Should Churches Remain Tax-Exempt?

[Nope]

[quote='Nope' pid='815614' dateline='1418306801']

If larger churches do enough physical charity to be considered nonprofit, good for them. Now let them file the paperwork just like every other nonprofit. They shouldn't be above the rules

GC

Separation of church and state, don't you just hate it when something works for an entity you disagree with.

No, I do not hate it. Ideally, the government should be neutral so no, I wouldn't hate it if our constitution is applied equally to even organizations with which I disagree. You must have missed my statement that pastors and other religious leaders would be able to influence their congregations political views if they are taxed. I disagree with most religious leaders but I support their right to free speech.

What does filing paperwork have to do with the fact that religious institutions are not above the law? The first amendment says that the government won't either favor one religion over the other and also, that it won't impede the practice of religion. There is no reason that filing paperwork would hurt the practice of religion.




GC wrote:

I did not ignore what you wrote, you just don't like my response.

I think that I have respectfully responded to your points but I wish that you didn't make it sound as if you were a little child saying the equivalent of, "I am rubber, you are glue."

Nope write:

Christians are currently in the schools, courts and government services.

GC wrote:

That's the right of the individuals, has nothing to do with separation of church and state. All citizens have the right to be in any organization of government.

What? It sounds as if you are saying that religious organizations should have more rights then the individuals that belong to them.

Nope wrote:

Name me one organization that the individual Christian can't say a prayer or read a bible while visiting. Guess what? There isn't one.

GC wrote:

Your right, as far as I know there are none but, again I say that is an individual's right as a citizen of this country. This has noting to do with the church and it's beliefs as an entity.

What is your definition of a church? Last that I checked, churches were made up of individuals. Individuals have rights.

Nope wrote:

Christian students can pray during school and they can read their bibles. They can't disrupt the other students, of course, by forcing someone to pray with them.

GC wrote:

I do not know any case of students forcing other students to pray, I do know there has been many times students have been stopped by teachers from praying.

I was clarifying what the rights of students.

Nope wrote:

Teachers can not lead the students in prayers because that would be conceived as a government official favoring one religion over the other. That would not change. Let me repeat that in bold letters. THAT WOULD NOT CHANGE.

GC wrote:

Why if a Muslim teacher wanted to lead a prayer in school, the Muslim students could participate and the rest would be able to set quite and observe another culture, same for Hindus, Christians and so forth, no favorites there.

We can already share each others' culture in school without having anyone lead prayers in the classroom. If the teacher wishes to teach about other cultures she can let members of different religions talk about their faith or even read about their prayers without actually leading anyone in prayer.

GC wrote:

All religions that are taxed would be able to display there religious symbols and creeds on public property, they would be able to carry out prayer in local government as part of their proceedings. School lead prayer at ball games, prayers to start the day of school and ect. I'm not calling for government to favor one religion over another, I've just been defending the Christian church because it's the one atheist always go after.

The reason that religious symbols aren't displayed on public property is because of the first amendment and doesn't have anything to do with taxes.