Yes! Tax The Churches!

by metatron 40 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Night Owl

  Besides, have you not noticed that we have a Mormon bishop running for POTUS

  ........................and a Muslim President.

  NightOwl
• 

  Botzwana

  You guys do know that this is what Witnesses preach right? The stripping of the harlot etc. By taxation? Why would you want one of the Witnesses prophecies to come true is beyond me!
• 

  NewChapter

  I don't actually form my opinions in fear of how JW's will perceive them, or how they will fit in with their prophecy. They no longer have any effect on me. And they don't really need anything to confirm their prophecies----they see their fullfillment everywhere anyway.

  I'm kind of surprised that you think we should give this any consideration at all.
• 

  fakesmile

  its pretty cut and dry. the church is a business. when they order 100 pizzas and save like $60. on taxes, it isnt to feed the poor. its to get the parents $$$ for half ass babysitting. everything that they do is to gain converts in some form. follow the $$$
• 

  fakesmile

  ok, maybe its a bit complicated. but remember, number of members =community power = political power. i just heard that steven colbert professed his love for the catholics. i think he has the power to be our next, next president.
• 

  talesin

  i just heard that steven colbert professed his love for the catholics. i think he has the power to be our next, next president.

  We can only hope!
• 

  jwfacts

  A good point, but let's not forget property tax.

  Property tax is tiny amount in comparison to the value of the property. A congregation of 100 should have no trouble paying the property tax on the local Church/hall. Where religions are using property to run a profitable business, then they too can cover property tax. If some of the property is simply vast amounts of land that does not earn income, and the religion cannot afford the tax, they should sell it. Why should a religious group be able to hold property that is no being utilsed? If a church no longer can attract enough people to cover the property tax, it too should be sold. A religion that has become irrelevant to the people in the community has no sacred right to the land.

  To do so would change the Watchtower society quickly. They would soon scale back on their printing operations if the tax on the printing facilities became unaffordable. There is no reason to print the vast amounts that they do, and constantly be releasing new publications, and they could easily cut back the amount printed and slash the size of property owned.

  I think a case could be made that registered charities do not have to pay property tax.
• 

  finally awake

  a property valued at $2,000,000 would be assessed roughly $40,000 per year in property taxes in my area - assuming that commercial property is taxed at a similar rate as residential property. I pay roughly 2% of the assessed value of my house in property taxes every year. That works out to $3,333 per month in property taxes - or $33 per month per family if there are 100 families in the congregation. Of course, there are other expenses, utility bills, maintenance etc. Keeping those big fancy buildings in good shape isn't cheap. Removing the property tax exemption would quickly bankrupt a lot of churches and charitable organizations .

  That said, the purpose of taxes is to raise the revenue necessary for operating the government. Nothing more, nothing less. Once people start using the tax code for social engineering, it all goes to hell in a handbasket. If people would simply decide what it is that they want government to do, then they could implement a simple and equitable tax system and we'd all be better off. Of course, I'd be out of a job so never mind...
• 

  James Brown

  What country are you in, JB?

  I live in USA Florida.

  I worked with 3 people out of 15 that told me that.

  They seemed to be doing well financially.

  One friend had a house on the water a yacht, several motor boats.

  I dont know the details maybe they are hosing me. I just got married because the witlesses said I had to and

  I was too yong to know better.
• 

  jwfacts

  That said, the purpose of taxes is to raise the revenue necessary for operating the government. Nothing more, nothing less.

  Exactly. If Churches were not allowed to bypass the system then tax would be able to be reduced, hence becoming more equitable for all people. Athiests, agnostics and Spiritual people not connected to a particular church organisation are currently unfairly propping up church groups.