[Redys]

Elok - I will grant you it is a very strange business. The essentials are there though - concern with market share and desire for as much $$ as possible.

Er, not all religions are concerned with "market share." Some, like some types of Judaism, don't proselytize much at all. And even the phrase "market share" is something of a distortion. Are political parties businesses? Labor unions? Groups like the Lions, or the Shriners, or those Freemason folks? How many organizations do NOT seek to enlarge their membership?

Saying they all desire as much money as possible sounds like you're simply positing an improper motive because you don't like religion, and painting with extremely broad strokes again as well.

[Indidockobeni]

I make no bones about not liking religion. I've yet to see one that makes any kind of sense but I see many that exploit.

Fortunately religion is an increasingly hard sell in this country. I'm glad I don't live amongst fundies (of all stripes).

[doogiehoussi]

Just as an aside, I was treasurer at my chuch years ago, and they do pay payroll taxes.

[Abofedrorobox]

I bet they managed to squirrel a little away for some property of their own.

[brandiweb]

I doubt Elok attends services under a tent. I mentioned to Rah that property taxes would be a good way to go as that is one thing most in this industry have in common.

[cargo_brad]

Not in the US. Hell no. They'd probably burn you at the stake.

It's a moot point here. Most churches are watching their elderly congregations die off before selling the property to pay outstanding legal settlements.

[EvonsRorgon]

I do.

[Jimambol]

...and yeah, die-off is killing a lot of the smaller ones.

[mbaueee]

We're losing the big ones.

The muslims are doing well though.

Along with non-religious they are probably the fastest (and only) growing group.

[Blellurgews]

Plenty of non-profits result in the enrichment of the people who run them. Those should have their non-profit status revoked and the organizations and people who run them taxed accordingly.

What do you mean by "enrichment"? On the one hand there are cases of obvious abuse where mega-church pastors funnel millions into their own pockets from gullible donors. However, the top executives at large legitimate non-profits draw large salaries, but they would draw equal or larger salaries at for-profit organizations of the same size, and their salaries are taxed.

[Dstyeglm]

What do you mean by "enrichment"? On the one hand there are cases of obvious abuse where mega-church pastors funnel millions into their own pockets from gullible donors.

That's what I'm talking about.

[bridsanaeds]

We're losing the big ones.

The muslims are doing well though.

Along with non-religious they are probably the fastest (and only) growing group.

wrong
http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm

JM

[mealiusarses]

Though it appears (at least from 1991), Catholics have grown, and they are 43% of religious belief in Canada (and Catholics are barely above the median, FWIW).

[feAilei1]

It could not have anything to do with young people identifying as non religious and then changing their minds later in life, could it?

It could, although the religious indoctrination process generally works the other way.

[steansathtpos]

What are the Canadian immigration patterns? Are there many immigrants from Catholic countries (like, say, Latin America)?

[DailyRingtone]

Imran -

Again, I don't know. I took a brief look for stats on immigration/religion but came up empty.

I'm sure they are out there and I'd be curious to see non-biased numbers (I have little "faith" in religious groups claims).

Canadian immigration numbers show immigrants from diverse parts of the world but country of origin is not in itself good evidence as often religious minorities are the ones immigrating/emigrating.

[Catalogov]

Yep.