Tax Religious Groups

[rah]

If there's no profit, what can you tax?

[pchang]

What do you mean by "enrichment"? On the one hand there are cases of obvious abuse where mega-church pastors funnel millions into their own pockets from gullible donors.

That's what I'm talking about.

[pchang]

If there's no profit, what can you tax?

I figure a forensic accountant can tell us what were legitimate expenses for the "non-profit" and what were fraudulent expenses meant only to enrich the ones in charge of the "non-profit". The fraudulent expenses would be treated as income and taxed.

[Jon Miller]

We're losing the big ones.

The muslims are doing well though.

Along with non-religious they are probably the fastest (and only) growing group.

wrong
http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm

JM

[Wezil]

Wiki disagrees with you Jon but I'll leave it at that.

Age and religion

According to the 2001 census, the major religions in Canada have the following median age. Canada has a median age of 37.3.[45]

* Presbyterian 46.1
* United Church 44.1
* Anglican 43.8
* Lutheran 43.3
* Jewish 41.5
* Greek Orthodox 40.7
* Baptist 39.3
* Buddhist 38.0
* Roman Catholic 37.8
* Pentecostal 33.5
* No Religion 31.9
* Hindu 30.2
* Sikh 29.7
* Muslim 28.1

Every major religion in the country is above the median. They're aging and dying off.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Though it appears (at least from 1991), Catholics have grown, and they are 43% of religious belief in Canada (and Catholics are barely above the median, FWIW).

[notyoueither]

Wiki disagrees with you Jon but I'll leave it at that.

Age and religion

According to the 2001 census, the major religions in Canada have the following median age. Canada has a median age of 37.3.[45]

* Presbyterian 46.1
* United Church 44.1
* Anglican 43.8
* Lutheran 43.3
* Jewish 41.5
* Greek Orthodox 40.7
* Baptist 39.3
* Buddhist 38.0
* Roman Catholic 37.8
* Pentecostal 33.5
* No Religion 31.9
* Hindu 30.2
* Sikh 29.7
* Muslim 28.1

Every major religion in the country is above the median. They're aging and dying off.

It could not have anything to do with young people identifying as non religious and then changing their minds later in life, could it?

[Wezil]

It could not have anything to do with young people identifying as non religious and then changing their minds later in life, could it?

It could, although the religious indoctrination process generally works the other way.

[Wezil]

Though it appears (at least from 1991), Catholics have grown, and they are 43% of religious belief in Canada (and Catholics are barely above the median, FWIW).

Yes, I agree. I'm wondering if immigration can account for that (as I'm sure it does for Islam, Sikh, Hindu) because "home grown" doesn't.

[Imran Siddiqui]

What are the Canadian immigration patterns? Are there many immigrants from Catholic countries (like, say, Latin America)?

[Ming]

It could not have anything to do with young people identifying as non religious and then changing their minds later in life, could it?

Religious beliefs are more focused in the very old and very young... the young kids because they usually aren't given a choice, and have it crammed down their throats by their parents... and the very old... the ones who see death as something not far away, and start thinking about what comes after.

[Wezil]

Imran -

Again, I don't know. I took a brief look for stats on immigration/religion but came up empty.

I'm sure they are out there and I'd be curious to see non-biased numbers (I have little "faith" in religious groups claims).

Canadian immigration numbers show immigrants from diverse parts of the world but country of origin is not in itself good evidence as often religious minorities are the ones immigrating/emigrating.

[KrazyHorse]

If there's no profit, what can you tax?

You can stop providing tax deductions to individuals who donate to nonprofits.

[The Mad Monk]

Yep.

[Jon Miller]

I would probably be OK with that.

Sorry Wezil, I assumed you were talking about the world and not just your own country. My mistake.

JM