# Why is religion exempt from federal Truth in Advertising laws? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 3, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417 "2014-02-03T14:58:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cns21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@cns21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cns21)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/1 "2014-02-03T14:58:28Z")
Shouldn’t religion be held to, at a minimum, the same Truth in Advertising standards as “junk food”, or be required to have a Mental Health Warning on its packaging and advertising? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/2 "2014-02-03T15:12:32Z")
It’s not that religion is exempt from truth in advertising laws; it’s that they’re not relevant. What you’re asking is roughly analogous to asking why laptops aren’t required to be labeled as to their trans fat content. ---
**Author:** ![cns21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@cns21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cns21)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/3 "2014-02-03T15:15:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s not that religion is exempt from truth in advertising laws; it’s that they’re not relevant. What you’re asking is roughly analogous to asking why laptops aren’t required to be labeled as to their trans fat content. Please explain how religion, from the perspective of those who market it, is different from any other product that is being sold to the American consumer. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/4 "2014-02-03T15:21:10Z")
Can you point to any case where a religious TV ad makes any claims that would fall afoul of truth in advertising? As far as I can tell, most religious ads are akin to university ads or used car ads - long on subjective opinions, short on statements of absolute fact that can be judged on their own merits. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/5 "2014-02-03T15:22:55Z")
> [@cns21](#): > > … or be required to have a Mental Health Warning on its packaging … It’s a ‘product’ - with packaging? Got any examples? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/6 "2014-02-03T15:31:09Z")
Since the OP is evidently seeking a debate rather than asking a factual question, let’s move this over to Great Debates. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/7 "2014-02-03T15:32:38Z")
Please explain how laptops, from the perspective of those who market them, are any different from any other food sold to American consumers. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/8 "2014-02-03T15:40:49Z")
> [@cns21](#): > > Shouldn’t religion be held to, at a minimum, the same Truth in Advertising standards as “junk food”, or be required to have a Mental Health Warning on its packaging and advertising? From what I can tell, advertisements for religions ARE held to the same Truth in Advertising standards as junk food, and they DO have the same Mental Health Warning on their advertising as idiotic television shows have. We’ll be happy to continue this discussion, but you’ll have to be more specific and give some examples of what you’re referring to, or else the discussion will lead nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![cns21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@cns21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cns21)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/9 "2014-02-03T15:42:48Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Since the OP is evidently seeking a debate rather than asking a factual question, let’s move this over to Great Debates. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Thank you, Colibri, for taking my factual question and arbitrarily deciding to turn it into a ‘debate’. I thought this message board might be the one place on earth where I could get straight answers to serious questions, without someone making assumptions about my motivations. Please delete the question. I will go elsewhere for answers. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/10 "2014-02-03T15:48:25Z")
> [@cns21](#): > > Thank you, Colibri, for taking my factual question and arbitrarily deciding to turn it into a ‘debate’. I thought this message board might be the one place on earth where I could get straight answers to serious questions, without someone making assumptions about my motivations. There is no factual answer to your question. It’s a political issue and subject to personal opinion. > [@](#): > > Please delete the question. I will go elsewhere for answers. We’ll miss you!! ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/11 "2014-02-03T15:50:36Z")
The factual answer is that the FTC Act doesn’t apply to non-commercial activity, which includes religion. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/12 "2014-02-03T15:50:57Z")
> [@cns21](#): > > Thank you, Colibri, for taking my factual question and arbitrarily deciding to turn it into a ‘debate’. I thought this message board might be the one place on earth where I could get straight answers to serious questions, without someone making assumptions about my motivations. > > Please delete the question. I will go elsewhere for answers. That “Please delete so that I can pretend it never happened” stuff? They don’t do that here. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/13 "2014-02-03T15:51:11Z")
> [@cns21](#): > > Thank you, Colibri, for taking my factual question and arbitrarily deciding to turn it into a ‘debate’. I thought this message board might be the one place on earth where I could get straight answers to serious questions, without someone making assumptions about my motivations. > > Please delete the question. I will go elsewhere for answers. In what way was it a serious question? I and several other posters have asked you to explain yourself. > [@cns21 - in the OP](#): > > Shouldn’t religion be held to, at a minimum, the same Truth in Advertising standards as “junk food”, or be required to have a Mental Health Warning on its packaging and advertising? If you can demonstrate that religion is NOT being held to those standards, then I’m confident that Colibri will move the thread back to GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/14 "2014-02-03T15:54:36Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > The factual answer is that the FTC Act doesn’t apply to non-commercial activity, which includes religion. Interesting point. That’s why it is so important for the OP to clarify the question. If the issue is advertising which asks people to merely follow a religion, then your point is well taken. But if the issue is advertising which asks people to donate, that’s a whole nother story. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/15 "2014-02-03T15:56:55Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > The factual answer is that the FTC Act doesn’t apply to non-commercial activity, which includes religion. But the OP is asking whether or not it “should” be. Sure, the thread title ask why religion is exempt, but it’s clear from his post(s) that he doesn’t think it “should” be. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/16 "2014-02-03T16:01:33Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > But if the issue is advertising which asks people to donate, that’s a whole nother story. I would definitely like to see a cite for that being a large factor when it comes religious advertising. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/17 "2014-02-03T16:01:35Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > Interesting point. That’s why it is so important for the OP to clarify the question. If the issue is advertising which asks people to merely follow a religion, then your point is well taken. But if the issue is advertising which asks people to donate, that’s a whole nother story. I doubt asking for donations counts as commerce for the purposes of the FTC, but it is possible. I’ll take a look. I can’t recall every seeing a religious advertisement that asked for money, but that’s not to say they don’t exist. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > But the OP is asking whether or not it “should” be. Sure, the thread title ask why religion is exempt, but it’s clear from his post(s) that he doesn’t think it “should” be. I see your point, the OP contains both a factual question (“Why is religion exempt from federal Truth in Advertising laws?”) and a debate topic (“Shouldn’t religion be held to, at a minimum, the same Truth in Advertising standards as “junk food”, or be required to have a Mental Health Warning on its packaging and advertising?”) I’ve already answered the former (because it’s non-commercial speech), for the latter, I answer - No, because it’s not comparable to a commercial product like junk food. ---
**Author:** ![cns21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@cns21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cns21)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/18 "2014-02-03T16:06:11Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > But the OP is asking whether or not it “should” be. Sure, the thread title ask why religion is exempt, but it’s clear from his post(s) that he doesn’t think it “should” be. Anyone who thinks that organized religion (in America) is NOT ‘business’ is not being objective. It clearly follows a standard business model, has a product about which it makes promises, engages in active public marketing, makes distinctions between itself and its competitors, has local and regional salespeople, and solicits payment in exchange for its product. One critical difference between religion and other products is that if religion fails to deliver on its product promises, the consumer is invariably blamed for ‘using it incorrectly’, and there is no appeal. ---
**Author:** ![cns21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@cns21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cns21)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/19 "2014-02-03T16:08:37Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > I doubt asking for donations counts as commerce for the purposes of the FTC, but it is possible. I’ll take a look. > > I can’t recall every seeing a religious advertisement that asked for money, but that’s not to say they don’t exist. > > I see your point, the OP contains both a factual question (“Why is religion exempt from federal Truth in Advertising laws?”) and a debate topic (“Shouldn’t religion be held to, at a minimum, the same Truth in Advertising standards as “junk food”, or be required to have a Mental Health Warning on its packaging and advertising?”) > > I’ve already answered the former (because it’s non-commercial speech), for the latter, I answer - No, because it’s not comparable to a commercial product like junk food. The only thing that keeps religion from being legally ‘non-commercial’ is a DEFINITION. For all practical purposes, organized religion is a commercial enterprise. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417/20 "2014-02-03T16:10:46Z")
OK, please provide examples of the “active public marketing” or advertising done by religions that makes promises. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-religion-exempt-from-federal-truth-in-advertising-laws/680417.md?page=2)