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church of crypto anarchy (Re: Taxing Churches for their views? Bad idea. (fwd)) (fwd)

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NODE ea82bb66church of crypto anarchy (Re: Taxing Churches for their views? Bad idea. (fwd)) (fwd)
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> Date: Wed, 5 Nov 1997 23:25:02 GMT
> From: Adam Back <aba@dcs.ex.ac.uk>
> Subject: church of crypto anarchy (Re: Taxing Churches for their views? Bad idea. (fwd))

> Seems to me that the distinction that churches are exempt from taxes
> partly hinges on their non-profit, or not-for-profit status.

No, it stems from the fundamental democratic axiom of seperation of church
and state. If the churches pay taxes they aren't seperate. If the state
supports churches they aren't seperate.


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NODE 30a1c8a6Re: church of crypto anarchy (Re: Taxing Churches for their views? Bad idea. (fwd)) (fwd)
Jim Choate <ravage@ssz.com> writes:
> Adam Back <aba@dcs.ex.ac.uk>
> > Seems to me that the distinction that churches are exempt from taxes
> > partly hinges on their non-profit, or not-for-profit status.
> 
> No, it stems from the fundamental democratic axiom of seperation of church
> and state. If the churches pay taxes they aren't seperate. 

I pay taxes, I am separated from the state.

> If the state supports churches they aren't seperate.

If the state doesn't tax churches they are subsidizing them relative
to other sorts of organisations.  This is surely a form of support.

Adam