Geek pissing contests are a lot like religious pissing contests too, particularly among Linux users and programmers who think their preferred technology is superior. Or people who argue over whether Han or Greedo shot first.

I think of it as arrogant insecurity. People who are comfortable with themselves and their beliefs don’t have anything to prove.

I know I’m singling out Northwoods and it’s not necessarily to pick on them. I’m sure there are plenty of good people who staff the place, it’s just that the organization seems to have its priorities mixed up.

Or, maybe that’s the whole idea. Look at how much they’re asking for: 10 percent of your income. The government already claims almost half of it. Now we’ve got megachurches asking for a sizable portion of your take-home pay so that they can add jumbo speakers and a glittering light show to their productions? What purpose does that serve? Community interests or self indulgence? Is this alone not reason enough to re-evaluate our tax policies towards supposed non-profit organizations, especially since, as you pointed out, they’re receiving federal money?

And yes, I’d also tax other non-profit organizations. But the community benefits of operations like the Salvation Army and especially hospitals ought to be self-evident. They’d make the grade every time and never have to pay taxes. What has Northwoods done?

If faith-based organizations want to be exempt from what every other earner has to suffer, let them put their money where their mouth is.

“is this not to be considered charity or community work?”

That depends on how they’re doing it, I’d say. If they’re going out and helping their communities as a church, that would count. If they’re doing it on their own because they’re good people, and goodness is a reason unto itself, then no.

The whole point is that a person or group shouldn’t need a reason or monetary incentive to do good things. The problem we’re having is that many faith-based organizations are receiving benefits but aren’t doing a damn thing to deserve them.

I see a problem with that system.

Anyway, thanks for bringing up the topic. I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, and fortunately it was by someone who knows what the hell he’s talking about.

I too have been working on the topic “America was founded as a Christian nation” for about a year now. I am nearly ready to post it.

Anyway, I covered this early on: “I’m of the belief that people ought to be able to practice their religion freely, but not to the point where it involves the subjugation or oppression of others, both those within the religion and beyond it.”

I realize there’s a lot of stuff written there, so something like this would be easy to miss. Anyway, if a church’s actions break society’s laws, they should be held accountable.

And yes, I think churches should definitely pay taxes. They can be eligible to pay zero in taxes to the government depending on the kinds of community work and charity they provide proportionate to their annual income. A church with 50 members wouldn’t have to do nearly as much as a multi-thousand member organization that rakes in millions a year.

In short, it would end the pointless expansion of megachurches like Northwoods Community Church, who seems to be more interested in investing in itself than the community it’s supposed to serve. I used to volunteer there actually, so it’s convenient that they fit so well into this mold because it gives me some experience to draw on. The place seemed more like a business than a place of worship, and I still can’t think of more than a handful of community contributions they’ve made–and I’d have to think really hard to fill that hand.

I also find this incredibly hard to argue as a separation of church and state issue.