There’s definitely a difference between faith, and organised religion. I think the worst thing that can happen to any religion is to become an official state religion. At that point it becomes a tool for politics and social control. It unavoidably gets corrupted in some way. People aren’t part of it because they believe, but because they have to.
Horrible indeed. Being force-joined into a cult. Where I live I was joined by my parents at birth (just because “it’s that way”, not because they were believers) and I had to PAY to leave that church officially much later. Incredible. I didn’t sign a contract or was at a legal age to do so, I wasn’t asked and couldn’t even speak anyway, yet I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get out of that contract 18yrs later.
At least in this country it’s without consequences (except saving a shitton of money) or social pressure. Other societies have it much worse :-(
Through taxes. You pay (I forgot how many) percent of your salary/income. So, very legal. Church makes a buttload of moneyz and still asks for spare change in mass 😂
I pay waaaaaay less taxes now, it’s literally a church-tax added on top of the other taxes. Unless you leave (which requires jumping some hoops) you’d pay.
And we’re free though. Just if your parents are dumb enough to join you (“because everyone else does that too!”) at birth then that’s it.
It’s as stupid as it sounds, yes. Germany btw.
a wiki excerpt:
For example, a person earning €50,000 may pay income tax at 20% (€10,000); the church tax is an additional 8% (or 9%) of that sum (€800 or €900).[10] The paid church tax is deductible in year of paying and reduces the taxable income.
8 fucking percent. And the unfair and mean part is: the less you earn the more it hurts. This is daylight-robbery.
There’s definitely a difference between faith, and organised religion. I think the worst thing that can happen to any religion is to become an official state religion. At that point it becomes a tool for politics and social control. It unavoidably gets corrupted in some way. People aren’t part of it because they believe, but because they have to.
Horrible indeed. Being force-joined into a cult. Where I live I was joined by my parents at birth (just because “it’s that way”, not because they were believers) and I had to PAY to leave that church officially much later. Incredible. I didn’t sign a contract or was at a legal age to do so, I wasn’t asked and couldn’t even speak anyway, yet I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get out of that contract 18yrs later.
At least in this country it’s without consequences (except saving a shitton of money) or social pressure. Other societies have it much worse :-(
How does that work? How can you be made to pay? That does not sound legal to me. Can’t you just leave and ignore it?
Through taxes. You pay (I forgot how many) percent of your salary/income. So, very legal. Church makes a buttload of moneyz and still asks for spare change in mass 😂
I’m afraid I still don’t quite get it. Do you pay less taxes now? Do members of this church pay more taxes?
It all sounds completely at odds with the concept of freedom of religion.
I pay waaaaaay less taxes now, it’s literally a church-tax added on top of the other taxes. Unless you leave (which requires jumping some hoops) you’d pay. And we’re free though. Just if your parents are dumb enough to join you (“because everyone else does that too!”) at birth then that’s it. It’s as stupid as it sounds, yes. Germany btw.
a wiki excerpt:
8 fucking percent. And the unfair and mean part is: the less you earn the more it hurts. This is daylight-robbery.