New York Times Columnist: ‘Time To End Tax Exemptions for Religious Institutions’

http://time.com/3939143/nows-the-time-to-end-tax-exemptions-for-religious-institutions/ ^ | 6/28/15

[Rodamala]

I very much support the idea of unregistered churches

My church will never marry any homosexuals... then again, I am the Pastor, and only parishioner of my church.

[Rodamala]

It’s harder to argue that Joel Osteen’s organization is a church

+1

[abb]

Do you think that over 50% of black voters are living off free stuff?

Probably not. But the Free Sh!t Army is much more politically organized and will drive the outcome.

[I_be_tc]

Don’t allow any tax exempt. Clinton Foundation, Gates Foundation, ALL COLLEGES (as they are quite political), etc., need to be taxed. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, all of them lose their tax free foundations.

If my church pays taxes, I will increase my donation to assist their tax. Gets government out of control of them.

Let’s be done with the threats.

[CodeToad]

[Senator_Blutarski]

Just got in a multihour long FB debate with my lesbo niece about SSM. At the end she let it slip that forcing Christian churches to marry gays is the goal.

This is about intolerance and hatred directed toward Christians who fail to endorse the gay agenda. They love to employ the heavy hand of government to force their views on others. Tolerance toward gays is no longer acceptable to them.

Some animals are more equal than others.

[BwanaNdege]

Read early church history on what happened to those who still paid taxes but refused to eat of the sacrifices to god Caesar.

Please explain how this applies to churches loosing their tax exempt status.

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
1 Corinthians 8:1-8

[Jean2]

True. I wonder if this will apply to mosques. If it does; good luck with that one, NYT!