Rolling Your own Religion
Jun. 6th, 2001 12:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nyykiThese days, the Earth Based Religions have so many traditions it’s pretty simple to find one that suits just about anyone. However, new traditions pop up every day, taking their foundation from all kinds of sources. Books and other media present very enticing foundations for pagan paths. (Stranger in a Strange Land as the most obvious example.) But with this said, there are some books that should never be used for the basis of a path. For example:
The Harry Potter Books: Yeah, they’re popular and magical, but this is more Ceremonial than Earth Based, and besides, This is so very trendy.
Star Trek: Trek fans have enough stigmas as it is without people trying to set up Vulcan Monasteries or Bajoran temples.
Mercedes Lackey’s Diana Tregarde books: I swear, if I hear one more person using this to explain why they’re a guardian, I’m going to scream.
Marvel Comics: This should be obvious, so why do so many Asatru base their beliefs on Marvel’s Thor?
The Grateful Dead: Yes, they were an intense band that often achieved mass hallucination through their music. But do you want Jerry Garcia on your altar?
My Way: Why anyone would want to base their belief system on Frank Sinatra’s life is beyond me.
Star Wars: Though it’s already a religion to many, Samurai fighting and Existentialistic philosophy do not a religion make, especially without all of the telepathy and telekinesis.
Lord of the Rings: This is Fantasy. Besides, do you REALLY want Sauron in your Pantheon?
Mists of Avalon: Building a pagan path on what is essentially the Christian take over of Britain is somewhat scary in its own right, but to use Ms. Zimmer-Bradley’s take on it and to elevate it to a religion founding work shows a defined lack of contact with any semblance of what Earth Based religions really are.
The Story of O – I should spank you for even thinking about this one. Bring your own restraints.
Kung Fu -- The Legend Continues: Before you can base a religion on something, you have to be able to make coherent sense of its Cosmology.
The Book of the Law: It’s already been done by Thelema, and you’ll never be able to do it as well as they did.
The writings of Ayn Rand: Though there is perverse irony in building a religion on the writings of such a strong Atheist, do you really want to be that mean all the time? Besides, that level of politics already exists in many pagan organizations.
Watership Down: Do you even have to ask? This takes fluffy bunny paganism to a whole new level.
The Matrix: You bend the spoon, then we’ll talk.
The Vampire Chronicles: Also very trendy. There are problems with building a religion around what is essentially a rape scene, but the big scary here is the people who would be drawn to the path. Some of those people are REALLY weird. Do you really want a congregation of Goths and Gamers?
Priest Kings of Gor: If you’re going to base a path on a BDSM mindset, why not use a book that is at least well written?
Mein Kampf: Hasn’t this one caused enough trouble already?
2001 A Space Odyssey: No human being can take the level of drugs this would require and still function in society.
The Harry Potter Books: Yeah, they’re popular and magical, but this is more Ceremonial than Earth Based, and besides, This is so very trendy.
Star Trek: Trek fans have enough stigmas as it is without people trying to set up Vulcan Monasteries or Bajoran temples.
Mercedes Lackey’s Diana Tregarde books: I swear, if I hear one more person using this to explain why they’re a guardian, I’m going to scream.
Marvel Comics: This should be obvious, so why do so many Asatru base their beliefs on Marvel’s Thor?
The Grateful Dead: Yes, they were an intense band that often achieved mass hallucination through their music. But do you want Jerry Garcia on your altar?
My Way: Why anyone would want to base their belief system on Frank Sinatra’s life is beyond me.
Star Wars: Though it’s already a religion to many, Samurai fighting and Existentialistic philosophy do not a religion make, especially without all of the telepathy and telekinesis.
Lord of the Rings: This is Fantasy. Besides, do you REALLY want Sauron in your Pantheon?
Mists of Avalon: Building a pagan path on what is essentially the Christian take over of Britain is somewhat scary in its own right, but to use Ms. Zimmer-Bradley’s take on it and to elevate it to a religion founding work shows a defined lack of contact with any semblance of what Earth Based religions really are.
The Story of O – I should spank you for even thinking about this one. Bring your own restraints.
Kung Fu -- The Legend Continues: Before you can base a religion on something, you have to be able to make coherent sense of its Cosmology.
The Book of the Law: It’s already been done by Thelema, and you’ll never be able to do it as well as they did.
The writings of Ayn Rand: Though there is perverse irony in building a religion on the writings of such a strong Atheist, do you really want to be that mean all the time? Besides, that level of politics already exists in many pagan organizations.
Watership Down: Do you even have to ask? This takes fluffy bunny paganism to a whole new level.
The Matrix: You bend the spoon, then we’ll talk.
The Vampire Chronicles: Also very trendy. There are problems with building a religion around what is essentially a rape scene, but the big scary here is the people who would be drawn to the path. Some of those people are REALLY weird. Do you really want a congregation of Goths and Gamers?
Priest Kings of Gor: If you’re going to base a path on a BDSM mindset, why not use a book that is at least well written?
Mein Kampf: Hasn’t this one caused enough trouble already?
2001 A Space Odyssey: No human being can take the level of drugs this would require and still function in society.
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ROTFLMAO
Date: 2001-06-06 12:00 pm (UTC)Don't forget the D&D Player's Handbooks as well as all the other RPG games, please! hehehehe
Re: ROTFLMAO
Date: 2001-06-06 12:25 pm (UTC)Right up there with people who like to be called their character name. That's a bit too out there for me.
no subject
Date: 2001-06-06 12:36 pm (UTC)I lost all interest in Objectivism as soon as I found out how Subjectively Ayn Rand ruled her followers.
You might want to add Elron to your list, btw...