What do you think of same-sex church wedding ceremonies?

[Planeia]

Hey! I'm an atheist trying to stand up for your church to not get taxed...

And you're doing a pretty horrible job at it.

That sounds so subjective.

[Genivaria]

Again, according to my religion God is fine with it. So why do you assume that your beliefs are the only beliefs?

Because Protestants are heretics, nothing they preach matters in the slightest, it's all baloney. It's a sect founded by an insane king so he could divorce his wife, or a fat guy who accidentally started a religion, or some other hipster kid that didn't want to follow the rules. There's no legitimacy to any of it.

There's no legitimacy to the Catholic Church either but that doesn't stop them.

[The Flood]

You hateful bigot.

Your one of those sickening evil internet atheists that loves anything that hurts religion, no matter how evil it is.

Taxation. How evil.

Taxing a religion violates my right to freely practice my religion, so yes, it is evil.

[Divair]

And you're doing a pretty horrible job at it.

That sounds so subjective.

It is. Now are you going to reply to the several posts that you haven't responded to a page back?

[Grave_n_idle]

Again, according to my religion God is fine with it. So why do you assume that your beliefs are the only beliefs?

Because Protestants are heretics, nothing they preach matters in the slightest, it's all baloney. It's a sect founded by an insane king so he could divorce his wife, or a fat guy who accidentally started a religion, or some other hipster kid that didn't want to follow the rules. There's no legitimacy to any of it.

All religions are equally legitimate.

Except Scientology.

[Divair]

Taxation. How evil.

Taxing a religion violates my right to freely practice my religion, so yes, it is evil.

So taxing a newspaper violates rights as well, right?

[Grave_n_idle]

Taxation. How evil.

Taxing a religion violates my right to freely practice my religion...

Taxing a church, on the other hand, doesn't.

[The Flood]

Taxing a religion violates my right to freely practice my religion, so yes, it is evil.

So taxing a newspaper violates rights as well, right?

A newspaper is not a religion. Don't be naive.

[Genivaria]

Taxation. How evil.

Taxing a religion violates my right to freely practice my religion, so yes, it is evil.

Yes and banning bullying of gays is bigotry to Christians, you're trying to expand what the word means to give yourself more privilege.

[The Tovian Way]

Because Protestants are heretics, nothing they preach matters in the slightest, it's all baloney. It's a sect founded by an insane king so he could divorce his wife, or a fat guy who accidentally started a religion, or some other hipster kid that didn't want to follow the rules. There's no legitimacy to any of it.

Not all of we Anglicans (the divorce-happy insane king reference for those playing the home game) are Protestants. Most of us are, unfortunately, but there's still a few Anglo-Catholics left.

[Genivaria]

So taxing a newspaper violates rights as well, right?

A newspaper is not a religion. Don't be naive.

It's speech and expression though. Is religion more important then those rights?

[Divair]

So taxing a newspaper violates rights as well, right?

A newspaper is not a religion. Don't be naive.

But what about my right to hold opinions? What if my newspaper goes bankrupt because of taxation? That's violation of my rights. All newspaper should get tax exemptions. TV shows too. And blog hosting companies. And forums.

[Qahadim]

Because Protestants are heretics, nothing they preach matters in the slightest, it's all baloney. It's a sect founded by an insane king so he could divorce his wife, or a fat guy who accidentally started a religion, or some other hipster kid that didn't want to follow the rules. There's no legitimacy to any of it.

All religions are equally legitimate.

Except Scientology.

I just got off the phone with Tom Cruise's people. You are expected in court one hour from now.

[Planeia]

That sounds so subjective.

It is. Now are you going to reply to the several posts that you haven't responded to a page back?

I believe someone said it before. Most churches count as charity organizations. I can see taxing for-profit churches, but the churches that actually give back to the community through soup kitchens, sheltering, orphanages, etc, should be left alone.

[Czechanada]

Taxation. How evil.

Taxing a religion violates my right to freely practice my religion, so yes, it is evil.

Religious services, are well, services. It would be like not taxing a motivational speaker or theatre. A holy man does something and receives a profit for it, and thus should be taxed like any other business. If a particular church does charitable work, then let them apply for tax exemption like any other charitable organization out there.

[Divair]

It is. Now are you going to reply to the several posts that you haven't responded to a page back?

I believe someone said it before. Most churches count as charity organizations. I can see taxing for-profit churches, but the churches that actually give back to the community through soup kitchens, sheltering, orphanages, etc, should be left alone.

Of course. We're not going to force every single religious organization to be taxed. They should, however, all go through the standard process that every other organization does.

[Genivaria]

It is. Now are you going to reply to the several posts that you haven't responded to a page back?

I believe someone said it before. Most churches count as charity organizations. I can see taxing for-profit churches, but the churches that actually give back to the community through soup kitchens, sheltering, orphanages, etc, should be left alone.

I agree entirely. Let them EARN their charity status like everyone else instead of having it given by default.

[Planeia]

A newspaper is not a religion. Don't be naive.

But what about my right to hold opinions? What if my newspaper goes bankrupt because of taxation? That's violation of my rights. All newspaper should get tax exemptions. TV shows too. And blog hosting companies. And forums.

Good idea.

[Divair]

But what about my right to hold opinions? What if my newspaper goes bankrupt because of taxation? That's violation of my rights. All newspaper should get tax exemptions. TV shows too. And blog hosting companies. And forums.

Good idea.

I'll take that as a concession.

[Grave_n_idle]

All religions are equally legitimate.

Except Scientology.

I just got off the phone with Tom Cruise's people. You are expected in court one hour from now.

"Fair Game" makes Scientology organised crime, not religion.

[Planeia]

I believe someone said it before. Most churches count as charity organizations. I can see taxing for-profit churches, but the churches that actually give back to the community through soup kitchens, sheltering, orphanages, etc, should be left alone.

I agree entirely. Let them EARN their charity status like everyone else instead of having it given by default.

However as I said before, wedding homosexuals should not be one of the things that earn them their exemption. They should not have to do things that go against their religion.

[Genivaria]

I agree entirely. Let them EARN their charity status like everyone else instead of having it given by default.

However as I said before, wedding homosexuals should not be one of the things that earn them their exemption. They should not have to do things that go against their religion.

You realize you're objecting to something that noone is pushing for right?

[Grave_n_idle]

I believe someone said it before. Most churches count as charity organizations. I can see taxing for-profit churches, but the churches that actually give back to the community through soup kitchens, sheltering, orphanages, etc, should be left alone.

I agree entirely. Let them EARN their charity status like everyone else instead of having it given by default.

This seems reasonable - it's hard to find a legitimate argument against it.

If a church functions charitably, and is not political - it should get the same tax status as charities, on it's charitable endeavours.

(If it's political, it should conform to the same rules and requirements as political activist groups).

[Grave_n_idle]

I agree entirely. Let them EARN their charity status like everyone else instead of having it given by default.

However as I said before, wedding homosexuals should not be one of the things that earn them their exemption. They should not have to do things that go against their religion.

I don't think anyone has actually argued they SHOULD do so, have they?

[Luveria]

I agree entirely. Let them EARN their charity status like everyone else instead of having it given by default.

However as I said before, wedding homosexuals should not be one of the things that earn them their exemption. They should not have to do things that go against their religion.

Wedding homosexuals? Do you not realize there are bisexual same-sex couples, transgender people, and various others seeking same-sex marriages who are not homosexual?

Your choice of wording is woefully inadequate when discussing same-sex marriage. Furthermore, I haven't seen any politicians advocating forcing churches to perform same-sex marriages so I don't see why you bring it up in the context of what would allow a church to earn charity status, as I was under the impression charities and marriage ceremonies are in two different categories.