Originally posted by Clark Addison
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I pay mine in shared wisdom with Mormons on CUF. The value of my words is beyond measure. Temples could be built for less. -
Solon had an interesting post on tithing in another thread I'd like to take here. I'd like to hear more about why a ten percent tax (which I had always thought of as the quintessential flat tax) is actually a "truly regressive" tax, and if tithing really is a regressive tax, what a "flat" tax would look like.τὸν ἥλιον ἀνατέλλοντα πλείονες ἢ δυόμενον προσκυνοῦσινComment
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Originally posted by All-American View Post
"Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. UchtdorfComment
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tithing (and any flat tax without some standard deduction or credit for baseline consumptive expenses) is regressive in terms of consumption power.Originally posted by All-American View PostTe Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est.Comment
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A flat tax without any deductions or credit is a proportional tax. Tithing is not a flat tax, or maybe it's more correct to say it's a proportional tax. It certainly is regressive in terms of consumption power but it is not regressive in terms of taxation.Originally posted by old_gregg View Post
I'd argue though that tithing is not anything like a tax. There is no audit on tithing and frankly very little rules on what to pay. Having spent considerable time looking at tithing donations during my life I'd argue that many people's definition of tithing varies. I've seen people pay much less than 10% of net income and declare a full tithe and I've seen people pay likely more than 10% of gross (or what they would deem to be gross) and declare a full tithe.
I've also noticed during my lifetime a huge reduction in the emphasis on paying tithing. Sure the emphasis is still there, but one of the beautiful things of not having paid local clergy is that the bishop really doesn't care how much tithing you pay. His salary and the ward budget are not dependent on the amount paid by the individual members of his ward. I was chatting with my new boss a couple weeks ago about tithing (she's evangelical) and it was interesting to see how her church handles tithing. The members basically pledge an amount to the church at the beginning of the year and the pastor uses those pledges to set the budget. If they come up short then he has to plead for more donations to pay for utilities, interest payments on bonds, his salary, etc. I'm glad our bishop doesn't have to spend his time doing that."Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. UchtdorfComment
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Upon review, my earlier post is more hostile in tone than I intended. I'm much more curious, and maybe a bit surprised. Hopefully, Solon knows I would never be intentionally mean to a classicist.τὸν ἥλιον ἀνατέλλοντα πλείονες ἢ δυόμενον προσκυνοῦσινComment
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If you scared off Solon with your jerkiness, I will never forgive you!Originally posted by All-American View Post"There is no creature more arrogant than a self-righteous libertarian on the web, am I right? Those folks are just intolerable."
"It's no secret that the great American pastime is no longer baseball. Now it's sanctimony." -- Guy Periwinkle, The Nix.
"Juilliardk N I ibuprofen Hyu I U unhurt u" - creeksterComment
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While I agree about less emphasis on tithing per se, it's been more than replaced by an increased emphasis on holding a tithing recommend. Perhaps this is due to the closer proximity of temples. Growing up in the midwest, the closest temples were still in Utah which was a 2-3 day drive. I don't remember there being an emphasis on holding a TR but I knew all about tithing. So while the Bishop does not care how much tithing one pays as long as someone is a full tithe payer, he gets reports on who does not hold a temple recommend and those seem to receive a lot of attention in my stake.Originally posted by Moliere View Post“Not the victory but the action. Not the goal but the game. In the deed the glory.”
"All things are measured against Nebraska." falafelComment
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I'm not sure why, but this feels like an April Fool's joke:
"Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. UchtdorfComment
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April Fools? Why? Sounds awesome to me and has all the hallmarks of a legitimate Church development:
1. Common sense dictates that this is long overdue
2. This practice is already commonly and widely accepted throughout many parts of the world
3. Forward-thinking members have been clamoring for this for years
4. First adopted outside the Church, not within
5. Change will take place slowly and mostly in secret or privately
If anything, this absolutely HAS to be real!Fitter. Happier. More Productive.
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(it is 2001)Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est.Comment
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Is lds.org is in on the joke?Originally posted by Moliere View PostI'm not sure why, but this feels like an April Fool's joke:
"I think it was King Benjamin who said 'you sorry ass shitbags who have no skills that the market values also have an obligation to have the attitude that if one day you do in fact win the PowerBall Lottery that you will then impart of your substance to those without.'"
- Goatnapper'96Comment
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This will help me get under that 70 minute mark at church.Originally posted by Moliere View PostI'm not sure why, but this feels like an April Fool's joke:
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Turn that Sunday 9 into 18!Originally posted by RC Vikings View PostGet confident, stupid
-landpokeComment
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