Inventing a new religion

liamw

Considering bullsh*t like Scientology actually gained some popularity, I was discussing with a friend what I would need to create a new religion. Not necessarily for financial gain (:pac:) but as an experiment, whereby when enough followers were subscribed, the truth would be revealed.

The core tenet of a successful ideology in my opinion is one which appeals to basic human nature, desires and is emotionally comforting. The deity should fulfill these requirements:

Starting list:
- Personal relationship
- Provides a life after death where one may be eternally happy and meet with others who passed away.
- Provides protection in dangerous situations
- Provides comfort in times of need, bereavement, rejection...
- Provides answers to unknown questions: Origin of the universe...

Any more?

Pushtrak

Well, the tool of religion is creating a us vs them paragigm, and then finding lots of gullible people. That seems to be the trick, all wrapped up in bacon*.











*Assuming the religion is not one of the "Ban that sick filth" variety.

robindch

Try these:

• The God with no Name (allowing people to become endlessly confused between "<instance-name> does not exist" with "<class-name> does not exist")
• Deity must have ambiguous attributes, so that people engage their predispositions.
• A long, heavily ambiguous holybook written in an archaic tone.
• The right for believers to "interpret" the holybook themselves.
• Dramatic demonstration of "love" by deity or deity stand-in, hopefully involving violence.
• Separation of individuals into a pious believer ingroup, and a damned and damnable outgroup of non-believers
• A charismatic leader
• A dress code which rewards devotion and allows people to demonstrate their commitment publicly.
• Threats of eternal torture for non-believers and other dross.
• Tax concessions
• Access to gullible or malleable minds, especially pre-teen and early-teen kids.
• A "moral code" which appears rigid and authoritarian, but which, upon closer examination, turns out to be surprisingly flexible.

Rev Hellfire

Exclusivity, religions do well that encourage an us and them mentality.

MrPudding

Can we have a ban on any meal or disk which does not contain meat?

Make it quite clear that homosexuals are fine by us. If we get the Pink £ then we are laughing.

MrP

robindch

liamw wrote: »

[...] an experiment [...]

The Wave

Galvasean

Set up recruitment drives near colleges and hostels, places where you are likely to encounter people who are away from home for the first time. The odds of them being lonely/disillusioned are quite high. Extend an offer of friendship, then BLAMMO!

MrPudding

robindch wrote: »

The Wave

That looks very interesting.

MrP

housetypeb

Explain to people that they are born evil,But can be saved if they listen to you.
Only you can speak to and for God.
You are the go between them (evil bastards who deserve nothing better than to rot forever but can now be saved by the mercy of God ) and God.
Give them something to hate-pork, spam,apples, It will unify the group.
Promise them eternal life,After they die, of course.
Ask for money as proof they love your god.

Pushtrak

Some motivation for you.

Dades

MrPudding wrote: »

That looks very interesting.

It is! We spoke about it on Boards this year - I watched it a few months back.

housetypeb

Start a forum to discuss your new religion among your disciples.
Let them argue over details of your made up holy book.ie Spam is good to eat on friday but bad to eat on monday
Ban or delete anything that might get them thinking that the whole book is made up,Teach them to shout "troll" as it encourages team spirit.

Des Carter

.....PUNCH AND PIE!!!!

Cartman wrote:

More people will come if they think we’ll have punch and pie!

Gregor Samsa

Rev. Ivan Stang from the Church of the SubGenius ran an online course on starting your own cult (http://www.maybelogic.org/stangcrs.htm). By brother did it, said it was great fun (but would probably only be of interest to those versed in the ways of Bob)

At the end of the course, students will have designed and developed their own religious cult to the point of marketability.[...]
We will inspect the various elements that go into a working homemade religion, from the foundational promises and spiritual assumptions to the best ways of getting the word out. Remember, huge modern faiths such as Scientology and the Mormons started out just this way! Who knows -- the fictional secret society that you will create from study of the SubGenius model during this course may someday become the next Freemasons

Zombrex

Des Carter wrote: »

.....PUNCH AND PIE!!!!

FREE HAT!!!