Now this is a religion I can get behind

5starpool

In Iceland a law makes it mandatory for all tax payers to pay a contribution to the state's official religion. It is not a lot of money to pay, but it is the principal of it really.

Icelanders are required to register their religion with the state, with almost three-quarters of the population affiliated to the established Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland. There are more than 40 other registered religious bodies that qualify for “parish fees” paid through the taxation system. The amount set in next year’s budget is the equivalent of about $80 (£53) per taxpayer over a year.

“There is no opt-out. Those who are unaffiliated or belong to unregistered religions effectively just pay higher taxes,” said Sveinn Thorhallsson, a Zuist spokesperson. An opinion poll published in September showed 55% of respondents want an end to the system.

There is a religion that was officially registered there called Zuism that has goals more compatible of a modern society in my opinion.

The English section of the Zuists’ website says: “The religious organisation of Zuism is a platform for its members to practise a religion of the ancient Sumerian people. Zuists fully support freedom of religion, and from religion, for everyone. The organisation’s primary objective is that the government repeal any law that grants religious organisations privilege, financial or otherwise, above other organisations. Furthermore Zuists demand that the government’s registry of its citizens’ religion will be abolished.”

Zuism, it adds, “will cease to exist when its objectives have been met”.

I know some other countries do this (Germany I think being a prime example), but I disagree with the mandatory funding of religion, even for the fairly small amount per person in Iceland.

Full article here:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/08/new-icelandic-religion-sumerian-gods-tax-rebates-zuism

Akrasia

I don't know about Iceland, but in Germany the religion tax is really easy to avoid. All you have to do is register as an atheist.

If there was a similar system in ireland, it might go a little way towards ending the hypocrisy of people who have no affiliation with the church baptising their kids just to please the granny

The_Valeyard

Oh look, another religion thread in AH

5starpool

Akrasia wrote: »

If there was a similar system in ireland, it might go a little way towards ending the hypocrisy of people who have no affiliation with the church baptising their kids just to please the granny

I'd say it is more to do with the fact that 95% of schools are officially catholic in this country and it is easier to get your kids in a school near you if they are baptised that anything. The granny factor plays a part, but not near as much imo.

jamesbere

Akrasia wrote: »

I don't know about Iceland, but in Germany the religion tax is really easy to avoid. All you have to do is register as an atheist.

If there was a similar system in ireland, it might go a little way towards ending the hypocrisy of people who have no affiliation with the church baptising their kids just to please the granny

Or baptising them so they can put it up on facebook

Weatherproof79

Archaic. Bit like how the British tax payer has no say in paying for the Royal family to live like gods

eviltwin

I don't see anything wrong with people being asked to make a contribution to their church. It gives people a lot, it's part of their major life events, provides support and comfort. It's important to give back to it.

arayess

Akrasia wrote: »

I don't know about Iceland, but in Germany the religion tax is really easy to avoid. All you have to do is register as an atheist.

If there was a similar system in ireland, it might go a little way towards ending the hypocrisy of people who have no affiliation with the church baptising their kids just to please the granny

registering as an atheist ??
doesn't that make it a religion of sorts.

atheists confuse me they say there is no god and that is fine .
but then act like they are a religion with a defined belief structure , that atheist ireland seem to be ranting and raving about all sorts of insults to their non-god these days.

whatever happened to just not believing...

Buona Fortuna

Akrasia wrote: »

I don't know about Iceland, but in Germany the religion tax is really easy to avoid. All you have to do is register as an atheist.

If there was a similar system in ireland, it might go a little way towards ending the hypocrisy of people who have no affiliation with the church baptising their kids just to please the granny

Ah shure but they'd still go ta mass.

jamesbere

eviltwin wrote: »

I don't see anything wrong with people being asked to make a contribution to their church. It gives people a lot, it's part of their major life events, provides support and comfort. It's important to give back to it.

The church is hardly poor here in ireland, The money that gets left to the church in wills is frightening.

NiallBoo

Don't we effectively fund religion through tax-breaks?

arayess wrote: »

registering as an atheist ??
doesn't that make it a religion of sorts.

atheists confuse me they say there is no god and that is fine .
but then act like they are a religion with a defined belief structure..
whatever happened to just not believing...

I agree with this to an extent. I have no belief but don't like to call myself an atheist because I find it odd to define myself in relation to something that doesn't exist. I think it makes as much sense as calling myself a non-unicorn.

What's the point in ridding yourself of an idea if you're still going to make a fuss about it?

arayess wrote: »

that atheist ireland seem to be ranting and raving about all sorts of insults to their non-god these days.

This I don't agree with though. The simply argue for the divestment of the church from places where it's irrelevant. So that everyone can have liberty in this regard.

Pucking Fissed Off

arayess wrote: »

registering as an atheist ??
doesn't that make it a religion of sorts.

atheists confuse me they say there is no god and that is fine .
but then act like they are a religion with a defined belief structure , that atheist ireland seem to be ranting and raving about all sorts of insults to their non-god these days.

whatever happened to just not believing...

It's hard to "just not believe" when you are forced to send your children to faith schools and have a blasphemy law in a western country.

Why can't the religious just believe and not try to force it on people who have no interest?

Akrasia

5starpool wrote: »

I'd say it is more to do with the fact that 95% of schools are officially catholic in this country and it is easier to get your kids in a school near you if they are baptised that anything. The granny factor plays a part, but not near as much imo.

It's partially schools (although I think this is more fear and the numbers of schools that actually require a baptismal cert to secure a place is a lot lower than people think)

But it's also the other things like worrying about the children feeling left out when the other kids do their communion. At the moment, Baptism is seen as the default, and it's more or less free (other than the cost of the bouncy castle and a few crates of beer/wine)

People might think a lot harder about need to baptise their children if there was an annual tax of any significant amount.
In Germany 33% of the population are officially non religious, in Ireland only 7.6% of the population indicated no religion on the last census,

Akrasia

arayess wrote: »

registering as an atheist ??
doesn't that make it a religion of sorts.

No, If there's a religion tax, people need to register as one religion or as no religion.

atheists confuse me they say there is no god and that is fine .
but then act like they are a religion with a defined belief structure , that atheist ireland seem to be ranting and raving about all sorts of insults to their non-god these days.

whatever happened to just not believing...

Atheists mostly only agree on one thing, that we don't believe in god.

Atheist Ireland campaign on advocating secularism, on removing religious privilege from public life in ireland. This calling for an end to discrimination against non religious people. Seems like a suitable remit for an group called Atheist Ireland.

corner of hells

Akrasia wrote: »

No, If there's a religion tax, people need to register as one religion or as no religion.

Atheists mostly only agree on one thing, that we don't believe in god.

Atheist Ireland campaign on advocating secularism, on removing religious privilege from public life in ireland. This calling for an end to discrimination against non religious people. Seems like a suitable remit for an group called Atheist Ireland.

U ain't no athiest , Bruv.

Shenshen

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Oh look, another religion thread in AH

Makes a change from the eternal "Don't tell the children Santa isn't real, you bitch" threads.

Shenshen

arayess wrote: »

registering as an atheist ??
doesn't that make it a religion of sorts.

atheists confuse me they say there is no god and that is fine .
but then act like they are a religion with a defined belief structure , that atheist ireland seem to be ranting and raving about all sorts of insults to their non-god these days.

whatever happened to just not believing...

You don't register as an atheist in Germany.
You show up at the registry office, declare you no longer want to be affiliated with the church your parents signed you up for before you could talk, and walk away with a little more money in your pocket every month. Also, you will no longer receive the annoying parish newsletters.

Buona Fortuna

Shenshen wrote: »

Also, you will no longer receive the annoying parish newsletters.

So how will you know how much the GAA prize draw is, and when the Mums and Toddler group meets?

Shenshen

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

So how will you know how much the GAA prize draw is, and when the Mums and Toddler group meets?

Neither of those happen much in Germany

You will miss out on vital information on who died recently, though. And how much they want you to "donate" each Sunday (on top of your taxes).

kylith

Shenshen wrote: »

And how much they want you to "donate" each Sunday (on top of your taxes).

That's a bit fcking cheeky!

Shenshen

kylith wrote: »

That's a bit fcking cheeky!

Are they that different here?

kylith

Shenshen wrote: »

Are they that different here?

Cheeky? Yes.

There's no mandatory tax though, so it's just what gets put in the basket. Taking a wodge out of your wages then expecting more on Sundays takes some neck

Kevhog1988

jamesbere wrote: »

Or baptising them so they can put it up on facebook

exactly this!!

c_man

Thank God OP. I can't tell you how much sleep I've been losing worrying over Icelandic religious tax rules.

padd b1975

jamesbere wrote: »

The church is hardly poor here in ireland, The money that gets left to the church in wills is frightening.

How much gets left?

osarusan

A frightening amount.

jamesbere

padd b1975 wrote: »

How much gets left?

I know a woman that left 100,000 in here will to the church. I know of other's that have left land and property to the church.

5starpool

Akrasia wrote: »

No, If there's a religion tax, people need to register as one religion or as no religion.

According to the article in the guardian (linked in the OP, also relevant bit quoted), everyone pays this tax in Iceland, whether they are a member of a church or not.

NiallBoo

kylith wrote: »

Cheeky? Yes.

There's no mandatory tax though, so it's just what gets put in the basket. Taking a wodge out of your wages then expecting more on Sundays takes some neck

Any kind of tax break for is a subsidy.
So yes, we fund religion through general taxation also.

Akrasia

5starpool wrote: »

According to the article in the guardian (linked in the OP, also relevant bit quoted), everyone pays this tax in Iceland, whether they are a member of a church or not.

Well Bjork can Feck off then. I'd rather pay the water tax

darkpagandeath

Remind me again why people should be forced to donate to a religion ?

jester77

Shenshen wrote: »

You don't register as an atheist in Germany.
You show up at the registry office, declare you no longer want to be affiliated with the church your parents signed you up for before you could talk, and walk away with a little more money in your pocket every month. Also, you will no longer receive the annoying parish newsletters.

A little... it's around 8-9% of your taxable income, last time I looked it worked out at well over €100 a month for me.