Suit seeks to extend Bible tax break to all spiritual books

Charlie Brown

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Tue Nov-15-05 11:23 PM
Original message

Suit seeks to extend Bible tax break to all spiritual books

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/breaking_news/13174444.htm

ATLANTA - Acting on behalf of a seller of spiritual books, the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit arguing that a Georgia law exempting the Bible from sale taxes is discriminatory and should be extended to all publications dealing with the meaning of life.

"If they're not taxing someone's holy scriptures, they shouldn't be taxing anyone's," said Candace Apple, who owns the Phoenix and Dragon Bookstore in the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs. "I'm not willing to stand at the counter and tell someone, `Oh, sorry, your religion is wrong.'"

Apple and Thomas Budlong, former president of the Georgia Library Association, sued in federal court on Monday, contending the tax break as written is unconstitutional. Georgia Revenue Department spokesman Charles Willey had no comment Tuesday.

The law, enacted in the 1950s, exempts from sale taxes the Bible as well as "similar books commonly recognized as being Holy Scripture."

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jobycom

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Tue Nov-15-05 11:27 PM
Response to Original message

1. I found Lolita to be very spiritual, and not nearly as pornographic or

violent as the Bible. WHy not just make all books tax exempt? For once they could stimulate the write industry.

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spindrifter

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Tue Nov-15-05 11:27 PM
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2. Would this include Scooter's and Lynne's books? n/t

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derby378

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Tue Nov-15-05 11:29 PM
Response to Original message

3. Woo-hoo! Carl Sagan books are tax-free!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

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BattyDem

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Tue Nov-15-05 11:29 PM
Response to Original message

4. Woohoo! Tax exemption for the Flying Spaghetti Monster Scriptures!

Edited on Tue Nov-15-05 11:33 PM by BattyDem

:woohoo:

We just have to get someone to write them! :evilgrin:

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msongs

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Tue Nov-15-05 11:43 PM
Response to Original message

5. mein kampf is holy scripture to some as well nt

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upi402

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Tue Nov-15-05 11:48 PM
Response to Original message

6. Hustler

Praise Flint:patriot:

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darkmaestro019

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Wed Nov-16-05 12:09 AM
Response to Original message

7. GOOD

Everyone or no one. No special rights for Christians or any Big Three. This drove me insane working in two bookstores--all my heathen books came with a required donation to the Establishment but any "sanctioned" religious texts did not. Unfair. Tax all or tax none.

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FreedomAngel82

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Wed Nov-16-05 02:39 AM
Response to Reply #7

11. I do agree there

Everything should be tax'd fairly. Why should my religion be above others?

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darkmaestro019

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Wed Nov-16-05 04:58 PM
Response to Reply #11

12. pretty much, exactly--

the government has no business setting any above the others : )

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Nikki Stone 1

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Wed Nov-16-05 12:28 AM
Response to Original message

8. Yeah, but will this apply to L. Ron Hubbard?

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darkmaestro019

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Wed Nov-16-05 05:02 PM
Response to Reply #8

13. I'd have to say it should

I'm not keen on Scientology either--but that's the point. Everyone or no one. Picking and choosing is exactly what should NOT be going on. From Asatru to Zorastrianism--tax all or tax none.

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longship

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Wed Nov-16-05 12:39 AM
Response to Original message

9. And if one follows this thread along...

All biology books that mention evolution are also exempt. (Fundies love to claim that Darwinism--as they call it--is religion.)

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NMMNG

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Wed Nov-16-05 02:11 AM
Response to Original message

10. Hey hey!

Books about atheism would fall into this category. After all, the fundie whackjobs are so fond of claming it is a religion :eyes:.

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