(Fox News) — A federal court in Canada has ruled that the self-titled “Church of Atheism” isn’t a religion and can’t be treated like one for tax purposes.
The Court of Appeal upheld the refusal by the minister of national revenue to register the Church of Atheism of Central Canada as a charity, even though it claimed to have a minister and sacred text called the “Ten Commandments of Energy,” where they practiced their “doctrine of mainstream science.” The court said the organization failed to demonstrate the necessary elements of a belief system.
“[W]e believe…that our Ten Commandments of Energy are sacred texts because they were created by a wise human being who consists of pure, invisible Energy and has acknowledged Energy’s existence,” the church argued, according to court documents.
The ruling comes as Justice Marianne Rivoalen said the not-for-profit corporation failed to meet common-law guidelines for what constitutes a religion, saying the group’s description of the sacred texts “provides no detailed information as to the particular and comprehensive system of faith and worship.”
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