Speaking of closing loopholes: Religious Tax Exemptions cost US $71,000,000,000

[healthpellets]

That's an estimated $71B every year that could be used on all sorts of fun things like healthcare, teacher salaries, roads, etc.

Has the time come to reexamine the necessity of religious tax exemptions?

The original study: http://www.secularhumanism.org/index...ge=cragun_32_4

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendl...s-71000000000/

We know churches get tax exemptions, but how much money does that actually come out to?

University of Tampa professor Ryan T. Cragun along with students Stephanie Yeager and Desmond Vega ran some calculations and figured out a number:

So… chump change.

Their article (with a defense of how they calculated the amount) appears in the June/July 2012 issue of Free Inquiry.

The researchers already know what they’ll get criticized for:

Cue reporter Kimberly Winston‘s article in which she interviews a critic of this finding:

Right… because church leaders never use the pulpit to oppose civil rights for gay Americans, or speak out against affordable/accessible health-care for women, or use the extra money to buy themselves a larger house because Jesus wants them to be prosperous…

The researchers also ran a few other calculations:

Given the current political scene, none of this is going to change anytime soon. Religious groups have far too much power in Washington and they’re not about to ask the government to remove their special privileges. But we can keep the pressure on.

Even if these calculations are proven to be off, the principle isn’t going to change: Religion is a business, churches get tax breaks they don’t really deserve, and we’d all be better off if they paid their fair share.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

"Non-profit" describes a church's legal status. It does not necessarily describe their balance sheet.

So, like any non profit then.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by blaise

So, like any non profit then.

Well, non-profits (other than churches) don't have teaching, supporting, and marketing their religious views as their primary mission.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Well, non-profits (other than churches) don't have teaching, supporting, and marketing their religious views as their primary mission.

remove the word religious and you are dead wrong... plenty of non-profits exist to promote their views.

Which gets to the heart of the issue... you hate religion and want to impose your hatred on others. Nice work! Do you not see how much of an asshole move that is?

The only difference between a religious non-profit and another agenda based non-profit is the religion aspect... which you don't like so you discriminate against.

You do realize that you are a bigot, right?

If you want to get rid of tax breaks for everyone, fine... if you want to TARGET religious institutions, simply because YOU don't see any value in them... you are an intolerant, ignorant bigot.

[vailpass]

Visiting the Vatican archives is an amazing trip. My folks recently returned from
Lux in Arcana, reported that it is a living breathing history experience.
Tax the church my ass.
Bring it on boy.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Well, non-profits (other than churches) don't have teaching, supporting, and marketing their religious views as their primary mission.

So...churches are a non profit.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

remove the word religious and you are dead wrong... plenty of non-profits exist to promote their views.

Which gets to the heart of the issue... you hate religion and want to impose your hatred on others. Nice work! Do you not see how much of an asshole move that is?

The only difference between a religious non-profit and another agenda based non-profit is the religion aspect... which you don't like so you discriminate against.

You do realize that you are a bigot, right?

If you want to get rid of tax breaks for everyone, fine... if you want to TARGET religious institutions, simply because YOU don't see any value in them... you are an intolerant, ignorant bigot.

Oh geez, another debate of definitions with you. So if someone thinks churches should not be tax exempt, that makes them a bigot? I think you're a bigot for calling someone who doesn't think a church should be tax exempt a bigot. The only one expressing hate here is you.

Now if I had said the Catholic church should pay taxes but not the Latvian Orthodox church, you might have something.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Oh geez, another debate of definitions with you. So if someone thinks churches should not be tax exempt, that makes them a bigot? I think you're a bigot for calling someone who doesn't think a church should be tax exempt a bigot. The only one expressing hate here is you.

Now if I had said the Catholic church should pay taxes but not the Latvian Orthodox church, you might have something.

Man, you have ZERO logic skills. I will lay this out for you like I would for a 12 year old.

Organisation A has tax exempt status and teaches ZZZ to people as a non profit.

Organisation B has tax exempt status and teaches YYY to people as a non profit.

YOU are saying that depending on WHAT they teach.. zzz vs yyy .. they should or shouldn't be allowed to be tax exempt. Please explain to me what objective method will be used to judge which teachings have merit in your system?

AGAIN, I ask you, would you give tax exempt status to a non-profit who teaches that global warming is a man made issue? Would you give tax exempt status to a non-profit who teaches that global warming science has not progressed far enough to make reliable predictions? Would you give tax exempt status to a non-profit who teaches about evolution? Would a you give tax exempt status to a non-profit who teaches against evolution?


And you really are a ****ing moron when it comes to understanding the meaning of words. You basically just called me intolerant for not tolerating your intolerance. You can't possibly be this stupid in real life.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Man, you have ZERO logic skills. I will lay this out for you like I would for a 12 year old.

Organisation A has tax exempt status and teaches ZZZ to people as a non profit.

Organisation B has tax exempt status and teaches YYY to people as a non profit.

YOU are saying that depending on WHAT they teach.. zzz vs yyy .. they should or shouldn't be allowed to be tax exempt. Please explain to me what objective method will be used to judge which teachings have merit in your system?

AGAIN, I ask you, would you give tax exempt status to a non-profit who teaches that global warming is a man made issue? Would you give tax exempt status to a non-profit who teaches that global warming science has not progressed far enough to make reliable predictions? Would you give tax exempt status to a non-profit who teaches about evolution? Would a you give tax exempt status to a non-profit who teaches against evolution?


And you really are a ****ing moron when it comes to understanding the meaning of words. You basically just called me intolerant for not tolerating your intolerance. You can't possibly be this stupid in real life.

You fly into a rage faster than Frank Costanza. Sorry I don't accept the meaning that you come up with for already-defined words, but I'm not buying that being against tax exemptions for churches makes someone a bigot. You think it does, well, its up to you to be a dumbass I guess.

You're so offended that I'm supposedly picking and choosing. At some point, someone's got to set a standard.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

You fly into a rage faster than Frank Costanza. Sorry I don't accept the meaning that you come up with for already-defined words, but I'm not buying that being against tax exemptions for churches makes someone a bigot. You think it does, well, its up to you to be a dumbass I guess.

You're so offended that I'm supposedly picking and choosing. At some point, someone's got to set a standard.

Again you didn't answer my post one bit.

What is this mythical "standard" you want?

So far all you have said is... "I'm ok with tax exemptions for people I agree with". That's bigotry. There is nothing logical or objective about that.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS I POSED. Would you support tax exemptions for a non profit that teaches about global warming? etc etc...

As for defined words... you are showing yourself to be completely intolerant of religious groups. Check the definition, that is bigotry. If you want to claim you are not intolerant... please explain how selectively removing ONLY THEIR tax exempt status is not intolerant.

Please try to keep up.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

So far all you have said is... "I'm ok with tax exemptions for people I agree with". That's bigotry.

See the part in bold above. Since I never said that, should I take you for a moron with no reading comprehension skills or just a liar?

I don't think a church should be tax exempt. Whether I agree with the particular church has nothing to do with it. I don't think political parties should be tax exempt either. That make me a bigot there as well?

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

See the part in bold above. Since I never said that, should I take you for a moron with no reading comprehension skills or just a liar?

I don't think a church should be tax exempt. Whether I agree with the particular church has nothing to do with it. I don't think political parties should be tax exempt either. That make me a bigot there as well?

You might be too stupid to argue with.

1)You clearly are anti-religious. You have shown that in you past statements. Fine, that's your prerogative. (You're Bobby Brown!)
2)You have stated that all religious orgs should be taxed but not other non-profit orgs
3)You are a bigot.

A bigot doesn't have to mean that you are intolerant of ONE particular church.. you in fact are intolerant of ALL of them. You show that intolerance by advocating stripping them of tax exempt status because they are religious. Until you show an objective metric that proves otherwise... you are simply a bigot. If you were advocating stripping all orgs of tax exempt status.. you'd be on solid logical footing. Instead you opted to spew your bigoted view of things and favor certain orgs over others simply because YOU don't like religion.

AND you have yet to answer my question on other teaching charities. Like one that addresses global warming...

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

You might be too stupid to argue with.

1)You clearly are anti-religious. You have shown that in you past statements. Fine, that's your prerogative. (You're Bobby Brown!)
2)You have stated that all religious orgs should be taxed but not other non-profit orgs
3)You are a bigot.

A bigot doesn't have to mean that you are intolerant of ONE particular church.. you in fact are intolerant of ALL of them. You show that intolerance by advocating stripping them of tax exempt status because they are religious. Until you show an objective metric that proves otherwise... you are simply a bigot. If you were advocating stripping all orgs of tax exempt status.. you'd be on solid logical footing. Instead you opted to spew your bigoted view of things and favor certain orgs over others simply because YOU don't like religion.

AND you have yet to answer my question on other teaching charities. Like one that addresses global warming...

Just fuk off then. You've had post after post of ranting, you're making up things I said, and then just going off like its true. You've extended the meaning of bigot to include being against tax exemptions. Under your bizarre, irrational, inconsistent, and ever-changing standard, being for or against anything makes one a bigot against whoever is impacted. The possibilites are endless. Take your grade-school mentality, your fabrications of what I said, and your apparent bigotry against logic and common sense and shove 'em up your ass, you freaking lunatic tool.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Just fuk off then. You've had post after post of ranting, you're making up things I said, and then just going off like its true. You've extended the meaning of bigot to include being against tax exemptions. Under your bizarre, irrational, inconsistent, and ever-changing standard, being for or against anything makes one a bigot against whoever is impacted. The possibilites are endless. Take your grade-school mentality, your fabrications of what I said, and your apparent bigotry against logic and common sense and shove 'em up your ass, you freaking lunatic tool.

waaaaaa.

You are not a bigot for being against tax exemptions. You are a bigot for TARGETING religious orgs as the only group to be stripped of tax exempt status. It's the same as if you said you wanted to remove tax exempt status from organisations run by blacks or women. It's arbitrary and bigoted based on your personal intolerance. If you had an objective criteria that religious groups fell under and THAT was your reasoning, then you would have a leg to stand on. BUT you yourself have admitted that they shouldn't be tax exempt, simply because they are religious. That is bigotry. Look up the word.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Just fuk off then. You've had post after post of ranting, you're making up things I said, and then just going off like its true. You've extended the meaning of bigot to include being against tax exemptions. Under your bizarre, irrational, inconsistent, and ever-changing standard, being for or against anything makes one a bigot against whoever is impacted. The possibilites are endless. Take your grade-school mentality, your fabrications of what I said, and your apparent bigotry against logic and common sense and shove 'em up your ass, you freaking lunatic tool.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Some charities have a mission of feeding people, housing people, drug rehab, wheatever. And some have a mission of preaching religion. I think there is a difference.

My church does all of these and so from our perspective there is not a difference. You are just another Lefty hater of Christianity who is trying to live the Beattitudes of Marx and Alinsky;RID the world of Jews/Christians/Jesus !