originally posted in:Secular Sevens
It is tyranny. You don't see any theists advocating for taxing churches, it's only atheists that hate religion so much that anything that hurts religion is good and acceptable to them.
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Edited by dr0cx: 8/14/2013 2:13:39 PMThat's not an argument, it's an accusation. You claim taxation of churches would be tyranny, so prove it. All you've given me so far is opinion. Exempting churches from taxation is a violation of the establishment clause. [quote][b]Amendment I[/b] [u]Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion[/u], or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.[/quote] Exempting religious organizations from taxation IS an establishment of religion. The "free exercise thereof" means that Congress will not prevent you from exercising your religion. Free does not mean "without taxation". It also is counter-intuitive for religious organizations to be "tax exempt" because that requires a higher degree of government oversight than the alternative. [url=http://www.idealist.org/info/Nonprofits/Basics4]Non profits are subject to taxation[/url], yet none is claiming tyranny. [url=http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=fi&page=cragun_32_4]71 billion a year[/url], that is what religious tax exemption is costing the American tax-payer. This would resolve some fiscal issues, be invested in education, or take out [url=http://www.policymic.com/articles/46915/graduation-2013-massive-student-loan-debt-stifles-innovation-and-creativity]7% of our student loan debt[/url].