Tax Exemptions, Spaghetti, and the Devil: The Perils of Ambiguous Limitations on Religion and a Proposed Definition for Legally Acknowledged Systems of Faith
Tax Exemptions, Spaghetti, and the Devil: The Perils of Ambiguous Limitations on Religion and a Proposed Definition for Legally Acknowledged Systems of Faith

Summary/Abstract: Modern problems require modern solutions; in the same vein, modern religions pose unconventional points of contention regarding the role of the government and whether they should – or should not – regulate what constitutes a legitimate religion. This analysis will discuss the ever evolving world of faith in the United States, the argument for restricting new belief systems’ access to institutional ad- vantages, the conventional metrics for differentiating a secular versus non-secular organization, and the potential consequences for lax governmental interference. At the helm, three “modern” religions as well as their primary legal controversies are assessed: Scientology in its quest for religious tax exemptions, Pastafarianism in how a satirical organization fulfills all traditional tenets of religion, and finally, LaVeyan Satanism in what separates faith from philosophy.

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