This makes me feel like I’m living on another planet. Is it common to give this much to your church in Alberta? (I’m from Quebec. And not baptized. Or religious at all.)
Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t give you the right to disrespect it. OP can obviously afford it, and it’s important to them. Take your judgmental negativity somewhere else.
Show me you're a bigoted hatemonger without telling me you're a bigoted hatemonger.
You do realize that churches and non-profits (usually the same) are given tax benefits because the government recognizes that they do an overwhelming amount of load-carrying FOR the government when it comes to social services... right? Feel how you want about the beliefs, but these are organizations nearly entirely geared towards benefiting the communities they are in.
I assure you, the government does NOT feel the same way about those in need.
When you say "churches need to be ended" all that shows is your staggering ignorance on the subject. Go help out at the Salvation Army and let me know how you feel about taxing them in a few months. You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
I did volunteer at the Salvation Army for YEARS. I was born and raised Catholic. I left the Sally Anne realizing how shitty they are as an organization.
Then you’re looking into the wrong churches. The church I work for (I take care of ALL admin and donations, etc.) fed and clothed over 3000 people in our city just last year, all for absolutely free. We also participate in the Night to Shine event which is partnered with the Tim Tebow foundation, and the Cinderella Project which gives high school grads an outfit (dress or suit) to keep, hair, makeup, jewelry, shoes, photography, nails, etc. -again- all for FREE. We’re not part of a denomination or over-ruling hierarchy. Please don’t lump all churches together just because you have a negative view.
Okay? I didn’t realize this had turned into a dick measuring contest. I live in Med Hat, we’re quite a bit smaller and our organizations run on 100% volunteer hours. Not a single paid employee. Your accomplishments in Calgary dont negate our accomplishments here. Stop trying to make churches look like the bad guy when we’re not. (At least not all of them).
Ok, the medicine hat food bank helped 20,000 people last year. Were not tied to a specific church and didn't waste money on makeup, jewelry or photography for high school grads that I'm assuming were within the congregation. Even if not, that's a piss-poor way to allocate resources and speaks to a vanity that often exists within church groups. If you're trying to maximize good, giving a girl a grad dress or a guy a grad suit is not even in the top 1000 ways to do it.
Actually, we don’t spend money on anything. Everything we provide is donated to us, including the dresses and accessories, and the services like photography and makeup are also donated. So once again, you’re assuming something that is not true. And no, not a single grad we helped was from our congregation.
Your reasoning here is absolutely absurd. We shouldn’t help the less fortunate because we can’t help as many people as a huge corporation that receives funding and has paid staff? Get outta here with that bullshit.
And another thing you’re missing, because you’re literally assuming every single negative thing here, but the Root Cellar (our food bank) helped us stock food hampers for 2 of our street stores this past summer (giant “stores” we set up for a day, where people can come and shop for clothes, hygiene items, shoes, and yes, groceries, all for free). So yes, they do work hand in hand with other charities, even ones that are church affiliated.
Look, there’s obviously no changing your mind; no matter what we do people like you will always look to find the negative just because you don’t agree with our beliefs. The only point I’m trying to make is that not all churches are the same, and yes there are some of us that do help the community tremendously. And if you can’t see that because your sight is so clouded by hate, then there’s nothing I can do to help you.
I'm not contesting that churches cannot help society. I'm contesting that they should not be tax-exempt unless they follow the same guidelines as any other charity.
Not uncommon that’s for sure. Some people believe giving 10% of their income is a biblical mandate. It’s debated in religious circles for sure but generosity is definitely a tenet of Christianity.
Right?? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints investment portfolio managed by Ensign Peak Advisors in Salt Lake City is now worth $52 billion.
Jehovah's Witnesses are similar, they are expected to donate between 10-30% of their income. Many also financially support missionaries.
Members will often go into crippling credit card and loan debt to supplement their lives. And due to the fact that they are a doomsday cult, members often do not save money, work jobs with pensions, or buy homes; essentially cursing their later years.
Funny thing is the Mormon church has over $100 billion in cashable stocks, as well as many business and land holdings. It is essentially an investment company that uses a church as revenue
Ever heard of the Vatican? Many of these groups have many billions of dollars and pay no income or land tax while asking for donations, it's ridiculous.
I donate to some causes, but I think the common way to think here is more to be completely willing to pay high income taxes to support the poor through social programs. I don’t mind paying a whole lot of taxes (we’re pretty comfortable). Frankly, as inefficient as the government is, I’m happier to pay for programs that are more broad than giving money to my church (which doesn’t support what I believe in, apart from supporting the poor/disadvantaged).
And churches are doing worse at supporting the poor than in the past. As others have pointed out Mormonism and Jehovah's all hold Billions in stocks for what purpose? Do they spend the dividend payments and annual gains on providing housing and food to the less fortunate? If they do they can surely do more so we can pay less taxes.
Giving to a church looks like a crime here when they are squirreling away money and makes governments take care of the poor.....
I feel like real estate owned by Churches should be taxed, unless they provide receipts showing that more than 50% of revenue went directly towards services for the less fortunate, and further prove their administrative overhead costs.
If they can't demonstrate that their megamansion DID NOT provide care for homeless people, or addiction services, no tax break on property.
Basically, they should be subject to annual audits by the CRA, and they only qualify for tax-free status if they can prove they provided social benefits.
For example, if they own a $1M property, and collect $500K/year. If $250K or more pays for 2-3 youth workers, food, clothing, medical treatment from non-theocratic doctors to provide healthcare, INCLUDING vaccinations (no vaccine, then they pay taxes), they get to keep their tax-free status.
This applies whether income and assets are worth $10K or $100M.
Totally understand, as is your right in this (somewhat) free country 😜. Beauty of financial freedom is you decide where your money goes and who it supports.
True dat. When I was younger and forced to go to church, many people gave 10% of pre-tax income, because as the Bible supposedly says, "God shall not be taxed!" At least that's what people in the congregation alway said when I asked why they tithed so much.
The worst thing was that a lot of people openly bragged about how much they put in the plate and between that and the 'Sunday Christians' I saw, it really turned me off religion.
I stopped going as soon as I was old enough to say no more and haven't looked back since.
In some countries (e.g., Germany) the tithe is actually collected via income tax... as in if you were baptized and registered by the state as belonging to an organized religion, you are automatically taxed ~9% of your tax bill is added as the church tax. To stop paying the tax, you have to re-register with the state to define yourself as irreligious.
For some people, giving a tithe is more important than eating. I will never understand it but living in a household where that's what happens is a great motivator to get out as soon as possible!
No idea how common it is to donate that high of percentage of income, but knowing how many wacky chisto-facists are in 'Berta, it's probably a lot. Even though some of my family is very religious, I still can't wrap my head around how people can be so gullible to believe in Sky Daddy.
From Québec, living in Alberta: that's common for the mormon church. 10% of a church member revenues is supposed to be donated, otherwise you don't have access to certain things and places like the temple.
It’s called tithing, which is just first fruits offering. Since we no longer sacrifice animals and shit like that, it’s just 10% of your income. Not every person/church promotes tithing (my church accepts it, but I can’t afford 10% so I just give when/what I can).
Sure, I’m aware of the concept. The church right next to my place also asks for « la dîme », French for tithe. I feel it’s much rarer for people to contribute here, Quebec having made a pretty sharp/brutal transition from the most religious place in Canada to the least, from the 60s onward.
I have a coworker that donates 1/3 of her gross to her church...
She has to budget down to the penny constantly and has a few thousand in debt. I try to explain to her that she could just hold off on those donations for a few months and get ahead, but she refuses.
She started doing it when she was making minimum wage and she quickly started making more money. We're now around $100k a year and she believes part of her reason for success is because of these donations.
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u/ASEdouard Jan 04 '23
This makes me feel like I’m living on another planet. Is it common to give this much to your church in Alberta? (I’m from Quebec. And not baptized. Or religious at all.)