Australian Politics Forum - It is time to tax religion

Sappho Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 1406 Gender:	It is time to tax religion May 26^th, 2011 at 2:48am One thing I have always been against is the tax free haven... or is that heaven... which religions get to enjoy. It shouldn't be this way. We all pay taxes so that national wealth can be better distributed amongst all peoples.
Back to top	"Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables." IP Logged

NorthOfNorth Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 17258 Gender:	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #1 - May 26^th, 2011 at 5:40am The intaxability of Religion... A quirk in our logic of taxable activity that the likes of L Ron Hubbard exploited to an outrageously successful effect.
Back to top	Conviction is the art of being certain IP Logged

Sappho

Gold Member

Offline

OzPolitic

Posts: 1406
Gender: female

Re: It is time to tax religion
Reply #2 - May 26^th, 2011 at 1:59pm

If by a quirk of logic you mean that it is unconscionable to tax god, then it is faulty logic. We would not be taxing god, we would be taxing the wealth accumulation of religion for the purposes of redistributing that wealth.

Tax is a socialist concept... something Jesus would be in favour of, given he was a socialist through and through.

Back to top

"Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables."

IP Logged

NorthOfNorth

Gold Member

Offline

OzPolitic

Posts: 17258
Gender: male

Re: It is time to tax religion
Reply #3 - May 26^th, 2011 at 9:16pm

Sappho wrote on May 26^th, 2011 at 1:59pm:

If by a quirk of logic you mean that it is unconscionable to tax god, then it is faulty logic. We would not be taxing god, we would be taxing the wealth accumulation of religion for the purposes of redistributing that wealth.

Tax is a socialist concept... something Jesus would be in favour of, given he was a socialist through and through.

However, tax (as the Holy Fathers have manipulated it) is mundane and contingent... 'god', on the other hand, (or what Gen Y call spirituality), is beyond the trivialities of this world... ergo... "Tax is beneath religion".

Besides, as the bible informs us, tax collectors, are "sh!t under the shoe"... are they not?

Back to top

« Last Edit: May 27^th, 2011 at 7:16am by NorthOfNorth »

Conviction is the art of being certain

IP Logged

Sappho

Gold Member

Offline

OzPolitic

Posts: 1406
Gender: female

Re: It is time to tax religion
Reply #4 - May 27^th, 2011 at 6:04pm

NorthOfNorth wrote on May 26^th, 2011 at 9:16pm:

Sappho wrote on May 26^th, 2011 at 1:59pm:

If by a quirk of logic you mean that it is unconscionable to tax god, then it is faulty logic. We would not be taxing god, we would be taxing the wealth accumulation of religion for the purposes of redistributing that wealth.

Tax is a socialist concept... something Jesus would be in favour of, given he was a socialist through and through.

However, tax (as the Holy Fathers have manipulated it) is mundane and contingent... 'god', on the other hand, (or what Gen Y call spirituality), is beyond the trivialities of this world... ergo... "Tax is beneath religion".

Besides, as the bible informs us, tax collectors, are "sh!t under the shoe"... are they not?

If tax is poo under the shoe, then so too is tithing because it is a tax upon the faithful for the purposes of redistributing wealth.

Back to top

"Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables."

IP Logged

freediver Gold Member Online www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53199 At my desk.	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #5 - May 28^th, 2011 at 10:15am Does anyone know how most relgions spend their money? I think you'll find they look more like a charity than most activities that are directly taxed.
Back to top	People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words. IP Logged

Sappho Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 1406 Gender:	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #6 - May 28^th, 2011 at 12:50pm freediver wrote on May 28^th, 2011 at 10:15am: Does anyone know how most relgions spend their money? I think you'll find they look more like a charity than most activities that are directly taxed. Charitable spending would reduce their tax obligation as it does for everyone.
Back to top	"Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables." IP Logged

freediver Gold Member Online www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53199 At my desk.	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #7 - May 28^th, 2011 at 12:53pm I thought the tax exemption applied to the donations to the church, not on the spending side. Perhaps the suggestion is that the church should be charged GST on the products it sells? What taxes exactly should they pay?
Back to top	People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words. IP Logged

Grey

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 5341
Gender: male

Re: It is time to tax religion
Reply #8 - May 28^th, 2011 at 1:06pm

freediver wrote on May 28^th, 2011 at 10:15am:

Does anyone know how most relgions spend their money? I think you'll find they look more like a charity than most activities that are directly taxed.

If it was down to what they 'looked like' I think the Salvation Army should be charged a surtax to for offences to architecture.

Another for music too of course Wink

Back to top

"It is in the shelter of each other that the people live" - Irish Proverb

IP Logged

freediver Gold Member Online www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53199 At my desk.	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #9 - May 28^th, 2011 at 1:07pm Yes, they certainly come up short when it comnes to building grand churches.
Back to top	People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words. IP Logged

Sappho

Gold Member

Offline

OzPolitic

Posts: 1406
Gender: female

Re: It is time to tax religion
Reply #10 - May 28^th, 2011 at 1:52pm

freediver wrote on May 28^th, 2011 at 12:53pm:

I thought the tax exemption applied to the donations to the church, not on the spending side.

No, I was referring to the tax concessions they can apply for because they are engaged in charitable work.

Quote:

What taxes exactly should they pay?

Well, if they can show that they are not for profit NGOs then I would say that there tax obligations and concessions should be the same as that of a not for profit NGO.

Back to top

"Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables."

IP Logged

NorthOfNorth Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 17258 Gender:	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #11 - May 28^th, 2011 at 4:45pm freediver wrote on May 28^th, 2011 at 1:07pm: Yes, they certainly come up short when it comnes to building grand churches. Guess they're too busy making war on the causes of malignant suffering.
Back to top	Conviction is the art of being certain IP Logged

freediver Gold Member Online www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53199 At my desk.	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #12 - May 29^th, 2011 at 7:55am Sappho would you agree that almost all religions are non-profit?
Back to top	People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words. IP Logged

Sappho Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 1406 Gender:	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #13 - May 29^th, 2011 at 12:01pm freediver wrote on May 29^th, 2011 at 7:55am: Sappho would you agree that almost all religions are non-profit? Not completely. There are elements in most religions that are not 'not for profit' and as such they should be allowed to apply for tax concessions in the same way other 'not for profit' orgs do.
Back to top	"Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables." IP Logged

freediver Gold Member Online www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53199 At my desk.	Re: It is time to tax religion Reply #14 - May 29^th, 2011 at 4:01pm Can you clarify? Who is it that takes the profits?
Back to top	People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words. IP Logged