With all the controversy going on with the Catholic Church of late, I heard a story where in Germany you register your religion with the government, who then takes your 10% tithe right out of your paycheck to send to your church of choice. Kind of like a Union dues check-off policy.
(The report was saying how many Germans had filed for reclassification to other churches, or to “none of the above”.)
To DirtyDragon: It is not quite 10 percent and it is not the same percentage in all German States (Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 states).
Aktually the it can be 8 or 9 percent depending on which state You are working in. Furthermore it is not calculated from Your income, but as a percentage of the incometax. With deductions for health insurance and old age pensions the nominal 42-55 percent actually dwindles to 10-15 percent unless You have an annual income of more than 120.000 Euros (more than150.000 USDollars) - of which You calculate 8 or 9 percent to be sent to Your church of choice. Below a certain income bracket You don´t pay church tax (or tithe) at all. If You are really wealthy more states have regulations that You can at the most be charged 3,5 percent of Your income. Your income then will be more than 500.000 Dollars a year and You should then be able to shoulder the burden.
As an immigrant in the Germany I have opted for “no confession” (like about one third of the natives)
This is the most political I’ve seen on GA. Here I wondered how many others would fall asleep with the Pastor would talk. Our Pastor like audience to participate in some of his sermons. Where in the midst of Mark.
Joe-Allen: I was referring to Stephan Pastis, the cartoonist in charge of “Pearls Before Swine”. Mr. Pastis is noted for elaborate puns in some of his strips.
rundstyk: Thanks for the clarification, I just thought it was interesting that the state was collecting for the church in Germany.
@Nabuquduriuzhur, et al: There is TimeBanking, where we contribute our talents and efforts to others and gain credit for things we need done, by others with those talents.
Not everything needs to be measured in dollars, where bankers can rake their percentage off the top.
There are other ways of keeping score.
Our precious irreplacable time on this Earth gets traded in all too much, for dollars (or Euros, or Yen etc.) in this scheme to feed our children and keep our gadget score even with the Joneses.
mrbribery almost 15 years ago
Can I get an amen somebody!
If Melchizedek was King of Salem, does it mean he was a witch?
rotts almost 15 years ago
Besides, NOBODY pays half of their earnings to the IRS.
The current max IRS tax rate is 35%, but that’s only on the EXCESS of TAXABLE income beyond the 35% point, NOT on one’s entire taxable income.
Come on, get real!
Nighthawks Premium Member almost 15 years ago
so , what this amounts to is a plea for more money…….sort of a pulpit pop up ad
JanLC almost 15 years ago
rotts: also add in state and local income taxes, etc. ad nauseum…..
Dirty Dragon almost 15 years ago
With all the controversy going on with the Catholic Church of late, I heard a story where in Germany you register your religion with the government, who then takes your 10% tithe right out of your paycheck to send to your church of choice. Kind of like a Union dues check-off policy.
(The report was saying how many Germans had filed for reclassification to other churches, or to “none of the above”.)
And “Pastor Present” is Pastis-worthy.
ankerdorthe almost 15 years ago
To DirtyDragon: It is not quite 10 percent and it is not the same percentage in all German States (Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 states). Aktually the it can be 8 or 9 percent depending on which state You are working in. Furthermore it is not calculated from Your income, but as a percentage of the incometax. With deductions for health insurance and old age pensions the nominal 42-55 percent actually dwindles to 10-15 percent unless You have an annual income of more than 120.000 Euros (more than150.000 USDollars) - of which You calculate 8 or 9 percent to be sent to Your church of choice. Below a certain income bracket You don´t pay church tax (or tithe) at all. If You are really wealthy more states have regulations that You can at the most be charged 3,5 percent of Your income. Your income then will be more than 500.000 Dollars a year and You should then be able to shoulder the burden. As an immigrant in the Germany I have opted for “no confession” (like about one third of the natives)
doublepaw almost 15 years ago
Take all the idiotic political posts elsewhere. Maybe Lush Rumball’s forum……..
axe-grinder almost 15 years ago
Time for Upton O. Goode to return…
ransomdstone almost 15 years ago
DirtyDragon, Thanks for your post. I missed the sign: ‘past or present’. He is definetly of the past.
kab2rb almost 15 years ago
This is the most political I’ve seen on GA. Here I wondered how many others would fall asleep with the Pastor would talk. Our Pastor like audience to participate in some of his sermons. Where in the midst of Mark.
Dirty Dragon almost 15 years ago
Joe-Allen: I was referring to Stephan Pastis, the cartoonist in charge of “Pearls Before Swine”. Mr. Pastis is noted for elaborate puns in some of his strips.
rundstyk: Thanks for the clarification, I just thought it was interesting that the state was collecting for the church in Germany.
pbarnrob almost 15 years ago
@Nabuquduriuzhur, et al: There is TimeBanking, where we contribute our talents and efforts to others and gain credit for things we need done, by others with those talents.
Not everything needs to be measured in dollars, where bankers can rake their percentage off the top.
There are other ways of keeping score.
Our precious irreplacable time on this Earth gets traded in all too much, for dollars (or Euros, or Yen etc.) in this scheme to feed our children and keep our gadget score even with the Joneses.