IMPOSITION of TAX on CHURCHES and MOSQUES: ANY JUSTIFICATION?

Over the years, there have been much 'hue and cry' about the issue of whether tax should be imposed on churches and mosques in the world, which has indeed produced two schools of thought. While the first school believes that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, the churches and mosques just like other profit making organisations should be paying tax, the other is of the opinion that tax should not be imposed.

Advocates of the first school are supporting their case with the way and manner in which the Pastors, Evangelists and Alphas are living life of luxury in the society today. Many of these religious faithfuls are billionares with state of the art vehicles, private Jet, magnificient building even while most of their followers are walloping in abject poverty.

Advocates of the second school believe in the sanctity or sacredness of churches and mosques in the society and are thus arguing that since salvation is free and mosques and churches are noted for winning souls and preaching salvation, the issue of tax should not come up nothwithstanding the affluence life of the religious faithfuls.

When viewed critically, since tax is meant for development of the society, there is nothing bad in the payment of tax. As stated in the Holy Bible, when Jesus Christ was confronted with the question of whether it is good or not to pay tax by the disciples,after collecting a coin and showing them the inscription on it, he told them that they should give unto Caesar what is caesar, which implies that tax should be paid.

However, since churches and mosques are meant for propagating gospel and winning souls, they should be exempted from paying tax. It is also of note that the wealth of Pastors, Evangelists, General overseers and Alphas are from donations and gifts from followers who might have been blessed in one way or the other and thus wish to show appreciation. Such gifts and donations are thus not taxable. However, if it can be prooved beyond reasonable doubt that any of the religious faithfuls is operating external business and making profts, such profits should be taxed. What is important is that the religious leaders in the society should donate extra gifts and money in their custody to their less priviledged followers rather that accumulating them.