NationStates Jolt Archive

I want to make a proposal to tax monotheistic religious organizations. My questions are:

a) Will it be considered a violation of the "ideological ban" section.
b) If not, to what category does this proposal belong?

Now, I know this proposal will probably upset some of you, but I ask that you would restrain yourself to the above-mentioned questions only.

THANK YOU.


My draft is:

Tax Monotheistic Religions

The General Assembly,

Recognizing that God is non-existent.

Recognizing also, that the idea of god had served evil monotheistic religions to separate themselves from other fellow human beings,

Alarmed by the acts of terror and atrocities done in the name of this so called "God", and by the weird fact that all major religions claim that it is the same god they worship,

Seeking to improve the human freedom from the idea of "god",

Seeking also to make the monotheistic reeligious organizations internalize the costs humanity suffered from the idea of "god" throughout centuries,

Calls for all member nations to tax religious monotheistic organization with a tax no less than 15% on all revenues.

a) Will it be considered a violation of the "ideological ban" section.As it doesn't actually ban anything, no, however it would be in contradiction to the National Systems of Tax resolution.
b) If not, to what category does this proposal belong?I don't think that it fits into any of the categories we have.

Bob Flibble
UN Representative

We find this issue abhorant. While we seperate religion from state we do not legislate on wheather or not there is a god. Of an individual nation wishes to tax churches let them, we have a small income tax on all religions ourselves, but do not set the UN's position as athiest or force taxes or beliefs on the member nations.


Grand Duke Arthur Hendrik representing the Dominion of Yrneh

I want to make a proposal to tax monotheistic religious organizations.

OOC: Bucking to be the next one responsible for a mass exodus (hehe) from the UN, are you? :)

My questions are:

a) Will it be considered a violation of the "ideological ban" section.

Probably not. But it will likely be ruled illegal for trying to contradict "National Systems of Tax" (OOC: and maybe for a Game Mechanics violation as well).

b) If not, to what category does this proposal belong?

Hmmm. Maybe Political Stability.

Now, I know this proposal will probably upset some of you, but I ask that you would restrain yourself to the above-mentioned questions only.

That's pretty difficult. Your proposal has a lot of potential for witty repartee and ruthless deconstruction. Nonetheless, I will refrain for now.

Why are you only taxing monotheistic religions? What about polytheistic, spiritualistic and atheistic religions?

Yes, atheistic religions do exist. Try RL Buddhism.

Why are you only taxing monotheistic religions? What about polytheistic, spiritualistic and atheistic religions?



Because only monotheistic religions admit that they worship the same god. I mean, the god of the pope and the god of Bin Laden is the same god (their ways of worship aren't the same, but the identity of god is the same). A polytheistic religion can argue "we don't need to internalize costs other gods have put over humanity"

Because only monotheistic religions admit that they worship the same god. I mean, the god of the pope and the god of Bin Laden is the same god (their ways of worship aren't the same, but the identity of god is the same). A polytheistic religion can argue "we don't need to internalize costs other gods have put over humanity"
Are you seriously saying that Ahura Mazda, the Aten and Yahweh are one and the same? There have been many monotheistic religions in human history that do not look to Abraham as the original leader. Keep that in mind, before you insult someone.

There is a daily issue dealing with this. We believe it would be best to let individual nations make their own decisions in this area. In Yeldas case, the government is officially atheist and we tax religious organizations. But thats just us.

Are you seriously saying that Ahura Mazda, the Aten and Yahweh are one and the same? There have been many monotheistic religions in human history that do not look to Abraham as the original leader. Keep that in mind, before you insult someone.

Indeed. For the followers of the traditional HotRodian religion Combustianism, Supercarious is the only deity and they would be very insulted that you would compare The Engine That Drives the Universe to someone as silly as Ahura Mazda.

I'd say this is legal, since it only "calls upon" nations - since the final decision still lies with national governments, NSoT doesn't impact on it.

As to category, I think social justice might be appropriate, given that you're suggesting this tax as compensation for the past acts of religions. I'd say you ought to check with a mod.

Be warned though, you'll come up against massive resistance, not least from this nation, which you lost on the second line. It is not the place of governments to make pronouncements on philosophical debates, especially ones as unfounded as this. Until the UN can prove the existence or non-existence of God, it cannot be justifiable for it to take either position.

As to penalising religions for their past acts - this is absurd. We do not hold individuals accountable for the acts of their ancestors, so how can it be acceptable to hold modern followers of an idea accountable for the acts of past followers? Are we next to impose a tax on all those professing an ideology that supports the existence of a state to punish them for the acts of all governments in the history of the world?