Why does "Scientology" enjoy I.R.S. designation as a "religion"?

[pnwmom]

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/01/what_is_scientology.php


But if Dianetics is a "science" of mental health, and if it charges hefty fees for "technology" (counseling sessions) that it promises will raise your IQ, and if Scientology does not pray to a God or engage in "worship" or even have weekly prayer services, how does it get to call itself a religion and not a business?

In fact, for most of its existence, Scientology was considered a money-making enterprise and did not qualify for tax-exempt status under U.S. law. That changed in 1993, and the reason behind it is a fascinating story. The short version: for years, Scientology wore down the IRS with thousands of nuisance lawsuits until tax authorities simply gave in.

Since the IRS and Scientology came to that 1993 agreement, the church has, quite understandably, pointed to its tax-exempt status as the US government's acknowledgement that it is a bona fide religion. But as Ohio State University professor Hugh Urban recently asked in his excellent history, The Church of Scientology, does it make sense that a tax agency, the IRS, gets to decide what is or isn't a "religion?"

Urban points out that in 1953, as Hubbard was shifting from the early Dianetics craze and was building his new organization of Scientology, he wrote in a letter that he was interested in pursuing "the religion angle." At the time, he was feeling the heat from the FDA and the American Medical Association for his claims that auditing could cure disease. But if critics call Scientology's move from science to religion a cynical one on Hubbard's part, Urban points out that it's not so easy to say what is or isn't a religion, even with the IRS's stamp of approval.

SNIP

[demosincebirth]

1. Why are many (religions) classified as tax exempt even though they preach about politics and who to

vote for?

[pnwmom]

2. They shouldn't be. n/t

[PoliticAverse]

3. Good question. I seem to recall the constitution saying...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"

[demosincebirth]

4. The big question is what classifies as a religion?

[tammywammy]

5. After years and years of fighting with Scientology the IRS gave up.

The Scientologists will bury you in legal paperwork and they harassed individual IRS agents.

Here's a book I read that details the IRS issue, along with others.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0618883029/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1341630037&sr=8-1

[GarroHorus]

6. Though I believe Scientology is a con game, I would support to my death their designation as...

a religion.

Let's face it, nearly every religion is a con game.

[PoliticAverse]

7. Even if that is true, that doesn't mean every con game is a religion. n/t

[GarroHorus]

9. Every con game that plays the religion card deserves equal protection.

Scientology plays the religion con game.

So does Catholicism.

No difference whatsoever between the two, ergo, equal protection.

[MrSlayer]

8. All religions are scam businesses.

The second oldest profession in the world.

None of them should be tax exempt.

[pnwmom]

10. None of the major ones are as controlling as Scientology.

And I haven't heard any that require thousands of dollars in payments for their "counseling" either.

[MrSlayer]

12. Doesn't really matter.

They're all still peddling lies for money.

[pnwmom]

13. Yeah, it does matter. The hallmark of a cult is how much control it exerts over its members.

And Scientology is extreme in this regard.

So often, it seems, people want to make black and white statements, but the truth really comes in shades of gray. All religions aren't the same, any more than all atheists are the same.

And just because Scientology has chosen to call itself a religion, in order to get the tax and other benefits, doesn't make it one.

[Tom Ripley]

11. And THAT's why religious tax exemptions are unconstitutional

An agency of the federal government, the IRS determines what is a "religion"

[SoDesuKa]

14. Scientology's Not a Religion Everywhere

Some European countries are pretty savvy in terms of not giving out religion licenses to scam artists like Scientology. Off the top of my head, I'd say Italy, France and Germany have identified the hustle for what it is.

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I'm a Vulcan, Not a Thetan
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