storytime

..and congress shall make no laws in the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof.

Individuals already pay taxes. And how the churches exercise their freedom of worship is their own business. In days of Caesar's rule individuals paid taxes, however, the Jews thought it against their religion to pay individual taxes to Caesar's Empire. Maybe the Jews in those days thought it appropriate to keep all their Jews money in Jewish hands while at the same time sponging off Roman advantages of new roads, welfare programs in aid and assistance to the needy, whatever else the Empire had to offer in benefit to people.

arnoldo

That's an interesting perspective. I stand corrected that churches aren't necessarily exempt due to seperation from State and Church issues; rather U.S. Churches are exempt from property and income taxes due to their non-profit status as Toto explains here.

IamJoseph

One can read that description as if there was no theological earthquake here, or even that Mighty Rome's greatest war never happened - and all the Josephus documents about negotiating for an image in the temple as the condition to stop the war - is a fiction. Suddenly, after being ruled for 200 years by Rome - the Jews snap decided not to pay taxes one afternoon. Greedy, huh?

Toto

[staffwarn]Please stay on topic[/staffwarn]

storytime

The freedom to establish a religion, and exorcising of its rituals, such as baptising members, or babies, or blessing pets as this seems to be a growing fad among Christians, congress cannot make a law against it. Tithing is a ritual practice within the established church and money's donated cannot be lawfully taken from the church by the government. It is a tax free enviroment as individual taxes have already been paid to "Caesar" by members. Any money donated to the church by members belongs to God. Jesus said "feed my sheep" and "make use of the money". So Christians build mega churches and purchase sattelite and cable connections. Donations cover travel expenses for the hiarchy and missionary people. Shelters are built for the homeless and abused victims and children. Hospitals are funded on a global scale, Shriners Burn hospitals, McDonalds House, Salvation Army, Red Cross, St Judes research hospital for children with cancer, world-wide relief programs to aid and assist disaster victims. "In Jesus name..Amen".

storytime

Read it as describing a bunch of whinny ass Jews who didn't want to pay their fair share like everyone else in the Empire.

Ya know Joseph, when you slap Christianity in the face you automatically kick Judasim in the butt. And we atheists laugh at both of you. :Cheeky:

premjan

It wasn't just their fair share though was it? It went to pay for imperial excesses, the Colosseum and so on. If the empire was so great why not submit voluntarily to it?

IamJoseph

The issue concerns history. The Jews paid their taxes. They rejected bowing to a depraved Roman Emperor. A true atheist must thank jews for defending the right to freedom of belief against Rome - and Christianity for that matter. Atheists were burned at the sake by Christianity same as those who never bowed to a divine human. Get it right.

IamJoseph

Superflous and never required for Jews - and we know that the Gospels does not say this to the Romans - where it applied!

The jews never erected mega structures or invaded other peoples and demanded their assets. This was the Roman, Greek and Phroahic modes. The temple law in Judea said only a half shekel donation was mandatory - an equal amount for rich or poor. These laws are in the hebrew bible, and also seen in the temple scrolls found in the dead sea scrolls package. The gospels failed to confront Rome - the jews did. Rome lost. :wave:

spamandham

Apparently, neither did the Greeks.