Taxes and other speedbumps

Well, we all know that Scientology, Christianity, and most other forms of organized religions are the top grossing business groups of all time. Why? They don't have to pay taxes, they collect dues, and they can basically do anything they want with impunity.

So, what say you to making a multinational business conglomerate for the betterment of Mankind, and ourselves. Not only will this be a nerd/game haven, but also a pseudo-society of intellectuals focused on their own ideas of creation, with the actual means to do it. If we play our cards right, not only could we get tax exempt status, but we could get funding from people all over the world.

Look at it this way; How much more work would Pharmaceuticals, technological design firms, and the architects of society get done if they weren't focused on making money, and focused on the idea of creating the positive.

Ecclesiarchy of the Holy Immortal God Emperor of Mankind much?

I think this might be a little bit of a far fetched idea... Unless of course you figure out how to make GLORIOUS SCIENCE a religion.

GrandHistorian wrote:I think this might be a little bit of a far fetched idea... Unless of course you figure out how to make GLORIOUS SCIENCE a religion.

Can religion be copyright infringement?

That's almost as crazy as a bunch of fat guys on the internet attempting to make a haven for gamers out of a missile silo.

N. Kiki wrote:That's almost as crazy as a bunch of fat guys on the internet attempting to make a haven for gamers out of a missile silo.

waitaminnit...

Scientology is a business front based on Science Fiction. Why can't we do it? The main talking points are; Do we have a following base? Are the people dedicated to a particular doctrine, and that doctrine can be nothing at all, as in nihilism? Are you willing to surf through the legal channels for tax exempt status, because if it saves you billions of dollars that you could be using for the betterment of... anything really, why not?

Now that you put it that way... It makes a lot of sense.

What sort of doctrine were you thinking of?

We could form the Esoteric Order of Dagon...

It would also be amusing to have a "religion" covering video gaming, and not let Tim B^Uckley in on it.

GrandHistorian wrote:Now that you put it that way... It makes a lot of sense.

What sort of doctrine were you thinking of?

Well, in the Government's eyes, a doctrine for a religion is a single defining ideal, that guides everyday morals and judgment. Something that's vague, and has lots of loopholes would be key. I was thinking along the lines of;

"The use of logic, reasoning, and compassion is key to living a productive, and beneficial life, for yourself, and the betterment of the lives around you."

Basically stating "Think about things, so that you can do things, to make other's happy at some point in time."

"Be excellent to one another"

HarryDresden wrote:"The use of logic, reasoning, and compassion is key to living a productive, and beneficial life, for yourself, and the betterment of the lives around you."

This. Also Anon's.

THIS.

You could turn science into a religion with ease. Think about it. We could just prove to the government that we worship the atom. Those that believe in science tend to lean that way in terms of how things work & how things are created. A bit far fetched, but we could, in a sense, become a religion in the eyes of taxation.

We wouldn't have to create a holy book because our beliefs are in plain sight for any to see. Everything that we'd believe in would be based in fact, so there could be no violent off shoots like the majority of mainstream religions. But the problem is convincing an organization, such as the U.N., that what we believe in should be considered a religion. It shouldn't be hard since everything we do now is steeped in science.

So, insert "Children of the Atom" fallout joke here.

HarryDresden wrote:So, insert "Children of the Atom" fallout joke here.

Sounds like a catchy name. i like the cut of your jib. lol

Hey hey hey now. I haven't posted my jib online in quite awhile. I hope those pics aren't still around.

HarryDresden wrote:Hey hey hey now. I haven't posted my jib online in quite awhile. I hope those pics aren't still around.

All you have to do is post it on the net once and it's there forever. lol

In truth, i really do like the name "Children of the Atom". Not quite cultish, but not like something that relies on a book or a single person to keep the whole thing running.

I'd be down for it.

Yeah, I'd totally be a child of the atom.

Dear sweet Science yes.

I can't say yes loudly enough. I'm a Transhumanist. I'm all for the betterment of humanity through scientific means, and the fact the almost all contemporary religions seem to be anti-progress bugs the hell out of me. Money and research time could be put to so much more good than just in making things to blow up. We could be advancing the damn species as a whole, instead we are caught in petty grudges over sentimental territory, when there is infinite space and resources out there if we could only reach them!

Woah, sorry, went a bit overboard there.

I'd be willing to do the legal diving to see what the actual prerequisites are.

I suspect that the authorities will see through this whole "pretend to be a religion to get tax breaks" thing, and I wouldn't advocate it, but I'm not going to go out of my way to stop you, I suppose.

Cynic wrote:I suspect that the authorities will see through this whole "pretend to be a religion to get tax breaks" thing, and I wouldn't advocate it, but I'm not going to go out of my way to stop you, I suppose.

Scientology is still going strong, and they RAIDED GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND STOLE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

I think we're good.

JonathanDoe wrote:

Cynic wrote:I suspect that the authorities will see through this whole "pretend to be a religion to get tax breaks" thing, and I wouldn't advocate it, but I'm not going to go out of my way to stop you, I suppose.

Scientology is still going strong, and they RAIDED GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND STOLE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

I think we're good.

Hm. Good point.