And by government status, I mean official recognition. Tax exempt and all that.
2007-01-24 08:10:41 · 4 answers · asked by robtheman 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not particularly interested in the tax exempt part, but it was the only thing I could think of that the government grants to religions it recognizes. I'm more looking for government recognition. For example, the government recognizes that Christianity is an established religion. It sees Heaven's Gate as a bunch of loons. I want to get away from a bunch of loons and become an established religion.
2007-01-24 08:37:28 · update #1
Attached is everything you need to know about our government's gifts to organized religion.
2007-01-24 08:30:12 · answer #1 · answered by Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Getting 'tax exempt status' and 'all that' as a 'religion' should be fairly easy, and does not require any particular number of 'faithful' ... but WHY do you want to know this? If it is 'simply' so that you don't have to pay taxes on an income, then you should know that even if you are 'faithful' to your religion and are the only one who 'practices' that religion that you'll still have to pay taxes on any money you make that is not 'directly to the church' to be used for 'church expenses' ... so your 'job' income is still taxable.
2007-01-24 08:27:23 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't answer from an American point of view - only Canadian.
It's not the number of members but the length of time you've been established as a church. Once you have been around for 25 years or longer, you can apply for official church status.
2007-01-24 08:20:57 · answer #3 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
certian religious people get tax exempts?
2007-01-24 08:17:35 · answer #4 · answered by thankgodformaryjane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋