Editing Church of Body Modification

{{Short description|Non-theistic religion}}
{{Infobox religion
| name               = Church of Body Modification
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| abbreviation       = CoBM
| type               = [[New religious movement]]
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| governance         = Board of Advisors
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| leader_title       = President
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| leader_title1      = Minister
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| founded_date       = {{circa|2000, legally incorporated in 2008 }}
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| congregations      = 
| members            = 5,000+ (2020)
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| website            = [https://churchofbodmod.com/ Church of Body Modification Official Website]
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}}
The '''Church of Body Modification''' is a non-theistic religion with over 5,000 members in 24 countries. The Church practices [[body modification]] to "strengthen the bond between mind, body, and soul" and to experience the divine.<ref>[https://churchofbodmod.com https://churchofbodmod.com/] Church of Body Modification Official Website</ref>

==Practices and beliefs==
The core belief of the Church of Body Modification is to create a strong spiritual bond between the mind, body, and soul. To ensure a strong connection, the Church uses both ancient and modern body-modification rituals to express its faith and help its members bring the three branches of life into harmony. The Church practices various types of body modification, such as [[piercings]], [[tattoos]], [[scarification]], [[corsetry]], hook pulling, hair dyeing, reconstructive and [[cosmetic surgery]], [[fasting]], and [[firewalking]]. It states that anything that pushes the flesh to its limits can be included in their list of rituals. The end goal is to live spiritually complete lives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uscobm.com/Official |title=Nothing found for Official |accessdate=2012-04-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311164013/http://uscobm.com/Official |archivedate=2014-03-11 }} Website</ref> There is no deity involved. The Church itself helps educate people about various body modification rites. In its Vision Statement, the Church says it hopes to one day practice its rituals without restriction in a world free of prejudice against it.<ref>https://churchofbodmod.com/vision-statement/ The Church of Body Modification Vision Statement</ref>

Members of other religions are welcomed into the Church of Body Modification. Since there is no physical location for the Church, home rituals are usually prevalent. There are monthly online classes for members. It does not gain new members from promotion, but solely through attraction to its ideals.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

==Statement of faith==
{{quote|We will always respect our bodies.

We believe it is our right to explore our world, both physical and supernatural, through spiritual body modification.

We promise to always grow as individuals through body modification and what it can teach us about who we are and what we can do.

We vow to share our experiences openly and honestly in order to promote growth in mind, body, and soul.

We honor all forms of body modification and those who choose to practice in safe and consensual ways.

We also promise to respect those who do not choose body modification.

We support all that join us in our mission and help those seeking us in need of spiritual guidance.

We strive to share a positive message with everyone we encounter, in order to act as positive role models for future generations in the body modification community.

We always uphold basic codes of ethics and encourage others to do the same.<ref>http://uscobm.com/statement-of-faith/  The Church of Body Modification Statement of Faith</ref>}}

==Status in the Church==
There are various levels of membership in the Church of Body Modification.

===Board of advisors===

A Board of Advisors runs the Church of Body Modification. The criteria for becoming a board member include expertise in body modification and a positive standing in the community. At the moment,{{When|date=January 2022}} there are currently three advisors: Cere Coichetti, Russ Foxx, and Jared Karnes. One of the former advisors, Rick Frueh, died in October 2017.<ref>https://churchofbodmod.com/board-of-advisors/ Board of Advisors</ref><ref name="Rick Frueh's death announcement">{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Chris|title=Rick Frueh, Previous CoBM President, Passed Away|url=http://uscobm.com/news/rick-frueh-previous-cobm-president-passed-away/|website=Official Church of Body Modification website|date=21 October 2017|accessdate=30 January 2018}}</ref>

===Ministers===

Below those Board Members are Ministers, who function as spiritual guides. According to the Code of Ethics, "Spiritual guides are to practice and serve in ways that cultivate awareness, empathy, and wisdom."<ref>https://churchofbodmod.com/minister-application/code-of-ethics-for-spiritual-guides/ The Church of Body Modification Minister Code of Ethics</ref>

== Legal cases ==
In 2001, a member of the Church of Body Modification was fired from a [[Costco]] because of an [[Eyebrow piercing|eyebrow ring]]. The employee sued Costco, claiming that wearing the eyebrow ring was a religious practice and thus protected under Title VII of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. The court ruled in Costco's favor, holding that it had reasonably accommodated her by offering to reinstate her if she covered or removed the piercing. On appeal, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit|1st Circuit]] affirmed the ruling, adding that Costco had no duty to accommodate the employee because exempting her from the dress code would impose an undue hardship on Costco.<ref>''Cloutier v. Costco'', 390 F. 3d 126 (1st Cir. 2004), ''cert denied,'' 2005 U.S. LEXIS 4923</ref><ref>Zuckerman, Phil. ''Atheism and Secularity: Volume 1: Issues, Concepts, and Definitions.''Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2010. Print.</ref><ref>Walsh, David J. ''Employment Law for Human Resource Practice''. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2010. Print</ref>

A 14-year-old member of the Church was suspended from [[Clayton High School (North Carolina)|Clayton High School]] in [[North Carolina]], United States, because a [[Nose piercing|nose stud]] was against the dress code. Her school principal said she could not find any reason why the religion required her to wear a nose ring.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Netter|first=Sarah|date=September 15, 2010|title=Student's Body Modification Religion Questioned After Nose Piercing Controversy|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/students-body-modification-religion-questioned-nose-piercing-controversy/story?id=11645847|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114003408/https://abcnews.go.com/US/students-body-modification-religion-questioned-nose-piercing-controversy/story?id=11645847|archive-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> The [[ACLU]] took the matter to federal court on free speech grounds; a federal judge ruled in the student's favor October 8, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dalesio|first=Emery P.|date=October 8, 2010|title=Lawyer: Judge tells school to take pierced NC girl|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lawyer-judge-tells-school-to-take-pierced-nc-girl-2010oct08-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120203540/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lawyer-judge-tells-school-to-take-pierced-nc-girl-2010oct08-story.html|archive-date=January 20, 2021|url-status=live|work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=October 10, 2010}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://churchofbodmod.com Church of Body Modification Official Website]
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[[Category:Christian organizations established in 2008]]
[[Category:Religious organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Body modification]]
[[Category:Religious belief systems founded in the United States]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 2000s]]