In actuallity, in a way, the government does approve of religions. If they do not recognize one's organization as a religion they can not get tax exempt numbers and non profit status, etc. etc. that churches, etc. are given. If one's group does not have those, most states, counties, and people in general will not accept it as a religious organization and will not allow it the rights a religious organization is allowed. Thus there are religious groups, non recognized, who aren't allowed to worship, meet, etc. because they're not a recognized group and must seek a profit organization permit to meet or be accountable for breaking laws, rules etc.
I've seen it happen to a couple of groups. People protested against them, literally fought them, and the group was arrested and given all the blame for insighting a riot, stealing money, and holding a more than 100 person meeting without a permit all because they weren't a recognized religion.
I'm not saying this happens everywhere, all the time, everyday, but it does happen frequently enough to warrent attention.
Kenneth Ulric Amhranai tan Briongloid, C.W.
The Shard Bard
"In pace, in celebratio, in proelio, in mortuo, canto"
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>From: "Susan Carroll-Clark"
>Reply-To: sca-middle@midrealm.org
>To:
>Subject: Re: [Mid] LOTR
>Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 21:04:22 -0500
>
>Greetings--
>
> > I love pulling this on people who try to tell me that the pagan faith
>isn't accepted by the
> > government. Uhm.... no, it's been in the service's chaplain books since
>about 1962.
>
>In any case, it's not the government's job to "accept" religions. About the
>closest it gets is accrediting people to perform weddings, etc., and that's
>more of a legal thing (I believe members of some groups that by definition
>are not religions are given this accreditation, for instance, and then
>there's folks like judges and JPs.)
>
>Nicolaa
>
>From: "Susan Carroll-Clark"
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