It Had to Happen, trump is Right

[Phil1111 1,149]

trump thinks Scientology should lose its tax-exempt status

President Trump has thrown his support behind removing the Church of Scientology's tax-exempt status, according to a HuffPost report.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/359730-trump-thinks-scientology-should-lose-its-tax-exempt-status

Racket, scam, call it what you may. It is not a religion. Only in America could a money making cult-racket get tax exempt status.

[Stumpy 284]

If agree with him if he extended it to Christianity, Islam, and everything else as well

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Actually, no. He's wrong (as usual).

I agree that it's a complete scam.
The misbehaviors are well documented.

But it meets most of the "tests" for a religion. It's origin story isn't any more (or less) ridiculous than any other (especially the Mormons).

And if you single out one religion to lose it's tax exempt status, then all are vulnerable. Except that it's likely that the "good" religions wouldn't be at risk, while the "bad" religions would be.

How long after this would Trump propose taking the tax exempt status away from Muslim mosques?

It's very similar to the philosophy that even the Nazi's and KKK should have free speech rights.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[Phil1111 1,149]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_status_by_country

https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Fishman/time-behar.html

The emphasis on fundraising for elites in the "church" makes it a pyramid scam IMO.

I will concede that US based Christian TV evangelical ministers who fly around in private jets, living in mansions, degrades this argument.

[RonD1120 62]

I am somewhat in favor of all churches losing their tax exempt status. I do not like the mega church philosophy that has swept our nation. Roman Catholics, IMO, would be the strongest in support of keeping tax exempt status.

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.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Phil1111

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_status_by_country

https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Fishman/time-behar.html

The emphasis on fundraising for elites in the "church" makes it a pyramid scam IMO.

I will concede that US based Christian TV evangelical ministers who fly around in private jets, living in mansions, degrades this argument.

Yup. If you "go after" the Scientologists for their behavior, then there are a lot of so-called "Christian" churches that do essentially the same thing. Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker got nailed for fraud. Selling way too many timeshares for their "theme park" than could possibly be ued.
But their fundraising behavior in other areas was little different than the Scientologists or any other scammer (using a "church" as a front or simply running a con).

And be careful calling them a "pyramid scheme". They aren't, not technically. And they tend to sue anyone they feel has "slighted" them.

I can't find it with a quick search, but Fresh Air with Terry Gross did an interview with Trey Parker & Matt Stone from South Park, and they talked about this. They did an episode that was a rather vicious send up of Scientology & Tom Cruise. Knowing the Scientologist's tendency to go after anyone who insults them, the show brought lawyers to the script writing. Rather than risk getting sued after the fact, they had lawyers advising them on what they could & couldn't say. Apparently, Parker & Stone had never seen lawyers have that much fun. And one thing they couldn't say was that Scientology was a pyramid scheme.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[ryoder 1,590]

wolfriverjoe

Yup. If you "go after" the Scientologists for their behavior, then there are a lot of so-called "Christian" churches that do essentially the same thing. Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker got nailed for fraud. Selling way too many timeshares for their "theme park" than could possibly be ued.
But their fundraising behavior in other areas was little different than the Scientologists or any other scammer (using a "church" as a front or simply running a con).

And be careful calling them a "pyramid scheme". They aren't, not technically. And they tend to sue anyone they feel has "slighted" them.

I can't find it with a quick search, but Fresh Air with Terry Gross did an interview with Trey Parker & Matt Stone from South Park, and they talked about this. They did an episode that was a rather vicious send up of Scientology & Tom Cruise. Knowing the Scientologist's tendency to go after anyone who insults them, the show brought lawyers to the script writing. Rather than risk getting sued after the fact, they had lawyers advising them on what they could & couldn't say. Apparently, Parker & Stone had never seen lawyers have that much fun. And one thing they couldn't say was that Scientology was a pyramid scheme.

Transcript: https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=127210540

You can just do a page-search for "scientology" and start reading there.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.