Well, Path, I'm sorry to say that I'm actually very semi-serious about all this. The part about making money was no doubt irony, but I am trully trying to start a real religion. It started as an idea for a blog in which I would simply dictate things to do during the week or day... just like a preacher. But the whole Idea took wings of itself and now I'm getting great support from close friends and all the ideas I came up with pleases anought to get onboard.
I'm basically planning on making this a true secular religion. A religion for the agnostics and atheists that wish to be part of a organisation which would provide a "commonly agreed" set of secular beliefs and a strong bound between its practitionners. I want to build it like a religion, taking advantage of its well made structure and cleverness at providing what people need. But I also want to leave-out or change what we dont like of religions as "secular humanists". A idealist fools you might say.
So, that was the serious part... the less serious part, is how I'm trying to get there. I'm starting a blog and web site, I'm recruiting friends and baptising them wearing silly hats, discussing backward issues with theologist friends, improvising a worship as I go along, etc... I'm trying to make the process as light and as fun as possible. Without making as far as to make it a farce.
So... I wont be baptising people over the interet or taking large amout of money from my eventual followers anytime soon. And yes, I plan on making it a "payless" and "painless" process. The fact is that my best friend, who will be the first baptised (and will be baptised for the first time of his life) is taking this quite seriously and does believe in what I'm trying to start. He also want to be part of it... and invent it with me.
As for the rationnal behind this... my motivation if you will, might be explained as follows: I, much like my best friends and other secular humanists, have been feeling a sort of void, some hard to describe bitterness or jealousy when witnessing masses of people worshiping and being "part" of something together. Through the years I went from being a frustrated and marginalized atheist to understanding why people gather aroung beliefs and cultivate them. As I get older I feel this need more and more, thus enabling me to "understand" those behaviors more easilly. So, instead of bearing this feeling alone, I'm choosing to act upon it and do what I do best... which is start a ridiculous, non-sensical and "out of proportion" project thats has all the chances of never reaching its goal... I like trying things that have never or rarelly been done before and that have a huge chances of failure.
So... thomorow, in order to proceed with the first baptism, I will be shopping for a nice sheet of red felt, from which I will make a "Ceremonial Dunce Cap". We will then use it as the main religious garment for the baptism and other processions. Its silly... but I'm enjoying this and I feel good about it. I think thats how religious worship should feel. So I think I'm on the right track.
I feel it.
May the "absence of god" be with you,
and cheers to everyone.
P.S.: Thanks for everybody's comments, most were silly (which is good), but as a whole I did learn something: People respond strongly to this (60 comments is way more than I had expected from Mofi).
Fes: I have no real interest in other non-faith-based organisation... I think a good solid secular religion is what a lot of people need. A solid sense of directions... a pyramidal scheme... a dictatorious leadership... practicing rites... buying stuff about their religion.
People relate to all that... I'll stick with the "religion" scheme if you dont mind. It's proven to work! hehe
I dont plan on having any membership fees... I think people are more inclined to join cults if there is no money invloved upfront.
But as any good religion... I might eventually ask for donations and setup fundraisers in order to fund events and donate to other goood causes. I thinks there shoud be a least SOME money flowing around... otherwise it wouldnt be much of a religion.
Yeah wolof.... that e-meter looks cool. But now I became a religious man... So I'm cheap and technology frightens me. How about something like wavering a big stick and chanting mindles mumbo jumbo in latin?
Mmmm... I do see a difference, like catachresis said, I guess baptisms have something to do with washing sins away. Tar, feathers and poo is all I'm goign to be washing away if nobody find anything else clever...
Sacrement? Unsacrement?... god, this is getting complicated. I'm used to be an atheist for jesus sake... so most of this is really new to me. What's the difference?
Ok... now I have : Tar and feathers, Kool-aid, Beer and Spanking and obviously "poo". Is it me or does it all sound more like college innitiations rather than a religious procession ?
Ok... scratch the link if you want (I'm new at this and didnt realize it wasny permitted). But I'd still like my question to be addressed... so far all I got is tar and feathers.
Actually... come to think of it, Richie, your comment is quite welcomed. I'm barelly in my third day of worship and now I can say that I already been persecuted and ridiculed for my religious beliefs. It adds to the "experience" I must say.
Mmmm.... Richie... I must admit that this sandwich reference really got me puzzled. If your trying to say that the "Church of Null" is not funny enough, you might be right. But that was not really ment to be funny... absurd yes, but funny isnt really the goal here.
the lazy monkey filter
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Not what I was fishing for... but hey... It qualifies : youranus is nice and big
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
In "Curious, George: The Church of Null"
Well, Path, I'm sorry to say that I'm actually very semi-serious about all this. The part about making money was no doubt irony, but I am trully trying to start a real religion. It started as an idea for a blog in which I would simply dictate things to do during the week or day... just like a preacher. But the whole Idea took wings of itself and now I'm getting great support from close friends and all the ideas I came up with pleases anought to get onboard. I'm basically planning on making this a true secular religion. A religion for the agnostics and atheists that wish to be part of a organisation which would provide a "commonly agreed" set of secular beliefs and a strong bound between its practitionners. I want to build it like a religion, taking advantage of its well made structure and cleverness at providing what people need. But I also want to leave-out or change what we dont like of religions as "secular humanists". A idealist fools you might say. So, that was the serious part... the less serious part, is how I'm trying to get there. I'm starting a blog and web site, I'm recruiting friends and baptising them wearing silly hats, discussing backward issues with theologist friends, improvising a worship as I go along, etc... I'm trying to make the process as light and as fun as possible. Without making as far as to make it a farce. So... I wont be baptising people over the interet or taking large amout of money from my eventual followers anytime soon. And yes, I plan on making it a "payless" and "painless" process. The fact is that my best friend, who will be the first baptised (and will be baptised for the first time of his life) is taking this quite seriously and does believe in what I'm trying to start. He also want to be part of it... and invent it with me. As for the rationnal behind this... my motivation if you will, might be explained as follows: I, much like my best friends and other secular humanists, have been feeling a sort of void, some hard to describe bitterness or jealousy when witnessing masses of people worshiping and being "part" of something together. Through the years I went from being a frustrated and marginalized atheist to understanding why people gather aroung beliefs and cultivate them. As I get older I feel this need more and more, thus enabling me to "understand" those behaviors more easilly. So, instead of bearing this feeling alone, I'm choosing to act upon it and do what I do best... which is start a ridiculous, non-sensical and "out of proportion" project thats has all the chances of never reaching its goal... I like trying things that have never or rarelly been done before and that have a huge chances of failure. So... thomorow, in order to proceed with the first baptism, I will be shopping for a nice sheet of red felt, from which I will make a "Ceremonial Dunce Cap". We will then use it as the main religious garment for the baptism and other processions. Its silly... but I'm enjoying this and I feel good about it. I think thats how religious worship should feel. So I think I'm on the right track. I feel it. May the "absence of god" be with you, and cheers to everyone. P.S.: Thanks for everybody's comments, most were silly (which is good), but as a whole I did learn something: People respond strongly to this (60 comments is way more than I had expected from Mofi).
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Fes: I have no real interest in other non-faith-based organisation... I think a good solid secular religion is what a lot of people need. A solid sense of directions... a pyramidal scheme... a dictatorious leadership... practicing rites... buying stuff about their religion. People relate to all that... I'll stick with the "religion" scheme if you dont mind. It's proven to work! hehe
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
I dont plan on having any membership fees... I think people are more inclined to join cults if there is no money invloved upfront. But as any good religion... I might eventually ask for donations and setup fundraisers in order to fund events and donate to other goood causes. I thinks there shoud be a least SOME money flowing around... otherwise it wouldnt be much of a religion.
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Yeah wolof.... that e-meter looks cool. But now I became a religious man... So I'm cheap and technology frightens me. How about something like wavering a big stick and chanting mindles mumbo jumbo in latin?
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Mmmm... I do see a difference, like catachresis said, I guess baptisms have something to do with washing sins away. Tar, feathers and poo is all I'm goign to be washing away if nobody find anything else clever... Sacrement? Unsacrement?... god, this is getting complicated. I'm used to be an atheist for jesus sake... so most of this is really new to me. What's the difference?
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Ok... now I have : Tar and feathers, Kool-aid, Beer and Spanking and obviously "poo". Is it me or does it all sound more like college innitiations rather than a religious procession ?
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Ok... scratch the link if you want (I'm new at this and didnt realize it wasny permitted). But I'd still like my question to be addressed... so far all I got is tar and feathers.
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Actually... come to think of it, Richie, your comment is quite welcomed. I'm barelly in my third day of worship and now I can say that I already been persecuted and ridiculed for my religious beliefs. It adds to the "experience" I must say.
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Mmmm.... Richie... I must admit that this sandwich reference really got me puzzled. If your trying to say that the "Church of Null" is not funny enough, you might be right. But that was not really ment to be funny... absurd yes, but funny isnt really the goal here.
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
Oups... this was meant to be a "Curious George" question. Can this be fixed?
posted by MonsieurM 20 years ago
(limited to the most recent 20 comments)