religious exemptions are dumb no matter what. Churches should pay taxes and everyone should get the vaccine
true dat. I used to work for the Lutheran church's local Synod office. they paid me minimum wage which was $4 per hour. they laid me off right after they spent $90k on a new phone system.
oh, and I couldn't even collect Unemployment because as a religious organization they weren't required to pay into it.
I know I've said this before, but it really sucks that the prosperity gospel schmucks (Osteen, Bakker, etc.) and the Catholic Church (and other megachurches) have destroyed the reputation of smaller churches.
I've been attending my Presbyterian Church for eight years. I'm hardly a model Christian but I have a strong faith. I was recently nominated for deacon, and it's been an eye opening experience.
Last Sunday, the first day of Advent, 113 total worshipers attended the two services. Despite the modest size of the congregation, the amount of good works and giving the church does utterly blew my mind. It seemed impossible that this modest EPC church in rural Eastern Lancaster could pour this much money back into the community. No strings attached. Really.
I loathe the Osteens of the world more than anyone because they turn people away from God. It's evil. But ending tax exemption for all churches would do nothing but destroy the small to medium sized community churches and let the mega churches dominate.
I'm surprised more people don't understand that. Ending tax exemption would allow Christianity in America to be dominated by the very mega churches that they detest so much. And it would destroy our ability, and the ability of thousands of other modest churches like ours, to channel resources to small communities that need it the most.
Sorry for the rant, I used to think this way but now I find it disturbing that I hear "make churches pay taxes" so often, without qualifiers. I know some people hate all religion, and that's ok (you won't get any proselytizing from me), but that would hurt a lot of people (many of whom never attend church and don't plan to any time soon).
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