Most Christians accept evolution

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Right now the Gov defines what charity is.

Since much of a Churches income comes from contributions from their followers, and those followers are able to deduct it from their income, are you saying that all contributors to charities should lose that exemption? Or should it only be contributions they make to a Church and not the Salvation Army?

[beowulf 1]

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Right now the Gov defines what charity is.

Since much of a Churches income comes from contributions from their followers, and those followers are able to deduct it from their income, are you saying that all contributors to charities should lose that exemption? Or should it only be contributions they make to a Church and not the Salvation Army?

I don't know. I haven't looked into this issue at all. But I don't think Chruches should be exempt from taxes. I think churches are defined differently by the Gov then non profit charities. I don't know the specifics of how the Gov defines each of those.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Right now the Gov defines what charity is.

Since much of a Churches income comes from contributions from their followers, and those followers are able to deduct it from their income, are you saying that all contributors to charities should lose that exemption? Or should it only be contributions they make to a Church and not the Salvation Army?

I don't know. I haven't looked into this issue at all. But I don't think Chruches should be exempt from taxes. I think churches are defined differently by the Gov then non profit charities. I don't know the specifics of how the Gov defines each of those.

OK fair enough. But remember that Churches provide a lot of services for the poor in many 3rd world countries world-wide. Taxing those contributions means less going to those people and more into the general revenue funds of governments. Perhaps to be spent to purchase more military assets or to be used to bail out Wall Street Bankers.

[beowulf 1]

They can start a seperate business as a non profit charity.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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They can start a seperate business as a non profit charity.

I was not aware that Churches charged for their services. What part of what they do do you think they should be taxed for?

[Southern_Man 0]

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Right now the Gov defines what charity is.

Since much of a Churches income comes from contributions from their followers, and those followers are able to deduct it from their income, are you saying that all contributors to charities should lose that exemption? Or should it only be contributions they make to a Church and not the Salvation Army?

Salvation Army is a church.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[Coreece 190]

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What arrogance...Who are you?

The guy telling you that your beliefs in Christianity is nothing but a fantasy and with out any evidence you have nothing to dispute that with.

Ok Joe Shmoe...

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[Coreece 190]

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I'd take the advice for what it's worth (little to nothing).

In case you haven't you noticed, I've been laying on the indifference pretty thick, lately.

Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are...

[winsor 236]

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Right now the Gov defines what charity is.

Hey, if you can't trust the Government, who can you trust?

[RonD1120 62]

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We're not afraid of your imaginary totalitarian dictator god who commands either eternal worship or eternal torture..

Again I ask, what do you fear?

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[RonD1120 62]

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So what's your solution?

Start taxing churches.

that's a good action - a church is a business, it provides a service and should be taxed. that's easy.

In FL services are not taxable.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[beowulf 1]

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They can start a seperate business as a non profit charity.

I was not aware that Churches charged for their services. What part of what they do do you think they should be taxed for?

They should pay property taxes.

[beowulf 1]

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What arrogance...Who are you?

The guy telling you that your beliefs in Christianity is nothing but a fantasy and with out any evidence you have nothing to dispute that with.

Ok Joe Shmoe...

You are free to disagree and there is no imaginary consequence for doing so. No thinly veiled threats.

[Shotgun 1]

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I'd take the advice for what it's worth (little to nothing).

In case you haven't you noticed, I've been laying on the indifference pretty thick, lately.

You know, it's hard to be upset with someone if he truly believes in the heaven/hell thing and has genuine concern for others' well-being. It makes sense that this person would want to spread the word to others in the most positive way possible in order to attract others to what he believes is salvation. And I know a lot of Christians who would fit this description.

But unfortunately, the "concern" often takes the form of defensiveness when one feels his beliefs have been insulted. "Well I'll be sittin' pretty in Heaven while you'll be burning forever in Hell, and you'll be sorry then!" That sort of thing. And that certainly doesn't come across as genuine concern. (I know some Christians who fit this description as well, and they're people I wouldn't likely choose as friends.)

[RonD1120 62]

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Comprehension is a prerequisite for understanding. Much of what passes as "spirituality" is little more than obfuscation.


BSBD,

Winsor

It's kinda like Hip Hop. It makes sense if you live in that frame of reference. My three granddaughters understand it and like it, to some degree. I can't even understand the words.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[beowulf 1]

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Right now the Gov defines what charity is.

Hey, if you can't trust the Government, who can you trust?

I never said I trusted the Gov. Just that they define what qualifies as a charity. Just like they define what qualifies as a Church in legal terms for tax purposes that is. It's all about taxes.

[RonD1120 62]

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Has this scam cost you personally?

Every $0.01 that goes to organized religion is $0.01 that could have gone into something productive for society. In a very real sense we all pay the cost.

I just returned from Peru. In Cusco alone there is a cathedral with $millions worth of gold and silver in its various chapels, in a city that has hundreds of thousands of people living in grinding poverty.

A short trip through the Vatican will show the plunder that organized religion has taken from society.

[RonD1120 62]

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What is your point? I am not going to get into specifics of what I like or dislike.

OK. The cybernetic message I am perceiving is that you are dealing with power and control issues.

Y'know, of all the obnoxious, asshole like behaviour on this site, pretending to use you counselling experience to diagnose people over the internet just comes across as being the most obnoxious from the biggest asshole.

JMO.

There, don't you feel better using words you are more familiar with instead of professional jargon you know little about?

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[deltron80 0]

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We're not afraid of your imaginary totalitarian dictator god who commands either eternal worship or eternal torture..

Again I ask, what do you fear?

How is what I fear relevant? I certainly don't fear threats from brainwashed people's imaginary gods...I guess I fear the normal things everyone does...canopy collisions, herpes, brain eating amoebas, etc... real things.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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How is what I fear relevant?

Because the level of anger you are displaying is usually driven by fear

[rehmwa 2]

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How is what I fear relevant?

Because the level of anger you are displaying is usually driven by fear

or disappointment, or betrayal, or brain eating amoebas

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[RonD1120 62]

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We're not afraid of your imaginary totalitarian dictator god who commands either eternal worship or eternal torture..

Again I ask, what do you fear?

How is what I fear relevant? I certainly don't fear threats from brainwashed people's imaginary gods...I guess I fear the normal things everyone does...canopy collisions, herpes, brain eating amoebas, etc... real things.

See SkyDekker's post #570. It seems to be a power and control issue with you. What is your fear with faith?

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Shotgun 1]

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How is what I fear relevant? I certainly don't fear threats from brainwashed people's imaginary gods...I guess I fear the normal things everyone does...canopy collisions, herpes, brain eating amoebas, etc... real things.

See SkyDekker's post #570. It seems to be a power and control issue with you. What is your fear with faith?

He doesn't sound afraid to me; he sounds annoyed. And if I had grown up with religion being heavily pushed on me, I'd probably be a lot more annoyed with it as well.

And I have to agree that your attempts to "diagnose" people in SC are pretty obnoxious, though amusing at times.

[RonD1120 62]

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He doesn't sound afraid to me; he sounds annoyed. And if I had grown up with religion being heavily pushed on me, I'd probably be a lot more annoyed with it as well.

And I have to agree that your attempts to "diagnose" people in SC are pretty obnoxious, though amusing at times.

I am not trying to diagnose anyone. I am not operating in the professional capacity to do so. Although, at one time I did pysch assessments for psychiatric admissions.

However, previously a novice tried to diagnose me as delusional. He has no knowledge of the proper application of the term.

Anyway, if a person is annoyed they usually exclaim their feelings and move on. When someone stands on that annoyance to the extent of trying to gain power and control over another person's beliefs another hidden agenda is suspect.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Shotgun 1]

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However, previously a novice tried to diagnose me as delusional. He has no knowledge of the proper application of the term.

I don't think he was trying to diagnose you. When most people use the word "delusional," they are using the dictionary definition, not the DSM-IV criteria. And I think the dictionary definition worked just fine for what he was trying to say, even if it wasn't a very nice thing to say.