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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSeeing that the SCOTUS has said prayer to start government meeting is OK I have decided to
convert from Atheist to a new religion just so I can say prayers at the start of meeting that everyone who does not get up and leave will be forced to endure prayers to my god(s).
It is getting hard to decide on just one so I am also open to converting on a monthly basis, weekly conversion would just look silly and I was not serious about my religion.
So here are the ones I am considering so far:
1. Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth
Obviously spelling is not a fundamental part of this religion! Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth (TOPY) was founded in 1981 by members of Psychic TV, Coil, Current 93, and a number of other individuals. The ever-evolving network is a loosely federated group of people operating as a unique blend of artistic collective, and practitioners of magic. TOPY is dedicated to the manifestation of magical concepts lacking mysticism or the worship of gods. The group focuses on the psychic and magical aspects of the human brain linked with “guiltless sexuality”. Throughout its existence, TOPY has been an influential group in the underground Chaos magic scene and in the wider western occult tradition. TOPY’s research has covered both Left-hand path and Right-hand path magick, various elements of psychology, art, music, and a variety of other media. Some of the influences on the network have been Aleister Crowley, Austin Osman Spare, and Brion Gysin.
2. Church of All Worlds
The Church of All Worlds is a neo-pagan religion founded in 1962 by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and his wife Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart. The religion evolved from a group of friends and lovers who were in part inspired by a fictional religion of the same name in the science fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein; the church’s mythology includes science fiction to this day. They recognize “Gaea,” the Earth Mother Goddess and the Father God, as well as the realm of Faeries and the deities of many other pantheons. Many of their ritual celebrations are centered on the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece. Following the tradition of using fiction as a basis for his ideas, Zell-Ravenheart recently founded The Grey School of Wizardry inspired in part by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school in the Harry Potter novels.
3. Universe People
Universe people or Cosmic people of light powers (Czech: Vesmírní lidé sil sv?tla) is a Czech religious movement centered around Ivo A. Benda. Its belief system is based upon the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations communicating with Benda and other “contacters” since October 1997 telepathically and later even by direct personal contact. According to Benda those civilizations operate a fleet of spaceships, led by Ashtar Sheran, orbiting the Earth. They closely watch and help the good and are waiting to transport their followers into another dimension. The Universe People’s teachings incorporate various elements from ufology (some foreign “contacters” are credited, though often also renounced after a time as misguided or deceptive), Christianity (Jesus was a “fine-vibrations” being) and conspiracy theories (forces of evil are supposed to plan compulsory chipping of the population).
4. Church of the SubGenius
The Church of the SubGenius is a parody religion that promotes slack, while in a meta-commentarial way, satirizes religion, conspiracy theories, UFOs, and popular culture. The church claims to have been founded in the 1950s by the “world’s greatest salesman” J. R. “Bob” Dobbs. “Bob” Dobbs is depicted as a cartoon of a Ward Cleaver-like man smoking a pipe. The church really started with the publication of SubGenius Pamphlet #1 in 1979. It found acceptance in underground pop-culture circles and has been embraced on college campuses, in the underground music scene, and on the Internet. An important SubGenius event occurred on July 5, 1998: X-Day. The Church had been predicting that on this day the world would be destroyed by invading alien armies known as the X-ists (which is short for “Men from Planet X”). When the event didn’t come to pass, the church administrator who predicted it was tarred and feathered – but allowed to continue on as administrator. Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman) is a SubGenius minister. Patrick Volkerding, the founder and maintainer of Slackware Linux, is also a SubGenius affiliate, and he has confirmed the Church and “Bob” inspired the name for Slackware.
5. Asatru
Asatru is a revival of ancient Nordic religion based upon polythesitc faith and mythic tales. According to the religion, there are four key deities and several minor gods. Adherents usually live in communities called Kindreds. They ascribe to the “Nine Noble Virtues” as a model for their lives. While the original Norse would have participated in animal sacrifice, modern worshipers offer mead, a honey-wine, to the gods. Major holidays revolve around the changing seasons with Yule being the most important. It is celebrated in late December and continues for twelve days.
Other suggestions are encouraged, I could even start my own too but figure go with an establish one so they can't say it is not a real religion like the very popular zombie god religion popular in America.
* where I got this stuff listverse.com/2009/09/10/10-extremely-weird-religions
= new reply since forum marked as read
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bravenak
(34,648 posts)The lord of light from grrm's asoiaf series.
They already have a go to prayer for you to chant to open up meetings.
Let me find R'hllor's prayer for you.
Here it is: "Lead us from the darkness, O my Lord. Fill our hearts with fire, so we may walk your shining path . . . R'hllor, your are the light in our eyes, the fire in our hearts, the heat in our loins. Yours is the sun that warms our days, yours the stars that guard us in the dark of night. (Lord of Light, defend us. The night is dark and full of terrors. Lord of Light, protect us.) R'hllor who gave us breath, we thank you. R'hllor who gave us day, we thank you. (We thank you for the sun that warms us. We thank you for the stars that watch us. We thank you for our hearths and for our torches, that keep the savage dark at bay.)" After this follow prayers of thanks and blessing
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)at the stake it sort of discourages people from joining up with membership eventually all being set on fire the religion would disappear through attrition of its member's.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)They are serious.
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)King Stannis put a stop to that nonsense after he singlehandedly killed all the white walkers.
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)No I am not reading the books either.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Wishful thinking. I'm pretty sure the author will be dead before he finishes the last book.
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)
aquart
(69,014 posts)Or so the big bronze plaque said. I never learned the details but it spoke to me.
Of course, I would need a list of major and minor holidays before I could convert.
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)The Funkup Manifesto states:
We must regenerate ourselves. We must create new rituals and new mythologies to accommodate new found capabilities.
Our launching into outer space, which was considered an impossibility a mere 50 years ago, has already been accomplished. We must now have the courage to continue this exhilarating and frightening adventure without procrastination.
It will be necessary for us to throw overboard outmoded, wasteful ways of living. Humanity has to achieve coherence.
We must have absolute equality across the board in order for everyone to be able to contribute to this enterprise.
We will need all of the intelligence and of the energy we can muster.
Who? Knows!
intaglio
(8,170 posts)Sredni Vashtar went forth,
His thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white.
His enemies called for peace, but he brought them death.
Sredni Vashtar the Beautiful
Additionally the sacrament of this faith is toast (possibly the Holy Toast)
Note the reference "House of Rimmon" in the story refers to the house of a false God (Kings 5:18)
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)^snip^
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Pastafarianism, is the religious following of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, commonly abbreviated as FSM. According to Pastafarianism, FSM is a benevolent supernatural entity who created the world some 4000 years ago while very drunk, although the world is intentionally built to make humans think it's older than it really is.
Automated Creationism
A controversial theory of Pastafarianism that has been adopted by many believers since the theory of Evolution was first put forward, is that of Automated Creationism. This theory proposes that the Flying Spaghetti Monster designed a process by which all of creation would come into existence through natural progression, triggered by Him in one significant event, called the Big Boil*. Such natural progression would also serve to mislead scientists, something that causes the Flying Spaghetti Monster much delight. Due to its similarity to the much touted Big Bang Theory, this proposed version of the universe's creation received much popularity among Pastafarians who sought to accommodate both scientific and religious opinion, as the Big Boil denies neither faith nor science. The theory also received benign acceptance by the majority of the scientific community.
The orthodox Pastafarian sect, however, labeled this theory as a heresy supported only by weak and disloyal disciples, and in the interest of peace and harmony began a long-running crusade of intimidation and harassment. This crusade was tempered in later years by the influence of more sympathetic leaders of the faith who felt that, rather than condemning the divisionists as evil, they should instead be seen as victims of their own weakness of spirit and thus prone to the evil influence of science. Accordingly, compassion was shown to them and their souls cleansed by means of beheading.
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)I dig SpaghettiOs and don't want to stop eating them if I become a member.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)This is an assumption, I am not a follower.
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)I would assume that if one were a Pastafarian, any and all forms of pasta are allowed including sauced and unsauced pasta and pasta with or with out meat or cheese.
You also have fresh, dried, canned, bagged and frozen pasta with all of it variant's which could lead to schisms with in the religion creating various sects of Pastafarians much like Christianity does, a group breaks away when they decide they want new rules rites with the break away group claiming they are the true religion. Net thing you know we have pasta wars.
tiredtoo
(2,949 posts)
MADem
(135,425 posts)No, I'm not joking either--and that's a private university. I can imagine how nutso people would go with a little HAIL SATAN before the town meeting or the football game....!
The reference to what my subject line discusses: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/catholic-church-denounces-planned-satanic-mass-at-harvard/
aquart
(69,014 posts)Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)See post 21--it was Haaahvid Extension!
MADem
(135,425 posts)Basically, anyone can attend--there's no admissions requirement. A lot of people get their Haaaah-vid degree from them, part time, over years!
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)If the purpose is to eventually end prayers before meetings, wouldn't a religious prayer that makes people in the room uncomfortable every time you recite it be your best choice?
Maybe a religion with a prayer that focuses on something that pushes people's buttons? Or perhaps a religion that singles out random people within your sight to be idolized and worshipped to annoying degrees?
You could come in with one of your co-worker's flower framed pictures on your desk. Completely creep people out.
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)the religion has to be around for a while.
Besides, I know I could get plenty of followers to join the Church of Free Drugs, Alcohol, and Hookers but nobody would want to go to any Government Meetings, they would be in Church 24/7 worshiping!
I would post how a worship service would go but one has to be at least 21 to join, exceptions are made on a case by case basis, besides it would be too had to describe in a nice safe way on the internet were kids can read it.
Lets just say it would be a very popular religion world wide if I ever started it up.
The Wizard
(13,560 posts)might also allow for rude interruptions during the prayer so as to question the validity of the deity being worshiped. Can others demand prayers to Zeus to satisfy their spiritual need? Can nonbelievers just have conversations during the official government sanctioned prayer?
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)Instead of saying 'Ramen or Amen' a loud belch or fart is also acceptable to me and the way I worship.
The Wizard
(13,560 posts)Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)and said Pull my finger, she did and I tried, damn shame I did not have one to go!
Not sure which is more pleasing to the lord, the smell of roasting bulls or farts
ninjanurse
(122 posts)I used to belong to a Catholic Charismatic group and learned to speak in tongues. Though I have not done this in years, a prayer at a public hearing might just inspire me to jump up and Praise the Lord! In Season and Out of Season! For as long as God leads me!
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)
bpollen
(110 posts)Turn your knob to BOB! (Dobson, that is.) You too can take up a pipe and a cardigan!
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)Minister Pee Wee does have a certain ring to it!
bpollen
(110 posts)
Diclotican
(5,095 posts)Exposethefrauds
Nr 5 is called Åsatro - not Asatru - but then again english speaking people do not have Å in their alphabet 
And another things - it is loosely based on ancient nordic religion all the time we do not know so much about the ancient nordic religion - even though we might have some insight into it - as it was part of the larger germanic religion who the romans had some experience with - and the early Church com in contact with when they was starting to venture on the other side oft he Limits on their quest to baptize the pagans of europe... The ancient religion had more than four key deities - but for the most it is the four deities who is known to most people - Odin, Thor and the rest of the mighty good who ruled the world - and who could make people happy - or miserable if they choose to do it - Thor was maybe the most popular of them as he was everything a mighty warrior should be - strong - and able to do feats who was amazing maybe even goodly in nature - but he was also a good who had temper - got easy into problems with his anger - and could end up in a lot of mess - before he was able to get things as they should be -
Ancient norse belief did do animal sacrifice - in some desperate times even human sacrifice - but for the most part, it was animal sacrifice and not human - mostly because it was More easy to kill an animal - than to kill a human - and also because you could eat a animal - it was less popular to eat a human...
And I'm not sure what Yule is about - but I do know what Jul is - and the ancient norse did celebrated Jul - from a few days before todays Christmas eve - to a few days after Christmas Eve - and it was traditionally the time when families, and tribes - come together to celebrate the new year - and to feast on the food - and to do business between the families and tribes
Diclotican
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)better.
Like Don Juan Matus with a really bad temper!
Diclotican
(5,095 posts)Exposethefrauds
Odin was the all seeing good - who know all - past and present - and the future as he was able to look into the future with his one eye - he had given away his one eye - the sacrifice for being able to understand both the past - and the future
Thor is maybe a more human good - as Thor had its flaws - sometimes he acted in a not so good-like way - almost human - even though he also was one of the most strong goods in the pantheon of ancient norse goods too... And he was very popular in large parts of the ancient norse world - more popular than even Odin who could be more cruel in his actions than Thor was...
I'm not sure who Don Juan Matus is - but he might be a person with a bad temper - but I guess Thor was more angry - back in the days when he was the ones doing its deed - by the way - Thor was also responsible for the thunder when it rained - and I have to say - even when I was a little child - I was told by some that if I was not acting right - Thor would come down and take me away... Something that really scared me - and I was rather old when I realized that Thor was not able to take me - even if the thunder was near me... And at that age I was not even sure who Thor was...
Diclotican
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)From what I have read so far Odin is associated with war, battle, victory and death, but also wisdom, Shamanism, magic, poetry, prophecy, and the hunt.
Sort of a Renaissance God, did all kinds of things.
Plus I got hammered on some Odin Brew(sp) many years ago in Europe and had a very memorable time so Odin has that going for him in my book. Looked for it on the internet but could not find it but Odin Brew is what I remember or maybe how my fellow miscreants pronounced it. This was before the Odin brewing company even existed so it was not that.
Diclotican
(5,095 posts)Exposethefrauds
In the old Norse belief - Odin was indeed associated with war - with battle victory and death - but he was also associated with wisdom - knowledge of everything - he was kind of a Over-king over all the other goods - both bad and good ones - when he spoke - you better listen - or else...
I'm nor sure about what beer you are talking about there - Odin brew it sounds like something that really could kick your head when you drink to Mitch of it - specially the day thereafter when the brew do its business inside your body... But anyway I guess it was some strong beer you was drinking back in the days then
Diclotican
Brainstormy
(2,521 posts)several good ones. The First Church of Jesus Christ Elvis is a personal favorite. But there are so many more. Wikipedia maintains an impressive list under, I kid you not, "Fictional Religions." Strangely, their "True Religion" entry is for a brand of jeans.
Kablooie
(19,032 posts)"Hail, Astaroth! Great Goddess of Love and War! Lady Lucifer of the Twilight; O mighty Lioness of love's burning desire. I humbly invoke You, O Queen of Heaven and Earth; I invite You to come forth from the sky, to come forth from the ends of the earth and to come forth from the depths of the underworld. Hear my prayer oh blessed Whore of Babylon, and greet me as Your servant and friend! I wish only to get to know You, and to rejoice in the fiery light of Your majestic spirit. Hail, Astaroth! Hail, Astaroth! Hail, Astaroth!"
leeroysphitz
(10,462 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)And eventually, when they are denied enough times a court case is filed against the discrimination.