Should churches pay taxes?

A church tax would reflect the values of modern society

Question: Should churches pay taxes?
Position1 of 2›: Yes, churches should pay taxes
Argument‹2 of 4›: A church tax would reflect the values of modern society

The tradition of church tax-exemption is antiquated and does not belong in the modern age.

The argument

The church tax exemption is antiquated. Historically, this tradition finds its roots in more religious time periods. The modern age leaves no room for such a policy because it no longer assumes the religious involvement of all citizens. Since a portion of modern society's population is non-religious, the government ignores shifting attitudes toward religion by maintaining church tax exemption. A church tax has emerged in many European countries such as Italy, Spain, and Germany, to name a few. By implementing the tax, these communities "caught up" with modern times, and have seen no decline in religious involvement.

Premises

[P1]The church tax exemption originated in eras when religious involvement was assumed of all citizens. [P2] Modern societies include substantial non-religious populations, so policies premised on universal religiosity no longer reflect public attitudes. [P3] European countries like Italy, Spain, and Germany have implemented church taxes without harming religious life, showing the policy fits modern conditions. [C] Therefore, churches should pay taxes to bring policy into line with the values of modern society.

Counter-arguments

The argument assumes that earlier times were more religious than the modern age. There is no evidence to support this.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] People are not necessarily less religious now.