If you can create your own religion, and choose to do so, what would it be like? Assume that your followers will take everything you say completely out of context. And make a law out of every comment you make to them. Like if you say drugs are bad they are going to take it as all drugs including medication are poisonous things to be shunned. You can't micromanage your religion it's going to be run by followers who can be simple, foolish people. Expect them to kill people over religious law, fight religious wars, spread your religion at the edge of a sword, ect. Still feel like creating a religion??? What would it be like?
Some of what chirstianity adopted. The golden rule is a biggie. And most all get to the good final resting place of paradise. Paradise being what makes one happy without stepping on anothers right to be happy.
I'd start a non-denominational Christian church called the Church of the Open Minded. I know, the name needs work. The church would look less like a religion and more of a study group. I'd be just called pastor or minister. The requirement to be a convert to my church would be to read the whole Bible from beginning to end and if you still believe it is the word of God when you are done, congratulations, you can get baptized and get confirmation and do the bread and wine thing on Easter. Scripture reading in church will start from Genesis and go chronologically to Revelation. A few passages every Sunday. There will be no jumping around and picking out random scriptures. So If I start with Genesis in January, I might make it to Revelation by June or July. The only time we will jump to specific verses will be during Christmas and Easter. The teachings will focus on Bible books as a whole and not a few passages here and there. When I have read out the scripture, I will open the floor to discussion. I will consider the Bible apocrypha and all the additional books from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as cannon and scripture. I want my church to be the most complete, organized and honest Church possible (within the realm of believing in a higher force of course). As for chuch songs, I will give the opportunity for anyone who wishes to sing in the beginning of their time in church. When all the singers have sung, we move on to scripture study. And donations will be collected after scripture study. Before passing the basket, there will be a routine reminder that there is no pressure as to weather you give at all or how much you give. Finally regarding prayer. I will give people the opportunity to say a silent prayer for about five minutes before scripture study and before leaving church. I don't want prayer leaders as I don't like people putting words in other peoples mouths. That is how I would run a church if I were still a Christian.
I'd have them worship mother nature, with animals her angels. On the flip side we'll go back to sacrificing sinners at cliftops or maybe just feeding them to the lions... man struggle to serve without bloodshed
I would want to teach everybody about eventual universal salvation...... that idea sure makes sense to me! http://www.near-death.com/experiences/notable/christian-andreason.html#a04h I am kind of lazy and wouldn't want people to depend on me so I would try to get them to develop a relationship with that being of light of NDE fame who seems to be really cool when he reviews peoples lives with them.
That's just the desires of men. Do you think kings and queens believe in God? Or their armies that shed blood for them, is their king their god?
First commandment: track down and kill all believers in other religions. Second commandment: There is no second commandment.
Would you as a pastor quote any of those near death experience accounts that could offend many people on the board of directors of your church? http://www.near-death.com/experiences/notable/christian-andreason.html#a11
I guess I'd only recruit drunks so none of that would happen. Look at the AA, they stick to their principles.
Seriously though, I actually believe people should not be used as tools, so I could never found a religion or a government.
Well in my church there would be very few rigid rules of what to believe because I believe in open discussion and debate. I might make those references IF it were in relation to the specific book in the bible we are discussing on a particular day. Then later I'd ask if anyone agrees or disagrees with my interpretation.
A buddy of mine and I had way to many drinks a few years ago and decided to design our own religion. We basically decided on a monotheistic version of Christianity, with a text cherry picked from some of the top hits from other religions. Number one on the list was a new improved 10 Commandments with the Golden Rule as the number one commandment. We also included Karma, as a behavioral feedback loop.