In the United States of America today, churches and religious groups are treated with enormous sensitivity and deference by politicians and the media, a deference they have not earned. Far too often, the government and society in general bends over backwards to accommodate and encourage religious beliefs even when there is no rational reason why they should do so. The most egregious example of this is the sweeping tax exemptions granted to religion.
It is time to end this unfair and unjustifiable special treatment. Religion has done nothing to deserve it, and has done much to disqualify itself. There are compelling reasons to tax the churches.