Sales Tax

[Lotan]

Here's a recent story from the Christian media...

"(AgapePress) - Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based organization that defends the constitutional rights of Christians, has filed a brief with the State Supreme Court defending a law that provides a sales tax exemption for Bibles and other religious publications.

Recently, the Wiccan Religious Cooperative of Florida sued the State Department of Revenue claiming Florida law that grants sales tax exemption for Bibles and other religious publications violates the constitution's Establishment clause. Liberty Counsel President Mat Staver says the Wiccans paid sales tax on a Satanic "Bible" and, instead of asking for a refund, sued the state."

Is there any good reason that some books should be tax exempt and not others? Who decides what qualifies as a 'religious' publication and what criteria do they use?
If I were to claim, as some Christian polemicists assert, that 'evolution' is my 'religion' could I then demand tax-exempt status for "Origin of Species"? Exemption for one book and not for another amounts to a tangible state endorsement of religious ideas at the expense of other points of view. This gives superstition an unfair advantage.
The only fair solution would be equal tax status for ALL books, regardless of their content. Not only that but this principle should be extended to churches and other 'religious' organizations and media.

[jcrawford]

Married Christian men shouldn't be taxed at all until their God-given procreative and reproductive rights in marriage are fully restored to them or they get equal religious representation and legal rights in government.

Who gets to decide whether or not they are "Christian"?

They do. Who else?
Who gets to decide whether or not they are "atheists?"

It does not matter as long as there are no tax breaks for specific religions.

But there are, and should be, since Congress has no right to tax religious institutions.

But by advocating that a specific religion or group of religions should be granted tax breaks, you are advocating the establishment of religion.

In America, one is at liberty to advocate the establishment of religion with or without tax breaks.

Many would claim Christianity, if the claim of being Christian exempted you from taxes. Do try to be reasonable.

A little motivation to get to Heaven never hurts. What's unreasonable about advocating tax exemption for Christian Fathers who have had their lives and marriages disrupted by secular politicians who advocate the right of their Christian wives to get abortions, and the unfettered right of non-Christian abortionists to kill their male offspring?

[jcrawford]

You don't have to be Pope in America to claim tax exempt status. Any old Christian Father can.

Amen, brother Crawford. Just hurry up with that refund check!

You're in, Brother Lotan. Just hurry up and change that profile to Christian Father! How many kids you got anyway?

[juliod]

But there are, and should be, since Congress has no right to tax religious institutions.

Where do you imagine that it is written that Congress cannot tax religious organizations?

DanZ

[McCulloch]

What's unreasonable about advocating tax exemption for Christian Fathers who have had their lives and marriages disrupted by secular politicians who advocate the right of their Christian wives to get abortions, and the unfettered right of non-Christian abortionists to kill their male offspring?

The use of unfettered is hyperbole. It is not the secular politicians nor the abortionists who are disrupting these marriages, if indeed they are being disrupted. It is the wives of said Christian Fathers who are making the decisions to seek abortions.
Your position sounds like this: My religion teaches that I should have control over my wife's body. Secularists have passed laws allowing my wife the right to make her own decisions independently from me. Therefore, my civil rights are being transgressed and I should get a religious exemption from taxation.

Oh wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursel's as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
And foolish notion.

BTW: are you now only concerned about male offspring?

[jcrawford]

But there are, and should be, since Congress has no right to tax religious institutions.

Where do you imagine that it is written that Congress cannot tax religious organizations?

DanZ

First Amendment. Neither religion, speech nor the press may be taxed. This also prohibits taxation on all educational assemblies and institutions of higher learning and marriage.

[McCulloch]

But there are, and should be, since Congress has no right to tax religious institutions.

Where do you imagine that it is written that Congress cannot tax religious organizations?

First Amendment. Neither religion, speech nor the press may be taxed. This also prohibits taxation on all educational assemblies and institutions of higher learning and marriage.

LII: Constitution

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Now, I am just a dumb Cannuck, but I do not see any reference to taxation here. Are there any practicing constitutional lawyers or judges who read it that way? Please provide quotes and links.

[jcrawford]

What's unreasonable about advocating tax exemption for Christian Fathers who have had their lives and marriages disrupted by secular politicians who advocate the right of their Christian wives to get abortions, and the unfettered right of non-Christian abortionists to kill their male offspring?

It is not the secular politicians nor the abortionists who are disrupting these marriages, if indeed they are being disrupted. It is the wives of said Christian Fathers who are making the decisions to seek abortions.

Why blame or punish the wife for committing adultery while male adulters and abortionists go scot free and are not held financially liable for the destruction and damage inflicted upon a Christian marriage? That's neither scottish, kosher nor Christian to me.

Your position sounds like this: My religion teaches that I should have control over my wife's body. Secularists have passed laws allowing my wife the right to make her own decisions independently from me. Therefore, my civil rights are being transgressed and I should get a religious exemption from taxation.

Hmmm. I'm not sure I would hire you as my Christian lawyer, but it is a logical representation of my position.

Oh wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursel's as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
And foolish notion.

What does that mean in English?

BTW: are you now only concerned about male offspring?

You can represent the female offspring if you like, since equal rights for one equals equal rights for all.

[jcrawford]

But there are, and should be, since Congress has no right to tax religious institutions.

Where do you imagine that it is written that Congress cannot tax religious organizations?

First Amendment. Neither religion, speech nor the press may be taxed. This also prohibits taxation on all educational assemblies and institutions of higher learning and marriage.

LII: Constitution

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Now, I am just a dumb Cannuck, but I do not see any reference to taxation here. Are there any practicing constitutional lawyers or judges who read it that way? Please provide quotes and links.

I never met a dumb Cannuck or Christian yet, other than the one who looks back at me in the mirror every day.

The key word to understanding the FA is in the usage, application and interpretation of the fifth word, "law." At least that is how this amateur constitutional lawyer and Christian judge sees it.

[McCulloch]

Why blame or punish the wife for committing adultery while male adulters and abortionists go scot free and are not held financially liable for the destruction and damage inflicted upon a Christian marriage? That's neither scottish, kosher nor Christian to me.

I'm not blaming the wife. Nor am I assuming that all unwanted pregnancies are the result of adultery. But I do assert her human rights.

Your position sounds like this: My religion teaches that I should have control over my wife's body. Secularists have passed laws allowing my wife the right to make her own decisions independently from me. Therefore, my civil rights are being transgressed and I should get a religious exemption from taxation.

Hmmm. I'm not sure I would hire you as my Christian lawyer, but it is a logical representation of my position.

So, you would deny certain women their civil rights based on their matrimonial status and their husband's religion. No, I would more likely be representing the other side.

Oh wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursel's as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
And foolish notion.

What does that mean in English?

O would some Power the gift to give us
To see ourselves as others see us!
It would from many a blunder free us,
And foolish notion

[Lotan]

How many kids you got anyway?

Two. Judas & Jezebel.