We’re in the middle of an economic crisis. People are suffering, losing their homes and their jobs. Meanwhile, Christian Faith Center, a tax-exempt mega-church with no apparent philanthropic goals or activities, has recently sought and received approval for a helipad at its Federal Way campus.
It’s bad taste for people to flaunt wealth in an economic downturn, whether they be CEOs of major US automakers, executives at AIG, or a church. It’s in even poorer taste to use perceived wealth, and the promise of wealth, to attract followers to a religion. Tax-exemption is best reserved to support non-profit organizations dedicated to the public good. Though there are organizations with religious affiliation that engage in charitable work, the propagation of a religious belief is not charitable in and of itself.
Since the definition of a tax exempt religious organization is very broad and there is little oversight of their activities, many churches continue to maintain tax-exempt status and huge incomes. While it is not the place of government to endorse or oppose religion, this obligation of neutrality does not logically extend to giving religious organizations a special exemption from taxes. Whether a community organization is educational, charitable, or social, its income should be reported and subjected to oversight if it wants to remain tax-free and accept tax-exempt donations—or it should pay taxes like any other private corporation. The Christian Faith Center is spending its money on a helipad, a luxury; other religious organizations have funneled ridiculous sums of money to provide personal luxury (and legal defense) to charismatic preachers or even to provide aid to terrorist organizations, all while remaining tax-free and largely un-scrutinized. Laws prohibit any private individual from benefiting from tax-exempt earnings, but these laws are unenforceable on religious organizations due to other laws limiting civil tax inquiries of churches.
While we don’t wish to interfere with the Christian Faith Center’s community building efforts, we think that their plan for a helicopter pad demonstrates poor taste given the current economic climate, is a misuse of their tax-exempt status, and wastes the hard-earned money of their donors. We would like to encourage the Christian Faith Center to scrap their plan of unneeded air transportation and instead donate the money to a local charitable organization that does not discriminate on the basis of religion, such as Seattle Atheists did when they raised nearly $1000 for Seattle Children’s Hospital by wrapping presents this holiday season.
— Lex Maxwell
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Welcome to Seattle Atheists! We are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to serving the atheist community in the Seattle area. Our purpose is to promote understanding and build respect toward all freethinkers by providing information, creating a sense of community, opposing discrimination, and emphasizing reason and critical thinking over superstition.
Since 2003, we have been registered as an educational non-profit in the state of Washington. We were approved as a non-profit on the federal level in 2006. We have more than 160 paid members, and more than 300 people participate in our free online forums.
We are an educational group that helps atheists in the Seattle area connect with other atheists. In addition, we try to make a positive impact on the community. SA has a number of social opportunities, including a Meetup group and various activities around the Puget Sound, including bike rides, hikes, dinners and shows, and more. It’s a safe environment where you can be free from religion. Check out the calendar for more event and activity details.
This group was formed, in part , to provide community services, to educate the public, and to create a positive image of atheism. We have regular blood drives, Christmas wrapping fundraisers, and participate in various legal actions to promote the separation of church and state.
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I’m new to Seattle Atheists and to atheist activism, and I have enough on my plate, but I will gladly be your back-up candidate for Member at Large, in case there aren’t enough other candidates. Say, if one of the others gets raptured by mistake or something.
Dawkins says children are born atheists. In my case, it stuck. I wouldn’t say “under God” during the Pledge of Allegiance starting in 3rd grade. But I learned early on that atheism should be kept quiet, to avoid those horrified over-reactions and unwarranted assumptions about my morality & my soul. Uncalled for, but unfortunately still widespread. I now work in health care. People tend to assume that I must be Christian, and I don’t feel I can “come out” at work. I’m interested in helping put a more visible and positive face on atheism, as long as I don’t have to be out front, alone, when it happens.
I have Board experience for 3 years in a coop preschool. Unusual for an atheist, I actually joined a church 2 years ago. (Don’t worry – it’s not catching.) It’s a UU church, where I’d guess about half the members are atheists & where social action projects are always underway.
I have some ideas to float, but I don’t have to be on the Board to share them. For example: The almighty Google says the last essay about atheism in the Seattle Times was written by someone from the Discovery Institute. We could write & submit an essay, perhaps urging “democracy not theocracy”, or perhaps simply explaining atheism & debunking misconceptions. Those who agree to be named could sign it, & the number given of those who endorse it but wish to remain anonymous. Second, if OK in tax law, Seattle Atheists could be a middleman for charitable donations. We could identify some charities which publish names of donor groups in their reports Atheists who are so inclined would donate to Seattle Atheists, then a specified percentage of those donations would be given by S.A. to the identified charities. Donors get the tax deduction, the people served by the charities benefit, and Seattle Atheists gets the “credit.” (It’s almost like giving anonymously & asking that you be listed as “atheist” in their records.)
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We are seeing an unprecedented surge of interest and enthusiasm in atheism, and Seattle Atheists has an opportunity to be a leader in the Freethought movement in the Puget Sound region. The importance of this cannot be understated as we continually witness attacks from Religious Right extremists on our civil liberties, privacy, and personal freedoms, especially the freedom not to believe.
Of course, the success of any organization is dependent on the dedication of its members, and especially of its board members. And this includes the day-to-day functions that are critical to maintaining the vitality and strength of that organization.
As such, I am proud to have served as treasurer since the founding of Seattle Atheists, and I would be honored to continue serving in this role.
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