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Should Churches be Tax-Exempt?

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Simple answer to a simple question. No.

(it's not often I get to borrow an entire post from Andy because it perfectly sums up my position- yay!)

:)
 
Geo said:
Simple answer to a simple question. No.

(it's not often I get to borrow an entire post from Andy because it perfectly sums up my position- yay!)

:)
Click to expand...

First, it's nice to see my friend Andy on the side of the raising taxes. That ain't going to sit well with the Tea Party. Haha

Seriously the question has more complexity than a simple yes or no answer.

A. Generally speaking, a church building is very, very different a typical commercial property. A church, for the most part, has one use-a church. A commercial property can host a myriad of businesses. Commercial banks tend to look at lending for church expansion much more stringently than other commercial developments-even in the boom days.

B. If non-profits are NOT tax-exempt, then do we really want the athletic field beside the YMCA to be taxed as commerical property? When I was a kid vacant lots hosted baseball and football games, now that's as likely as a kid learning Morse Code.

I know a YMCA where donor built a bowling alley. He had plenty of money and his wife liked to bowl. It is not operated as a commercial business. Before the libertarians in the crowd say it keeps a for-profit bowling alley out of town, let the record reflect that podunk town couldn't support one otherwise.

Complex problem have answers that are simple, easy-to-understand and wrong. H.L Menchken.

Now let me take a shower, I need to go to church, where we rent so I have no skin in the game.
 
Con men seem to gravitate toward the tax exempt status of churches. You see them selling god bearing products like "Gods Children" bracelets out of a hitch trailer etc... you've seen them.

My neighbor, a new minister, invited me to a Baptist Church once so I went to support him. The collection took up an hour as they announced how much each family had given that morning and allowed people time to clap or not depending on the donation. I couldn't believe it. Talk about pressure to donate! Several months later, through my own research, I discovered the church leaders had used church funds to start a sub-prime loan company that preyed on the poor for profit.

This just turned my stomach to see such abuse of the religious system. Those guys are going straight to Hell.
 
Buz Livingston said:
First, it's nice to see my friend Andy on the side of the raising taxes. That ain't going to sit well with the Tea Party. Haha

Seriously the question has more complexity than a simple yes or no answer.

A. Generally speaking, a church building is very, very different a typical commercial property. A church, for the most part, has one use-a church. A commercial property can host a myriad of businesses. Commercial banks tend to look at lending for church expansion much more stringently than other commercial developments-even in the boom days.

B. If non-profits are NOT tax-exempt, then do we really want the athletic field beside the YMCA to be taxed as commerical property? When I was a kid vacant lots hosted baseball and football games, now that's as likely as a kid learning Morse Code.

I know a YMCA where donor built a bowling alley. He had plenty of money and his wife liked to bowl. It is not operated as a commercial business. Before the libertarians in the crowd say it keeps a for-profit bowling alley out of town, let the record reflect that podunk town couldn't support one otherwise.

Complex problem have answers that are simple, easy-to-understand and wrong. H.L Menchken.

Now let me take a shower, I need to go to church, where we rent so I have no skin in the game.
Click to expand...

Libertarians don't take issue with alturism, Buz. :wave:
 
AndrewG said:
Con men seem to gravitate toward the tax exempt status of churches. You see them selling god bearing products like "Gods Children" bracelets out of a hitch trailer etc... you've seen them.

My neighbor, a new minister, invited me to a Baptist Church once so I went to support him. The collection took up an hour as they announced how much each family had given that morning and allowed people time to clap or not depending on the donation. I couldn't believe it. Talk about pressure to donate! Several months later, through my own research, I discovered the church leaders had used church funds to start a sub-prime loan company that preyed on the poor for profit.

This just turned my stomach to see such abuse of the religious system. Those guys are going straight to Hell.
Click to expand...

Don't forget to wave at them.

[SIZE=+1]The Gospel according to[/SIZE] [SIZE=+2]St. Matthew[/SIZE][SIZE=+2]7[/SIZE]
Judging Others Lk. 6.3738, 4142 1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mk. 4.24
Click to expand...
 
If a church is going to support a particular political agenda, and I think they do, they should be taxed!
 
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