Let's get this religion thing sorted...

[Justtristo]

I copied this from a different thread, as it seems to provide a good start-off point for a new one. (I sincerely hope I am not breaking any taboos or protocols or anything by doing this)

I hate what religion is doing, I want to take away it's power and influence as well. If you know of a way, please share.

That's exactly what I'm trying to do. Unfortunately I seem to be crap at it.

OK, look, (a) this is not a sure proven method or anything, it's just an idea and (b) it probably won't sound particularly original. But I've thought and thought and thought about it, and it seems to me the only chance there is of de-powering existing religions.

Whatever you like to think about religions, you have to admit that it's proved to be a pretty darned effective way of getting loads of folks to all dance to the same tune. So my suggestion basically is simply this: Copy their methods only steer folk in the right direction instead of a wrong one.

So what are their methods? Well obviously this would have to be gone into properly, but here's a few ideas (not in any particular order).

1) They meet regularly. Churches do it on Sundays. Mosques every day but particularly Fridays. Synagogues Saturdays.

2) They do "good works". Charity stuff, and so on.

3) They are welcoming to strangers. At least the x-tians are, in my experience. Dunno about the others.

4) They proselytise.

5) They have some kind of a belief structure.

6) They ritually worship something or someone.

7) They publicize themselves as a group.

8) They have some kind of secret, like an "inner sanctum" or circle or something providing them with some kind of exclusivity.

9) They offer advice.

10) They provide services like marriage ceremonies, funerals and stuff.

OK - that'll do for now, sure you get my drift. Oh no, woops, left one out.

11) They have a "message" to deliver.

So anyway, no doubt discussion would change the list somewhat. But you get the idea I hope.

Now the "big thing" about Christianity is the message of Christ, right? He's supposed to be the son of god come down to Earth to get us all on the right path. Probably all seemed pretty reasonable at the time, given the state of knowledge. And basically, the message was "please be nice to each other", right?

Well, what's wrong with that? The message I mean, not the son of god thing. Seems OK to me, OK needs tidying up a bit, like the golden rule, whatever. I think it's pretty important, vital in fact, for folks to start being nice to each other. Particularly nations. Seems to me that the "message" of an atheist churchy-type thing would be pretty similar. Be Nice.

Now of course comes the tricky bit. Because what the old Jesus fellah did was to call upon some supposed cosmic figure to give his preaching that bit of authority which made people want to follow his teaching (the being nice to each other stuff). Those were the days, eh - cos nowadays it just won't wash. I mean, even the X-tians themselves don't really believe in the Grand Old Guy in the Sky any more, and a lot of them even think the "virgin birth" is more symbolic than real. So there's a problem on the authority front.

So how the flip would the kind of organisation I am proposing get some kind of authority for its teachings? Hmmmm. Well, there's always Science I suppose. Probably by some other name. "The Great Truth-Giver" perhaps. Something. Santa Veracita - the Source of All Knowledge (known as "The Source"). Whatever. Needs working on.

Basically then, apart from the praying bit, they'd do all the other stuff. And try and lure xtians and others away from the false path onto the true one (ie there is no such thing as god). And yet not leave the people feeling "out in the cold" like many do today. And, in time, as it really IS promoting the real truth, it should stand a pretty good chance of catching on in a really big way, knocking all the other "religious" organsatiomns out the window.

That's the outline. Of course it would need a name. I've been trying to think of one - one I suggested to the humanists (and got flayed alive for) was C.H.U.R.C.H. Something like "Concerned Humanists Undertaking Really Careful Help" - I know, yuk! But look, this is only the outlines of an idea, it would need loads of proper thinking about.

Any thoughts anyone?

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Oh dear. I think I know what happens now... (I fear the words "load" & "bolix" might figure somewhere).

Talk about psychological projection

Seriously when people harp on about atheists being "militant" or "evangelistic", often these are same people are very evangelistic when it comes to their particular faith.