Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 03-09-2003, 12:11 PM

Is it strange how successful the Christian Coalition has been with politics based on opposing abortion, which is not forbidden in the Bible, but the religious left has been so unsuccessful?

Alabama professor puts religion into tax reform debate

Quote:

. . .

Hamill, now a University of Alabama law professor, wrote a thesis for a master's degree in theology spelling out the moral duty of Christians to work for a fairer tax system in Alabama.

Based on six months of research by assistants, she concluded that 71 percent of Alabama's land is forest owned by timber interests that pay only 2 percent of the state's property taxes because of rates written to favor agriculture and paper companies.

. . .

Old Testament laws required fairness to the poor, and Jesus taught that people should care for "the least of these." Hamill, who attends a United Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa, argues that means believers are required to make sure the state doesn't disproportionately burden its poorest residents.

"Alabama's tax structure fails to come close to meeting the moral demands that God has revealed for us in the Bible," she wrote.

. . .

The head of the conservative Christian Coalition of Alabama, John Giles, said Hamill goes too far in equating opposition to tax reform with sin. . . . he says Alabama's property taxes should remain low to make it easier for people to tithe to their churches, which should then help the poor.

"Never once mentioned in Scripture is it the responsibility of government to take care of the poor," he said. "It is the duty of the church."

gravitybow · 03-09-2003, 02:11 PM

Quote:

The head of the conservative Christian Coalition of Alabama, John Giles:
"Never once mentioned in Scripture is it the responsibility of government to take care of the poor. It is the duty of the church."

So we can count on him to refuse tax money for faith-based initiatives, right?

SLD · 03-09-2003, 09:11 PM

OK, time for an Alabamian to throw in his two cents here. This whole debate is nonsense. I don't need the Bible to tell me our tax structure sucks. And this professor throwing it around as justification is simplification and poor scholarship IMHO. People use the Bible to justify whatever position it is they want to advance - be it liberal or conservative.

What really bothers me about this state is that we can't get past this dialog in this state.

SLDER

Grumpy · 03-10-2003, 03:21 PM

Quote:

"Never once mentioned in Scripture is it the responsibility of government to take care of the poor. It is the duty of the church."

This is unsurprising, since 99% of "Scripture" is concerned solely with the role of the church. One would think that a more pragmatic revelation would understand the necessity of governments, and provide guidance for their just administration.

But this is Christianity we're talking about.

Toto · 03-10-2003, 03:44 PM

I think that both the OT and the NT require charity as an individual act or mitzvah, not as a corporate governmental act or as a church event. (There is some reference to Paul taking money to "the poor", but "the poor" may have referred to the name of the sect in question (the Ebionites) rather than actual poor people.

The professor here is objecting to a regressive tax structure, which requires poor people to support governmental services that benefit the rich. This is a sort of reverse-Robin Hood theory of government, which she claims is unBiblical.

But don't expect Christians to actually read their own Bible.

... · 03-11-2003, 08:51 AM

I've always held that Christianity - true Christianity - is in its purest form, socialism. Even to this very day, monasteries and convents follow a socialist planning system. Even Christ himself preached socialism.

For Osama bin Falwell and the Talibornagain, it's not about Jesus, it's about power. The Bible is just a convenient means to an end for them. Hating gays, the ACLU, etc is just a means of creating scapegoats so that the masses will have someone to blame.

Ah well, the fight goes on! :banghead:

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-09-2003, 09:11 PM	#3
SLD Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 4,109	OK, time for an Alabamian to throw in his two cents here. This whole debate is nonsense. I don't need the Bible to tell me our tax structure sucks. And this professor throwing it around as justification is simplification and poor scholarship IMHO. People use the Bible to justify whatever position it is they want to advance - be it liberal or conservative. What really bothers me about this state is that we can't get past this dialog in this state. SLDER

03-10-2003, 03:44 PM	#5
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I think that both the OT and the NT require charity as an individual act or mitzvah, not as a corporate governmental act or as a church event. (There is some reference to Paul taking money to "the poor", but "the poor" may have referred to the name of the sect in question (the Ebionites) rather than actual poor people. The professor here is objecting to a regressive tax structure, which requires poor people to support governmental services that benefit the rich. This is a sort of reverse-Robin Hood theory of government, which she claims is unBiblical. But don't expect Christians to actually read their own Bible.

03-11-2003, 08:51 AM	#6
... Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: United States Posts: 229	I've always held that Christianity - true Christianity - is in its purest form, socialism. Even to this very day, monasteries and convents follow a socialist planning system. Even Christ himself preached socialism. For Osama bin Falwell and the Talibornagain, it's not about Jesus, it's about power. The Bible is just a convenient means to an end for them. Hating gays, the ACLU, etc is just a means of creating scapegoats so that the masses will have someone to blame. Ah well, the fight goes on! :banghead:

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.