Ive read the various comments about the Society and how it demonstrates the kinds of fiends they are, for auctioning the house instead of selling it. I do not see it. If someone would like to post something that really demonstrates that auctioning an inherited property is devious, I would be glad to listen.
I do not know how charities work in the UK. I know that in the USA religions are registered with the IRS under a 501C classification. This does not require that they give something back to society. It is used only to differentiate an organization that is not primarly profit related from one that is. However, if an organization, church, or other non-profit, does something non-related that makes a profit, they have to declare it and pay taxes on it.
For instance, if I start to collect donations for my church (which I can do now that I am ordained with the Universal Life Church) and I use those donations for building a meeting hall, then that is non-taxable. If I use the donations to pay base expenses, such as certain meals, or transportation expenses, that are related to my duty as a minister, those are non-taxable. If the donations, or the church itself, buys or leases me a car, as long as I am only using it for church duties, I do not have to pay taxes. Once I start to use it for personal use, the line gets hazier and hazier and eventually, I have to pay at least some tax based on my percentage of personal use of the vehicle.
I understand that many ex jws think Jehovahs Witnesses are not a religion and not entitled to 501c classification, or other charity classifications in other countries. A lot of that though depends on the law. If the law allows religions to have such classification then they are most certainly entitled to it. Personally I think religions should be treated like everyone else. If a religion takes in donations, it has to pay income tax on them in the same fashion as everyone else. No perks. Though of course they also would get to deduct expenses like everyone else, such as payroll, utilities, rent or mortgage and so forth. Thus they, like everyone else, would only pay taxes on their profit.
We want to believe in religious freedom, but I have noticed from many ex jws that religious freedom, .like for most people, means religious freedom for those that think like us. I do not have to believe the things that JWs believe. I do not have like their practices. I can oppose shunning. I can expose their UN policies and membership. I can even demand that they, and all religions be held to the same rules that apply to secular society. Such as reporting abuse. filing taxes and providing information in their files about members to the members, (as in Englands law which requires companies and charities to do so..similar to the USA's freedom of information act, though our act only requires the govt to provide such information).
But in demanding these things, that religion be treated the same as everyone else, I also require that religions get the same fair treatment. If the law allows religions to get away with not paying income tax like everyone else, then that has to apply to everyone. If the law allows religions to inherit, then that has to apply to everyone. If the law allows auctions instead of normal straight up sales, then that has to apply also. I fail to see how it is devious. And when I am looking at the society, I am hoping not to color my vision of knowledge and experience of things that are indeed demonstrations of selfishness, hypocrisy, and harm to their members on their part, with such visions in every action that they take, even those things that are not such as mentioned.
I do not of course close my eyes to the great harm that is caused by them, other christian religions, other religions, other govt organizations, other businesses, other philosophies, other persons around the world. I merely am saying I am better off looking for harm where it exists instead of being offended at things that are not harmful.
All of that now being said, would it have been nice if they were a true charitable organization? Wouldn't it be nice if they took this money from the house and donated it to at least JWs that are in dire need and also told those jws not to worry about donating in their poor state? Wouldnt it be nice if they had real educational programs, like critical thinking courses and wouldnt it be nice if they encouraged college attendance and even, gasp, offered scholarships or at least loans to those attending? Sure all the way around. But none of this helps me to see how them auctioning a house that they inherited rather than just sellingg it on the market, makes them fiends.
Goddess Bless (thyself)
