Shest-kien de la Kosha (Title subject to change.)
I have made, albeit half-jokingly, comments about forming my own religion in the past. I think I shall follow through.
What brought this on? Part of it was reading about some more crazy bull-shit going on because of religion. I just felt this wave of frustration thinking about all the injustice and hatred that has been instigated under the name of 'god'.
And I know a lot of people in these faiths are largely inactive and even somewhat unbelieving: but they need something, something stable that is good even when the world is shit, and a community to share it with.
It just so happens that the majority of these 'communities' are full of lies and hatred. From the pulpit come the cries, 'all that is not of 'us' is ugly; questions, doubt, thought, and even a sense of wonder are sin! 'they' are different from 'us' and we are better! we are blessed and they are cursed! 'they' shall burn. 'they' should not exist.'
There aren't many religions that do not require an abandonment of logic, that do not require you to believe in things none can see and only a select few even claim to feel. Few religions manage to go without claiming that they are right, all others are wrong, and the wrong will be punished. Some even declare that the wages of sin are death, and that the 'wrong' should be punished now, that it is not good enough to wait for the punishment of the afterworld. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
I am tired of this. Even if, in the end, I am the only member of this society, at the very least, I shall feel a bit better.
What is 'The Source'?
The 'Source' is where and what everything was before the Big Bang. Everything that is started here, and nothing is new. Things have merely changed form. "We are all made of stardust."
The world, the universe, is grand, vast, strange, beautiful (even the ugly bits), awesome and amazing. Do you need anything greater to worship? One ought to gasp in wonder at every opportunity as long as one has breath to do so.
Stargaze. Feel sand fall through your fingers. Listen to the wind. Listen to music. Make something you love. Make love. Make love to yourself. Soak in a bath. Smell mint. Drink good wine. Eat strawberries. Slowly. Slower.
This is not all this religion will focus on; hedonism is not enough. I am going to read poetry and philosophy, listen to music and study ethics. There will be morals, but I shall struggle to base them all firmly upon the foundations of logic.
People should not be good merely because they are too terrified to be otherwise. Do you do good things so that you will go to heaven? Or do you good things because they are good?
The question is not rhetorical. I am asking you, the reader.
I welcome all recommendations you may wish to provide me for my research. I am no prophet, I am no priest. I want your input. Thank you.