OT Taxing churches

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We attend a relatively small church. Very, very accountable. I have no issues with how they operate and the full disclosure they provide. That said, I'd probably be much more comfortable simply meeting in a home, similar to how the first (Acts 2) church operated. I see more and more home churches popping up. They're very prevalent in other countries.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
My response to you in regard to the last sentence is the same as to Shaboid.
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I have been to many churches in my time. Some large, some small.
I have found the smaller ones to be far more genuine, less judgmental and accepting, regardless of denomination.
The best church i ever attended? An all Black Baptist church in Colorado a friend took me to. They took me in (only white guy in the church of 30 some odd attendees) and I ended up attending every Sunday until I moved.
I am still in contact with the person who got me to go 20 plus year agoand will never forget his, and their, kindness and open arms.
WITH THAT SAID, I don't trust most churches for a few reasons.
And with THAT said, something tells me yours would be trustworthy.
 
riverman said:
You'll enjoy that....he's wonderful...my wife keeps his cds in her car and we enjoy his music....music I love is church to me..church is where people exist in harmony with nature...that's also my concept of god ...wherever that occurs...you have "god"
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Love ya......I think.

 
BlazerBender said:
I have been to many churches in my time. Some large, some small.
I have found the smaller ones to be far more genuine, less judgmental and accepting, regardless of denomination.
The best church i ever attended? An all Black Baptist church in Colorado a friend took me to. They took me in (only white guy in the church of 30 some odd attendees) and I ended up attending every Sunday until I moved.
I am still in contact with the person who got me to go 20 plus year agoand will never forget his, and their, kindness and open arms.
WITH THAT SAID, I don't trust most churches for a few reasons.
And with THAT said, something tells me yours would be trustworthy.
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I would love to attend a mostly-black church. I wish my wife would be down with that.
 
BlazerBender said:
Hello,
May i ask where?
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Sure....that was at Alton Baker Park in Eugene near Autzen stadium....they stock it regularly and when they do you have about a 2 day window before it's fished out. Tomorrow I'm going up to Leaburg and I tell nobody where my spot there is....lots of people fish next to the hatchery there but I have a spot off the beaten path
 
Churches do a lot of good for society. Ones that don't should be taxed and all others should not be taxed.
 
ABM said:
At a risk of TMI, Chris Botti is love-making music for my wife and I. When the mood arises (pun intended), it's "Alexa, play Chris Botti music!"
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Ahhhh. It all makes sense now. I have been wondering why you played Chris Botti at your place when I hung out with yall in Panama City. I'm feeling fortunate that the wings were the only spicy thing in the house.
 
theprunetang said:
Ahhhh. It all makes sense now. I have been wondering why you played Chris Botti at your place when I hung out with yall in Panama City. I'm feeling fortunate that the wings were the only spicy thing in the house.
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Despite our apparent political (et al) differences, that was a very cool night. :)
 
ABM said:
Despite our apparent political (et al) differences, that was a very cool night. :)
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Most definitely. I don't discuss politics in person, unless it is forced on me. I have the same system in place with my conservative Christian family. I don't "appreciate" religion like some others, but I feel I have my own set of values and morality that works for me.

Maris and I have actually texted recently. Looks like hanging won't work out this summer, but possibly next year at some point.
 
riverman said:
Sure....that was at Alton Baker Park in Eugene near Autzen stadium....they stock it regularly and when they do you have about a 2 day window before it's fished out. Tomorrow I'm going up to Leaburg and I tell nobody where my spot there is....lots of people fish next to the hatchery there but I have a spot off the beaten path
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Thank you. I will be getting back more into fishing this and coming years.
 
BlazerBender said:
Well!!!
It is very relaxing unlike sex, but better? I think thats up for debate. Lets find out shall we?
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I'd debate it if only I could remember what sex was. Funny how I've never forgotten fishing even though I can no longer do it.
 
Back to church and taxes....it seems that non profit needs to be defined more specifically to me. The Red Cross is non profit designed for donations and charitable contributions as is the Buddhist Tsu Chi foundation...I think if you are handling large amounts of money in the name of you religious organization it needs to be put to humanitarian use and not to buy private jets and mansions...I like the Quaker approach..they have no church but meet once a week in each other's homes in small groups....no money exchanges hands around their faith. They also refuse to go to war for religious reasons...a very sensible form of Christianity from what I've read and seen...I'm not religious any more but have been in a chapter of my life....I have enjoyed temples in Asia..Easter Mass in a cathedral and Southern Baptist black revivals when I first went to New Orleans. I've also seen Sufi dervishes at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF perform their whirling prayer dance and in the same show saw Tibetan Monks playing those 20 ft long trumpets that sound like a science fiction movie soundtrack....it's all wonderful...I should include the Hopi rain dance at the 4 corners and yes...at the end of the dance, it rained!
 
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Yes. We taxpayers are subsidizing religion to the tune of billions of dollars annually. And many openly engage in political activity. Let them fund themselves.
 
crandc said:
Yes. We taxpayers are subsidizing religion to the tune of billions of dollars annually. And many openly engage in political activity. Let them fund themselves.
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How are taxpayers subsidizing religion?
 
A lot of organizations are eligible for property tax exemptions. Fraternal organizations like the Elks (which, let’s face it, are primarily drinking establishments with a charitable bent) don’t pay property taxes. Schools, as long as they are not for profit can qualify for an exemption. Literary organizations, charitable institutions, scientific organizations and others that are generally seen as beneficial to society and not about making a profit all have the ability to be free of property taxes. I would think an atheist organization designed to promote science and do public services would qualify. These discussions usually single out churches because some folks don’t like organized religion.
 
e_blazer said:
A lot of organizations are eligible for property tax exemptions. Fraternal organizations like the Elks (which, let’s face it, are primarily drinking establishments with a charitable bent) don’t pay property taxes. Schools, as long as they are not for profit can qualify for an exemption. Literary organizations, charitable institutions, scientific organizations and others that are generally seen as beneficial to society and not about making a profit all have the ability to be free of property taxes. I would think an atheist organization designed to promote science and do public services would qualify. These discussions usually single out churches because some folks don’t like organized religion.
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I think it's quite a difference given the political clout and enormous wealth that is generated by televangelists and fundamentalist lobbyists...organized religion....our money says In God We Trust...not In Science Do We Trust......I don't dislike religion in general...I dislike greed and a lack of separation between church and state....I don't have that problem with science and state or the Elks club and state...atheists aren't telling people not to have babies or giving donations to that cause. Religion should be personal and private but not dictating our laws or policies in general.
 
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