just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
Are you saying Personal beliefs should be taxed? and the promotion of faith is taxable?
If a religion makes too much money in donations, governments should cream it off for their coffers instead?
Secular Governments can decide what constitutes an allowable faith for their people to believe in?
Thats all I seem to be getting from this thread.
It's sad to see the knee-jerk hatred of witnesses effect people's cognitive processes so much on here.
Slightly disturbing to see the glee from those who in any other breathe would hate Russia's control over their People but because it concerns Jw's enjoy and support the curtailing of freedom of religion.
I applaud those on this thread that do not fall into that knee-jerk reaction to support Russia's decision.
Russia is a Secular government it has no rights over the mental property of our spiritual choices and is going somewhere they shouldn't.
Maybe at some point they will read the bible and start blocking out the bits or even ban it completely. Maybe changing wording like Jesus saying "narrow is the path, few finding it" change that to "all roads lead to God and everyone finds it via your nice friendly Russian government leaders because they chose it for you"
Its interesting to see how different governments work towards the same ends. Producing a user friendly religion that doesn't ask too much of it's followers beyond a vague leaning towards "some God out there" and definitely doesn't challenge any governments rulership and control over their people.
just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
Hi bohm
I am not arguing the point on whether religions abuse their non-profit status (clearly many do) but they are the mental property of our spirtuality.
Whether I pay taxes on money I give to a religion is irrelevent. The point is that I pay taxes.
It is paying tax twice if the spiritual choices I made are taxed too when I can be an atheist for free?
Religions are not secular businesses even if some people treat them so.
As soon as a government decides it has the right to dictate the mental property of our spiritual lifes it is going beyond it's authority. Going into to a place it is not meant to be.
It is a bit dishonest to say they "make Profits" since everything donated is a profit? The money is meant to be ploughed right back into the religion and yes they must at times accumulate money and property. But if all these are being used for the spiritual well-being of people what is your issue?
Also taxes isn't really the main issue but that the religions chosen are unacceptable to the Governments therefore they tax them. what next?
You do not want to be supporting the government thinking they have the right to decide our spiritual property. AKA which God we believe in.
Atm it is just taxes but I wonder what will happen if france gets more hungry after it's taster from Jw's among others?
When people stop going to churches so much for weddings, funerals, services, what will the governments do then?
just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
People no longer will be asking religions what God they believe in but what charitable work they do from a list of acceptable ones. Ex-Religions will just join the thousands of non-religious charitable organisations. And a poor, starving person will get food but he/she doesn't need a Bible apparently or to know about Jehovah.
The People that donate to religions have already paid taxes to the governments, this is just another way for governments to get more of their money.
just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
Exactly 3moz
I pay taxes to my government. when I donate to my religion it is for God not governments.
just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
Hi darthfader
Define business? Ours is a voluntary and non-profit organisation, we offer weekly bible studies for free for as long as a person wants them from our own time and free publications and bibles in multiple languages. So people all have the opportunity to learn about Jehovah God and his son Jesus. Our donations are from among ourselves.
People have a creteria of what they consider acceptable charity work..spirtual feeding is becoming very low on that list, if on it at all!
Feed the hungry? yes charity.
help the disabled? yes charity?
help the aged? yes charity?
build pretty gardens and parks? yes charity.
Cat sanctuary? yes charity
Feed people spiritual knowledge about God and teach his word the Bible?...NO it's not real, God isn't real! religions need to prove they do charitable things like above. Never mind what God people believe in.
You think the governments should have a money slice of our spiritual choices?
The fruitage of this is religions will have to drop God and do acceptable charity work instead!
Hi math
I refer you to the above and add
So if a religion makes too much money a government is allowed to cream some off for themselves?
just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
Hi bohm
Please don't sidetrack me with a strawman. Scientology may not be my choice of religion but ATM Jehovah has given freewill to choose and accept the consequences of that choice.
If you want to be an Atheist and have a finite life? that is what you get...finite life.
If you want to join a religion that was started by a fiction writer? that is what you will get..fiction.
If you want to join a man-made false nameless triune God that doesn't exist in the bible? that is what you will get...non-existent nameless God.
My choice I fully accept is Jehovah and I accept the consequences of that choice too.
Religious people's donations to religions are not the political governmants jurisdiction. Unless a religion is actually breaking the laws of the land the governments should not be dealing with them. And they certainly should not be taxing our beliefs.
just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
Hi Nicolaou.
However demoncratically elected a Government is, it should not invade our spiritual choices.
In England you see two apposing political Partiess trying to run a country ATM after a recent demoncratic election and what is scary is the only thing they agreed on is how much power and money they get off the people.
In America a Personality is chosen as President and the reality is the political machine behind him making his choices for him.
Do I think any of these could make a sound choice as to what religions are suitable for me to believe in? ehh Nope.
Polititions should stay away from religion but like I said it is a predicted thing that they will not!
When I donate money to my chosen religion I am donating it to my God and his people, not to politicians.
Hi Bohm
How this happens? frankly, I don't know! Prophecy fullfillment is very much a "wait and see" situation all we can do is prepare ourselves.
just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
Why would I need to give reasons to a tax payer? Religions support themselves! They do not take taxes, tax exempt simply means they don't pay them!
If a Political Government are going to make this move why some religions but not all of them? You don't think France won't enjoy this new source of money from taxation of people's donations to their spiritual life and then think "hmmm lets do it to all of them?"
You do not see that taxing religions is just another way for polititions to get money from average people? and in this instance from peoples religious choices?
Our Spiritual choices are God's bailiwick not political leaders.
I respect political governments for the authority Jehovah has given them but they seem to be getting greedy as to what they control!
just another update on 1 australian senators quest to squash the tax free status of scientology/jw's and other cults:.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/call-for-independent-charities-commission-20100912-1570g.html.
now the election is over, hopefully wont take too long for legislation to pass.
Yes governments should be able to decide what religions are acceptable or not for the people in their country and milk the ones they decide against with dedicated followers for money.
Tick the box for which religions the governments thinks are acceptable for you. Make your pick of 2 or 3 accessed and suitably governmentally shaped religions for you.
It is a predicted thing the move towards governments coming to the point of ultimately destroying religions but it is sad to see the reality of the stepping stones being set in place before they walk that road.
