RE: My Dream Of 1960
August 10, 2011 at 1:02 am
(This post was last modified: August 10, 2011 at 1:03 am by Judas BentHer.)
I wouldn't know about the ins and outs of portraying ones self as a psychic or "prophet" (Besides maybe acting classes?) however, I had a friend go through the process of submitting application for 501c3 religious organization tax exemption. It was arduous, but he finally succeeded.
It's interesting because the 1st amendment and the IRS regulations seem to conflict. Congress passed the law that created the Income Tax Code. From which a 501c3 seeks exemption to compliance. While the IRS, is part of the executive branch of government under the department of the U.S. Treasury. And it is they who right the regulations that enforce the language of the aforementioned Code passed by Congress and signed into law by the President.
So when the first says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ..."
It seems a bit convoluted because while Congress can not make a law that says a certain religion is outlawed, it did make an income tax code from which religious organizations must qualify to be exempt from paying taxes on what they generate as income from the donations of the religious. Otherwise, one is not a tax exempt religious organization and if someone deems themselves tax exempt because of the first without applying for the 501c3, they face penalty under the regulations of the IRS.
So you are free to be religious under the first. You just have to qualify to be free from paying taxes as a religious organization that receives donations from the religious so that the programs dedicated to furtherance of that religion may continue with capital support.
In any event, (Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations)
"The Supreme Court has interpreted religion to mean a sincere and meaningful belief that occupies in the life of its possessor a place parallel to the place held by God in the lives of other persons. The religion or religious concept need not include belief in the existence of God or a supreme being to be within the scope of the First Amendment." ( Source)
Offered just because the subject came up. Personally, I'd love to see an atheist system that's tax exempt under that particular arm of the 501c3 exemption, and an atheist living as high or higher than the most materialistic Televangelist, as the antithesis of everything that makes that Theist ilk filthy rich when their Jesus ministered to the poor, as one of meager possessions.
I imagine the indignation it would inspire in their ilk, would be enough to knock pastor John Hagee right off his podium on Palm Sunday.
While his favorite son, Senator John McCain, as well as other religious politicians head would shrivel at the thought.
It's interesting because the 1st amendment and the IRS regulations seem to conflict. Congress passed the law that created the Income Tax Code. From which a 501c3 seeks exemption to compliance. While the IRS, is part of the executive branch of government under the department of the U.S. Treasury. And it is they who right the regulations that enforce the language of the aforementioned Code passed by Congress and signed into law by the President.
So when the first says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ..."
It seems a bit convoluted because while Congress can not make a law that says a certain religion is outlawed, it did make an income tax code from which religious organizations must qualify to be exempt from paying taxes on what they generate as income from the donations of the religious. Otherwise, one is not a tax exempt religious organization and if someone deems themselves tax exempt because of the first without applying for the 501c3, they face penalty under the regulations of the IRS.
So you are free to be religious under the first. You just have to qualify to be free from paying taxes as a religious organization that receives donations from the religious so that the programs dedicated to furtherance of that religion may continue with capital support.
In any event, (Tax Information for Churches and Religious Organizations)
"The Supreme Court has interpreted religion to mean a sincere and meaningful belief that occupies in the life of its possessor a place parallel to the place held by God in the lives of other persons. The religion or religious concept need not include belief in the existence of God or a supreme being to be within the scope of the First Amendment." ( Source)
Offered just because the subject came up. Personally, I'd love to see an atheist system that's tax exempt under that particular arm of the 501c3 exemption, and an atheist living as high or higher than the most materialistic Televangelist, as the antithesis of everything that makes that Theist ilk filthy rich when their Jesus ministered to the poor, as one of meager possessions.
I imagine the indignation it would inspire in their ilk, would be enough to knock pastor John Hagee right off his podium on Palm Sunday.
While his favorite son, Senator John McCain, as well as other religious politicians head would shrivel at the thought. 