What do YOU think?

[Cuddlefish]

So, I was doing a little bit of thinking about starting a new "religion." This got me curious to see what was required to be recognized as an official "real-honest-to-goodeness" religion by the gov't. Maybe I didn't try hard enough, but I found very little information on how, exactly, to register a religion (anyone with links to this kind of info, plz to be sharing).

Regardless, this thought process lead to me wondering about officially registering Discordianism, which, in turn, lead me to wonder what everyone else thinks of the matter (undoubtedly this topic has been brought up before I was here, at one point or another).

So, out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on registering Discordianism as an "official religion?"

[Sister_Gothique]

What's the point?

Religion....just a glorified cult. *shrug*

[tyrannosaurus vex]

In the US at least, Religions aren't registered. Religious organizations are, for the purpose of being tax-exempt from the IRS, but as far as I know you do not register your religion, only the fact that you are a religious organization.

[Cuddlefish]

What would be the benefits? What would be the drawbacks? I, admittedly, don't know a whole lot about it, but tax exempt status and payed (fake) holidays sounds like a good thing. Plus, if we did get it actually recognized, wouldn't that be like the greatest GASM ever?

Just saying. What do you guys think?

[Cramulus]

I say yes.

because discordianism is funnier when outsiders take it seriously

to us on the inside, we know that it's kind of a joke

but I do so love the rare occasion that somebody is forced to respect the turkey curse as an actual religious practice, moosemas as an actual religious holyday, and this weird in-joke from the 1960s has to be treated with the same gravity as christianity


I like being able to say that I am not a christian, I am not a pagan, I am not an atheist, I am something else which is equally valid and yet does not have all the straightfaced bullshit.

[Cuddlefish]

I say yes.

because discordianism is funnier when outsiders take it seriously

to us on the inside, we know that it's kind of a joke

but I do so love the rare occasion that somebody is forced to respect the turkey curse as an actual religious practice, moosemas as an actual religious holyday, and this weird in-joke from the 1960s has to be treated with the same gravity as christianity


I like being able to say that I am not a christian, I am not a pagan, I am not an atheist, I am something else which is equally valid and yet does not have all the straightfaced bullshit.

I agree with all of the above. Plus, if the fucking Jedi religion can get recognized, there's no reason why we shouldn't.

[Storebrand]

I think it's a good idea.  It's on my dog tags so the Air Force already recognizes it as a religion.  They wouldn't do it when I initially asked.

[Jasper]

What it sounds like is that we really just need an organization that is registered as a religious one, so I think the question would be what organization would we be?

[The Johnny]

This was mentioned before, but was shot down with the argument that "discordia doesnt acknowledge the state, state doesnt acknowledge discordia".

Not that im taking sides, because its a complex matter with pros and cons.

[The Johnny]

If im not mistaken, for a Church to be recognized locally, it needs certain number of members that meet in a specific estate.... -looking-

[The Johnny]

I need to lrn2constitution, but what article or whatever is which deals with religion? Im sure starting from there you can branch off to find specifics.

[The Johnny]

Jesusfuckingchrist did you guys know that Jehova's Witnesses invoked 1st Amendment to avoid military service??? And they WON.

[Requia ☣]

From my conversations with people who have gotten the legal ability to perform marriages through internet based religions, the two big things seem to be some kind of mailing address for the religion, and a discriminatory ordination process (IE, some people who apply must be rejected).  The latter is a bit of a problem for Discordians.

[The Johnny]

I think the 1st and 14th amendment would be the basics from where to start off.

Talking to a lawyer wouldnt hurt either.

[Requia ☣]

I don't think discordia could win a court battle.  The courts have a history of tossing out even very strong claims when made by small unheard of religions.

That aside, unless you happen to have millions of dollars lying around, or know an organization that would actually want to represent us, legal battles are irrelevant.