Ulysses vs God!

“Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private schools, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and the state forever separated.”— Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States.

Christians who are liberal will agree that the Televangelists are the scum of the earth! Both male and female con artists take advantage of the elderly, the gullible, and the ignorant. These money grabbing thieves, prey on the vulnerable, the aged close to the end of their lives, booking a place in so-called heaven. In a just world, these charlatans would be jailed for crimes against humanity. Even, the mega, and the myriad of breakaway churches, and family run, can expect to reap the harvest, and pay nothing to contribute to their community.

The Greed of Christianity is carried on from its roots in Judaism right through the Christian history of Catholicism and Protestantism to the Televangelist today.

“Honour the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10

In the Old Testament, priests are told to take a tenth of every believer’s crops as a tax to support the faith. In these latter days, they can outsource the job to the state. In Many European countries, “church taxes”—levied on all registered members of religious organizations by governments—still exist.

Old Testament Tithing

Genesis 14:19-20

Genesis 28:20-22

Leviticus 27:30-34

Numbers 18:21; 18:26

Deuteronomy 12:5-6; 14:22; 28-29

2 Chronicles 31:4-5

Nehemiah 10:35-37

The governments of ten countries across Europe administer membership fees on behalf of religious organizations. In two of these, Spain and Portugal, believers can opt to pay a portion of their income tax to their religion of choice. Six others run opt-out systems, whereby registered members of certain Christian churches (and, in some cases, other religious groups) are required to pay tax. In most of these, apostasy is the only way to get out of paying. Some states in Germany require even more arduous methods of disassociation—in addition to leaving the church, you must also file a notarized deregistration form with the local government, which demands a fee. https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/09/12/why-so-many-non-religious-europeans-pay-church-taxes 

From its Beginning

The Christian religion from its inauguration in 380 CE as the sole religion of the Roman Empire has been, undoubtedly, a Wall Street fairy tale of greed and avarice. On a scale, never seen in the history of religion. Not only was the church hierarchy not satisfied with the loot of Silver and Gold confiscated from the Pagan religions, but the Temples also came as part of the religious tax-free real estate package. The Christians were given by a triad of belligerent Roman emperors. Nothing was enough for them, wanting more, so they started forging decrees, title deeds and charters of emperors and kings, then waited for them to die. By the end of the 8th-century, western Christianity had obtained its temporal kingdom on earth, not by honest means, but by deception. Vast lands, known as the Papal States (756-1870), with wealth flowing in from every country within Europe paying its annual dues in the form of a Peter’s Pence tax. (Although after the Reformation, the Protestant countries refused to pay; however, Catholic household still maintained their Peter’s Pence tax through their priests.) With none of the monies coming into the papacy taxed, the church grew unimaginably wealthy. Protestants too created taxes and tithes to support their religious faith and taxed then going to church and fined them for not going to church.

In his annual message to congress in 1875, President Grant pointed out that the tax-free property of Churches was at the time about one billion dollars. By 1900, without check, it is safe to say this property will reach a sum exceeding three billion dollars. He added:

“So vast a sum, receiving all the protection and benefits of the government. Without bearing its proportion of the burdens and expenses of the same. Will not be looked upon acquiescently by those who have to pay the taxes.  In a growing country, where real estate enhances so rapidly with time, as in the United States. There is scarcely a limit to the wealth that may be required by corporations, religious or otherwise, if allowed to retain real estate without taxation. The contemplation of so vast a property as here alluded to, without taxation, may lead to sequestration without constitutional authority and through blood. I would suggest the taxation of all property equally, whether church or corporation.” [Messages and Papers of the Presidents, volume vii, p. 334-5.]

Those sums calculated 145 years ago. One then has to ask—what is the real estate value of the churches in the United States today and based on a 25-year cycle. Just on doubling (Grant saw trebling) in 2025, that would be close to a 100 billion dollars of taxable real estate revenue. However, the trebling of Grants sums would be 243 Billion for revenue taxation.

Do you believe Grant was right to suggest to congress on taxing churches?

Homeowners, non-religious institutions pay taxes on their property, so why not churches?

Note well. It is thanks to the Library of Congress that allows free access to the book (W6-The Winchester County Chamber of commerce) “Historical Origin of Tax Exemption.” Which inspired me to write this discussion. Those interested can follow the link for more information below. https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.taxexemptionsonr00west/?sp=94.

Cofion

Approved ~ FS