Pitch your religion! (Jesus Christ, ritual, morals, reject, purification)

[qwert18]

does a religion really need to be pitched?

[qwert18]

what does that say about the state of religion today that people go shopping for religions?

[jamesismy]

Christianeligoism:
Our religion that believes that Jesus our Lord and Savior, God, and the Holy Spirit are real. But we also agree that many of the stories in the bible, not all but many, are just that: stories. They are nothing more then a way to tell what the morals of the Christian society are. Our religion also believes that going to church is a option not a order we actually believe you should not go to church. We believe that you should find your own way to worship our lord and savior to create a better one on one relationship with our lord. We recommend only going to church if being told how to worship is what you prefer. We also believe that you may commit sins and you should only be punished for them if you either repeat the same sin or do not ask for forgiveness. So if you commit a sin and ask for forgiveness and never commit the sin again then there is no problem. No for minors sins like: fighting with siblings/friends, arguments with spouse/ partner, cursing, taking the lords name in vain, etc. these may be repeated just as long as you ask for forgiveness though we do not promote doing any of these sins. We also believe that you do not have to pray daily, that if you pray when it is convenient for you and you ask for forgiveness for the sins you have/will commit then it is o.k. not to pray daily. We strongly and highly discourage homosexuality but will not ban them from our religion. We believe that anyone and everyone men. women, adults, children, young, old, and every race should be allowed to join. We do not believe in making you pay to become a member of our religion. Our religion is free of charge. If you would like to make a donation we greatly appreciate it but if you don’t then its fine. We do not believe in selling merchandise to promote our religion. If you would like to make a bumper sticker, shirt, sweatshirt, etc. you are welcome to do so but we will not sell them (if you would like to sell them please contact us and we will discuss it). We believe in Heaven and Hell and that if you have had most/all your sins forgiven when you die then you will go to heaven. We do not believe in stopping people from listening to their favorite music or comedians, nor do we believe in stopping people in watching their favorite movies or television programs. We believe that you have the religious right to make your own decisions but as long as you ask for forgiveness for your sins then you will be excepted into heaven.

Its the best!

[Booko]

Originally Posted by qwert18

what does that say about the state of religion today that people go shopping for religions?

It says that many religions are failing people in some way, I suppose.

But it's possible that people are just more aware that there other options than they used to be, so they actually go looking.

When and where I was a kid, you were a Christian (Calvinist, Catholic, or Methodist, most like, but possibly LDS) or Jewish. Them was yer options. That's not a lot of variety to choose from, compared to today.

[UnityNow101]

It certainly is not a bad thing that people look beyond what they are taught for the truth. When one strips themselves of all of their prior learning and looks at things with a new heart and mind, things will begin to put themselves in perspective. You will see that everything is infact very similar and the things that differ between all can be attributed to our misunderstanding of the truths that we were revealed. But if one continues in blind submission to what they were taught, with no regard for complete truth, they will forever remained veiled by their own self-inflicted ignorance.

[Brett]

Grudge

Grudge is a new religion based of off Christianity. Still a work in progress to make sure everything sounds logical that I can believe to be true.

But there even is a dress code . Well, a... Hmm.. An optional way of dressing? Yeah that's it. Like I said, work in progress.

But I got some basic stuff down:

Saria, the Grudge goddess, built this world we all live in. There is a hell. If Saria knows you are doing bad things, punishing others, she will punish you when you are alive, and you will be sent to hell for more punishment when you die.
Before you are to go to hell, you are to go to earth as a ghost, and do tasks for Saria. Help the ones you've hurt. If you fail, you are to go to hell. If you succeed, you will go to heaven. This is why some ghosts are bad, and some are nice.

Some people think evolution changes animals over time, but that's not it. I mean, how could some animal change? "Okay, Umm, I can't eat that." *STRESSES TO GROW A LONG BEAK* 3 thousand years later: "Ahh... Now I can eat that."
Makes no sence.

I found a female god to use and read up on her. She is an undiscovered god that some scientists and hermits believe are gods. And because it makes more since to have a woman as the god to create life.

More info later.

[vidnasa]

The Byen Vidnasa is a modern religion started by Adam Tod Leverton. The seed of this religion was his realization that while religions differ theologically, the purpose of all religion is the same. That purpose is to ensure the happiness of those who believe in a particular religion. If you examine different religions, even the ways that different religions achieve this goal are very similar. Most religions have a series of prayers, ceremonies, and medition techniques. The words of these prayers and ceremonies, are of course, different, and they are directed towards different gods, but the effect on the believer is the same. These different rituals serve to increase the believer's self-discipline. A person who is strongly self-disciplined is happier, because that person has more control over their emotions.
The problem with religion, that the Byen Vidnasa seeks to overcome, is that most religions teach that their teachings and traditions are the Truth. For someone who believes that they know the Truth, the existence of someone who believes equally that they are wrong is a provocation. This causes the problems of religious wars and conflict that we are well aware of.
It would certainly be healthier, in one sense, for the world to discard religion entirely. But spirituality is necessary for human beings. We need some sort of reason for our place in the universe, and we also need a certain structure, and community in our lives.
The Byen Vidnasa is a religion for the modern, thinking person. It is a series of rituals and behaviours that increase our self-discipline, and thus, our happiness. These rituals and behaviours are simple, so that someone who lives a busy life, can become a Vidnasa and become happier. It also doesn't require you to believe anything crazy, you can believe whatever you what. Your behaviours and actions are far more important. The Byen Vidnasa has a list of concrete goals that will change the world in a positive way.

[DoctorStrange]

This is a great thread. I think it's brilliant that people are finding their own paths and following them. I myself have my own beliefs that don't seems to match any pre-existing belief system or religion. I'm not sure if I'd start my own religion, but I'd be comfortable calling it my own personal belief system. I'm still writing it down and it's not yet got a name so maybe when I have it more thoughtfully worded I'll post a bit about it.

[DoctorStrange]

Okay, I'm ready to share mine now;

Path Agamotto

• We do not belive in a god or deity, rather we aknowledge the great potential within us all.
• We belive that through exporation of ourselves, both spiritually and mentally, we can unlock our great potential.
• One should open their mind to all possibilities. Life and the universie is bigger than what we see infornt of us. Who knows what it might contain?
• Knowledge is the key to greatness. All and any knowledge can help inform, teach, grow and enlighten. Knowledge will help you know yourslef.
• Find that wich speaks to you, that one truth that you feel is real. Find it, embrase it and follow it. Seek you own path.

And, if Path Agamotto was to have a "slogan" it would be..

"Just go forward in all your belifes, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine."

[TealLeaf]

The name of my newly created religion is Transparency or Nirmaladtha. In general it is a synthesis of eastern and western traditions. What follows is a short synopsis of Nirmaladtha in a question and answer format:

Q: Where does the word Nirmaladtha come from and what does it mean?

A: Nirmaladtha is a novel phonetic spelling of the Hindi word nirmalataa. While it can be directly translated as meaning transparency, nirmalataa also has several other definitions that within the religion of Transparency constitute The Sevenfold Path. The various definitions of nirmalataa are; 1. Clearness, 2. Cleaness, 3. Immaculacy, 4. Lucidity, 5. Purification, 6. Transparency and 7. Serenity.

Q: Do Transparentists believe in God?

A: Yes. Transparentists have faith in one Supreme God who is personal, immanent, transcendant, infinite and of whom the physical Universe is a subset. God has many names, transcends gender and is known to mankind through His/Her attributes. Some examples of the names and attributes of God include; Allah, Brahman, Yahweh, Father, Mother, Friend, Truth, Justice, Intelligence, Compassion, Beauty, Harmony, Strength, Wisdom, Grace, Redemption, Providence, Pure Light, etc.

Q: Are there any holy days associated with Transparency?

A: Yes. Nirmaladtha observes both Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, and Vesak, the birth of the Buddha as holy days. These days fall on December 25th and the day of the first full moon in May respectively.

Q: Are there any dietary restrictions such a Kashrut or vegitarianism associated with Nirmaladtha?

A: No. Transparentists are encouraged to eat all manner of food that is conducive to good health. However, smoking of any kind is strictly forbidden.

Q: Does Transparency indicate a weekly day of rest and worship?

A: Yes. However, while Transparency definitively recognizes the Uposatha or Sabbath, Transparentists are free to observe it on whichever day of the week that they may choose.

Q: Is there a specific prasad, such as the Eucharist, associated with Transparency?

A: Yes. Psilocybe are considered to be manna or soma in Transparency and are thus taken as sacrament.

Q: What is the symbol of Transparency called and what is its meaning?

A: The symbol of Transparency is called the Time Sight or Yuga Najara. It is composed of a clock, two curved swords and a pen. Though this emblem contains a myriad of symbolism one thing that stands out in it is that "The pen is mightier than the sword." or rather that communication is most often more useful than violence.

When the Time Sight is not stylized and it is made up of its recognizable constituent parts the swords should be drawn as kukris and the pen should be drawn as the quill of an osprey. Additionally the units of the clock should be demarcated only with lines and never with numerals or letters.

Q: Are there any religious articles associated with Transparency?

A: Yes. At all times when outside of their homes Transparentists are required to wear under garments and to carry on their persons a pen, a knife and a time piece. More simply Transparentists may carry a knife and a cell phone where the cell phone serves as both pen and time piece.

Q: Does Transparency have its own holy book or scripture?

A: Yes. The primary scripture of Transparency is known as the Nirmala Sang or The Transparent Confluence.

It is worth pointing out that "The Transparent Confluence" has yet to be written such that at this time anyone could step up to become its author.

Did you ever want to write your own religion but you couldn't think of a good way to package it? Here's your chance.