Liturgy

 

In ancient Athens there was no such thing as taxation. There was no income tax, no capital gains tax, no value added tax, no inheritance tax - no tax at all, at least as we know it. I know it all sounds too good to be true, because even Utopians need roads and bridges, civic buildings and public amenities. They need to protect themselves too and armies and navies don't pay for themselves. So how did they do it?

They invented a unique method of public service that expected every citizen to be responsible for financing one major public work once in their lifetime. It may be erecting a statue, building a temple or equipping a battle ship to defend their shores. When they'd done that they'd be free of any other financial responsibility for life. Now this act of public service performed by one person for the benefit of the whole community was called his 'liturgy'. read on.....