# Religion: where do we draw the line

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-where-do-we-draw-the-line/944869>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [June 23, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-where-do-we-draw-the-line/944869 "2021-06-23T01:30:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-where-do-we-draw-the-line/944869/81 "2021-06-27T22:55:23Z")

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> [@thorny\_locust](#):
>
> Churches are also exempt from property taxes. And some of them have quite a bit of property.

In some localities, that is not a federal law. Sure, if other types of non-profits are not exempt from property tax in your locality, but churches are, I can see how that would be seem to be unfair. Feel free to lobby to get rid of the church exemption. I neither condemn nor condone that.

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**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-where-do-we-draw-the-line/944869/82 "2021-06-28T15:38:02Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Sure, if other types of non-profits are not exempt from property tax in your locality, but churches are, I can see how that would be seem to be unfair.

Generally churches are part of a number of groups that gain property tax exemptions (usually included in property tax exemptions are non-profit universities/schools and non-profit hospitals, among others). One can ask if they should be included in those groups, sure.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-where-do-we-draw-the-line/944869/83 "2021-06-28T15:50:10Z")

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No, I do not accept that. If a broad range of groups are give the property Tax exemptions, then you have to includes churches.

If it is only churches, then that is different.

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**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-where-do-we-draw-the-line/944869/84 "2021-06-28T15:53:02Z")

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I think you misunderstand. Localities choose small self-selected groups that gains property tax exemption. It isn’t all 501c3 groups. So the question is whether churches should be in that small self-selected group.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-where-do-we-draw-the-line/944869/85 "2021-06-28T16:00:17Z")

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If a broad group are included, then churches have to be.

Otherwise, exluding them would be a clear violation of the 1st Ad.

If it is only churches, then the exemption could be dropped. Or if there is a broad exemption, then _all_ could be dropped.

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