Saturday, January 25, 2014

Openly atheist lawmaker in Nebraska introduces bill that he says honors Jesus by asking churches and religious organizations to pay their taxes.

Courtesy of Raw Story:  

An atheist lawmaker has proposed legislation in Nebraska that would essentially tax churches and other religious organizations. 

Ernie Chambers, who may be the highest-ranking openly atheist politician in the country, introduced a bill that would eliminate a state property tax exemption for those organizations. 

Chambers, an independent, submitted the bill, LB675, as simply a copy of the existing statute with the word “religious” crossed out at each mention among groups that are currently exempt from property taxes. 

The lawmaker, who is the longest-serving senator in Nebraska history, suggested the measure to generate more revenue and reduce local government reliance on state funding. 

“Religious people say they want to carry out the directives of Jesus who said, ‘Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,’ when he was asked whether taxes should be paid to Caesar. In short: ‘PAY YOUR TAXES,’” Chambers wrote in the bill’s statement of intent. “This bill simply carries out what Jesus wanted to see his followers do, and they certainly want to see the Scriptures fulfilled.”

Sounds fair to me.

And since we are on the subject of honoring the wishes of Jesus perhaps these churches might want to remember Matthew 6:6:  

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

In other words gathering in a building to pray together, is exactly what Jesus did NOT want people to do.

You know I am never going to be comfortable with religion, but it would do much to improve my relationship with them if they would start to act as if they have read, and actually understand, the teachings of the man they claim to love and respect.

24 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:30 AM

    It's about time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:10 PM

      Here is one to piss the fuck off you Gman! https://www.aclu.org/blog/religion-belief/if-you-want-fit-public-school-just-become-christian
      Kid bullied in school b/c he isn't a kkkristian!!! He's a Buddhist!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:48 AM

      you forgot to add "Hellgeland" (a Place in norway), its mentioned in the StarCraft 2 release.

      Delete
  2. That’s true. You’re absolutely supposed to pray in private. If making a public spectacle of yourself praying is how you show off, then I guess private praying is out of the question and it’s all just a social life.

    The person or persons crafting the Jesus figure were astute. I have to admire them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe the Pharisees made public spectacles of their devotion, praying in public, etc.

      I think the bible says we're not supposed to be like them.

      I'm surprised at how many so called Christians are exactly the opposite of what the bible says they are supposed to be.

      Joel Osteen and his prosperity preaching comes immediately to mind.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:50 PM

      I believe the bible is an antiquated piece of shit.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:30 AM

    But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

    ---

    How does that jibe with the pole and other Christian efforts in schools? Mandating or peer-pressuring gestures of faith on tax paid grounds just confounds me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous6:02 AM

    Amen, Brother Gryph!

    OT: Is there anyway to delete the toenail fungus ad that pops up on IM? At least put a sock on it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:32 AM

      Install ghostery. Ads? Ohhh ya.. I remember that...

      Delete
  5. Anonymous6:30 AM

    I knew Ernie many years ago when we were both charter members of the Nebraska ACLU. He's smart as a whip and has always been a thorn in the side of the status quo, especially when he argues that college football players ought to be paid as state employees (yes, he's talking about the Cornhuskers). He also once sued God. He's a Nebraska institution.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:17 AM

      He sounds awesome!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:29 AM

      He *is* awesome - go Ernie!

      Delete
  6. Anonymous7:12 AM

    This article is on numerous sites and Chambers is getting a lot of positive comments.
    Before long Swaggert (sp?) and his ilk will be spitting fire and brimstone.

    Pat Padrnos

    ReplyDelete
  7. Boscoe7:59 AM

    The way I see it, if a holy man is legit, then God will provide for him, right? If he requires money from PEOPLE, that's how you should know he's a fraud. It's called FAITH, people. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous8:13 AM

    Let's hope the movement is successful and grows to encompass the US. It is way past time for the political pulpits to be paying taxes for their oratory on how women should be treated and who to vote for if you want to be a "good" xtian.

    If there is anyway we can be supportive of a push to accomplish this taxing of the churches keep us apprised of how.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous8:50 AM

    "You know I am never going to be comfortable with religion, but it would do much to improve my relationship with them if they would start to act as if they have read, and actually understand, the teachings of the man they claim to love and respect."

    You could likely do a lot to improve your "relationship with them" by not painting all religious cultures and persons of faith with the same broad brush. It's very tiresome and only demonstrates your narrow minded ignorance.

    And, 3, 2, 1... cue the IM flying monkeys.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:46 AM

      Not coming at you as a flying monkey but I would appreciate it if you elaborate as to how your church is so much different than the vast majority of christian churches. What makes you or your faith so unique? Just curious.

      Delete
    2. No true Scottsman fallacy.
      If you don't wish to be painted with that same broad brush, then stop being delusional.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:45 AM

    Christians will argue that they use the money they save on taxes to do more community outreach and help others when anyone with eyes can see they actually use their tax savings to build more elaborate churches. Christianity is a grift extraordinaire that in no way resembles anything written in the bible and in fact seems to operate to the contrary of the laws set forth in both testaments.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:31 AM

      Well - there you go again making sense!!

      Pat Padrnos

      Delete
  11. I think they first thing they need to do is know the difference between Jesus and Saul of Tarsus.

    Next, they need to throw out EVERYTHING the Puritans added to protestantism.

    I think the Puritans did more to damage this country than anything or anyone. You can trace our bigotry, racism, prejudice, sadism and masochism to the Puritans. All of our current birth control, abortion, sex and control over women issues can be traced directly to the Puritans.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:51 PM

      I think religion had a place when we were fighting to survive, but in this day and age science, reason, and compassion is all we need. Religion has no place in the future.

      Delete
  12. Anita Winecooler5:41 PM

    I've been for this idea as long as I can remember. Can't speak for all churches, but the Roman Catholic Church is one of the biggest offenders, and should pay more in taxes since they've closed so many schools to sweep the predator priest problem under the rugs. I'm sure, even now, they can afford to carry their own weight.

    Of course, this will bring out the "You didn't build that" meme from the idjits, but it's our tax dollars that maintain the road system that gets the faithful to the pews without worrying about breaking an axle or having to hire a snow plow to clean the streets.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous9:03 PM

    I'm happy to see Ernie Chambers is still , well, Ernie Chambers! I lived in Omaha 35 years ago and he was an activist then stirring things up. It really makes me happy to see he's still making a difference.

    ReplyDelete

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