Designing a New Religion

Nightowl said:
Ahhh I missed that some where.... well that I can agree with andddd rofl have in a sense started one. lol ;) but as for creating a newly organise religion with deity or what not.... not a good idea. A book on ethics and good behavior yeh you have me sold on that one
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You haven't bought it yet, Nightowl. 'Selling it' is going to be the problem. First of all, it has to compete with Dale Carnegie. Second, I disagree with the opening premise. If all the major religions suddenly got crushed by a superbly effective double-decker bus commercial then people, rather than just tossing their traditions would try to find value in them. At least for a while after the initial shock.
 
I don't see how anything could be spiritual without fly-fishing mentioned in it. Does this new religion have fly-fishing?
Or motorcycles. Now that's really spiritual, yup...definitely motorcycles... unless they are less than 500cc
Oh, and skeet shooting too, and maybe darts...
And speaking of darts, maybe pubs too..

Oh and can I bring my dog, he loves a good spiritual romp, especially when there is treats!

Oh, thats it, treats, thats what I meant to say all along.
Treats like...um.. choccy, yes especially the dark choccy...
 
seattlegal said:
Redefining perfect to mean "an ongoing process" would be anullification of the original meaning of the word, "perfect."
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Seattle, You said that due to "quantum" restraints it was impossible to draw a perfectly straight line which is why one would assume that you were referring to the mathematical definition of a straight line. What else could you mean?

Also I didn't say define "perfect" as an ongoing process but rather "perfection". Thus an ongoing process is accurate.

Getting a little fast and loose with the verbiage, eh?

Dream said:
'Selling it' is going to be the problem. First of all, it has to compete with Dale Carnegie. Second, I disagree with the opening premise. If all the major religions suddenly got crushed by a superbly effective double-decker bus commercial then people, rather than just tossing their traditions would try to find value in them. At least for a while after the initial shock.
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Yeah, even though the book would be in the public domain and free via the internet, getting people to read such a book would be the trickiest part. That being said if the thing is worth its salt someone will read it and pass the word along. If not, oh well, such is the fate of most manuscripts. Also I don't see an immediate mass conversion as possible either. Just a tiny fraction of market share would suffice to start.

Paladin said:
I don't see how anything could be spiritual without fly-fishing mentioned in it. Does this new religion have fly-fishing?
Or motorcycles. Now that's really spiritual, yup...definitely motorcycles... unless they are less than 500cc
Oh, and skeet shooting too, and maybe darts...
And speaking of darts, maybe pubs too..

Oh and can I bring my dog, he loves a good spiritual romp, especially when there is treats!

Oh, thats it, treats, thats what I meant to say all along.
Treats like...um.. choccy, yes especially the dark choccy...
Click to expand...

Ah jeez, I'm sorry Paladin but I was only going to religiously sanction; deep sea fishing, motorcycles under 500cc, archery, pet fish and white chocolate. Truly sorry about that :p
 
TealLeaf said:
Seattle, You said that due to "quantum" restraints it was impossible to draw a perfectly straight line which is why one would assume that you were referring to the mathematical definition of a straight line. What else could you mean?

Also I didn't say define "perfect" as an ongoing process but rather "perfection". Thus an ongoing process is accurate.

Getting a little fast and loose with the verbiage, eh?
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Now that I think about it, I think I have a similar 'artistic distaste' for the word 'perfection' being applied to the material universe as you do for the word 'optimized' as being 'cold.' Artistically speaking, 'perfection' does not equate with 'beauty.' Something that is perfectly symmetrical evokes a feeling of "unnaturalness," whereas blemishes are often referred to as "beauty marks."
Perfection also invites in the possibilities of arrogance, Narcissism, and idolatry, which have lead to detrimental results in connection with religion in the past. (Hardly in line with the idea of improving/optimizing/perfecting, as the empirical evidence has shown.) However, I suppose you can look at these problems connected with perfection as "beauty marks," but that would be exchanging the true meaning of the word for another, which isn't really truthful, is it?

{Different hang-ups for different folks, I guess. *shrugs*}
 
I'm being too cynical and less than helpful. Here, I will design a religion that is not a religion:

First, my religion that is no religion has several basic object lessons for people to meditate about that will guide them into a healthy lifestyle! Secondly, I will make not judging others unfairly a cornerstone of it. Finally, I will place several pleasant and unifying community events in it set on certain days of each year.
 
TealLeaf said:
Ah jeez, I'm sorry Paladin but I was only going to religiously sanction; deep sea fishing, motorcycles under 500cc, archery, pet fish and white chocolate. Truly sorry about that :p
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So people in this new religion have to ride Vespas? (shudder)
 
Let me introduce you now to the one true Lord.... String.

It is tiny....yet is so fast that it appears to be everywhere at once, vibrating faster than Britney Spears private toys. It is the alpha and the omega in our conception but so much more than our meagre collection of cells could ever comprehend. In a sense it is not even physical, to us it would be considered virtual in the as much as though it is the 'flesh' of every molecule in the universe, it exists outside of it.

But it is time for us to abandon all the false gods of our primitive history and base superstitions and embrace the vibration! Blessed be the Vibe!

I am recruiting a new cadre of priests and priestesses. The priests shall adorn themselves in string vests and y-fronts and the priestesses shall be replete in holy fishnets. Baptism will be with holy lube and the altars shall be constructed from old "AA" batteries. For this is a green religion.

There is only three commandments.

1: Thou shalt enjoy the vibe.
2: Thou shalt not prevent others enjoying the vibe.
3: Thou shalt do no work on the holy days of Monday through to Saturday.


Recruiting is now open.
 
Hi Dream,
Dream said:
First, my religion that is no religion has several basic object lessons for people to meditate about that will guide them into a healthy lifestyle!
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These "object lessons" are they something you are going to come up with yourself or are they something agreed upon by a group of elders? And if by a group of elders, where are they getting their information from?

Dream said:
Secondly, I will make not judging others unfairly a cornerstone of it.
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;)

Dream said:
Finally, I will place several pleasant and unifying community events in it set on certain days of each year.
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Here is sounds like your setting the lemmings up for a trip over the cliff.
Joe
 
seattlegal said:
Perfection also invites in the possibilities of arrogance, Narcissism, and idolatry, which have lead to detrimental results in connection with religion in the past.
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This was interesting - as in ironic.

Sacrificial rites and rituals are among the primary features of the major world religions. Sin offerings remind people of G-d dependence and thus underscore the need for humility. Generally speaking, worship serves to invoke G-d's presence and thus fosters a position of humility.

Sacrifices and other forms of of worship are essentially appeals to G-d to do things that humans are unable to do for themselves. They are requests for divine intervention that attest to the inadequacies of the individual being.

Religious ritual is also a way of maintaining social unity in a way that subordinates the individual to the group. Initiation rites in particular can be seen as formalizing an arrangement in which the group is recognized as being more important than the individual. It defines the individual's standing vis a vis the community of faith.
 
Hi Mr. Tao,
Dream said:
, I will place several pleasant and unifying community events in it set on certain days of each year.
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Joedjr said:
Here is sounds like your setting the lemmings up for a trip over the cliff.
Joe
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Tao_Equus said:
I think you would find Dream the last person to lead people to a brutal end.
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Netti-Netti said:
Religious ritual is also a way of maintaining social unity in a way that subordinates the individual to the group. Initiation rites in particular can be seen as formalizing an arrangement in which the group is recognized as being more important than the individual. It defines the individual's standing vis a vis the community of faith.
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This is by far a more eloquent way to express what I was thinking. Thanks Netti-Netti.
Joe
 
Netti-Netti said:
This was interesting - as in ironic.

Sacrificial rites and rituals are among the primary features of the major world religions. Sin offerings remind people of G-d dependence and thus underscore the need for humility. Generally speaking, worship serves to invoke G-d's presence and thus fosters a position of humility.
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Yes, we humans have developed several means of dealing with a guilty conscience. Where have they gotten us?

Sacrifices and other forms of of worship are essentially appeals to G-d to do things that humans are unable to do for themselves. They are requests for divine intervention that attest to the inadequacies of the individual being.
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Does repentance and forgiveness require ritual sacrifice? How about showing mercy instead of demanding sacrifice?

Religious ritual is also a way of maintaining social unity in a way that subordinates the individual to the group. Initiation rites in particular can be seen as formalizing an arrangement in which the group is recognized as being more important than the individual. It defines the individual's standing vis a vis the community of faith.
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Like this?
seattlegal-albums-emoticons-picture90-assimilate.gif


I much prefer this:
grupo_amistad.gif
 
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