mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz) (03/01/85)
In article <806@decwrl.UUCP> black@nisysg.DEC writes: > The Constitution clearly states that Congress shall pass no > law recognizing the establishment of a religion, nor prohibiting the > free exercise thereof. (My, how we tend to ignore the second half of > that sentence!) But yet, who determines what constitutes a "religion" > in this nation? Why, none other than that bastion of freedom, the > Internal Revenue Service! If you want to open a church, which is > your right, you must apply to the IRS to be certified as a religion > in order to gain tax-exempt status. You don't believe me? Write to > them and ask. They'll close you down and seize your assets if you > try to claim income tax deductions unless they give you permission > to be a church. Here we have a classic example of putting the cart before the horse. Anybody may open a church. No questions asked. You may call anything you like a religion. There is one major reason why the government might be interested in what constitutes a religion: tax exempt status. Tax-exempt staus is not required to open a church nor to run a church. As a matter of fact, JC was explicit about taxes: render up to Caesar that which is Caesar's. JC did not have church property or taxable income. Now I suppose it's a bit much to ask Christians and their priests or ministers to follow that example. :-) So how do you propose determining who is granted tax exemption? -- Mike Huybensz ...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh