Pseudo-Religions and the Internet.

[Blazedtown]

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?

I place my faith in the Emperor, even though he is a fictional character, because he is the nature of mankind given form.

[The Land Fomerly Known as Ligerplace]

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?

I place my faith in the Emperor, even though he is a fictional character, because he is the nature of mankind given form.

The nature of mankind given form is a blastophore.

[Blazedtown]

I place my faith in the Emperor, even though he is a fictional character, because he is the nature of mankind given form.

The nature of mankind given form is a blastophore.

Our ass an mouth being one and the same?

[Atelia]

The God Emperor is the true god! The Imperial creed does not teach you to fear hell, or that you are a partially doomed, sinful people, instead it teaches the power of Man and that we should be proud of our power and accomplishments, why NOT follow the Imperial creed! Why not follow the God Emperor and his manifest to overcome everything and be the strongest human race possible!
Humanity Fuck Yeah! That is our proud chant!

[Pandeeria]

Most of it is satire.

The ones that are genuinely real, well, you best avoid those.

[Benuty]

Most of it is satire.

The ones that are genuinely real, well, you best avoid those.

So Dudeism is evil?

[Pandeeria]

Most of it is satire.

The ones that are genuinely real, well, you best avoid those.

So Dudeism is evil?

Define it exactly.

[Blazedtown]

Most of it is satire.

The ones that are genuinely real, well, you best avoid those.

So Dudeism is evil?

That's just like, your opinion, man.

[Greater Istanistan]

As an occasional worshipper of the God-Emperor of Man, I can say that it happens because it's vaguely amusing and gives you a topic of conversation. There are, of course, one or two hardcore legit believers out there, especially among the aforementioned internet religions which make a vaguely larger amount of sense and aren't derived from an overpriced tabletop game.

[Mirchusko]

Well, most of them are jokes, and pretty good ones IMO. For the ones that aren't, how are they different from any other religion?

[Tyriece]

I have not really noticed or heard of any of these.

[Costa Fierro]

I would say social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and such are a an altar for narcissism.

[The New Sea Territory]

So Dudeism is evil?

Define it exactly.

It's essentially Daoism based off The Big Lebowski.

[Pope Joan]

Most of it is satire.

The ones that are genuinely real, well, you best avoid those.

Since when did satire stop being funny?

I experience no guffaws here.

Just like the false story of a New York Cop killing a baby who was being breast fed by his mother because she was "obscene" and "resisting arrest". The writer of the fake story defended himself against the backlash by saying that, oh well, it was satire, and where's your sense of humor.

I will let you know where my sense of humor is as soon as I find some satire that make me at least chuckle. Jon Stewart can make that happen, and George Carlin was a winner. But they are a small minority. Other "satirists" are neither amusing nor are they saying or doing anything constructive.

[Reploid Productions]

Praise Celestia and her sister Luna, may they keep the heavens in balance evermore!

And to give the non-bronies some nightmare fuel: just think, 2,000 years from now, that could be a REAL religion. I remain convinced that, when you get right down to it, religions were the first fandoms and the difference between a fandom and a religion is a couple millennia or so. Both provide some manner of comfort to those who are into it. People get into some pretty crazy and over-the-top fights about who's thing is better. There's tons of fanart and fanfiction about both types of things.

Hell, I could probably put together a decent tropes-laden rant explaining that Jesus was a fandom base-breaker and Islam got going as an AU fanfic.

[Benuty]

Praise Celestia and her sister Luna, may they keep the heavens in balance evermore!

And to give the non-bronies some nightmare fuel: just think, 2,000 years from now, that could be a REAL religion. I remain convinced that, when you get right down to it, religions were the first fandoms and the difference between a fandom and a religion is a couple millennia or so. Both provide some manner of comfort to those who are into it. People get into some pretty crazy and over-the-top fights about who's thing is better. There's tons of fanart and fanfiction about both types of things.

Well we religious people are essentially another class of Nerds .

[Cyrisnia]

Praise Celestia and her sister Luna, may they keep the heavens in balance evermore!

And to give the non-bronies some nightmare fuel: just think, 2,000 years from now, that could be a REAL religion. I remain convinced that, when you get right down to it, religions were the first fandoms and the difference between a fandom and a religion is a couple millennia or so. Both provide some manner of comfort to those who are into it. People get into some pretty crazy and over-the-top fights about who's thing is better. There's tons of fanart and fanfiction about both types of things.

I'd pay real money to see actual Crusaders from the Cutie Mark Crusaders try and crash a Pinkie Pie party.

[Cyrisnia]

Praise Celestia and her sister Luna, may they keep the heavens in balance evermore!

And to give the non-bronies some nightmare fuel: just think, 2,000 years from now, that could be a REAL religion. I remain convinced that, when you get right down to it, religions were the first fandoms and the difference between a fandom and a religion is a couple millennia or so. Both provide some manner of comfort to those who are into it. People get into some pretty crazy and over-the-top fights about who's thing is better. There's tons of fanart and fanfiction about both types of things.

Well we religious people are essentially another class of Nerds .

"Zoroaster's beard was 10 times cooler than Jesus's!"
"Nu-uh!"

[United States of The One Percent]

[Trygg]

(Image)

Wat?

[Benuty]

(Image)

Wat?

Probably people who worship 1950's sitcoms.

[United States of The One Percent]

SLACK OFF

[Trygg]

Wat?

Probably people who worship 1950's sitcoms.

I cringe at the thought of spending an hour in that faith. Too much recycled humor.

[Cyrisnia]

(Image)

wat

[4years]

Praise Celestia and her sister Luna, may they keep the heavens in balance evermore!

I am afraid, my friend, that the time for that has come and gone. Luna proved her unworthiness when she fell and sought to impose night everlasting. Now, though she has repented, she can only be a prophet of the second rank, equal to Cadence but far below her most supreme holiness Princess Celestia, blessed be her name.
-------

At any rate, 'pseudo-religions' aren't connected to the internet save that it acts as a medium to allow them to spread faster. Rather they develop as standing jokes meant to mock the existing religions or as attempts to find spiritual meaning without adhering to existing power structures and the religions built around them.