I like to think that Obama was a closet Atheists. It boggles my mind that intelligent beings can possibly believe in a God.

@maturin1919 Uh, no, they don't and their property is also tax exempt as it is called part of their church.

@maturin1919 I think you should check on that. I believe you're mistaken and I'll do the same.
\

@maturin1919 They put all of their property under the church's name, use it freely and it is tax exempt.

@maturin1919 If they don't do that their accountants and lawyers are idiots.

@maturin1919 Yes, I do, and if you'd examine these organizations closely you'd see it too. As for the IRS asking questions, they've practically stopped examining ANY religious organization, particularly the Evangelical Christians. Are you aware of the Johnson Amendment? Per that law, any tax-exempt organization that endorses specific candidates or parties is supposed to lose their tax exempt status. How many of these organizations are being so sanctioned? NONE. Trump even has one of them in the White House. Wake up and realize how deep their grip is on our government.

@maturin1919 The IRS is why we have good accountants and lawyers. So you're saying church leaders and officials don't take advantage of tax exemptions and write offs? Once again if they don't they need new accountants and lawyers. We'll agree to disagree

@ronnie40356 And I'll repeat Myself. When a religious organization, or ANY tax exempt organization, makes specific endorsements of a particular party or candidate, they LOSE that protection according to the Johnson Amendment. The IRS is NOT doing their job or people like Franklin Graham would not STILL be enjoying their organization's tax exempt status. I"m also saying that churches have become businesses and should be treated as such, not as some kind of sacred system that is beyond responsibility for their property and other possessions.

@sterlingdean I'll agree with this and your point that they should be taxed but won't. It doesn't negate my point about their lawyers and accountants taking advantage of the system.

@sterlingdean, @maturin1919 We agree that everyone tries to pay as little taxes as possible. So do I. I was debating your point that pastors and/or church workers will not hide their property, homes, cars, etc. under the church exemption. I disagreed on that, if I understood you correctly.

@maturin1919 We seem to be going in circles. I'm here trying to point out that pastors can, and do hide assets under the church exempt umbrella. So I'm guessing we'll agree to disagree.

@maturin1919 Apparently not. So we'll agree to disagree about whatever the hell each of us were talking about.

@ToolGuy because religion is political. It's been a valuable and effective tool for generations

@ToolGuy because they're getting a free ride without contributing....

@ToolGuy of course taxes are income for the government... I'm taxed, am I more political because I'm taxed..?

@ToolGuy tax refunds come from federal, state, and city.. we do pay federal taxes..

@ToolGuy I don't have time to comment, but thanks for the link. I'll watch it.

@ToolGuy yes, I know.. the refund comes from an overpayment to the government..

@ToolGuy no, but I looked up an article about it.. try reading this

[mercatus.org]

I agree & their political opponents would spend millions on ads comparing them to those blood thirsty dictators. Theists also believe in magical fairy beings and that the earth is 5,000 y.o. Very few atheists would preside like they did, or be able to do what they did as long as the US remains a democracy. That in itself is looking doubtful.

That didn't occur to me. You bring up a very good point about the dummies in D.C. Which makes the world we live in even sader.

Just because a Politician claims he is a believer and or believes in a religion does not necessarily mean he actually believes in this nonsense .It only indicates he has the common sense not to jeopardize his political future by being truthful .And honest politician is an Oxymoron

Good point....pols are always pandering to the religious because there are so many religious idiots in the USA. @granny

@TheMiddleWay First, an atheist is not going to be elected. Second, being "out of touch" with the religiously intoxicated is a plus IMO, but then I'm an atheist. That doesn't mean the atheist couldn't be a good president. What it means, and I think what you're saying is they couldn't run it because 80% of the country would refuse to allow them to do a good job. We'll agree there.

@AnViAn I don't know. Even though I voted for him, I was surprised that Obama won, because I didn't think there were enough Amerians who weren't racist to vote for him.

I think there are some religious persons who would vote for an atheist, but it is hard to tell just how many there are. Because of Obama's election, I moved to a more optimistic outlook... although Trump's election has made me wonder.