Are religious organizations constitutionally exempt from taxation

[Good Luck]

Which seems to me to indicate that "Dixie's" take on the Free Exercise clause is fairly uncommon, and there seems to be no verifiable justification for it.

Not necessarily. In the first place, I am quite familiar with the argument, even though I do not agree with it. So maybe the idea is not quite as uncommon as you are implying? Second, just because an idea has not been officially tested in the courts does not automatically invalidate it.

Case in point: until Heller, anti-gun liberals were certain we did not have a leg to stand on when challenging the constitutionality of their gun laws. You might say they claimed there was no verifiable justification for claiming that the 2nd Amendment protected the right to self defense. Yet, it turns out that argument was valid all along, as SCOTUS upheld it when a case finally challenged it.

Now, IMO, if a church tax were challenged on those grounds, it would fail. But then, I could be wrong.

Of this I am certain: any tax on religious institutions will be overturned, eventually, because of my previous explanation that is is not possible to instate such a tax that does not end up favoring some churches over others whether intended or not. As such, the interpretation of whether taxation interferes with free exercise of religion is not a necessary test.

 

[Cancel8]

Not necessarily. In the first place, I am quite familiar with the argument, even though I do not agree with it. So maybe the idea is not quite as uncommon as you are implying? Second, just because an idea has not been officially tested in the courts does not automatically invalidate it.

Case in point: until Heller, anti-gun liberals were certain we did not have a leg to stand on when challenging the constitutionality of their gun laws. You might say they claimed there was no verifiable justification for claiming that the 2nd Amendment protected the right to self defense. Yet, it turns out that argument was valid all along, as SCOTUS upheld it when a case finally challenged it.

Now, IMO, if a church tax were challenged on those grounds, it would fail. But then, I could be wrong.

Of this I am certain: any tax on religious institutions will be overturned, eventually, because of my previous explanation that is is not possible to instate such a tax that does not end up favoring some churches over others whether intended or not. As such, the interpretation of whether taxation interferes with free exercise of religion is not a necessary test.

Thanks for your well-reasoned reply. I must add that your manner is refreshing, since you convey information dispassionetly, without petty insults or evasive replies. It's a pleasure to discuss issues with you.

 

[Good Luck]

Thanks for your well-reasoned reply. I must add that your manner is refreshing, since you convey information dispassionetly, without petty insults or evasive replies. It's a pleasure to discuss issues with you.

Thanks. For the most part I try to give what I receive.

But make no mistake - I have no problem openly disparaging ideas with outright and deliberately insulting phraseology when I find them to be exceptionally stupid.

Ditto certain posters.