The "Religious Right"

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle
Preachers pay income tax.

They do not pay taxes on their property which is owned by the church nor church expenses. In many instances a mega church is a cult of personality and the preacher and church are indistinguishable.  He drives and lives in church property.  So his Corvette and Mansion are tax free as legitimate church expenses. (I cant think of the name for this, its not Vestige but something like that, sorry).

Usually the preacher lives in a modest home and drives a modest car, which are provided by the church.  However, many abuses take place.  Especially in churches that preach divine economics (give us money and ye shall receive the grace of god in the form of riches)... which is pretty common.

I think the term you're looking for is parsonage...and that only counts if the house is actually on church property.  Parsonages were built in the old days so that the pastor was close to the church if people needed them.  Personal homes on private property do not count as parsonages, and I don't know of many in Tulsa anymore.

[Rowdy]

What's funny about all those people who put down Christians for being judgemental is doing the same thing they abhor. Lumping all Christians together isn't any different than others accusing Christians of acting "holier than thou".

[NellieBly]

Personal homes do count as a 'parsonage' of sorts if the preacher is using it to conduct official church business, as a counseling headquarters or brainwashing camp. Voila -- no taxes.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle
Preachers pay income tax.

They do not pay taxes on their property which is owned by the church nor church expenses. In many instances a mega church is a cult of personality and the preacher and church are indistinguishable.  He drives and lives in church property.  So his Corvette and Mansion are tax free as legitimate church expenses. (I cant think of the name for this, its not Vestige but something like that, sorry).

Usually the preacher lives in a modest home and drives a modest car, which are provided by the church.  However, many abuses take place.  Especially in churches that preach divine economics (give us money and ye shall receive the grace of god in the form of riches)... which is pretty common.

Especially around here...

I agree with the below statement about not lumping churches but quite a few are like those CF mentioned. John Stossel did a thing on ministrywatch.com that targets those same people and problems.

[iplaw]

I love Stossel, he seems to piss off everybody equally...

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle
Preachers pay income tax.

They do not pay taxes on their property which is owned by the church nor church expenses. In many instances a mega church is a cult of personality and the preacher and church are indistinguishable.  He drives and lives in church property.  So his Corvette and Mansion are tax free as legitimate church expenses. (I cant think of the name for this, its not Vestige but something like that, sorry).

Usually the preacher lives in a modest home and drives a modest car, which are provided by the church.  However, many abuses take place.  Especially in churches that preach divine economics (give us money and ye shall receive the grace of god in the form of riches)... which is pretty common.

Hence, the controversy with Robert Tilton, Kenneth Copeland and their ilk.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw

I love Stossel, he seems to piss off everybody equally...

I think of him as Geraldo with a soul.

[iplaw]

quote:I think of him as Geraldo with a soul.

[}:)]

[mr.jaynes]

Ah yes, Geraldo, the perfect amalgam of Edward R. Murrow and Hunter S. Thompson-and I mean that in a good way.

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

Ah yes, Geraldo, the perfect amalgam of Edward R. Murrow and Hunter S. Thompson-and I mean that in a good way.

Not quite perfect as Geraldo hasn't offed himself........yet, but we can all hope.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by Rowdy

What's funny about all those people who put down Christians for being judgemental is doing the same thing they abhor. Lumping all Christians together isn't any different than others accusing Christians of acting "holier than thou".

Except I'm not claiming to do so at the bequest of god.  Nor do I adhere to judge not lest ye be judged.  So if nothing else, when I do it, at least I'm not a hypocrite.

[mr.jaynes]

I have found that those misguided souls in the Religious Right are simply naive and clueless and willfully ignorant about how the real world works and how hard life can really be at times. I think until something really hits home for them, they usually don't get the point.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

I have found that those misguided souls in the Religious Right are simply naive and clueless and willfully ignorant about how the real world works and how hard life can really be at times. I think until something really hits home for them, they usually don't get the point.

So, would that make them the religious wrong? []

[USRufnex]

another oldie... "the moral majority is neither."

[Cubs]

Wow ... I had no idea you all had such hatred for people of faith.