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Donald Ian Rankin

(13,598 posts)

23. A religion has to be something that people believe, surely?

Fri Apr 15, 2016, 11:16 AM

Apr 2016

If anyone actually believed in the Flying Spaghetti Monster, *then* it might be a religion.

In order for something to constitute your religious beliefs, you do actually have to believe it.

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Apologies if this has been posted already: Judge Rules that Pastafarianism is not a Religion [View all] Xyzse Apr 2016 OP

It opens up an interesting can of worms. trotsky Apr 2016 #1

I agree. I am mostly curious as to who gets to decide what a religion is and is not. Xyzse Apr 2016 #4

I hope this will finally kick off a real and honest debate on religion. DetlefK Apr 2016 #24

Good point - those are questions that have long needed answers. trotsky Apr 2016 #39

Agree 10000% northernsouthern Apr 2016 #52

Pastafarianism is a joke meant to make fun of religious exemptions from regulations and laws. Odin2005 Apr 2016 #69

Does it really matter if it was started as a joke? trotsky Apr 2016 #74

Scientology was started as a barroom bet. hobbit709 Apr 2016 #79

No it doesn't. The Callahan test is 35 years old. rug Apr 2016 #73

You mean vermicelli? GaYellowDawg Apr 2016 #81

"the trappings of the satire" jberryhill Apr 2016 #2

I agree, though the idea of who gets to decide what a religion is an interesting premise. Xyzse Apr 2016 #5

I would let the person with the most ostentatious headgear decide jberryhill Apr 2016 #8

WOW!!!!! Xyzse Apr 2016 #11

or: annabanana Apr 2016 #76

Touche' - the perfect... 3catwoman3 Apr 2016 #83

You forgot to link to a pic of a mitre. n/t malthaussen Apr 2016 #7

Apparently parody isn't religion, but wildly absurd beliefs are. cleanhippie Apr 2016 #25

Right. True religions have headgear like giant penis hats. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #38

Strange atreides1 Apr 2016 #3

That, I do not know. Xyzse Apr 2016 #6

How one is supposed to determine "sincerity" of belief is beyond me... malthaussen Apr 2016 #10

Agreed. Which is why I am quite gleefully curious about this whole thing. Xyzse Apr 2016 #13

"I think intent should not be accounted for in law" jberryhill Apr 2016 #18

Did you rob the bank? That's all I care about. malthaussen Apr 2016 #20

Hence, you believe assigning qualifiers such as "willful" or "malicious" LanternWaste Apr 2016 #22

Legally, yeah. malthaussen Apr 2016 #49

"How does a district court judge get to define what is and isn't a religion?" jberryhill Apr 2016 #9

Disingenuous answer. malthaussen Apr 2016 #12

Oh my, someone had their Wheaties pissed in this morning jberryhill Apr 2016 #14

Nah, I don't eat Wheaties these days. malthaussen Apr 2016 #15

Well, golly, give it one jberryhill Apr 2016 #16

Sure, but you're a civil practicioner, nyet? malthaussen Apr 2016 #19

I find that rock-paper-scissors is a better alternative to litigation in most instances jberryhill Apr 2016 #21

I'm witchew! trof Apr 2016 #17

Soooooo, what do you guys do for communion? cloudbase Apr 2016 #68

Brother! trof Apr 2016 #71

A religion has to be something that people believe, surely? Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #23

How can one prove anyone actually believes a person literally came back from the dead cleanhippie Apr 2016 #26

Because one has a book and lots and lots of money? truebrit71 Apr 2016 #27

Exactly. And they don't like it when the competition opens up shop next door. cleanhippie Apr 2016 #30

Indeed. truebrit71 Apr 2016 #36

Because people genuinely believe one and not the other. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #45

Doesn't fly. malthaussen Apr 2016 #51

To go through those, not in order: Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #55

Therefore, those who believe in the Christian god as a metaphor... malthaussen Apr 2016 #59

Yes, pretty much. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #65

If people can honestly believe the absurdities of mainstream religion cleanhippie Apr 2016 #56

I'm saying that they *don't*. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #63

How do I know xtians genuinely believe what they say? awoke_in_2003 Apr 2016 #72

Yes, it's got to be something plausible RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #28

Who created everything on the planet and in the universe, but needed a rib from Adam to make Eve... truebrit71 Apr 2016 #33

The Bible's "authors" may not even have believed Mary was a virgin RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #57

No. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #40

There's an excellent chance that people who popularized a certain world religion... RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #47

Christianity needs the Facebook relationship descriptor for the trinity: "It's Complicated." Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #43

I can turn water into tasty Ale. Does that count? FSogol Apr 2016 #50

Hire a good publicist and recruit some adherents, and it might! n/t RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #53

How do you know Pastafarians don't believe it? jberryhill Apr 2016 #31

Because 7. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #41

Okay, so.... jberryhill Apr 2016 #42

You apply Bayes' theorem, same as the way you should decide anything else. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #46

My particular experience has been... jberryhill Apr 2016 #48

Thus all the "shushing" of atheists on social media. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #54

And when they are asked why this should be so... malthaussen Apr 2016 #61

Good questions. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #62

It's as much a religion as any other religion....damn! haikugal Apr 2016 #29

Yep... Which is why I feel like this will open up a whole can of worms. Xyzse Apr 2016 #35

I'll make the popcorn... haikugal Apr 2016 #37

Nah... ASSOL will... Xyzse Apr 2016 #44

Pastafarianism makes as much sense as Christianity, Islam, Scientology or any other cult. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #32

I hope there is an appeal. Solly Mack Apr 2016 #34

I asked a serious religious question of the Pastafarians here on DU once. stone space Apr 2016 #58

Love it. sofa king Apr 2016 #60

This is just hilarious stuff robertgodardfromnj Apr 2016 #64

Sorry, this is Amurrika SwankyXomb Apr 2016 #66

I Know Myths Become Real Over Time, On the Road Apr 2016 #67

No shit, it's quite clearly a joke and not an actual religion. Odin2005 Apr 2016 #70

A nice complement to many actual religions that are also clearly a joke. Orrex Apr 2016 #78

If this discussion ultimately leads to the taxation of "Houses of Worship" as private clubs.. annabanana Apr 2016 #75

Why must religious liberty be allowed in prisons? Orrex Apr 2016 #77

now if he had rules against scientology........ dembotoz Apr 2016 #80

All religions are equally false and ridiculous. Therefore, anything can be a religion. Oneironaut Apr 2016 #82