bloodyrosemccoy: (Default)
bloodyrosemccoy ([personal profile] bloodyrosemccoy) wrote2006-07-23 02:18 pm

The Cult Of The Green-Spotted Shrooms

Gorgeous Grandma Day
Hot Enough For Ya Day
Leo Begins
Parents' Day
Saint Apollinaris Feast Day
Revolution Day (Egypt)
 
In the middle of the night I had an awesome idea for a Very Different alien religion—one based sort of on time travel—and I sprang up and scribbled, on a Post-It Note I couldn’t see:
 
Religion!
Time = Cycle
Assembly By Future!!
 
Inventing religions can be the most fun part of world building. A religion says a lot about who the people are and how they look at the world—which is why I, an atheist, am so fascinated by comparative theology. And being an atheist, with a background of Raised Without Religion, I find pretty much every religion more or less equally silly if you don’t take it metaphorically. This means I can invent silly religions for aliens and not worry about the fact that they’re totally ridiculous because as far as I’m concerned that’s no different from the religions of Earth.* And I can have a lot of fun making them.
 
I’m getting pretty good, too.  If I had a bit more charisma, I bet I could tweak one of them to sound a bit more human and then gain a cult following. Maybe I can even get martyred for it, and then it will turn into the Next Mainstream Religion!
 
But I probably will just play more with other planets’ ideals. I like doing that better, and it’s got less of a chance of attracting whackoes like Tom Cruise.
 
So I’ll stick with the Post-Its.
 
 
*Even the one I invented based on 1-Up Mushrooms.

[identity profile] tiryn.livejournal.com 2006-07-23 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
XD This amused me in a good way this morning. Being a fellow atheist/Buddhist-when-the-Mormons-come-knocking, I find religion rather interesting, and agree with your taking it metaphorically comment. Anyway.

[identity profile] ayn.livejournal.com 2006-07-23 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
A faith based on those crazy shrooms? Do tell!

I approach building my planets' religions the same way...I was raised Catholic and knew by the age of thirteen that it wasn't for me. Nothing is too extreme when creating faiths. I mean...in the wake of Scientology, what could be?

The Cult Of The Green-Spotted Shrooms

[identity profile] beepbeepitsme.livejournal.com 2006-07-24 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion." Steven Weinberg
ext_125536: A pink castle on a green hill against a black background. A crescent moon above. (mischevious/playful/Puck)

[identity profile] nixve.livejournal.com 2006-07-24 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I can't be the only one who is now really, really curious for more details about your Post-It scribblings! :)