent to a non-profit theatre troupe then?

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I would be willing to bet that 80% of a church's attendees have been to a wedding or funeral at that location, and/or received a positive, comforting experience from their attendance. That's what they came for and that's what they got, just like a theatre performance.

So do you agree that this makes a church equivalent to a non-profit theatre troupe then?

I stated the complete opposite above... you may try reading the posts before yours, tail-poster.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Wow. I was giving HLJ the benefit of the doubt, that his post was a joke. You are obviously aware that a bar owner takes home a profit while no one takes home a profit with a non-profit organization.

The funny thing is you apparently think that I believe churches should stay tax exempt. I don't really care if they are or not, if they were they'd likely just set up separate organizations for their charity work so people could donate directly. I'm just trying to show you how your definition of what constitutes a "non-profit" and a "charity" and a "service" are skewed and hypocritical.

CF - I was making a joke - sort of. I truly don't understand what makes a non-profit/not-for profit company. I interviewed for a job with a non-profit engineering company. I asked the owner "do you get paid?" and he said, "Of course I do." So how is that different from a for-profit engineering company? I'm just confused.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

...The "fee for service" is actually a valid idea--you are paying for the weekly comfort, the marriage ceremonies, the funerals, the marital counseling, the childcare while you participate...

Around here, you pay additional fees, I mean donation, for a wedding, the minister presiding over the wedding, childcare, etc.

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

... But forgiveness is absolutely not a function of church attendance or monetary donation, in the Protestant faith at any rate.

Not all Protestant sects are the same. Here's what the Lutherans do:

This is followed by a declaration from the Pastor (now facing us) to the congregation:

[9th Engineer]

Personally I don't think that artist groups should be tax exempt at all. They're an entertainment venue, not public service providers.

Art as something that should be free to the public is an excellent discussion, for another thread.