h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Great idea, Deackie! Will any of these "variety of religious beliefs and practices" involve being one of those prophets whose God requires him to be surrounded by a harem of beautiful attendants? It was just a thought!

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

Those harems are presided over by eunuchs, so be careful what you wish for P-C

The star prize could be that you get to start your own religion, complete with a ready-made band of dedicated followers. Anybody fancy becoming a Learist?

Err... no thanks, Lear, but I'm happy as I am.

I just discovered a new religion. it's the most absurd thing I've seen. It's called Raelienism. It's a commercial religion (ten percent of your income, please). It's taken from a tabloid article. Under it, all life on earth was created by little green men from outer space.

Sure, it's scientifically plausible, but it offers no real explanation to the origin of life. and besides, it's cliche.

That's absurd!

Apparently, the Raelians are building an embassy for extra-terrestrials to use when they visit .

Cliche, Artenshiur? Yes, I suppose it is. But there are worse things! From a brief scan of their website, they don't seem to offer or wish violence toward any sect, race or individual, which is a good start.

I find I must approve of them, if only for the harmless entertainment they will almost certainly provide. I wonder if we have any Raelians here in the FFFF? Come on, don't be shy!

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

I suppose there are worse religions here on .

I don't think I've ever used that smiley before now...

Sounds interesting, I may be converting soon... Watch this space!

I have decided to start a course in humanity, ethics and spirituality. My first lecture is this evening. I'm expecting some good debates. I just hope the effects of my lunch time pub visit wear off by then

I agree that there's nothing wrong with the religion or the belief system itself. My real problem with Raelienism is the fact that most of its highter clergy don't even believe in it. They made it up. They made it up so that people would give them ten percent of their annual income. And it worked. looking at the site, it can be estimated that they make about 110 million US dollars annually. I don't know about anyone else, but that feels wrong to me.

I do happen to know that they made it up. My aunt works with a friend of one of the founding members.

How many other businesses could also be accused of making up promises of hope for their target group in order to make large sums of money? Rather a lot I fear, eg. anti-wrinkle creams, health suppliments, beauty products, pyramid selling, etc. I'm not condoning what they do, just pointing out that if they didn't use the word 'religion' people would be less likely to question what they are doing. I wonder what trading standards would make of a group like that in Britain.

As a matter of fact, most of the membership is British. Specifically British females, approximately between the ages of eighteen and thirty.

Ah, that would be the same group that likes beauty products and health suppliments. Are we really that gullible? If the actual religion is in the US will it come under British trading standards laws just because people over here are foolish enough to send money?

Don't the US have their own trading standards laws?

I've had a look a the Raelian site and Artenshuir is right.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with their message (be nice to each other) although their stance on cloning will give some people a problem. In fact their religion may even be healthier than some of the older ones.

It does make me think of scientology, but hey, that was made up too.

Presumably Raelians have registered themselves as a religion in the UK, which provides them with certain rights, like charitable status. The flipside is that this means their accounts can be scrutinised by the Charities Commission. I presume other countries have similar measures in place.

Their site claims that no-one is paid to be a clergyman and that no-one takes a percentage or other cut. They suggest that all of the funding is used to promote Raelianism and to fund the construction of the embassy, like that doesn't provide plenty of opportunities to make legitimate payments to people.

Ok, the first drawing is done!

Into the hat went the names of everyone who's posted here since we started this particular thread.

Into the other hat went the names of several religions I thought of while drunk. Some of them sounded pretty cool... the type of religions you might actually want to practice. Not so, the one that ended up being drawn, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Our lucky winner for this week is... Xuenyl! Xuenyl, you still around? You posted here a coupla weeks ago maybe.

The religion that you won is... oh, this is really a bummer...

You're one of those poor people who actually believes what the television evangelist says! You can pick the Televangelist of your choice, and you don't have to actually send him/her money, but you believe that God really *wants* for you to send that check in. You may experience righteous or guilty feelings according to the size of your donation, and feel free to share. We'll mock you for your naivete, because we're cool like that.

Another drawing next Tuesday - Tuesday being the holy "seventh" day, because it all started on Wednesday, didn't ya know? That's why you always feel like this on Wednesdays. Everyone cross your fingers (if you're superstitious) - you might get to be the Cult Leader with the Harem and the Cocaine and the Guns! I might buy an extra raffle ticket; I could really use some kilos and a few dozen sex slaves, of the demographic and body type of my choosing!

Let me be the first to congratulate you, Xuenyl. Well done! I hope you have many happy years together with your new found religion

The good news is that, if you get a bunk religion (most of the ones it the hat are better than that!) it only has to last until the next drawing.

(should i leave the bunk religions out of the hat? Oh wait - now it's empty!)

I figure by posting, I'll have an opportunity to find out what sort of mythic overbeing I can believe in for the rest of my days.. I hope it's cool..

Sorry for being away so long.. I've kind of disappeared like the good Colonel did.

-jb