How to start your own religion : form a church, gain followers, become tax-exempt, and sway the minds of millions in five easy steps

Content: Cover
 Title Page
 Contents
 Acknowledgments
 Foreword
 Introduction: So You Want to Start Your Own Religion
 Step 1. Dogma: So You Have Something to Say
 Chapter 1. God Is ... or, the Gods Are ... or, the Powers That Be Are ... 
 Who and/or What is it you're Worshiping in the First Place?
 Chapter 2. So Let It Be Written
 It's not a Religion Without Some Kind of Holy Text
 Chapter 3. Deliver the Most Sacred Rite
 Give Them Something to Eat, Hold, Walk Around, Step on, etc.
 Chapter 4. What Day is This?
 Who Says You Can't Have Your Own Calendar?
 Chapter 5. No One Expects Your Inquisition. For Those Special Moments When You Just Have to Crack Some SkullsChapter 6. Sample Religion 1: Scholars of the Particularly Long Book
 They Who Don't Get Out Much
 Step 2. Converts: So You Don't Get Lonely
 Chapter 7. Save the Faithful
 And Keep them Coming Back for More
 Chapter 8. God Helps Those Who Have Celebrity Spokespeople
 Who Wouldn't Believe a Movie Star?
 Chapter 9. Unleash the Fanatics
 Or Rein them Back in
 Chapter 10. March Off to the Holy Wars
 At Least Threaten to, Anyway, From Time to Time
 Chapter 11. Sample Religion 2: The Church of Phil
 The Gospel According to Me. Step 3. Ritual: So You Have Something to DoChapter 12. Establish Your Shrine, Mega-Church, Fane, or Other Temple
 Because You Have to Meet Somewhere
 Chapter 13. Relax, It's a Holy Day
 Or, Work Really Hard, it's a Holy Day
 Chapter 14. Boot Your Sons and Daughters Out of the Nest
 When it's Time to Grow Up
 Chapter 15. I Now Pronounce You Husband(s) and/or Wive(s)
 And Hurry, Before they Pass the Defense of Marriage Act
 Chapter 16. Cast Out the Faithless
 When Only Excommunication Will Do
 Chapter 17. Accept Burnt Offerings ... or Not. Sometimes, You Just Have to Sacrifice Something ... or SomeoneChapter 18. Sample Religion 3: The Cult of the Blue Öyster
 One Hard Rockin' Evil Biker Death Cult
 Step 4. Life: So You Can Interfere With It
 Chapter 19. Abstinence Only- Unless Otherwise Instructed
 Sex is Dirty and Sinful, Unless you're Being Fruitful and Multiplying
 Chapter 20. Education: The Great Evil
 Except if you Attend one of our Expensive Private Schools
 Chapter 21. The Law of Man
 But Only if you can't Qualify for Tax-Exempt Status
 Chapter 22. The Law of the Gods
 Cash, Check, or Major Credit Cards Accepted. Chapter 23. Sample Religion 4: Sisterhood of the Perpetually PregnantBirth Control? We don't Even Know What that is
 Step 5. Death: So You Can Make People More or Less Afraid
 Chapter 24. Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust
 Saying Goodbye to The Dear Departed
 Chapter 25. The Sweet Bye and Bye
 What to Expect When you're Expecting an Afterlife
 Chapter 26. Back and Better than Ever
 Rebirth and Ascension, not Necessarily in that Order
 Chapter 27. Sample Religion 5: The Holy Undertakers of Giltiné
 Additional Funeral Parking in Rear
 Conclusion. So You've Started Your Own Religion.