Why people on the right should favor getting rid of religion

[Monoculturalist]

The Bible also discusses giving to Caesar what is Caesars. And, obviously, the government of Israel in the Old Testament was funded by taxation. Taxation was not considered "stealing" under the 10 Commandments. Neither was depriving enemies of property during warfare.

If you understand the context of why Jesus said that, you'll realize it was more about avoiding a trap that was being set against Him by the Pharisees. He found a clever way to avoid trouble with the law and to not take the bait. The general gist of it was that you can pay your taxes and respect earthly authorities but should still put God above said authorities (since the other part of the quote is "and unto God the things that are God's.")

No, by definition, that is not "socialism". Coerced help is protected under the American Constitution. America is not a "socialist country."

Socialization might be a better word for it. I realize that socialism is more specifically a system where the government controls the means of production, but socialization is broader.

 

[Midnight FM]

If you understand the context of why Jesus said that, you'll realize it was more about avoiding a trap that was being set against Him by the Pharisees. He found a clever way to avoid trouble with the law and to not take the bait. The general gist of it was that you can pay your taxes and respect earthly authorities but should still put God above said authorities (since the other part of the quote is "and unto God the things that are God's.")

If you want to go there, the Bible never prohibits aiding the poor via state programs either. And the Bible does promote that people be concerned about the welfare of the poor, which many people don't seem to be.

 

[Monoculturalist]

If you want to go there, the Bible never prohibits aiding the poor via state programs either. And the Bible does promote that people be concerned about the welfare of the poor, which many people don't seem to be.

Never prohibiting something is not the same thing as condoning it. Thankfully, the Bible generally steers clear of governance (unlike the Quran), but the emphasis on voluntary action is the key.

 

[DukeU]

If you want to go there, the Bible never prohibits aiding the poor via state programs either. And the Bible does promote that people be concerned about the welfare of the poor, which many people don't seem to be.

Thou shalt not steal.

 

[Midnight FM]

Thou shalt not steal.

I explained this to you already. Taxation was not stealing under Biblical law, just as it isn't under modern law. The state of Israel was funded through taxation. It's similar to how "thou shalt not murder" did not forbid killing enemy combatants during warfare.

This essay represents an initial attempt to provide a comprehensive account
of the systems of taxation described and/or mandated in the Hebrew Bible for
various periods in ancient Israel. Beyond this preliminary descriptive task, a
concentration here is upon the ethical evaluation of these taxation systems -
evaluations both according to voices within the Hebrew Bible and according
to the general criteria of freedom, equity, and distributive justice.

https://drmsh.com/TheNakedBible/Taxation%20in%20biblical%20Israel.pdf

So you're simply being obstinate and in denial of the reality of the fact that taxation has never been considered stealing, whether under ancient or modern law.

So if you want to "get rid of taxation" (an impossibility), you'll have to not only get rid of the US Constitution, but also religion, because it's a perfectly legitimate practice according to the Bible.

 

[DukeU]

I explained this to you already.

You've tried to explain it.

Taxation is fine for certain things the government is responsible for.... military, roads, education, etc.

But, when they take money out of my pocket to give it to people of their choosing because they "need" it, that's where they cross the line.

I can choose who I want to give my money to.

 

[Midnight FM]

You've tried to explain it.

Taxation is fine for certain things the government is responsible for.... military, roads, education, etc.

But, when they take money out of my pocket to give it to people of their choosing because they "need" it, that's where they cross the line.

I can choose who I want to give my money to.

I fail to see the practical difference, because money is being distributed on way or another. So if it prioritizes helping people in need, that's preferable than, for example, it being distributed to corporations who don't need it.

It's protected under the law, there's nothing you can do about it. And it simply isn't "stealing" according to legal definitions no matter how much you insist that it is.

 

[Monoculturalist]

I fail to see the practical difference, because money is being distributed on way or another. So if it prioritizes helping people in need, that's preferable than, for example, it being distributed to corporations who don't need it.

It's protected under the law, there's nothing you can do about it. And it simply isn't "stealing" according to legal definitions no matter how much you insist that it is.

In a legal sense, governments can do a lot of things that aren't officially considered stealing. All the pork that is included in various laws passed by Congress isn't stealing, for example. A lot of people still consider it stealing, since public money is being used for personal benefit.

So, Duke didn't specifically say that he viewed taxation overall as stealing. He just views certain uses of public money as stealing, as do I.

 

[DukeU]

I fail to see the practical difference, because money is being distributed on way or another. So if it prioritizes helping people in need, that's preferable than, for example, it being distributed to corporations who don't need it.

LOL

I fail to see the difference.

Because who You think "needs" it and who I think "needs" it are going to be different.

Corporations are people.

But just to be clear, I am against all subsidies.

I can decide who I want to help, I don't need anyone taking my money and giving it to who they think needs help.

It ends up in Pakistan paying for gender studies.