Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Straight Hate · 09-14-2002, 12:03 PM

Many of us are familiar with constructed languages and micronations, but what of religions other than the mainstream Scientology and various reconstructionist faiths?

My reason for asking is simple: as an exercise in creativity, I'm writing my own 'religious' text and would love to see examples of others' work in this area for ideas, inspiration and simple enjoyment. Does anyone know of any websites (or books) fitting this description, or have any of you written your own 'bible'?

I would think that there'd be a plethora of information on the subject.

[ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: Kathall ]</p>

ManM · 09-15-2002, 04:43 AM

Go check out the <a href="http://www.geocities.com/ipuprophecy/ipu.html" target="_blank">Institute for Unicorn Research</a>

Perchance · 09-15-2002, 05:32 AM

You may have already read this, but the Discordians- kind-of Neopagans who claim to worship the Greek Goddess Eris and believe in salvation through nonsense- have a "bible" called the <a href="http://www.ology.org/principia/" target="_blank">Principia Discordia</a>. (The link above leads to a page with a lot of different introductions as well as a link to the book). It is deliberately free of copyright (they use the phrase "copyleft" instead), and consists of weird sayings, some "philosophy" and "mythological stories," a new calendar, and a whole bunch of other stuff they apparently thought a holy book should have.

It's weird, but it's funny.

-Perchance.

Ab_Normal · 09-16-2002, 08:43 AM

Can't forget the <a href="http://www.subgenius.com" target="_blank">Church of the SubGenius</a>!

Jamie_L · 09-16-2002, 08:55 AM

GURPS Religion
by Steve Jackson Games

<a href="http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/Religion/" target="_blank">http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/Religion/</a>

Sure, it's a roleplaying book, and geared towards fantasy roleplaying, but GURPS always goes to great length to make their source material fexible as well as realistic. GURPS Space is an oft-suggested source for budding science fiction writers. I suspect GURPS Religion would be just as useful for someone trying to make their own religion.

Jamie

-RRH- · 09-16-2002, 09:36 AM

The Church of the Subgenius may be an example. It is largely a parody of other religions, though, and pretty far from a cohesive whole.

JL · 09-16-2002, 04:14 PM

Nietzsche's Zarathustra and philosophy of the overman always struck me as an attempt at an atheist religion.

Straight Hate · 09-17-2002, 04:36 PM

Hey, thanks for all of the recommendations and feedback, people!

09-14-2002, 12:03 PM	#1
Straight Hate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 4,171	Religion Construction Many of us are familiar with constructed languages and micronations, but what of religions other than the mainstream Scientology and various reconstructionist faiths? My reason for asking is simple: as an exercise in creativity, I'm writing my own 'religious' text and would love to see examples of others' work in this area for ideas, inspiration and simple enjoyment. Does anyone know of any websites (or books) fitting this description, or have any of you written your own 'bible'? I would think that there'd be a plethora of information on the subject. [ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: Kathall ]</p>

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09-15-2002, 04:43 AM	#2
ManM Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: NW Florida, USA Posts: 1,279	Go check out the <a href="http://www.geocities.com/ipuprophecy/ipu.html" target="_blank">Institute for Unicorn Research</a>

09-15-2002, 05:32 AM	#3
Perchance Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,059	You may have already read this, but the Discordians- kind-of Neopagans who claim to worship the Greek Goddess Eris and believe in salvation through nonsense- have a "bible" called the <a href="http://www.ology.org/principia/" target="_blank">Principia Discordia</a>. (The link above leads to a page with a lot of different introductions as well as a link to the book). It is deliberately free of copyright (they use the phrase "copyleft" instead), and consists of weird sayings, some "philosophy" and "mythological stories," a new calendar, and a whole bunch of other stuff they apparently thought a holy book should have. It's weird, but it's funny. -Perchance.

09-16-2002, 08:43 AM	#4
Ab_Normal Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,842	Can't forget the <a href="http://www.subgenius.com" target="_blank">Church of the SubGenius</a>!

09-16-2002, 08:55 AM	#5
Jamie_L Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,565	GURPS Religion by Steve Jackson Games <a href="http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/Religion/" target="_blank">http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/Religion/</a> Sure, it's a roleplaying book, and geared towards fantasy roleplaying, but GURPS always goes to great length to make their source material fexible as well as realistic. GURPS Space is an oft-suggested source for budding science fiction writers. I suspect GURPS Religion would be just as useful for someone trying to make their own religion. Jamie

09-16-2002, 09:36 AM	#6
-RRH- Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,047	The Church of the Subgenius may be an example. It is largely a parody of other religions, though, and pretty far from a cohesive whole.

09-16-2002, 04:14 PM	#7
JL Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Mawkish Virtue, NC Posts: 151	Nietzsche's Zarathustra and philosophy of the overman always struck me as an attempt at an atheist religion.

09-17-2002, 04:36 PM	#8
Straight Hate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 4,171	Hey, thanks for all of the recommendations and feedback, people!

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