Hotord
104758
1932
62
Feb 21, 2023 12:48 PM
Hotord
104758
1932
62
Chaapai
Matthew 19:24 it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
DarkBusterBaron
But if they did pay taxes that money would just be used to build a helicarrier or put Donald Trumps brain in a 500 foot tall robot.
NirvanaNik
The Separation of Church and Skate https://g.co/kgs/g6UjKp
josephlepain
Not entirely true. He is worth about 56 million. The church does take in significant revenue and should be taxed.
superseriouscomments
Fuck Osteen, but the government has more than enough money to solve the homelessness, they just decided to give that money to the pentagon
CanThinkOfUsername
Wanna start your own church? Well you can't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siPyQUak4pM
sambaah05
@OP - do you have a source for this other than some tweet from a random guy? He's not verified, he's subscribed to Twitter Blue.
applesforjuice
This is a competition entry to write the most lies and misleading information in one post, that everyone will believe. It has to be.
SomeDetroitGuy
All the numbers here are fictitious.
kowcatchan
This guy does realize... he is exactly the kind of person that Jesus would whip the everloving god out of.
wetqueef
There’s Christians and followers of Jesus, they rarely overlap
JDemms
The problem from another angle is that he preaches 'prosperity gospel', which in very short summary is 'if God likes you, you get rich (1/2)
JDemms
So none of his followers see the slightest problem with this behavior. So no pressure from within or without.
Drix1942
Problem is that these demons look like angels to their followers.
Ramensan00
Lucifer looks a lot like an angel to many
juiceman
Much as I dislike this bloke and his ilk, anyone upvoting this entirely fictional post is part of the problem…
juiceman
…simply by being too stupid to check any of the claims. 2/2
AlltheSarcasm87
That's literally what is described in the bible as an antichrist, to a burning t...
Malinut
False prophets. False profits. These fucks are evil and a cancer on civil society.
squillis
For one, Joel Olsteen is a conman, not a pastor. Most churches as small churches that couldn't afford the extra costs
squillis
I'm not saying it's a good thing, a lot should better manage their books but taxing churches would result in tens of thousands closing
squillis
And a lot of those churches provide a food pantry amd even aid to local families so it would be a community hit
BrownestofCoats
In the Houston area, at any given moment, there are approx. 3223 homeless people. He could divide his estate and give them 21 acres each.
AgainstMethod
That probably wouldn't be the best use of that money, but sure.
flymon
Those people can't keep any roof over their head at all. What the hell are they going to do with 21 acres of land?
BrownestofCoats
Lower the salary to a (still generous) 70k, leaving 5393K for the people. That's a UBI of 16K for each person to help them get on their feet
HogWashDiddler
If churches actually cared about people then we would all have things like universal healthcare. Unfortunately they care about explotin them
Mewlies
Lots of the older European based churches do sponsor hospitals; but not enough of them to cover everyone.
zenoshogun
People are less likely to turn to churches if they aren't kept poor and unhealthy.
viila
Church's universal healthcare is thoughts and prayers.
Gendiin
their universal healthcare is judgement.
Iaimtomisbehave
My problem with them is the influence they and their followers have on politics already. If they pay taxes they're gonna want more.
MrBobSaget
I get the anger, but this post is 100% bullshit. Churches do not have $13 Trillion dollars.
Pheehelm
Witcher187
I don't want churches taxed cause I believe in separation of church and state. I want a no-tolerance law for it. Churches who say one thing
putcleverusernamehere
Taxation does not eliminate the separation. Give one reason churches shouldn't pay taxes like every other business
Witcher187
about politics lose tax exemption. Politicians who say anything about religion lose their office. Period.
androgenoide
Sounds like a good balance.
pumper
That 2 trillion figure is sus as fuck.
Warthog2
"royalties from his cadre of bestselling books likely pay for his lavish car and home... he likely pays taxes on them." 1/2
Warthog2
2/2 https://www.businessinsider.com/joel-osteen-rich-taxes-wealth-ferrari-twitter-2021-7
binaryspike
Look, I don't support the guy, but he's still liable for income tax. Just because the church doesn't pay taxes, the man still should
FrequentlyBaffled
I'm like 95% sure he has some loophole he exploits like most ultra rich do and pays very little % wise compared to us.
AgainstMethod
Fwiw, some billionaires do high-level tax dodging, but most millionaires pay a lot & make up a significant portion of overall tax revenue.
AgainstMethod
This guy's loophole is mainly in property taxes because his house is a part of the church's estate. He's on the hook for income tax.
SavageDrums
But he's the sole proprietor of the church. His salary is taxed, but his salary is a small portion of his income.
INeverWaitForIt
People who are on the up and up with their taxes don't hide literal piles of money in the walls of their bathroom like this guy did.
Mechman13
I don't like the guy either, but almost all the the numbers on here are completely made up
PithyCommentBelow
This seems to be accurate. Here’s some better info:
PithyCommentBelow
https://www.therichest.com/luxury/8-outrageous-ways-joel-osteen-spends-his-massive-100-million-fortune/
psychologisttheologist
I'm quite skeptical of the 2 trillion dollar number. That's almost 10% of gdp. I highly doubt churches are getting that kind of income
gtollie
Yeah .. it’s even more comical .. since it implies that 15% tax would yield 2 Trillion as if churches had over $13T in revenue?!? NFW
psychologisttheologist
Exactly
Mewmus
I dislike osteen as much as the rest of you, but this tweet is misinformation. the millions he makes is from selling books and speeches
Myrealnameisunusual
Yep it's bullshit. His church salary is like 200k - his money comes from books etc.
usernametakenisthestoryofmylife
But is it tax free?
sambaah05
No.
Mewmus
since it's not church offerings I don't see how it could be tax free, the guy is writing books and selling them, that's taxable income
anotherrandomname
Not only should this douche be taxed, he should be charged with fraud and theft, among other things. One of the biggest con men around
[deleted]
[deleted]
Heelcat70
Maybe they could subpoena Jehovah as a Witness.
WorkerLurker
It should be argued that not paying taxes is against the faith.
atomfixes101
They have a deal. Their bibles tell people to pay their taxes, in return they don’t have to pay.
Ikwilstroopwaffels
He should be drug from his home and shot in the ditch.
tounushi
Not to mention likely charged with heresy.
HardDoseOfReality
Actually, he should get taxed. Then brutally tortured to death. And not the nice way either. The brutal way that makes you vomit
vonHoopla
Well unless you wanna stake and burn him, pretty sure that's never gonna happen. The law(makers) are on his, and those like him's, side.
thevortexmaster
Would he not be taxed and income? Like from his merch sales? I know the church is exempt but income wouldn't be as far as I know. I work>>>>
Tarmaccian
He (personally) does pay tax on all income, most of which is from book sales, not his pastor job. The post is well-crafted outrage bait.
thevortexmaster
In non profit and we're exempt but my income isn't. Dudes a snake though don't get me wrong
BarryTheCyborg
I believe most of his stuff is "owned" by the church as a work around.
thevortexmaster
Ahh, frigin brutal
Rubblebubble
Exactly this, the same is done by a lot of businesses. Like how they'll give a car to company execs.
hohohoooo
Imademyselfsquirtle
I would love to punch this whores mouth.
YourmomusesTinder
I don't even know if I'd give him the credit of being "the devil" even Satan has standards.
kahooki
He looks like very bad cgi tbh.
RooGryphon
dont you dare point that at me...
otamolot
Wicked con man. Saw the greed of damnation in them eyes.
Rodenbeard
Still one of the creepiest interviews ever. The way his eyes just turn to pure seething hated is inhuman.
chjb5772
that dude is full on satan
mt77932
That's barely contained rage. He wants to kill so bad.
MagnorCriol
This cunt is one of the most consistently unsettling "people", using that term loosely, that I've ever seen. Every time.
danielsan1977
That smile at the end is more terrifying than any rendition of Satan I've seen in mass media.
Hellofriend86
I laugh but this guy seriously scares me!
ErniesWidow
This man needs to be humbled. Big Time
3ternum
As someone who is non-religious I sort of hope I'm wrong just so this guy could get eternal damnation.
Wiesel2000
when people behave like this in the street they are sent to a mental health facility
Noahbalboa82
pajasa
https://youtu.be/9LtF34MrsfI
CutChemist
That was a fucking roller coaster
XLIILXIX
Thanks for posting the full interview! What a piece of work! On a separate topic, I think work is pretty damn shit myself.
JugsMugsLadybugs
Note to self watch this.
Lobo82
Reminds me of this guy. Every time.
djangojazz
This guy always scares the shit out of me.
MeatPopsicleMultiPass
I wish this dude would have a heart attack already. Where is this karma thing when you need it?
ByThePowerOfSCIENCE
Karma is supposed to work across reincarnations. It's the more elegant alternative to Hell and Heaven to keep poeple on their best behavior.
IwishKimPinewasmygirlfriend
Only the good die young
HardDoseOfReality
That's how you know karma isn't actually real.
RooGryphon
Don't want him - God
Drix1942
There is no justice unless we make it.
jimicus
GNU Terry Pratchett
FallingStar7669
Karma as a mystical "force" does not exist; it is a psychological concept, the essence of "what goes around comes around." It does not +
FallingStar7669
+ work without a society that believes good should be rewarded and evil should be punished. Karma requires elbow grease.
FranzRantanenArt
hardytardigrade
Joel Osteen is the worst trash, but the $2 trillion number seems CRAZY high. This puts it at $2.4B : https://taxfoundation.org/church-taxes/
AgainstMethod
I'm calling BS on both those numbers. Tax Foundation is bound to give a ridiculous underestimate, but not a 1000x underestimate.
MrBobSaget
what does the Tax Foundation have to do with this post?
AgainstMethod
It's right there in hardytardigrade's comment as his source for the $2.4B estimate.
MrBobSaget
ohhh i thought you were refering to the post... nvm ignore me
MrBobSaget
That's because 2 trillion is INSANELY high. 1/10 the entire GDP of the US. And while they should 100% pay taxes, $2B isn't anywhere
MrBobSaget
close to being enough to solve homelessness, nor is it even remotely in the same universe of numbers as 2T.
MrBobSaget
Also, 15% for 2T would mean the churches have 13 trillion....which 3-4 times the size of the British economy.
SteveMND
Churches are not exempt because they are churches, they are exempt because they are 501(c)(3) organizations under the tax code, same as >
elganif
There just should not be an exemption. Dont want to pay taxes, dont have income. If your "charity" even pays employees, that amount is taxed
SteveMND
So, you'd want to just get rid of all 501(c)(3) organizations completely? Bold stance.
elganif
No, but they would have to be funded by a philanthropist - a real one, not one just using as a tax scam. Whatever money is collected goes >
elganif
100% to the cause - each and every penny. Charity would rely on volunteers. People who use their own vehicle or property. But no one would >
elganif
be able or allowed to PROFIT from it.
SteveMND
< thousands of other organizations. The problem is they are such by default. If they had to EARN that status like everyone else, we'd >
AgainstMethod
You might be disappointed about the "Like everyone else" bit. I've only ever worked for 501c3's, but it's not a well-regulated designation.
SteveMND
< probably have a lot fewer problems with big megachurches and the like. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf
Illumian85
Interesting, I always thought it was an attempt to keep religion out of government (not that it ever did)
delecti
The fact that they get it by default likely *is* such an attempt. Clearly not all churches are actually doing pure charity.
InkyBlinkyPinkyAndClyde
Also they have special rules that other 501c's don't. You mentioned one, that they automatically get the status. A second one is that /1
InkyBlinkyPinkyAndClyde
they don't have to file. Which means they never have to prove they're a non-profit. And third, they're not allowed to be audited without /2
InkyBlinkyPinkyAndClyde
written evidence of wrongdoing, which the IRS won't have since they don't have to file. So if someone wants to use a church as a tax /3