Warning: reading this may actually make you stupider

Co-blogger Christopher and I were talking this morning, and he said that if he ever got into power the first thing he'd do would be to remove tax exemptions from ALL religious organizations. In view of this, (via Jesse) that doesn't sound like such a bad idea:

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A Florida judge has ruled in favor of a Christian theme park seeking an exemption from property taxes. The Holy Land Experiencein Orlando is operated by a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian ministry called Zion's Hope, which is devoted to converting Jews to Christianity. It had been granted only limited exemptions for administrative and education facilities. The Orange County Property Appraiser's office had denied the group's broader request in 2001, arguing the park was a tourist attraction rather than a church. But Judge Cynthia MacKinnon said all of the park is tax-exempt.In her ruling, the judge said Zion's Hope is using The Holy Land Experience "to spread what it considers to be God's word." The park features scenes from ancient Jerusalem and biblical settings complete with costumed characters. The $16 million, 15-acre park opened in 2001.

Seriously. WTF, people? In what possible way can this be considered a not-for-profit, tax-exempt venture? It's an amusement park. Gah - trying to understand this kind of reasoning makes my neural pathways hurt, and they don't MAKE enough Excedrin to kill that pain.