Sales Tax

Lotan · Post by **Lotan** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:12 am

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.

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 8:45 am

In my opinion, books should not be taxed. In fact, I think that all sales taxes are regressive and should be removed. But that is off topic.

But if books are to be taxed, then all books should be taxed equally. If Holy books are exempt, then the government has to get into the business of determining which books are Holy. A Bible is a holy book and therefore exempt. What about a bible with blatantly sectarian notes? What about commentaries? What about ancient commentaries? Obviously, if the Bible is tax exempt, then so should the Qu'ran, Gita, Gnostic Gospels, Book of Mormon and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Who is to decide? The government? I don't think so. The buyer? If you believe that the book you are buying is sacred, then you don't have to pay tax on it. Ridiculous. All books should be taxed or not equally.

juliod · Post by **juliod** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:17 pm

It's just another one of those areas where the government tries to establish religion and opens up a can of worms.

There is no justification for exempting religions from any tax, much less this particular example. It merely puts the government in the unwinnable position of having to determine what is and what is not a religion.

DanZ

jcrawford · Post by **jcrawford** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:57 pm

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.

Lotan · Post by **Lotan** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:00 pm

jcrawford wrote: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"?

jcrawford · Post by **jcrawford** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:23 pm

Lotan wrote:
jcrawford wrote: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?"

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:31 pm

jcrawford wrote: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.

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

jcrawford wrote: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 by advocating that a specific religion or group of religions should be granted tax breaks, you are advocating the establishment of religion. Many would claim Christianity, if the claim of being Christian exempted you from taxes. Do try to be reasonable.

Lotan · Post by **Lotan** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:34 pm

jcrawford wrote:They do. Who else?

If it means tax exempt status then I'm the Pope!

jcrawford · Post by **jcrawford** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:56 pm

Lotan wrote:
jcrawford wrote:They do. Who else?
If it means tax exempt status then I'm the Pope!

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

Lotan · Post by **Lotan** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 2:01 pm

jcrawford wrote: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!