Pseudo-Religions and the Internet.

[The Emerald Legion]

It seems to me, that the internet has spawned a number of pseudo-religions and mysticism. The Random Number God, Helix, The church of Google, And this isn't counting the things that have emerged from popular culture like the million and one different jedi/sith/mandalorian groups, or the Omnissiah/Emprah.

Why is this? Is it a form of Satire due to a higher than average number of Atheists participating? Are people just pre-disposed to frame things in vaguely mythological ways?

[Othelos]

It's because people are bored.

[Antirome]

It seems to me, that the internet has spawned a number of pseudo-religions and mysticism. The Random Number God, Helix, The church of Google, And this isn't counting the things that have emerged from popular culture like the million and one different jedi/sith/mandalorian groups, or the Omnissiah/Emprah.

Why is this? Is it a form of Satire due to a higher than average number of Atheists participating? Are people just pre-disposed to frame things in vaguely mythological ways?

Honestly, I can't see any reason to read too much into it. It's just a bunch of jokes, and few of them are particularly thorough (though the ones that are tend to predate the internet, ie, the Church of the Subgenius)

[The New Sea Territory]

Some of them have some legitimacy. For example, Dudeism is pretty similar to Daoism.

[Lordieth]

What gives any modern conceived religion any less credibility. Because it wasn't found on some dusty scrolls in a dead language?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

It seems to me, that the internet has spawned a number of pseudo-religions and mysticism. The Random Number God, Helix, The church of Google, And this isn't counting the things that have emerged from popular culture like the million and one different jedi/sith/mandalorian groups, or the Omnissiah/Emprah.

Why is this? Is it a form of Satire due to a higher than average number of Atheists participating? Are people just pre-disposed to frame things in vaguely mythological ways?

Some may be jokes, others may be attempts at searching for spirituality.

[Frisbeeteria]

My pseudo-religion was spawned long before the Internet existed. George Carlin invented Frisbeeterianism back in the 70s. There's nothing new about inventing religions. Just ask L. Ron Hubbard, Kurt Vonnegut, or hundreds of others.

Kids today. With their hair and their clothes and their religions. Think they have something new, do they?

[Cetacea]

the Internet is the province of the young, those who seek to find meaning in their lives (including spirituality) while distancing themselves from the established structures of their society (including religion). These young people will explore a variety of different 'faiths' and now via the internet have the ability to explore a much greater range of information and align this with the wont to have fun and poke fun at mundane society - hence pseudo-faiths which by a strange twist of human psychology give spiritual meaning whilst also being a joke

[Washington Resistance Army]

The God-Emperor of Man is far more real than your archaic beliefs, heretic. Really though most of them are just ways to poke fun at religion and parody them.

[Czechanada]

Are you telling me that my worship of GabeN is a pseudo-religion?

[Pope Joan]

It seems to me that many currently recognized religions were once denounced as "pseudo" religions.

Early Christians were punished for "atheism".

We are so eager to defend the old ways, aren't we? But the old ways were themselves once new ways.

[Benuty]

The God-Emperor of Man is far more real than your archaic beliefs, heretic. Really though most of them are just ways to poke fun at religion and parody them.

A dead skeleton attached to a chair is hardly something worthy of worship...no wonder the Old ones struck back.

[MERIZoC]

Hail Helix.

[Washington Resistance Army]

The God-Emperor of Man is far more real than your archaic beliefs, heretic. Really though most of them are just ways to poke fun at religion and parody them.

A dead skeleton attached to a chair is hardly something worthy of worship...no wonder the Old ones struck back.

He's a perpetual, if they took him off the chair he would come back but of course no one knows that

[Benuty]

It seems to me that many currently recognized religions were once denounced as "pseudo" religions.

Early Christians were punished for "atheism".

We are so eager to defend the old ways, aren't we? But the old ways were themselves once new ways.

I remember there was a Hellenic scholar (of his time) who pretty much denounced Judaism (second Temple era) as superstitious babble. Oh the unbelievable irony.

[Czechanada]

Are you telling me that my worship of GabeN is a pseudo-religion?

GABEN, MOUNTAIN DEW AND DORITOS ARE TRUE RELIGION. WHAT OTHER GOD GIVES US SUCH SALES? SUCH SALES THAT RAPE OUR WALLETS? NONE OTHER THAN GABEN.

Mountain Dew and Doritos are the food of the console gaming heretic religion, not of Gabenism.

[Benuty]

It's because people are bored.

Hardly.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

Repent, Repent! The Antiflag is among us! Repent!

[Trygg]

What gives any modern conceived religion any less credibility. Because it wasn't found on some dusty scrolls in a dead language?

Well said. That is the reason why people view Scientology as a cult, because of how recent it is. However, when one compares it to religions that are supposedly more creditable because of how old and decrepit they are, it's easy to see that both share the same amount of bullshit.

[Trygg]

It's because people are bored.

Hardly.

I was bored, so I made the Church of the Zamboni. Now I create a new faith to entertain me when I'm bored.

[Murkwood]

People are bored and want a quick laugh.

[Benuty]

What gives any modern conceived religion any less credibility. Because it wasn't found on some dusty scrolls in a dead language?

Well said. That is the reason why people view Scientology as a cult, because of how recent it is. However, when one compares it to religions that are supposedly more creditable because of how old and decrepit they are, it's easy to see that both share the same amount of bullshit.

Not because it is recent, but the fact we have the founder literally on tape joking about making a religion, then coming up with some bullshit about a galactic overlord named Lord Xenu using planes from WWII to commit genocide by dropping hydrogen bombs into volcanos.

Lul.

[Trygg]

the Internet is the province of the young, those who seek to find meaning in their lives (including spirituality) while distancing themselves from the established structures of their society (including religion). These young people will explore a variety of different 'faiths' and now via the internet have the ability to explore a much greater range of information and align this with the wont to have fun and poke fun at mundane society - hence pseudo-faiths which by a strange twist of human psychology give spiritual meaning whilst also being a joke

A very apt description.

[Benuty]

People are bored and want a quick laugh.

Why don't they just read the bible?

Try Maquis de Sade he's better.

[Cyrisnia]

Repent, Repent! The Antiflag is among us! Repent!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlWOl6onHoo

My eyes have seen the redness,
in the flapping of the flag.
We are trampling out the blue army,
where their base is in Coag. (Coagulation from Halo 2)
We have loos'd a Spartan Laser Blast,
and lunged with an energy sword,
and now they must respawn!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
The Red Team marches on!

I have seen them in the sniper Rifle,
in a hundred circling camps.
They have forged themselves a variant,
with hundreds of Scorpion Tanks.
Grif has the intelligence,
of dim and flaring lamps.
Lord, why is he so dumb?
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
The Red Team marches on!

I have heard a holy message,
in the choir of hot lead;
"Drop a burning rain of fire,
Until every blue is dead!"
Let my Shotgun fire straight and true,
and shoot'em in the head.
Or my name isn't Sarge!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
The Red Team marches on!

I have sounded forth the trumpet
that shall never call retreat.
They will all drown in a sea of red,
and blue will taste defeat.
Driving Warthogs to the battlefield
and bodies at my feet.
It's the best game since Grifball!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
The Red Team marches on!

In the beauty of a warzone,
hear the screams of men in pain.
Our own body count won't matter
if every Blue is slain.
They are scheming and conniving scum
but their efforts are in vain.
This song is getting long!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!
Glory, Glory, to the Red Team!



Did I mention Blue Team sucks?