Despite growing up in total Catholic immersion (or maybe because of it) I have never understood the need some people have to be inside a building surrounded by other people before they can pray....or before their prayers can be “valid”. Yes, I get the “sense of community” but I personally have always found the presence of a crowd to be an intrusion on my inner thoughts and prayers. I’m not there to be sociable, I’m there to talk to God (when I actually DO go. But then, I’m always taking to him.....or that’s my excuse). I mean, community can be found anywhere. And so can God......I respect the faiths of others but it’s no excuse for acting like petulant, self centered toddlers......Call me judgmental, but it just seems like gambling with the health and lives of others for your own self aggrandizement is the opposite of “Christianity” in general.....
This is one of the reason I favor a complete flat tax. No more itemized deductions, except maybe dependents deduction,, everyone pays the same % whatever that is.
I know it’s really easy to shit on churches over the whole tax thing, but it’s worth pointing out that for every douchey Joel Osteen mega church there are 10,000 small churches hosting food banks, giving out fuel vouchers, paying people’s rent and bills, fixing their cars, clothing their children and the list goes on and on. And they don’t just do it for their “own”. Churches have given out more aid than any other charitable organizations in existence combined, bar none, and it ain’t even close. I’m not a church-goer, but it’s pretty hard to deny their impact. My father in law runs a church in a very small and poor town out here. If it weren’t for him many kids there would probably not have clothes to wear or food to eat because their tweeker parents are scumbags.
non profits can write off taxes for charity donations....almost every millionaire has one for tax purposes....priests used to take vows of poverty to devote themselves to helping others....if you are a pastor who makes less than 19k a year you don't have to pay taxes anyway....if you turn a profit....should be a different story
I think a lot of people use it as social circle. Especially those without family close by. But yes it is stupid. I was raised Catholic, but now I’m agnostic. I think organized religion is a farce.
I agree...for some, going to church is more of a social thing than a spiritual thing. Most wars and much of this world's problems are the result of religious differences, as well as greed and geographic boundaries.
Reminds me of the old CW song; "I don't believe that heaven waits, for only those who congregate" Unfortunately, people will find a way to justify just about anything they do.
Not worth it. I’d much rather our government, funded by the taxes we pay, take care of our citizens than the brainwash brigade...
While we’re at it, let’s make planned parenthood pay taxes too. You know, since they’re deemed “essential.”
Non-profits are tax exempt. Planned Parenthood, unlike many churches, does not have billions of dollars in assets. Do you want to tax all health care non-profits or just the one that serves women?
