Seekermeister
In a case of not paying taxes required by law, the government has an obligation to "stick its nose" into the issue.
Separation of church and state also means that people who claim religious affilliation do not receive special status. In the eyes of the law, they are just people. Religion is not a cloak of invincabilaty against the law.
In a case of not paying taxes required by law, the government has an obligation to "stick its nose" into the issue.
Separation of church and state also means that people who claim religious affilliation do not receive special status. In the eyes of the law, they are just people. Religion is not a cloak of invincabilaty against the law.
Yes, there are circumstances where church funds can be used illegally, I've already referred to that. And, I would have no problem with the government becoming involved, at that point. But, as far as I can see, neither this issue, or the discussion on this thread has anything to do with that. No Christian asks for any special status, nor thinks of themselves as being invincible. However, so long as a church remains within the parameters given them by the Constitution, any abuse of funds is strictly a church matter.
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
- 16,138
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Well I live in Pensacola so this is local news to me. This character thought that he was above the law even to the point of bragging about it and well it caught up with him. One of the things that I've noticed in life is that if you go around trying to put the finger on others while you are messing up then sooner or later the finger will get put back on you in a big way. This is also indicative of how many people in the religious community operate. Churches are filled to the rafters with hypocrites and they turn my stomach. Look at all of the strife and contention that religion is causing around the world. If it weren't for religion this planet would be able to live together more peacibly.
Jeff7
Lifer
- Jan 4, 2001
- 41,596
- 19
- 81
The latest South Park dealt with this, and they had a good point.
In it, religion was eventually made obsolete, and atheism took over a period of 500 years. But then the Atheism Alliance was at war with the Atheist League or something like that, I don't remember the names.
My cynical side says that they're probably right, humans will find or make up an excuse to fight, no matter what. With no wars over whose deity could kick the other deity's ass, what's left to fight about? The ratio of hydrogen to helium in the sun? Whether or not 0.999... = 1? Will the airplane take off? Even if there are snakes on it? There'll always be something to fight about.
"Dude, this sucks, there's nothing to fight about."
"Nuh uh, there is SO stuff to fight about."
"No there isn't."
"Shut up."
"No, YOU shut up."
A totally expected response, which reflects the attitude of this thread in general. First off, what do you know about the Christian community in general? No church is immune to hypocracy, because it is a human trait, and church members are human. The majority of people obtain their opinions of Christianity from watching TV evangelists, who are not representative of the whole.
As far as the world being a better place without religion, I might agree to a point, because their is a huge difference between faith and religion. And, religion is comprised of many faiths. Christianity has been responsible for some of the problems in the world, but not true Christianity.
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
- 16,138
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Well I must say that I've lived and worked around christians my during my tenure on this rock. It has been my experience that the overwhelming majority of them are lazy and will hide behind religion as an excuse for practically anything. At every job I've had the christians will read their bibles instead of doing their jobs. What a fine example that is to shirk your responcibilities in the name of religion. I couldn't do (insert task) because I had to do my devotional reading. What a crock. Hypocrites exist in every facet of society but none have the boldness of the religious community. Religion serves as a shield for them to do as they please. I believe that it is well past time to strip religious organizations of their tax free status and make them pay just like any other business. Because in the end they're just businesses hiding behind a religious tax free status especially when they start stumping for the political parties and their candidates.
I don't know which planet that you live on, because I live in Oklahoma, which is the heart of the Bible Belt, and I can't recall ever seeing any Christian acting as you suggested at their jobs. And since I turn 60 next year, I have been around a while, and I have worked at many different jobs.
It sounds to me, that your opinion is based more on your own animousity, than on objectiveness.
288 years & 225 years? Sounds harsh... but with good-time credit and work-release, they'll be out in 144 years & 112 years, so it's really not too bad. :beer:
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
- 16,138
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yep.. most religious leaders in the US are millionaires and I allways wonder how they preach helping the homeless and poor in one breath and in the other say give me money for gods work!
Also in Utah, where they have a huge religious population is also the biggest concentration of scammers out there... just look at scam.com and youll see 100s of examples!
judasmachine
Diamond Member
- Sep 15, 2002
- 8,515
- 3
- 81
If you guys were as intolerant of other crimes, we could turn the USA into a penal colony. The problem with that, is that there would be so few left free, that they wouldn't be able to afford paying for the support of the criminals. I suppose then that we would have to become wards of the world.
Originally posted by: borosp1
yep.. most religious leaders in the US are millionaires and I allways wonder how they preach helping the homeless and poor in one breath and in the other say give me money for gods work!
Also in Utah, where they have a huge religious population is also the biggest concentration of scammers out there... just look at scam.com and youll see 100s of examples!
I wouldn't say that. However, you do have some seriously twisted leaders who are extremely crooked (Robertson and Falwell would be at the top of that list).
But there are also some great leaders out there. Greg Boyd comes to mind as one of the good ones.
First off, they haven't been convicted of anything. Secondly, I have never heard of anyone getting a life sentence for stealing. Of course, repeat offenders may get life. The sentence is not determined by how much is "stolen", a person who steals a dollar is just as much of a thief as a person who steals a million...or a billion.
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
- 16,138
- 4,832
- 136
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
- 16,138
- 4,832
- 136
Just to give you guys a heads up these folks belong to Marcus Point Baptist Church where there are many more just like them. That place has contests for the kids giving away expensive prizes to those who bring the most new people to church. It certainly sounds like a business instead of a place of worship. They always send my kids stuff trying to get them to come to church. These people are so pompous that the last time they were walking around my neighborhood a poor guy who had ran out of gas was across the street and asked them for help. They were so busy with the lords work that they couldn't help a man in need so I did. They really pissed me off with their attitudes.
Seekermeister
What planet are you from?
They have been convicted.
No difference between stealing dollar and a million? Ever hear of "petty theft" and "grand theft"?
Your comment about locking everyone up that commits crimes is ludicrous on its face.
When we find evidence of someone committing a crime, we arrest and try them. That's how we do do things.
What planet are you from?
They have been convicted.
No difference between stealing dollar and a million? Ever hear of "petty theft" and "grand theft"?
Your comment about locking everyone up that commits crimes is ludicrous on its face.
When we find evidence of someone committing a crime, we arrest and try them. That's how we do do things.
Earth, which are you from?
Your a bit late on this one, it was already addressed.
Petty and grand theft are legal distinctions. When it comes to what is truely right, the only theft that deserves any leniency is a person that steals something just for the purpose of feeding themselves.
Ludicrous? Are you without sin? Have you never done anything wrong? If so, then you are truely an exceptional person. Or was it just that you weren't caught?
As it should be, I'm not saying that these people shouldn't be punished, I am merely speaking of the attitude of those on this thread, regarding this particular situation, versus the myriads of others in which no one pays much attention to.
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