From: Adam Back <aba@dcs.ex.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 20:59:42 +0800
To: ravage@ssz.com
Subject: Re: church of crypto anarchy (Re: Taxing Churches for their views? Bad idea. (fwd)) (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <199711060135.TAA22071@einstein.ssz.com>
Message-ID: <199711060852.IAA00795@server.test.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



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