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Faith

Atheist Activists Sue IRS to Strike Down ‘Preferential Treatment of Churches’

Dec. 31, 2012 11:44am

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist activist non-profit, has a history of advocating for church-state separatism. Most recently, in November, the group sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in an effort to force the government to crack down on the political activities being undertaken by churches. The group followed up this legal challenge with yet another lawsuit last Thursday — one that targets the government’s alleged “preferential treatment of churches.”

The FFRF claims that churches are given special treatment when it comes to applying for and holding on to tax-exempt status. While churches are purportedly exempt from paying “expensive application fees” and filling out annual tax forms, non-religious groups must fill out the “onerous annual Form 990.”

FFRF Sues IRS Over Alleged Preferential Church Treatment

Photo Credit: ShutterStock.com

To prevent this alleged inequality, the lawsuit — FFRF and Triangle FFRF v. the IRS — was filed in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin. In the press release announcing the legal action, the group notes that it, along with its local chapters, has had to pay hundreds of dollars to become tax exempt, while also filling out the annual Form 990 form.

The press release details the organization’s qualms with the IRS regulatory structures as they currently stand:

The Form 990 requires detailed reports on revenue and functional expenses, activities, governance, management, how groups fulfill their mission, and what proportion is spent on programs, management and fundraising.

The “preferential treatment of churches” directly benefits churches, while discriminating against other non-profit organizations, including the plaintiffs, “solely on the basis of religious criteria,” FFRF’s complaint asserts. This “results in obligations imposed on secular non-profits, including the plaintiffs, that are not imposed on churches.”

FFRF asks the court find the church exemptions a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and the equal protection rights of the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. FFRF seeks to enjoin the IRS from continuing to exempt churches and related organizations from the application and annual reporting required of all other non-profit organizations under §501(c)(3).

The FFRF’s co-president Annie Gaylor railed against the requirement, claiming that it is unfair. Additionally, she questioned why churches would not welcome being held accountable.

“Why should churches be exempt from basic financial reporting requirements? Equally important, why would churches not wish to be accountable?” Gaylor asked in the release. “Having tax-exempt status is a great privilege, and in exchange for that privilege, all other groups must file a detailed report annually to the IRS and the public on how we spend donations.”

This is the third lawsuit that the FFRF has launched against the IRS surrounding religious groups and their handling within the tax system. In August, the group also challenged housing tax regulations that ministers and clergy benefit from.

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Related:

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Comments (139)

1 2
  • camomof2
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:23pm

    HERE WE GO! Let’s punish the Christians! I don’t see the term “Mosque” anywhere. Hmm…wonder why.

    Report this comment

    camomof2  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:09pm

      No and you won’t.Fact is the same tax breaks given to christian churchs are also given to Islamic churchs.Thats right the same organizations that were used for funneling money to terror cells.If they aren’t on the blocked list can still take advantage of the tax laws as other faiths can.Have you or anyone else considerd that this is one way to stop this?It also is much more palatable to muslims coming from an athiest sect than christians jews exc.
      Fact no churchs had exempt status till the fifties.This was one of the stated goals of communism.One way to relegate the church was to use the government to make it dependent.tax breaks charity donations exc.It became a business not a house of worship.It drove the truly faithful out.

      Report this comment

      objectivetruth  
    • Independent4233
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:19pm

      “Atheist Activists Sue IRS to Strike Down ‘Preferential Treatment of Churches’ ”

      These aren’t “atheist” activists. They’re homosexual activists, pretending they they have an issue with religion, because they’re non-believers. THey have an issue with Christianity, because homosexuality is strongly condemned as a sin.

      Somebody asked me how I knew these people are homosexuals or, at the very least, that the vast majority are.

      It’s simple. Have you known so many people who claim to be atheists to EVER feel so strongly AGAINST Christianity simply because they don’t believe? I mean people who would go to these lengths to condemn and fight Christianity?

      I’m agnostic. If other people believe in conventional religion and a deity it bothers me not one iota. In fact I wish I COULD believe.

      The last thing I would want to do is discredit a religion that offers a sound philosophy on behavior and conduct.

      The homosexual activist, however, sees Christianity as the greatest obstacle to gaining mainstream acceptance in the country today.

      Homosexual activistds are a bunch of sick nut cases, which is why they’re so naive as to expect destroying Christianity is going to help them in any way, because natural instincts in every human dictate a rabid distaste of any kind of behavior that is in opposition to perpetuating the species.

      And they certainly would NEVER diss Islam, because they know if they did they would be decorating a lampost somewhere.

      Report this comment

      Independent4233  
    • mlgunner
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:38pm

      Churches didn’t have exempt status because they were not required to be a 501c3 corporation. They were exempt, and some argue still are, under title 508 of the tax code making them a corporation sole. The argument being that the 1st amendment makes churches exempt from taxation in that the first clause of the amendment states:
      Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
      Congress makes tax law, therefore congress cannot tax religious organizations because they can make no law to do so.

      Report this comment

      mlgunner  
    • JRook
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:42pm

      Oh please spare us the drama queen act. While a partial non-profit status makes sense, a blanket tax break on all “church” property is not warranted. Particularly for those churches that utilize it to amass large investment portfolios. In addition, criteria for what is a church and exactly how they benefit their communities should be tightened. We need only to see some of the opulent churches to know that they are taking advantage of their tax free status and certainly do not utilize a good portion of their money in a manner that benefits the greater community. If it is simply for the benefit of their parishioners than there is really no justification for a tax free status.

      Report this comment

      JRook  
    • Kalish
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:50pm

      Well if they want to exempt churches from being tax free, they (atheists) would also have to exempt all their liberal orgs, like the ACLU, Planned ParentHOOD, etc … lets do it !

      Report this comment

      Kalish  
    • 2GodBeTheGlory
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:54pm

      @JRook

      Then change the U.S. Constitution. How simple is that? You cannot change the meaning of the words, so change the words if you can. Either that, or quite winning. You are a child, and thus, should be treated as such.

      Report this comment

      2GodBeTheGlory  
    • The_Woofster
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:59pm

      Because atheisits are afraid of confronting radical islam, face to face. Anybody can kick a puppy.

      I’d really like to see them go to a mosque and spew their “beliefs”. Cowards, they are.

      Report this comment

      The_Woofster  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 3:06pm

      What churches do to benefit anybody is not for you to define. If they only benefit their congregation, are one to judge?

      If they do not get a good charity Navigator rating are you to judge?

      Religious buildings have been opulent for centuries. Not all religions or denominations. Are you to judge?

      The only point that you have made is “Particularly for those churches that utilize it to amass large investment portfolios”. We could have a conversation of building that are not part of the church, parsonage or convent, school, etc. There is some concern there.

      But if tax exempt status was so great then why did I see church sold & become a mosque. Why did I see a beautiful synagogue with a Star of David floor plan sold & turned into a Baptist church? I have also seen other church change hands to another denomination because the congregation dwindled or shifted operations.

      Church activities on college campuses are also good. They have dormitories for kids. Not only do they hold religious service & provide support, they provide a safe haven. they also are a counterweight when damn/ble leftists take of the YMCA & use as a place to organize college leftists.

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
    • Becks_Art_Obama_In_PeePee
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 10:22pm

      “Atheist Activists Sue IRS to Strike Down ‘Preferential Treatment of Churches’”

      This just demonstrates how STUPID man becomes when he thinks there is no God.

      NONE OF US should be under IRS control. Sue for THAT, dumb atheists.
      (“The fool has said in his heart,’There is no God.’ ” -Psalm 14:1)

      Or maybe there’s something else here with the “Freedom From Religion Foundation”:
      “NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER Now Under Attack In AMERICA! ** Mike Huckabee Exposes THE GOD HATERS!!”
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrDefIuwZEo

      Report this comment

      Becks_Art_Obama_In_PeePee  
    • piper60
      Posted on January 1, 2013 at 5:44pm

      So what’s the atheist equivalent of a church?Should we be fair by granting property tax exemption to, say, vacant lots?

      Report this comment

      piper60  
  • drenfroe
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:16pm

    IRS can tell them to go hang.

    Report this comment

    drenfroe  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:15pm

    Who in the bloody hell is funding this group of haters? They have too much time and money on their hands…haters suck.

    Report this comment

    SamIamTwo  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:31pm

      Liberal Atheists don’t complain against their brethren in liberal churches

      “Cathedral Crusade for Gun Control”
      “Then the cathedral announced its relatively new dean, Gary Hall, would sermonize on gun control that Sunday”

      http://frontpagemag.com/2012/mark-d-tooley/cathedral-crusade-for-gun-control/

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
    • YAHSHUARULES
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 6:08pm

      Here is your answer. Connect all the dots
      Do you know who theFabians (with logo of wolf in sheep’s clothing), SDS, Frankfurt School and Willi Munzenberg, John Dewey , Antonio Gramsci, Mattechine Society, Alinksi (who dedicated his book “Rules for Radicals to Lucifer), which Obama taught in Chicago for years, Committees of Correspondence are? Connect all the dots that allowed Obama to waltz into the White House…

      All part of the Agenda to create an America so corrupt it stinks; use public policy to subvert America from inside, infiltrate and influence our culture driving us in a direction designed to destroy us. . If you don’t know all this you need to find out!
      I have watched it 12X to absorb all that is in it!

      This is the most comprehensive, best movie I have seen pulling all this together. Watch it. Share it. Arrange a showing in church, groups, clubs, with friends or family. Everyone who loves America needs to see this movie,
      It is free on line for the moment

      https://vimeo.com/52009124
      If America goes down, the free world will go down with it and it will be finished for a very, very long time…

      Report this comment

      YAHSHUARULES  
  • Qtaug
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:08pm

    Zeus just registered his name so he could Troll here. Isn’t is cold in your mamma’s basement this time of year?

    Report this comment

    Qtaug  
  • JEANNIEMAC
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:02pm

    Ever since Obama got into the Oval Office, the atheists, homosexuals, abortionists, etc. have come crawling out of the shadows. They know they have a friend in the White House.
    Community Organizing is being done on a huge scale now. Occupy Wall Street, atheists demands against Christmas, homosexuals demanding marriage rights, etc. Many unions and groups were given thousands of copies of Saul Alinsky book giving rules for radicals. Hillary Clinton wrote her thesis on this book, and Obama used it extensively.

    Report this comment

    JEANNIEMAC  
    • davecorkery
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:35pm

      We just don’t think that imaginary friends should get tax-free money.

      Report this comment

      davecorkery  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:47pm

      davecorkery

      There is nothing imaginary about a church congregation. They exist. they existed for thousands of years before & they will exists long after you body follows your mind & decays into corruption.

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on January 1, 2013 at 1:27am

      Dave – Then why do Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, Media Matters, and other radical left wing secular groups get tax free money, hypocrite?

      Report this comment

      Git-R-Done  
    • FoxholeAtheist
      Posted on January 4, 2013 at 12:30pm

      God is imaginary. In a more sane world, you would all be locked up and given heavy meds.

      Report this comment

      FoxholeAtheist  
  • TeresaJ
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:53pm

    Evidence of how far off base our country has become. The “equality” bit getting mangled beyond recognition. The only the the Constitution said was that all MEN were created equal, as in no one is born into a higher or lower position than another. No one EVER said that ALL PEOPLE and ALL GROUPS would have “equal” lives. But if you really work at it, it’s possible to twist a word or phrase to mean anything.

    So lets get truthful. Our nation is a religious nation. Our founders acknowledged that a sincere grounding in morality and the Bible was needed to maintain the Constitution and American government. Our religious leaders and institutions were given tax free exemptions to both keep them separate from the government, and to allow them to better serve the people. It did not, and historically so, say that clergy could not be involved in politics, and were in fact, employed by the government. Maybe our forefathers thought we would be smart enough to figure this out.

    Waiting to see if the judes accurately know their history and laws, or if the people will have to teach the judges themselves.

    Report this comment

    TeresaJ  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:19pm

      I don’t necessarily agree with the platform promoting this.However they are right on one thing.Many large churchs have become a tax dodge.This began in the fifties.More of your large churchs became business’s.Contrary to popular belief churchs had no federal exemptions prior to that.[The exception would have been state border cities[bluefield va/wva as an example]They had state exemptions maybe.They almost always had local exemptions.Even back then it was only meant for small churchs.This all was in response to the overtaxation of business’s.
      The main crucible driving this was the influx of communism.They sought to undermine faith by putting a price tag on it.By making the church dependent on government for tax breaks it sought to undermine them totally.In essence to control them.In order to dismantle something you must first have control over it.Now you see the true hidden reason for it all.

      Report this comment

      objectivetruth  
    • TeresaJ
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:13pm

      Taxes aren’t what they used to be either. :)

      Some churches have become corrupt. That’s the real reason behind the corruption of America. But it won’t be fixed by silencing the just ones. That’s one reason we have the freedoms we do in America. So that we will always have the power to turn things back.

      Report this comment

      TeresaJ  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:58pm

      Couldn’t agree more.

      Report this comment

      objectivetruth  
  • neverending
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:52pm

    Appears little barry boy has all his little workers all ready and set to go to help him get his total transformation of everything done. And if this doesn’t work then the commie will just sign an executive order as he does with so many other things.

    Report this comment

    neverending  
  • AllLost
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:51pm

    Depending on the state constitution a church can be taxed, but the federal constitution states that Congress shall make no law.

    I find it funny that atheists are playing both sides of the legal fence. Remove a nativity because the govt should not establish religion, even though Christianity is a faith and not a religion. Yet now they want to have the government establish religion by using IRS law.

    Report this comment

    AllLost  
  • Hiswill
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:50pm

    Zeus: What a shallow, lost soul you are. Christ lives and you are clueless to the joy He can bring. Churches are people reaching out to others that are lost and hurting in the world. They represent one of the few positive things that are trying to make America a better place.
    The majority of the money our Church takes in is sent right back into the community. This money helps people going thru rough patches in their lives. We support a Homeless Mission, a free clinic, a prison ministry.
    Our buildings are open to the Boy Scouts, Home Schooling groups, open basketball nights, and many other non-church activities. We can only do this thru Ties and offerings since we do have utility bills to pay and staff salaries to pay. Being tax-exempt allows us to do more with less.

    Report this comment

    Hiswill  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 3:28pm

      That’s fine. some churches do good. Others don’t. I’m happy enjoying humanity without the need to follow organized religion. I think Jesus as a philosopher is wonderful. I only wish more Christians knew of what Jesus believed…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • U4eeeahhh
      Posted on January 1, 2013 at 7:59pm

      Why would it not be fair for churches to get 501c status like other non-profits and fill in the forms tracking their validity? That’s the different, non-religious non-profits has dozens of forms they must complete to retain their tax free status, churches do not. There’s no exemption for non-profit administrators from social security taxes but there is for preachers, there is no exemption from property taxes for secular non-profits but there is for churches. Why is it that you can’t play by the same rules as everyone else?

      Report this comment

      U4eeeahhh  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on January 4, 2013 at 3:39pm

      Zeus, I can think of a few of his phylosophies that weren’t at all “wonderful”, but there were some fairly decent ones, sure.

      Report this comment

      DeavonReye  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:48pm

    I hope they win. That would leave EVERYONE exempt from obamacare. What a great way to De-fund it! Obama would not need to raise all these taxes and the fiscal cliff (OBAMA ABYSS) will disappear around another corner.

    Report this comment

    Ghandi was a Republican  
  • Daveed
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:45pm

    Hmmmm, Why do atheists hate The globally poor people so much so they want to let them all starve to death and thier children die of fatal diseases like a bad cold because THEY ARE STARVING TO DEATH! Oh yes, because they are Godless, without love, tolerance, generosity and all the B attitudes. Pray for them, Pray for them, Pray for them. We are not poor in the USA. Count your blessings one by one and you will see what the Lord had done. Who do haters of God thinks takes care of all the natural disasters here and all around the world and do it more effeciently than Uncle Samuel and with out all the bureucratic red tape that paralyzes gov’t to the point they are no help to the world poor and acutally get in the way of true progress in providing food, clothing, medicine, medical care, clean water, jobs, training…I can not understand any person hating clean water, food, medicine, warmth, kindness, Clothes, medical treatment, jobs, training for one of God’s children. Christ died for all mankind, even people who try to deny Him. What we out of Christ’s teaching is, love the atheist. I don’t know about you, but the redemptive process through Christ changes a person from the inside out and their lives become blessed, where the governments try to change things from the outside through brute force and burdensome laws that enslave the people. That is just not nice and the opposite of God’s Will. I pray for Hillary in the hospital and wish her a speedy recovery. I like her hair!

    Report this comment

    Daveed  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:52pm

      Daveed, non-believers in organized religion believe in morality, decency, ethics ansd compassion WITHOUT having religious doctrine and the promise of a joyous after-life as incentives to be decent to fellow human beings. I’m sorry you have to be preached to and constantly reminded to be decent, as well as have the spectre of rewards and punishments as additional incentives…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:57pm

      According to Zeus people only espouse and/or follow the precepts Christianity for the promise of an afterlife.

      He can’t prove that. I know of Christians that a Christian simply for goodness’ sake.
      Wow this was already covered by sermons on good trees bearing good fruit & bad trees bearing bad fruit. I forgot the passage that came from. It also covered by the sermons about not being saved by acts but by faith. Good acts will naturally flow by people of good faith.

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
    • Zipit
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:58pm

      Really Zeus! “non-believers in organized religion believe in morality, decency, ethics ans compassion”. Do you know any of them?

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
    • matinva
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:15pm

      Zeus is a myth…and so is everything it just spewed.

      Report this comment

      matinva  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:40pm

      You say you are a moral, decent person, Zeus? Then why not join the party? Christianity, I mean.

      http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Luke%2014.16-23

      Report this comment

      The_Cabrito_Goat  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 3:05pm

      Cabrito, if I’m naturally, normally compassionate, ethical and moral, why should I “join” Christianity if I don’t belive in the mythology behind it? Would you join non-believers and renounce your beliefs? No. So why should I join something I have no belief in?

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 11:09pm

      Just saying you’d fit in well. Go ahead and tear up the invitation.

      Report this comment

      The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • TreeTrimmerJim
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:41pm

    This law suit, based on the original constitutional concept that all people and businesses must be taxed equally, argues that 16th amendment to the Constitution, which allowed legislation to given some people and some businesses different tax treatment than others, is not legal. The law suit must be arguing for a flat tax, the original constitutional concept.

    Equality of people and business is a relatively new concept in governing a nation, its a Judeo/Christian concept written into the first law of the United States.

    Atheist: a person who does not believe in the existence of God or gods:

    A one time in history people who followed christianity were considered atheists by Romans because they didn’t have a statue of their God. They still don’t.

    Report this comment

    TreeTrimmerJim  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:39pm

    I love my God with all my heart and soul. We voluntarily give to our sacred church and taxes on that money has already been paid to the government. God will not be mocked…. Life is Short and Eternity is forever,

    Report this comment

    IMCHRISTIAN  
    • neverending
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:54pm

      So true!

      Report this comment

      neverending  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:28pm

      The State isn’t done bleeding you yet. His priests and His Messiah need that money to carry out their good works of autocratic utopian oppression.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
  • bonesiii
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:23pm

    They’d better be careful with trying to be seen as the same as churches, because it’s their claim that they’re different that is how they snuck their religion into our government-funded schools despite the establishment clause…

    Report this comment

    bonesiii  
  • Shakemeawake
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:23pm

    Atheism is a religion, they better watch out or the pendulum will swing the other way.

    Report this comment

    Shakemeawake  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:28pm

      Shake, your ignorance is staggering, but not surprising…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • The_Woofster
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:35pm

      So if you believe in nothing, you certianly believe in something. Lets see you point your empty guns at radical Islam, you coward.

      Report this comment

      The_Woofster  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:39pm

      Woofster, just don’t shoot yourself waiting for the bogeyman to come in your window…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • Qtaug
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:05pm

      “When Hera gave birth to Hephaestus, Zeus threw him off the top of Mount Olympus because of his repulsive appearance.” Zeus offered “abortion on demand”, his of course, but hey, Libs are nothing, if not ignorant!

      Report this comment

      Qtaug  
    • Baerlin
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:10pm

      Hey Zeus – Read up in the Supreme Court case Torcaso vs Watkins (1961) where they ruled that Secular Humanism is in fact a religion. And just for clarification, secular humanism is atheism. So either join the club and fill out the form for your own tax exempt status or just quit pushing peoples buttons. Everyone has a belief even if they choose to believe in nothing.

      Report this comment

      Baerlin  
    • The_Woofster
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:54pm

      This is the part I like the most there mr. “zeus”. You’ve assumed that my beliefs entail a bogeyman. You call it whatever you want. You don’t even know who I am, or what my beliefs actually are. Just who are you, or what power do you possess, or have given to yourself, to assume that? Interesting. And besides, whomever decides to climb in my window better be the bogeyman, because it’ll disapper quicker than the next round chambered.

      From what I see, you seem to spout your belief in your disbelief, with much arrogance, and more ignorance with every post.

      “Never kick a witchdoctor in the ass”

      Report this comment

      The_Woofster  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 3:14pm

      Otaug, I’m not a liberal, I’m a centrist. I realize Fox News desperately wants to convey that the world is black or white, good or evil, but it’s a very complex, grey world…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 3:17pm

      Woof, the bogeyman I was refering to was your assumption that an armed Muslim is at my door…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • The_Woofster
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 4:06pm

      UMMM?

      How did:

      “Woofster, just don’t shoot yourself waiting for the bogeyman to come in your window…”

      Turn into:

      “Woof, the bogeyman I was refering to was your assumption that an armed Muslim is at my door…”

      When clearly I was saying that atheists and related cowards won’t confront radical islam in the same manner as they attack Christians. You’d lose your head, litteraly; now wouldn’t you?

      I dare them to stand in front of a mosque and spew the hatered there.

      Enough said, moving on.

      Report this comment

      The_Woofster  
    • U4eeeahhh
      Posted on January 1, 2013 at 8:06pm

      Several posters here mention that atheist don’t talk about Muslims. That is completely untrue, Hitchens, Maher, Dawkins, Greta Christina have all been critical in very pointed ways about Muslims in America and the Middle East. But why do we target America Xians so musch. Because Muslims are about .4% of the population. Insignificant problem here in the USA circa 2013, But they are just a version of the same supernatural myths that Xians are anyway.
      See this video http://youtu.be/GUI_ML1qkQE

      Report this comment

      U4eeeahhh  
  • reconmarine
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:20pm

    It must be terrible going through life with nothing to believe in.

    Report this comment

    reconmarine  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:27pm

      Non-believers in organized religion believe in morality, decency, ethics ansd compassion WITHOUT having religious doctrine and the promise of a joyous after-life as incentives to be decent to fellow human beings. I’m sorry you have to be preached to and constantly reminded to be decent, as well as have the spectre of rewards and punishments as additional incentives…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • Nevermind
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:52pm

      reconmarine

      It must be terrible going through life with nothing to believe in.
      *********

      Poor assumption. I am agnostic and my life is great. I do feel bad for religious folks to go thru life believing in fairy tales, yet think SAnta and the eater bunny are made up. There is just as much proof in santa and easter bunny as there is a god yet you folks get suckered and give 10% of your income to a faily tale. that is sad

      Report this comment

      Nevermind  
    • TreeTrimmerJim
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:53pm

      @Zeus …. Who decide what is moral, ethical and compassionate?

      In one corner we have “Legal Rights” where the political party in power makes those decisions. In the other corner we have “Natural Rights” where nature and nature’s God decide.

      Which do you want deciding for you? Your neighbor with a gun or a higher power?

      Report this comment

      TreeTrimmerJim  
    • Berbel73
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:55pm

      Zeus your comments show just how ignorant aethists are.

      Report this comment

      Berbel73  
    • Berbel73
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:15pm

      Sorry Nevermind but Santa Claus is real so your argument doesn’t hold up. http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/origin-of-santa/

      Report this comment

      Berbel73  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on January 1, 2013 at 1:31am

      Nevermind – You might want to study up on history since Santa Claus really did exist as St. Nicholas in the 4th century in present day Turkey.

      Report this comment

      Git-R-Done  
  • Zeus is THE Lord
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:17pm

    It’s aout time churches were taxed, as many act as lobyyists, trying to affect legistlation and votes with their heavy-handed agenda…

    Report this comment

    Zeus is THE Lord  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:33pm

      When/If the tax barrier is lifted and churches are then no longer prevented from politicking from the pulpit you will see preachers/priests/clergy telling their congregations who they should vote for, lest their “souls” be in jeopardy. I have no problems with this, free speech above all. Maybe Catholics would vote less for abortionist Democrats if their priests required them to perform penance or labeled it as a mortal sin. I think your State worshiping brothers have over played their hand and it will likely backfire and they’ll get more than what they asked for.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
    • TeresaJ
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:58pm

      They have a right to, and even a duty to. Thats why the churches’ lawyers have been trying to get the IRS to sue them on purpose. FFRF is doing them a favor.

      Report this comment

      TeresaJ  
  • vaman
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:11pm

    Every church should report their earnings. Let’s see how much these “meek shall inherit the earth” groups make annually. As an example, mega church pastors are millionaires and their churches are businesses, no matter how they try to deny it. Next step is to start taxing churches. They should pay like everyone else. God will provide I’ve been told. So he can start by getting these churches to pay in to the system, just like the rest of us. Being a free-loader is not American. Being part of the 47% is not American. Churches fall in to both categories.

    Report this comment

    vaman  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:18pm

      Vatican Corp. alone should be dismantled and audited…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • chewfatlip
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:28pm

      My church holds a congregational meeting and goes over the proposed budget line by line and then gets approval from the members of the church. You have obviously never been part of a church.

      Report this comment

      chewfatlip  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:08pm

    What an angry, pathetic, whiny little group the FFRF is. No, not all atheists, just this miserable bunch of stooges. The atheists I know don’t get their knickers in a twist over God and religion. They just want people to live and let live.

    Report this comment

     
  • DZ-015
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:03pm

    What’s the problem? When the atheists set up their own non-church assembly halls, they will be treated just like any other religion under the tax laws.

    Report this comment

    DZ-015  
  • ares338
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:01pm

    I used to not have any problems with Atheists…..now it’s WTF! Don’t these people have a life? I’ll bet they are using the ACLU. ACLU=Azzwipe Clods Litigating Unfairly.

    Report this comment

    ares338  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:15pm

      As opposed to whiny Christians, who bitch and moan about every perceived threat and slight, even when they’re the most coddled group in America?

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • Fubared
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:41pm

      Zits
      what are you whining crying about again? go pray to your messiah 0.

      Report this comment

      Fubared  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:50pm

      Zeus is lord.

      If Zeus existed, I would be on better terms with him then you would. He doesn’t like craven little snipers like you. I am sure there is a punishment much like Tantalus’s awaiting you.

      ***
      User Profile: Zeus is THE Lord << Occupation: troll

      Member Since: December 29, 2012

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
    • Marine25
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 2:26pm

      @walkabout
      Why do you say ‘if Zeus existed’? Are you saying you don’t believe in him? Why not?

      And on you reply to my assertion that STD’s being most common in the bible belt is quite ironic;
      So by re-clustering the map the data would show those STD patients actually don’t live in the south?
      I await you to enlighten me with how a demographic cartographer could redraw subregions and change the physical location of these STDs.

      Report this comment

      Marine25  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 4:11pm

      Marine 25
      Read the book “The Clustering of America”

      Saying the south has high STDs & then wanting say something about southerners is meaningless

      It is meaning less to say that because England had a a high syphilis rate in the 1600s that you can draw inferences about a subgroup like the Puritans.

      A region as big as the south has many sub cultures. Which subcultures are driving the rates up?

      In the book “The Clustering of America”, they identify groups like bluebloods, hardscrabble, holy rollers & others. You, Marine 25 (if you are a marine), paint like you are ham fisted, so you might as well use a roller & be done with it..

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
    • MONICNE
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 5:03pm

      Walkabout Team: for those of us familiar with our country, (like, duh, we grew up here!) we do not need to categorize folks into textbook groups to understand how our fellow citizens behave and believe. Only trickster foreigners would treat your latest “book of truth” fad as more than a sociology treatise meant for Community Colleges. Maybe some of the Anglican sounding posers will benefit from your referral – they need a paradigm to explain why they are really not inferior to Americans.

      But, keep up your posturing! This just proves our olde Australian chucklehead team is bumfuzzled as a Berkshire bullock laid cattywumpus to a stonewall stile surrounded by laughing stock.

      Hey, happy new year – make a commitment to be proud of who you really are in 2013. Or, stay under your US-Hating rock, Hobbits!

      Report this comment

      MONICNE  
    • Marine25
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 9:06pm

      @walkabout
      I read Weiss’ book probably 15 or 20 years ago. Interesting work especially considering it’s the new direction political campaigns are taking towards identifying voters.
      My point was about the region of the south. It is ironic that the bible belt, moral majority section of the country leads in STDs associated with promiscuity. You can blame it on Memphis and Atlanta all you want, but that’s part of the south. Seems recently conservatives rationalize bad news, bad data and bad behavior by redefining the offending person or event out of the equation. ‘RINO’ for anyone who doesn’t vote in lockstep with the tea-party, ‘not a real christian’ for pedophile priests and Westboro Baptist, the shooter in Clackamas County Oregon was not really white because they appeared slightly ‘polynesian’, (that one cracked me up here at the Blaze once folks had convinced themselves the shooter was an arab). The sub groups make up the group. My comment was about the south as a region as that is how it was constructed in the cartograph. The region is as much urban Memphis and meth-lab Mississippi as it is country-clubs in Tallahassee. ‘Proper’ southerners may not like it, but they haven’t liked it for about 150 years, have they?

      Report this comment

      Marine25  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 9:43pm

      Marine 25

      Saying the south has high STDs & then wanting say something about southerners is meaningless

      It is meaning less to say that because England had a a high syphilis rate in the 1600s that you can draw inferences about a subgroup like the Puritans.

      A region as big as the south has many sub cultures. Which subcultures are driving the rates up?
      ***
      Evangelical whites, black Christians & other make up the south. If the # of cases is driven by the latter group & you want to pin it on the former, then you are not being logical.

      Also I do not know any Marines as obtuse as you. Maybe you never were or it is the reason you are not one now.

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
  • hi
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 11:57am

    I say let churches fill out the onerous form and pay the expensive filing fees so we can have freedom of speech.
    That is just so horrible that the FFRF had to spend 5 minutes filling out a form and a few hundred bucks.

    Report this comment

    hi  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:12pm

      The church budget is usually in the hands of a small group.

      If they filled out these forms, I think conservative groups will become more activist 7 the libs will not like that. I also think that liberal churches will see more membership drops until the bitter end.

      The bitter end is when you have a handful these ultra liberal church leaders, who have sued every congregation for their land to punish them for not following their liberal ways. So what do you do with a group of church liberals that have way more churches than people?

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 11:57am

    FFRF seeks to enjoin the IRS from continuing to exempt churches and related organizations from the application and annual reporting required of all other non-profit organizations under §501(c)(3).

    First, Lyndon Johnson was mad at some one & slipped the language preventing churches from having policy positions based on their belief system. What he did was wrong & shows one of the big problems with how Congress does business. Riders, amendments & pork in every freaking bill There is a hardly a clean bill passed. This was don by Mr exhibitionist showing off in all his glory on Air Force 1. LBJ a paragon of the left.

    Second, the FFRF better be careful what they wish for. If this went thru, liberal church leaders might be ousted in greater numbers than they are now.

    Report this comment

    Walkabout  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 11:52am

    Tell you what atheistic activists~~~ how about WE THE REGULAR, EVERYDAY, PEOPLE get the same treatment you are demanding: you guys shut up and sit down?

    You don’t like GOD? Fine. Deal with it. You will one day.
    Leave those of us alone who do LOVE AND OBEY HIM alone.

    Report this comment

    kickagrandma  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:16pm

      The problem is whiny Christians can’t shut up and do anything alone….

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:23pm

      @zeus~~~ you are wrong about the LORD part, first off.
      Second error is this: REAL CHRISTIANS ARE not whiny. We are more into action and follow THE ONE WHO SAID HE came to earth not to bring peace but a sword.

      Report this comment

      kickagrandma  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on December 31, 2012 at 11:49am

    Atheists worship the State. All should bend knee to The State because the Statists (aka Atheists) will have no other God except their own.

    Report this comment

    Cavallo  
    • justangry
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 11:55am

      I don’t worship the state. As a matter a fact I find the state revolting in every way. I even hate the state when it bombs people overseas for no good reason and throws people in jail for doing what they want. Do you? Or is that part of the state that you think “ain’t so bad”?

      Report this comment

      justangry  
    • Mandors
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 11:58am

      What atheists worship does start with “S” but it’s not always the state.

      Report this comment

      Mandors  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:07pm

      Then you are a heretic and your brothers will punish you the same with the heathen God believers. Christians shall fall first, for they don’t fight back.

      In more seriousness though, Atheism is the official religion of communist/marxist/socialist tyrannical regimes that murder tens of millions. It is the evangelical Atheism that replaces God(s) with the State. Religion takes away from reliance upon the State. Therefore it must be wiped out or at least made subservient to The State.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:19pm

      Cavallo, get a clue. Mere non-belief in your brand of mythology does not equate to being another religion…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:24pm

      Cavallo, you honestly have no clue about non-believers. You’re so wrapped up in religion and party poitics being one and the same that you can’t comprehend mere non-belief being anything but non-belief. Does not believing in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny also equate to worshipping the State? Idiocy, Cavallo. Get a clue…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:55pm

      @Zeus, My clue covers the entire history of the 20th century and the blood thirsty and vile nature of atheistic communists. They’ve gathered oceans of blood that not even a thousand years of myopic religious crusades could match. Philosophical non-believers are not at issue, but he evangelical atheistic bigoted anti-Christian statists that attempt to use the power of their God the State to root out their opposition.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
    • Berbel73
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 1:06pm

      No Zeus trying to equate Santa Claus and the Easter bunny with GOD and belief in GOD is idiocy since there is no comparision. I thought you aethists prided yourselves on being logical?

      Report this comment

      Berbel73  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 3:09pm

      Berbel, I am logical. That is why I’m an agnostic, not an atheist. God can neither be proven or disproven, that is why the devout on both sides are faulty. As Mark Twain so aptly put it: “Faith is believing what you know isn’t true.” Amen to that…

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
    • fixer
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 8:19pm

      zues…have you never heard of Christian soldiers? also if you are correct and Christians are wrong,so what,no harm done.However,if we are correct and you are wrong,you are going to have an eternity to regret your decision.

      Report this comment

      fixer  
    • Zeus is THE Lord
      Posted on December 31, 2012 at 10:33pm

      Fixer, even if I wanted to believe in the Christian god, I could never worship a deity that demands you worship him lest you suffer eternal damnation. It’s ironic that the Christian conservatives who cite Muslims who believe infidels should be killed as barbaric, and believe that government is intruding on their lives, would want to follow a god who will make you suffer if you don’t worship him. Sounds a lot like living in North Korea.

      Report this comment

      Zeus is THE Lord  
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