| >Yes, you are biased. Non profit means "not to make a profit", and that fits religious organizations quite well. None of them try to make a profit, therefor they are non-profit. It's not really that complicated. Most religious organizations turn large profits. That they are used to build more churches, mosques, and temples does not detract from the fact that it's a profit. >Except that they don't charge. Which of course does make them different. Again, this is false. There isn't a cover charge, but there's an expectation of donation. It's no different from a tip. Waiters aren't non-profit, and neither are churches. >You are biased because you (presumably) don't like what they do, but that's your opinion, and you should not assume everyone shares it. A) I don't assume everyone shares it. B) I like a great deal of what many religious organizations do and have done, and dislike a great deal they do as well. >And it's interesting you find the only organization in the world that claims to be a for-profit religion (Scientology) and use that to paint the rest of them. (Again barring fraud, which obviously does happen.) This is patently false. From the Catholic Church, to Evangelical preachers, to most other organized religions, they all turn a profit. >Your post sounds like you want to be the arbiter of which messages are for profit and which are not. Message has nothing to do with turning a profit. That is determined by the money you take in minus the money you spend. I count money spent on growing the organization, through the building of additional churches and missionary works, as an investment in future profits, and hence not deductible from profits (to the extent it would make an organization a non-profit). I've clearly stepped on your toes. I apologize for the offense I've caused, but not for the words that caused it, which I stand by. |
No, my toes are fine, and I am not offended. You are just wrong, which is a different thing entirely.
> but there's an expectation of donation. It's no different from a tip.
A tip is given in proportion to services rendered. A donation is not.
> I count money spent on growing the organization .... not deductible from profits
You might do that. No one else does. If you remove this clause then this:
> .... to most other organized religions, they all turn a profit.
Is no longer true as well (I assume you agree).
So lets talk about the clause. Growing the organization simply makes them more effective in spreading the message. But the message is the goal, not the money. In a for profit the money is the goal and is used for other purposes.
> as an investment in future profits
No, it's an investment is furthering the message.