What's the difference between a cult and a religion? (serious question, don't flame)

Actually no, I'm not sure you know what the purpose of them being tax exemped is. Religion is a non-profit organization, they are given exempt status from the IRS because they make no profit. It's no different than a government ran company, or educational. How many followers or it's history has no outstanding value towards why they are given this, it's a service or "company" dedicated solely for the public.

The only thing they are tax exempt from is purchases' they make for the establishment. If they were to go buy cigar's, they'd be taxed, and if they sold anything, they would be taxed. The laws vary state to state but typically that's the rule of thumb towards any non-profit organization.

Nothing that you have posted contradicts anything in this thread. I used tax exempt status in place of establishment to be cheeky, as it's one of the possible benefits of a religion accepted into a society. I explained my usage of the term in the second post. Please don't make assumptions of what I do not know.