Biblical Park May Get Tax Break

[EllieGreen]

" TALLAHASSEE - A biblical theme park in Orlando where guests pay $30 admission to munch on "Goliath" burgers and explore reproductions of 2000-year-old tombs and temples could get a property tax exemption written into state law.

A Senate committee easily passed a bill that would grant theme parks "used to exhibit, illustrate, and interpret biblical manuscripts ... " an exemption from local property taxes, like churches, even though the parks charge money.

The legislation is designed to resolve a tax dispute between Holy Land Experience and the Orange County property appraiser, but legislative staffers say the exemption could encourage the development of other parks to take advantage of the tax break."

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/06/State/Biblical_parks_may_ge.shtml

[C_U_L8R]

1. Woohoo.. When does Spaghetti World open up???

[longship]

2. I want to ride the rides at Spaghetti World.

Especially the "Pirates of Supreme Being" ride.
That's gotta be a lot of tax exempt fun.

"Touched by his noodly appendage"

[EllieGreen]

3. I wonder...

...if Spaghetti Sauce can now be tax-exempt? Or what about pasta?

[longship]

5. Holy sacriment?

We'll have to lobby Congress. Where's Johnny "K Street" when we need him.

[EllieGreen]

7. Only if we include Parmesan Cheese....

...then I would be right with you.

[lldu]

4. That would have to be "Biblical" Spaghetti World n/t

[longship]

6. Sorry buddy. Pastafarians don't use the Bible.

nt

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Only "biblical manuscripts"?

It would be a gross violation of the First Amendment if such a tax exemption was not also given to theme parts used to exhibit, illustrate and interpret the Quran. Or the Pali Canon. Or the Mahabarata. Or any other religious literature.

And does "biblical manuscript" include documents and events not found in the Bible, but which are found in related manuscripts? How about a theme park built around the Gospel of Judas? Gnosticland?

Personally, I want to build a tax-free theme park used to exhibit, illustrate and interpret ancient Greek religion. "Sacrifices to Zeus: 11am, 1 pm, 3pm, 5pm", "Wait to ride Orpheus Visit Hades: 30 minutes from this point", "The Temple of Aphrodite: Last entry - one half hour before park closing."

[rurallib]

9. And the exhibit where virgins are saved from potential sacrifice by

well you know.
Good gods yet another perversion of laws.

[C_U_L8R]

10. I've got a bible right here

it's called "Bugialli On Pasta"

and it's yummy

[TallahasseeGrannie]

11. Hopefully they would still have to pay Sales tax, right?

[kay1864]

12. OMG, this has

"ACLU" written all over it. Temp order by a judge, then overturned at all levels.

What a waste of time and money.

[TechBear_Seattle]

13. I interpret it this way...

It panders to the Talibangelicals and, when a judge rules that the law is unconstitutional, can further be milked to "prove" that religious nutters are being persecuted by "activist judges" who want to force a secular state.

[charlie]

14. Might be a harder slog than that

They've already won a favorable circuit court ruling.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-07-11-christian-theme-park_x.htm