# On starting a religion

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-starting-a-religion/179917>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 5, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-starting-a-religion/179917 "2003-06-05T20:17:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![UnwrittenNocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6de8d8/32.png) [@UnwrittenNocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnwrittenNocturne)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-starting-a-religion/179917/1 "2003-06-05T20:17:34Z")

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OK, I can see the huge tax breaks available in most countries…which is my motivation (I have a cynical view of religion).

So, lets say I wish to start “The Cult of Cthulhu” - how do I get it recognised as a religion?

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**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-starting-a-religion/179917/2 "2003-06-05T21:31:42Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by UnwrittenNocturne \*  
> \*\*OK, I can see the huge tax breaks available in most countries…which is my motivation (I have a cynical view of religion).
> 
> So, lets say I wish to start “The Cult of Cthulhu” - how do I get it recognised as a religion? \*\*

The tax breaks are considerably lower than you think.

In the U.S., at least, even if you’re a duly ordained clergyman in a recognized, established religion, you have to pay income taxes like anyone else. A minister who’s paid a salary by a church pays income tax on that salary. If he owns a home, he has to pay property taxes on his home.

The tax breaks available to a church are, for the most part, the same breaks available to any non-profit institution. But if you’re expecting to make a pile of money by calling yourself a clergyman, you’re going to be very disappointed.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-starting-a-religion/179917/3 "2003-06-05T21:53:51Z")

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