One of my problems

[Furiidomu]

1. Whether or not churches should exist is irrelevant. They serve no useful social purpose but as long as they are organized and operate according to the laws of the land they should be permitted.

2. They should be taxed on their property and income like any other business...which is what they are.

Thank you for your reply.

1. So laws should never be changed? I don't understand why their existence is irrelevent, please explain. I feel like their existence plays such a large part in wordly affairs and my daily life.

2. Agreed, if they are allowed to exist.

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They should be allowed to exist because I don't think my lack of belief of God means I can try to stifle and eradicate the beliefs and practices of people who do.

I think Churches should not get tax exempt status. I also think churches need to be held accountable for any bad behavior. *cough* Pedophilia *cough* But banned? No. That's an extreme measure and goes against my first and foremost belief in freedom of religion, which involves the right to believe or not believe as you wish, with the obvious exception of being allowed to permit acts that harm other people, and churches do not do that.

Thank you for your reply.

I understand your feeling that it is not your place to tell others what to do. But, you say that they should be taxed, they should be held accountable. Isn't this telling them what to do?

I think that freedom of religion is a dangerous idea. I think that freedom from religion is much more appetizing. History has shown that if we give religion the freedom to exist in any from, it ultimately entails them commiting 'acts that harm other people'.