I need help, I want to start my own religion... seriously. (tradition, creation)

[WillJones26]

Ok, it's true. I am planning on starting my own religion. As crazy as it sounds, it gets worse, the idea formed and took hold in the minds of myself and my friends during a night of drunken revelry just this last St. Patrick's Day. Normally, this would be simply forgotten drunk-talk, but somehow, this has stuck with me, and now I really want to persue this.

A little background, I live on a street nicknamed "Party Row" which is a block away from the University of Toledo campus. Our house has become rather infamous on campus, as we traditionally hold the biggest parties/keggers. The day we moved in, we envisioned ourselves as being much like the characters in the movie "Old School" and thanks to some exceptionally good PR work from myself (something I more or less did for the church before I became an atheist) we managed to make a name for ourselves.

I live with 3 other guys in a really nice 4-bedroom house. The four of us are all in early twenties, generally college age, but none of us attend the college, yet we decided to dedicate ourselves to the glamorized college life, the drinking and partying, but without all those classes or studying crap. The parties/keggers we have have started to become a 'cause' that we dedicate ourselves to, we have made it almost an art form, that we continue to perfect our skill.

The thought had at one time or another rolled around in our heads that we should start an informal frat, that, like the one in "Old School" that simply parties and gives nothing back to the school or community. However, this idea never really seemed to take root. Recently, we have been trying to secure another place to live, not far, which if we could possibly pull it off, we would move into the most infamous party house near campus, a 15 bedroom, 11 bathroom house that has no residential neighbors, it sits between a two bars on one side and a KFC & Marco's Pizza on the other. Seriously, does it get any better than that?

So with all of these possibilites running through our minds during a drunken evening together at a huge kegger we had at our current house, I of course wanted to take things a step further. What if we started our own religion? A religion based around drinking, partying, and having a good time. Could we seriously pull this off? I didn't want to create a religion who's dogma should be taken (too) seriously, but I did want to make it a real recognized religion.

So I'm curious, what exactly must one do in order to start a real religion? Like legally? What are the steps I must go through and what paperwork would I have to deal with in order to do this? Anyone know?

Of course, before I do that, I have to actually "Create" this religion, which i have been thinking about, but only have a few rough ideas. Such as a name- maybe, "The Brewish Chruch" "Beerism" or something like that? How about a holy symbol, a bottle with a circle around it? What should the commandments of my religion be? Thou shalt consume pizza or chicken wings once a week? Thou shalt do a 30 second keg stand in order to become a member?

I don't know, but I would surely appriciate some input on this matter, because I honestly want to do this, and as funny as the religion idea seems, I have a feeling it would catch on quick around here, especally with our (my roommates) powers of promoting things on campus. Plus, I think it would be fun!

[Mike182]

i don't know about getting a new religion recognised im affraid.

why not just become a viking recreationist? that way you can drink and pillage, and say its for a cause

[Faint]

Originally Posted by WillJones26

A religion based around drinking, partying, and having a good time. Could we seriously pull this off? I didn't want to create a religion who's dogma should be taken (too) seriously, but I did want to make it a real recognized religion.

Sounds like hedonism or the Bacchanalia. But you guys don't run around naked devouring people very often, do you?

Originally Posted by WillJones26

So I'm curious, what exactly must one do in order to start a real religion? Like legally? What are the steps I must go through and what paperwork would I have to deal with in order to do this? Anyone know?

You can start a religion just by snapping your fingers. You don't need paperwork unless you're filing tax exempt status. I don't recommend that in this case.

Originally Posted by WillJones26

Of course, before I do that, I have to actually "Create" this religion, which i have been thinking about, but only have a few rough ideas. Such as a name- maybe, "The Brewish Chruch" "Beerism" or something like that? How about a holy symbol, a bottle with a circle around it? What should the commandments of my religion be? Thou shalt consume pizza or chicken wings once a week? Thou shalt do a 30 second keg stand in order to become a member?

Thou shalt encourage women to remove their clothing upon entering thy home? Thou shalt not pass out with thy shoes on? Thou shalt not puke in my laundry hamper?

[Buttons*]

You COULD restart Choodianism.... but its just a suggestion!

[WillJones26]

Originally Posted by Faint

You can start a religion just by snapping your fingers. You don't need paperwork unless you're filing tax exempt status. I don't recommend that in this case.

Why not?

[Faint]

Originally Posted by WillJones26

Why not?

The IRS has a tendency to audit/fine/imprison people who claim a non-profit business that

gives nothing back to the school or community

. Anyway, I think if you did that, you'd lose a lot of the fun element.

[WillJones26]

Hahahaha! Well put, I think you are right, Faint. I didn't really know how all that worked, but I really wanted the religion to be 'official' in some way, you know?

[WillJones26]

Is tax-exempt status the only way to be an officially recognized religion by the U.S. Government? I thought that the Church of Satan refuses to have tax-exempt status, yet are they not an officially recognized religion by the government?

[Booko]

Originally Posted by WillJones26

Ok, it's true. I am planning on starting my own religion. As crazy as it sounds, it gets worse, the idea formed and took hold in the minds of myself and my friends during a night of drunken revelry just this last St. Patrick's Day.

Hey, it certainly worked for Hubbard. His religion, like yours, had its genesis in ethanol. That, and a bet by a fellow SF writer.

I don't know, but I would surely appriciate some input on this matter, because I honestly want to do this, and as funny as the religion idea seems, I have a feeling it would catch on quick around here, especally with our (my roommates) powers of promoting things on campus. Plus, I think it would be fun!

You could always restart the Church of Beaver Cleaver. I think the local Atlanta guy finally gave that one up.

I still have dibs on the First Church of Binary Consciousness (the Digitarians).

[Feathers in Hair]

Sorry about my having to ask this- I'm incredibly clueless! Are you starting this more for the fun-factor, or for the tax exempt status?

Though I'm almost sure you're already aware, just in case you aren't, you and your friends can become ordained online for free.