Comments on: Religion is Not about Tolerance

By: James Tracy

James Tracy — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:56:55 +0000

The problem with religious moderates is that they are not willing to criticize what is so obviously at the root of many of these issues – faith and religion – because it would force them to become a bit too self-reflexive.

By: AngieJackson

AngieJackson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:14:05 +0000

You're my hero and you're totally invited to my Anti-Theist blog.

By: AngieJackson

AngieJackson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:14:05 +0000

You're my hero and you're totally invited to my Anti-Theist blog.

By: Richard_Collins

Richard_Collins — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:29:16 +0000

I have tried to get my hands around the murky topic of church finance. One estimate I read is that churches own three trillion dollars worth of property. They are organized as tax free charities, but so far as I can tell there is no requirement for them to justify their status by showing how much of their spending actually goes on benevolence. One recent comment I read by a person who was serving on his churches governing body said that spending on benevolence was way down the list. Essentially churches are nothing more than private social clubs operating for the benefit of the members. Some of the megachurches operate fast food restaurants, auto repair shops and book stores. While they have to declare profits separately from their donations whatever is left after they pay taxes typically goes towards the church. I think that is the way it works, but like I say whenever I try to research the status of church finances I draw a blank.

By: Modern Times And The Challenge Of Spiritual Growth

Modern Times And The Challenge Of Spiritual Growth — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:04:16 +0000

[...] Religion is Not about Tolerance (endhereditaryreligion.com) [...]

By: hambydammit

hambydammit — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:25:53 +0000

I'm actually rooting for those folks. If enough people blatantly abuse church-state separation, we might have some luck in calling for a serious overhaul of the church's tax-exempt status. I wonder how many people have thought about just how much tax revenue the government would generate if it charged even a modest income tax on churches.

By: Richard_Collins

Richard_Collins — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:26:02 +0000

Hard hitting and to the point. I especially like the argument that if religion was truly about tolerance we would not be witnessing all the emotional, and sometimes even lethal, outbursts around the world that stem directly from religion. Another point worth mentioning is the phenomenon of "creeping dominionism". The far right zealots have convinced more "moderate" believers that political activism is in their interests and that using tax exempt church property and assets is perfectly justifiable regardless if they are violating tax laws put in place deliberately to thwart such use. The attitude that the ends justify the means is a direct threat to the rule of law.