Religion and legal requirements... (Full Version)

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MercTech -> Religion and legal requirements... (3/31/2015 7:48:02 PM)

For discussion let's define a "church" as a religious organization that maintains a tax free status with the IRS as a religious non profit organization.
http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Exemption-Requirements-Section-501%28c%29%283%29-Organizations

Should a church be exempt from taxes? Traditionally the answer is "yes".

Should a church be exempt from taxes on income from:

Running a school?
Maintaining a sports program?
Running a restaurant?
Speculating in stocks and securities?
Owning rental property?
Providing theatrical entertainment?
Running a theme park?

More than a can of worms; we can open a barrel of fish-bait on this subject.
Where to draw the line between money making enterprises and charity. On one hand you have a charity bake sale. The other hand might hold the Baker Empire's theme park insanity.

Encountering a church engaged in business always reminds me of one of Don Imus' hilarious routines from the 70s; "One Sacred Chicken to Go"
http://www.amazon.com/One-Sacred-Chicken-To-Go/dp/B000X4FR2E
And do you have your Reverend Ike blessed swatch of prayer cloth?
http://store.revike.com/prayercloth.aspx

Where do your opinions go?



Kirata -> RE: Religion and legal requirements... (3/31/2015 9:33:58 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: MercTech

Where do your opinions go?

Comparing the topic title to the body of your post, I don't think religion in the language of the First Amendment is limited to "churches" by any definition, or even that a "church," simply by the fact that it calls itself one, should automatically qualify for the protections afforded to religion. Ironically, we don't seem to be able to define religion adequately. I think it was in Belgium that a fellow was allowed to have his drivers license photo taken with a colander on his head because he claimed it was "religious" headgear. But maybe that's a can of worms for another thread.

K.



Real0ne -> RE: Religion and legal requirements... (3/31/2015 10:44:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kirata

But maybe that's a can of worms for another thread.

K.


The gov has a real problem dancing around the constitution (1st) and frankly they do a poor job of it.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2007/10/11/definition-religion-when-president-george-w/

The problem they have is everything they do is based on the quorum theory and the individual is seen through the "we" filter which is why individual rights have been and continue to be systematically suffocated by the mob.

Religion is personal and individual however the government only recognizes certain groups and or certain conditions to qualify.

Who even knows what a church is in the eyes of the gov?

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopica94.pdf

if a pastor takes wages that is taxed as income is it not? Like I said been years since I read it.






JVoV -> RE: Religion and legal requirements... (4/1/2015 12:09:23 AM)

Legally, any type of business can be non-profit, as long as the would-be profits go to a charitable cause, and the business itself provides a humanitarian need.

Here in Orlando, The Holy Land Experience has tax-exempt status, given by state law in 2006.

Really, the only issue on your list that I see is speculating in stocks and securities.



MercTech -> RE: Religion and legal requirements... (4/1/2015 3:43:05 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kirata


quote:

ORIGINAL: MercTech

Where do your opinions go?

Comparing the topic title to the body of your post, I don't think religion in the language of the First Amendment is limited to "churches" by any definition, or even that a "church," simply by the fact that it calls itself one, should automatically qualify for the protections afforded to religion. Ironically, we don't seem to be able to define religion adequately. I think it was in Belgium that a fellow was allowed to have his drivers license photo taken with a colander on his head because he claimed it was "religious" headgear. But maybe that's a can of worms for another thread.

K.



Mainly I'm picking on lucrative church run businesses that enjoy a tax free status by virtue of being owned by a church.
Do the occasional million dollar abuses of tax free status deserve a legal limit on what types of businesses a "church" under tax law should be able to profit from.

I know there is a bigger picture of what constitutes a religion and that you can find some really silly fringe ones. I'm just wondering what other people think of profitable businesses run by and for the benefit of a tax free church.

BTW, I've seen the colander headgear before. It is a "Pastafarian" thing.
Utah drivers license with colander headgear:
http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/2014/11/16/church-flying-spaghetti-monster-pastafarian-makes-statement/19123337/

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ... members are known as "Pastafarians"
http://www.venganza.org/



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