Comment on Xmas at the mega church
Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 6 days agoHorrible indeed. Being force-joined into a cult. Where I live I was joined by my parents at birth (just because “it’s that way”, not because they were believers) and I had to PAY to leave that church officially much later. Incredible. I didn’t sign a contract or was at a legal age to do so, I wasn’t asked and couldn’t even speak anyway, yet I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get out of that contract 18yrs later.
At least in this country it’s without consequences (except saving a shitton of money) or social pressure. Other societies have it much worse :-(
mcv@lemmy.zip 6 days ago
How does that work? How can you be made to pay? That does not sound legal to me. Can’t you just leave and ignore it?
Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 5 days ago
Through taxes. You pay (I forgot how many) percent of your salary/income. So, very legal. Church makes a buttload of moneyz and still asks for spare change in mass 😂
mcv@lemmy.zip 5 days ago
I’m afraid I still don’t quite get it. Do you pay less taxes now? Do members of this church pay more taxes?
It all sounds completely at odds with the concept of freedom of religion.
Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 5 days ago
I pay way less taxes now, it’s literally a church-tax added on top of the other taxes. Unless you leave (which requires jumping some hoops) you’d pay. And we’re free though. Just if your parents are dumb enough to join you (“because everyone else does that too!”) at birth then that’s it. It’s as stupid as it sounds, yes. Germany btw.