Posted by:
exminion
(
)
Date: July 04, 2019 03:15AM
Honest question: The number of members has nothing to do with a religion's tax-exempt status, right?
As long as the Mormon cult can keep its real estate holdings tax-free, and have barely enough members to clean and maintain the buildings, parking lots, and landscaping, everything will be fine.
The amount of money the cult makes from tithing money is probably less important than the cult makes it out to be. LDS, Inc, is a business, and as such, it will do just fine, depending on the economy. Even if the corporation loses tons of money on ugly malls with overpriced stores, and overpriced condos no one wants to live in--it will be fine.
With their Mormon-owned media. and fancy Madison Avenue advertising and promotion, and political power, LDS, Inc. will continue to fool everyone into believing that it's a religion. From what I've learned, Mormonism has never been a real "religion", but only a money-grabbing cult. Unfortunately, cults are legal in the US.
Even if the US passes a law that says "religions" must PROVE they are charitable institutions, by opening thier books to the public. We who DO PAY TAXES should be able to see whether or not a "religion" is actually helping the poor, or donating to real charities, etc. Even if the Mormons have to pay taxes, they still would be a viable corporation, and the CEO's could still afford their travel and limos and lodges and resorts, etc. The real estate section of LDS., Inc. might have to sell some of its promo real estate, but it would be no big deal.
I'm seriously curious...is there a magic numberof members that makes a little cult group a bona fide "religion"? I know a lot of "corporations" that are just one guy. JS had a handful of relatives and a couple of neighbors to make up the original Mormon church.