Hail and well met.

I am thinking of starting a new religion and was wondering how many would be interested in joining. Before I get started please let me state that this is neither a joke post or a flame or anything of that nature, I'm just wondering what support would be for my new religion among Catholics. I know you may think that this idea will never get off the ground. It may not, remember though, this is how the Mormons were started!

Currently my religion is directed more at converting people involved in so-called "new age" religions; Wicca, Paganism, Satanism, and others, as well as Atheists. I would, however, like some followers from more traditional religions.

As the heart of my religion will be a book, which is currently being known as The Bible v2.0 (or 2.0 beta). Despite the name, the Bible has little in common with it's Christian counterpart. It is far more liberal and less judgmental, with more emphasis being placed on honor between people than morals. It also emphases children's rights, social Darwinism and Makavelist principles. The religion is structured not to have 1 central church, but rather different factions, who will be bound by a single book. The greatest benefit of the book may be that it preaches more modern virtues (tolerance of others, less strict sex constraints, ect). The book also encourages members to become politically active, something that can only help countries in the future. Anyway, there is a lot to go into and much is still being developed. I would, however, like to hear your comments on what you would like in a religion. So far, I'm trying to stay away from mythical beings but I might try to work in some kind of godlike creature if that is what everyone wants. My friend suggested having the book read as an actual sequel, meaning god would even appear in it, something that may make his fans happy. I don't know though, I still kinda like the whole realism thing. Just let me know what you want, we have about 50 people right now but only about 5 do anything so we really need your support.

Thanks a lot! :) Panzer

-- Panzer (L0rD m3rL1n@aol.com), December 26, 2002

Answers

"It is far more liberal and less judgmental, with more emphasis being placed on honor between people than morals."

I think you're too late. People have thought of this already. =)

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), December 26, 2002.

wanna know what I think,Panzer? You've been dippin' into way too much eggnog today. Read around a little further on this Catholic site, God will give you what you need. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), December 26, 2002.

Theresa Huether, I have considered being Christian and in fact was brought up Presbyterian. Sadly, Christianity does not fit my lifestyle. Now, I am generally a nice person but I find the Bible a little too strict. I must lie to people everyday, even if such lies are over small things. I also am going to have sex many more times before I'm married, something the Bible doesn't permit. I also don't want the hassle of going to a church, paying tithe, having trouble getting married and then getting divorced, ect. I mean, I don't think I could even have read Harry Potter or played D&D or watched Charmed, lol. With the time I would have spent being Christian, I decided to go ahead and just make my own religion. This way when I die I get to go to my "heaven like" place, which I'm still writing. I'm not sure if I'm going to have a hell yet, but if I do I defiantly want vampires there. Vampires are just really cool!

Also, when my book is done, It shall read just a true, if not more true, than any all of the other religions. There is no reason why my version should be any less believed than any other book, and it will be impossible to say the world was not created the way I stay it was because it is impossible to prove without going back in time.

~Panzer

-- Panzer (L0rD m3rL1n@aol.com), December 26, 2002.

Too late. Such false religions are already a dime a dozen. There is litte need for more. Incidentally, there is one religion that was started by God Himself, and authoritatively offers eternal life to all men. If you're interested, stick around.

Peace! Paul

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), December 26, 2002.

Panzer,

You might want to talk to Eddie because he started his own relegion recentley. How about it Ed, do you have any pointers you want to share with Panzer?

-- - (.@....), December 26, 2002.

What's up with the background color?

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), December 26, 2002.

color

-- (...@...), December 26, 2002.

attempting to fix the color

-- Joe (a@a.a), December 26, 2002.

last try

-- Joe (foo@foo.com), December 26, 2002.

Panzer.....there is always room for another religion. Religion is how humanity explains itself, and deals with the unknowable. Sometimes religion is beneficial to others but most often it has need of "the other" in order to justify its beliefs and so it often does more harm than good. Demonizing "the other" is part and parcel of most religions. I see you have already a good start on that by your expressed desire to convert others to your beliefs.

I'd join but actually I am looking for a religion that kind of says "I'm okay, you're okay" and your religion is just fine. After all we all don't like to dress alike, why would we want to use the same religion? And maybe I would also like one that really tells it like it is....for example.."Hey we don't know how the hell the world got here (other than the big bang) or how or why there is life, but we think being alive is just the coolest and most awesome so we wish to join together and give thanks to however or whatever caused us to exist ( even if it is just a form of energy) and since we love life so much we wish to live together in peace and love so as to maximize those things which support life and it continuence. No need for a book, or a myth (although myths do stir the inner psyche) LIFE IS ENOUGH! Take Care Panza if you hear of a religion like this, let me know. :-) tj

-- tj (tjwalsh@earthlink.com), December 26, 2002.

Man, did someone die in here?

-- Isabel (isabel@yahoo.com), December 26, 2002.

HEY ISABEL, I'M ALIVE, YOU ALIVE? I WAS HERE THIS MORNING AND NEEDED TO GET OUT, GLAD TO HAVE SOME COMPANY. LET'S THROW SOME LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT!!

JESUS SAID "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"

PSALM 4:7 'LORD SHOW US THE LIGHT OF YOUR FACE'

ISAIAH 2;5 LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD

ISAIAH 60;1 RISE UP IN SPLENDOR! YOUR LIGHT HAS COME, THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHINES UPON YOU! SEE, DARKNESS COVERS THE EARTH, AND THICK CLOUDS COVER THE PEOPLES, BUT UPON YOU THE LORD SHINES, AND OVER YOU APPEARS HIS GLORY.

MATT 4;16 THE PEOPLE WHO SAT IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT, ON THOSE DWELLING IN A LAND OVERSHADOWED BY DEATH LIGHT HAS RISEN.

MATT 5;16 JUST SO, YOUR LIGHT MUST SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFYY YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

JOHN 1;3 ALL THINGS CAME TO BE THROUGH HIM [JESUS] AND WITHOUT HIM NOTHING CAME TO BE. WHAT CAME TO BE THROUGH HIM WAS LIFE, AND THIS LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF THE HUMAN RACE, THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS, AND THE DARKNESS HAS NOT OVERCOME IT.

EPH. 5;8 WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT

1JOHN 2;10 WHOEVER LOVES HIS BROTHER REMAINS IN THE LIGHT, AND THERE IS NOTHING IN HIM TO CAUSE A FALL.

REVELATION 22;5 NIGHT WILL BE NO MORE, NOR WILL THEY NEED LIGHT FROM LAMP OR SUN, FOR THE LORD GOD SHALL GIVE THEM LIGHT, AND THEY SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER.

PSALM 23 EVEN WHEN I WALK THROUGH A DARK VALLEY I FEAR NO HARM FOR YOU ARE AT MY SIDE; YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF GIVE ME COURAGE.

HALLELUJAH

-- Theresa (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), December 27, 2002.

OK, so the purpose of your "religion" is . . .

I ask because religion is supposed to be man's attempt to align oneself with God and His ways. We start with acknowledging God and the fact that He created us and has specific instructions for how we are supposed to relate to Him and each other. The goal of religion is to please God and to spend eternity with Him in Heaven and by obeying God thus avoiding the punishment of Hell.

It's obvious that you reject God and according to our beliefs will spend eternity in Hell for that decision if you persist in it. But why go to all the trouble of starting your own religion? You're designing a religion based on your own desires, not as if you have a god you are trying to follow.

Does it have any relationship to witchcraft? Your greeting is a standard occult/witchcraft greeting . . . or did you just pick that up from a local renaissance festival?

-- somebody (private@here.com), December 27, 2002.

"Sadly, Christianity does not fit my lifestyle."

That's the problem! No one wants to give up their sinfull ways. It's always, "there's nothing wrong with me... It's the religion...".

Look - to shorten this up a bit - Christianity isn't supposed to "fit" YOUR lifestyle. YOUR lifestyle is supposed to "fit" Christianity. That is how things are meant to be! Christianity is the CORRECT lifestyle (as the one and only God-man, Jesus Christ, showed us).

If you aren't living a Christian lifestyle - then you aren't doing it right.

You are in my prayers.

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake_huether@yahoo.com), December 27, 2002.

Playing w/ colors. Ignore.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), December 27, 2002.

First off, the color was done with this line of code:

<body style="background-color: #000033; color: #FFDDDD">

I just think it looks cool, if you want to change it back you can press this button. Didn't mean to have 4 people post trying to fix it, just so rare to find a pure html board that I can't help but to play :)

-- Panzer (L0rD m3rL1n@aol.com), December 27, 2002.

Okay, first off tj, my religion might be what your looking for. It respects that everyone has a right to believe what they want and doesn't do anything to stop other religions. Also, one of the biggest things it emphasizes is being happy and accomplishing what you want to in life. I am pretty sure it wouldn’t have a myth in it either, though without it seems more like philosophy than religion.

Umm.. Isabel and Theresa I’m not really sure what either of you are talking about. If you were referring to the color's you can change them back now... Also, Theresa you copied and pasted in a bunch of bible stuff that all kind of seems to revolve around light.. didn't make much sense though. Could you please clarify why you did it?

somebody, the purpose of Your religion is to align yourself with god, that is not the purpose of mine. Also, I want a religion to spread my beliefs to others and give something for people to believe in and have in common, that seems like a major goal behind all religions. Also, I am sorry you believe I am going to go to hell. In my religion you do not have to worry about your beliefs, lead a good life and you will have nothing to fear in my religion when you die. Also, my greeting has nothing to do with occult/witchcraft. It is just what I decided to use, though I may be visiting to many occult message boards :P

Jake Huether, who are you to say what the correct lifestyle is? Unless god came to you and told you what you should be doing (if he did, seek mental help :P) then you really have no idea what is the 'correct' thing to do. Just because you daddy told you what to believe and you never questioned it does not mean you have the right to judge the world. However, if your way of life is so almighty great that you are convinced there is no other, would you mind telling us what makes your life so great?

-- Panzer (L0rD m3rL1n@aol.com), December 27, 2002.

Panzer writes:

" I'd join but actually I am looking for a religion that kind of says "I'm okay, you're okay" and your religion is just fine."

Then he writes:

"Jake Huether, who are you to say what the correct lifestyle is? ...you really have no idea what is the 'correct' thing to do. Just because you daddy told you what to believe and you never questioned it does not mean you have the right to judge the world."

So, if I understand your position, you believe that other religions are OK...until they differ with your new religion. Where is your tolerance? If you start from a premise that there isn't a knowable truth, you're bound to be hostile to anyone who disagrees. So much for "I'm okay, you're okay and your religion is just fine."

-- (Waiting@for.thread.to.be.deleted), December 27, 2002.

"Jake Huether, who are you to say what the correct lifestyle is?"

Panzer, really I'm no one (just like you are no one to start a "new" religion)! It was Jesus Christ (God become man) who told us. Like you had stated before "unless God came down and told you...". Actually, He did! Didn't you know? 2000 years have already passed since then. He left His Church (the Catholic Church) to guard this "correct" lifestyle. And thank Him for that, because had He left us alone without the Church, then everyone and their brother would be starting a "new" religion and we wouldn't know where to turn. But because of the Church, History, the Bible, and solid viable documentation, we know what we are REALLY supposed to do!

Hope you find the light.. Maybe if you stick around on this forum you will be enlightened.

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake_huether@yahoo.com), December 27, 2002.

In my religion you do not have to worry about your beliefs, lead a good life and you will have nothing to fear in my religion when you die.

Can I laugh now? is that OK in your religion? To laugh at others stupidity?

Where is your sense of logic, or did you dump all common sense when you set out on your 'quest'? So, who makes the rules saying what constitutes a 'good life'? Would that be you? Because surely someone has to set some standards. After all, one person may decide that it is OK to take a human life, while someone else may decide it's not OK. Do you see how ridiculous your premise is?? Someone has to make the 'rules'. But it definitely should not be someone lacking in common sense.

But, you see, that is the glory of the Catholic Church. God, His Son and the Holy Ghost make all the rules. You don't get any higher than that. So, if you believe in God, then you are defying Him, and if you don't, then why bother with religion?

Isabel

P.S. My comment was concerning the awful color in here. I'm not pressing the button, you press it.

-- Isabel (isabel@yahoo.com), December 27, 2002.

document.body.style.color = '#000000'; document.body.style.backgroundColor = '#FFFFFF';

-- _ (_@_._), December 27, 2002.

_@_._), December 27, 2002.

> "I also am going to have sex many more times before I'm married,"

You are probably going to get a number of sexual tranmitted diseases before you are married also. Also, don't cry to us, if you get AIDS. We are just going to tell you, we told you so!

-- Gordon (gvink@yahoo.com), December 28, 2002.

Hey Panzer - no offense, but what's the difference between your "new" religion and, say, Unitarianism? 'Cause that's where the New Age and Wicca types are hangin' out these days - why reinvent the wheel? :-)

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), December 30, 2002.

Put an end to new age pagan religions? Oh boy. Have you even bothered researching those religions to see what they're about? Some are very beautiful and revolve around keeping the environment clean and accepting people for who they are. With the world the way it is today should we really condemn any religion for teaching love? We need any hope we can get!

-- Jennifer M (munchmyfoot@hotmail.com), March 08, 2003.

Dear Jennifer,

Yes I have researched some of those religions to see what they are about. And yes they do generally favor caring for "mother earth", and treating people with compassion. And those elements are just fine. Unfortunately, they are embedded in a matrix of untruth, denying the existence of a personal God, and worshipping the creation instead of the Creator. That is why they are condemned, not because they talk about "love".

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 08, 2003.