Mister Agenda wrote:I think it's worth pointing out that there's no such consistency among theists, either, a group which includes everyone who is not an atheist: pagans, popes, and neopythagorianists.

Mister Agenda wrote:I suppose pagan is too much of a blanket term. 'Polytheists', then.

Religious institution

Your organisation will be a religious institution if it is an establishment, organisation or association that is instituted to advance or promote religious purposes.

An institution may have the legal structure of an unincorporated association or a corporation. However, incorporation is not enough, on its own, for an organisation to be an institution. Its activities, size, permanence and recognition will be relevant.

An organisation that is established controlled and operated by family members and friends would not normally be an institution.

Example
A corporation is set up and controlled by a family. Its object is to spread the gospel. The only activities are holding assets and arranging for the father of the family to speak at churches on some Sundays.

The corporation is not an institution.


An institution will be a religious institution if:

its objects and activities reflect its character as a body instituted for the promotion of some religious object, and
the beliefs and practices of the members constitute a religion.
The term 'religion' is not confined to major religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, but also extends to Buddhism, Taoism, Jehovah's Witness, the Free Daist Communion of Australia and Scientology. The categories of religion are not closed. Nonetheless, to be a religion there must be:

belief in a supernatural being, thing or principle, and
acceptance of canons of conduct that give effect to that belief, but that do not offend against the ordinary laws.

Agrippina wrote:The trouble is we'd have to go to all the trouble of setting up an organization, pay membership fees and choose officials. That would remove me as the high priestess of atheism, besides I'm far too lazy to join an organization that doesn't believe in anything.

chriscase wrote:NOT(NOT(A)) = A.

Pagans are not neccesarily theists.

ChasM wrote:

PS
My kid lost her lost tooth the other night, and as we couldn't find it, the Tooth Fairy never dropped a couple of bucks under her pillow. I asked her if, should I find it, I were to put it under my pillow, would I get the $2. Apparently not. Has to be a kid. I suppose a-fairyists such as myself, having such a strong system of belief (religion) that fairies do not, in fact, exist, are forever excluded from the economic benefits of fairyism.

PPS
Please, no whispers to Starr that I'm an a-fairyist. Her scorn I cannot bear.

THWOTH wrote:[youtube]Peter Pan