'666' Bar Code Tax Number
 To Be Given Every
Russian Citizen
From "Russia Today"
By Mikhail Kotov - Staff Writer
http://www.gazeta.ru/english.shtml

  
 
Bar Code of the Beast

"And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, unless he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom; Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred sixty six."
(Revelation 13:16-18)
 
The Ministry of Taxation has revealed plans to introduce individual tax numbers for every citizen. The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church says the project is evil, for the bar code used by tax officials contains the fiendish number, 666. The Synod has proposed that a national electronic language be formed.
The Russian Orthodox Church understands that the system of tax collection must be improved, but gathering information about individuals without their consent breeches article 24 of the Russian Constitution. Although the clergy does not oppose the existing passport, pension and conscription apparatus, they suspect that the proposed tax collection system is harmful for the common people.
Russia's Holy Synod has declared that, "many Christians revere their names given them at baptism as holy and consider it undignified to be given new numerical "names" by the government."
Some priests are saying that acquiring an Individual Taxpayer Number (ITN) constitutes a sin, and unless believers repent, they would be denied Holy Communion. Although the Synod disapproves of such statements, its main concern is the symbols used in the new registration system, which has already been introduced in some places. The pilot social welfare cards feature three bar codes, each of which includes the number 6. Clergymen believe the codes contain the number of the Antichrist, 666, mentioned in the Apocalypse of St. John the Evangelist (13: 16-18). Having consulted with experts, the prelates have concluded that there is no great necessity to use these particular bars. Their conclusion is that "the authors of the global bar code system, widely used today in statistics, trade and many other spheres, have consciously or unconsciously chosen a symbol which is insulting and disturbing to Christians. At the very least, it looks like an outrageous mockery."
Orthodox prelates suggest that the government get rid of the "blasphemous" symbol by "changing the international system of the symbols involved. If this proves impossible, we must create an alternative national electronic language".
As Russian citizens, another aspect worrying clergymen is that, "Soon those who do not have a tax code or plastic card could be completely deprived of social and even medical aid. If this happens, there will be every reason to doubt the existence of equality and freedom of conscience, so actively promoted by modern civilization. Therefore we insist on having an alternative system of personal registration for social, medical, insurance and other aid".
Tomorrow (Friday), Gazeta.Ru will find out whether the Minister of Taxation Aleksandr Pochinok has been excommunicated for his blasphemous deeds.
 
 
 
 
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