General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: End the Tax Exempt Status of Churches! [View all]NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Seems like such a simple thought but it clearly isn't. In what I have read in the past, including on this forum, I have never thought about it like this.
I don't talk about it often here because of my own personal confusion on the issue. I think the church/religion are some of societies worst institutions. Mans bastardization of religion is the leading cause of death across the globe. At the same time, I cannot tell you how many people I know who have been greatly helped by the church. And I mean lifesaving help. On top of that, some of the most compassionate people I know go to church every Sunday and consider themselves to be Christian. I don't believe in tax exempt status for many mega-churches. That does not mean I want some of the local pastors I have met to struggle anymore than they are to feed the homeless. These are pastors driving 15yo cars and devoting their lives to helping others, including atheists and people from other denominations.