Starting a new religon

I need to know some basic guidelines of religion in general. What makes a religion? How do I make it "official" and accepted by the government? Etc.

[boozehound420]

you dont need it excepted by the government. The only thing that gets you is you dont have to pay taxes on donations.

First concentrate on LOTS of believers, then it will snowball from there. Learn how scientology started, its a guide to starting religion

Another example to study is Mormonism

Provide an explanation to the world that is simpler that science (God did it is more fun that reading biology). Surround your religion with mysticism and make the believers feel elite. Throw in an explanation for afterlife where your believers would be more privileged than nonbelievers. Optional: throw in a threat of suffering after life for nonbelievers.

Running a cult/religion is easy. heck, an 11 year old can do it.

Just promise your followers something good. Whether it be a heaven with beer volcanoes, lots of sex, magical powers (placebo effect, don't promise any visible, making fire etc, Focus on things like causing sickness, reliving it, etc).

Put badass pictures in your holy book, like the subgeniuses do. Not enough religions do that.

Well thanks I guess, but I'm not trying to explot people.