Last I heard, the cap on mortgage interest deductions was going to drop to $500 K per year. Who can afford a home were the interest alone is $500 K? Not me and not anybody I know. If they can afford that kind of home, they can afford the taxes on their income.Yes, raising the standard deduction will reduce the number of people filing an itemized return, because their income will be reduced by the standard deduction. As it is, unless you are paying a mortgage which still has a large percentage of interest, you give a larger than average amount to charity and you medical bills are high enough to reach the minimum percentage of income to deduct the balance, you gain more from the higher standard deduction without all the paperwork.How will it affect church giving? On a local level I believe Christians pay tithes and give because they love the Lord, not for a tax deduction. Some who give will be able to itemize on taxes, but the Saints in the pews are not motivated to give for the sake of reduced taxes. Now if they start taxing the local church property (our campgrounds, state and national office building and colleges), there's were the pain will come.