The Gadget Cult

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I was surprised to see a chick in the group too. Wow, you'd think it would be full of sad men. Oh well.

Must've been a slow news day.

Now to try and start up my own cult.


Worshipping ME of course! Any takers here? I guarantee the after life will be comfy, as long as you follow my doctrines.



(doctrines may speed up personal demise)

[GoktimusPrime]

I was surprised to see a chick in the group too. Wow, you'd think it would be full of sad men. Oh well.

How are they any more or less sad than anyone else who's religiously devout?

Now to try and start up my own cult.


Worshipping ME of course! Any takers here? I guarantee the after life will be comfy, as long as you follow my doctrines.



(doctrines may speed up personal demise)

Nope. I'm already committed to the One True Faith thanks. Besides, there's empirical proof that you exist.

[Deonasis]

She's kinda hot.

[Seraphim Prime]

Hey come on... this religion makes about as much sense as any other religion really.

I suppose it depends on your definition of religion. I personally don't like the word "religion" for a few different reasons, but that's not the point right now. The world's main religions explain why the world is in its current state, and how one is to relate with it. If a religion has a doctrine of afterlife, then it will also discuss how one can attain this eternal life/how it has been attained for you.

People are entitled to believe whatever they want so long as they're not:
1) Hurting anyone else with their beliefs. I don't believe this religion's ever organised a Holy War or had terrorist organisations based around its beliefs.
2) Harrassing anyone else with their beliefs. I've never seen these people preach on street corners with microphones or shove pamphlets in my face or offer me free personality tests or knock on my door on a Saturday morning trying to convert me.

What if what they believe is wrong? I don't know enough about this particular sect, but how could a fictional character created less than 30 years ago, explain life/universe/etc and/or offer any sense of meta-physical eternal life?

There may be no negative impact upon anyone else, but what if it is just wrong?

I don't think it's very nice of anyone to laugh or criticise this religion just because it's different from what you may be used to.

Critical reasoning has and will always be part of what it means to be human. To say that we can't use this faculty when discussing religion neglects that it is part of our very human nature. Being critical is not the same as being intolerant. I would agree that it is unfair to laugh at another's religion, but fair criticism should be welcomed rather than avoided.

We often have in our minds that to be tolerant is to simply accept that all beliefs could be equally as true as our own. This view of tolerance simply asks us to accept all opinions that an individual may hold, with no judgement upon its validity. True tolerance (as I have come to understand it) is more about the ability to accept the individual - despite any misgivings, criticisms, or judgements you may hold about their religion/creed/job/politics/etc.

It is this view of tolerance that is promoted by the Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 2.

* Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 18.

* Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

(The Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

An example:

As a Christian, I believe that there are certain things wrong in a Muslim or Jewish doctrine of God and his character. As a Protestant Christian, I disagree with some Catholic doctrine. I also disagree with the Buddhist and the Hindu as to the nature of life after death. I disagree with the Atheist on pretty much any point raised in a discussion of "religious" matters.

BUT these differences of opinion do not lead me to think any less of the individual person themselves. Hopefully this can be seen in the way I have tried to respond both to the original article, and to your post, Gok.

[GoktimusPrime]

What if what they believe is wrong? I don't know enough about this particular sect, but how could a fictional character created less than 30 years ago, explain life/universe/etc and/or offer any sense of meta-physical eternal life?

Many religions (including Christianity) began as sects.

There may be no negative impact upon anyone else, but what if it is just wrong?

So what if it's wrong? Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddists, Hindus, Jainists, Zoroastrians, Flying Spaghetti Monsterists, Celestial Teapotists, Dragon In My Garagists, Invisible Pink Unicornists etc. could very well be wrong too, should we stop them from practising their religion?

Critical reasoning has and will always be part of what it means to be human. To say that we can't use this faculty when discussing religion neglects that it is part of our very human nature. Being critical is not the same as being intolerant. I would agree that it is unfair to laugh at another's religion, but fair criticism should be welcomed rather than avoided.

I'm not saying don't be critical, I'm saying don't unfairly bash these people for their spiritual beliefs. And really, nobody thus far has been really critical about this... a lot of people have just pointed and laughed at these people for worshipping a cartoon character, as if that's ANY more logical than worshipping a god from ancient scriptures/mythology. Having said that, religious discussion is discouraged from this board - and I'm not necessarily looking to open a religious debate, merely asking that people merely RESPECT the rights of these people to worship Gadget if they want, and not mock and ridicule them for their beliefs. We don't have to agree with their beliefs, but we can respect their right to hold those beliefs.

We often have in our minds that to be tolerant is to simply accept that all beliefs could be equally as true as our own. This view of tolerance simply asks us to accept all opinions that an individual may hold, with no judgement upon its validity. True tolerance (as I have come to understand it) is more about the ability to accept the individual - despite any misgivings, criticisms, or judgements you may hold about their religion/creed/job/politics/etc.

It is this view of tolerance that is promoted by the Declaration of Human Rights.




An example:

As a Christian, I believe that there are certain things wrong in a Muslim or Jewish doctrine of God and his character. As a Protestant Christian, I disagree with some Catholic doctrine. I also disagree with the Buddhist and the Hindu as to the nature of life after death. I disagree with the Atheist on pretty much any point raised in a discussion of "religious" matters.

BUT these differences of opinion do not lead me to think any less of the individual person themselves. Hopefully this can be seen in the way I have tried to respond both to the original article, and to your post, Gok.

As a Protestant Christian, you may disagree with someone who holds a different religious viewpoint from you, but you wouldn't go and mock and ridicule people who have different beliefs, right? And likewise I'm sure that you would not appreciate it if someone who held different beliefs from you decided to mock you for your beliefs.

I'm not asking for anyone to agree with these people's beliefs. Merely to refrain from making fun of them for having their beliefs. You're entitled to completely disagree with them all you like.

[kup]

This thread was about the Gadget Cult not a discussion of the impact of mainstream religions or what constitutes one.

[griffin]

Topic closed at request of topic starter, as it has gone off topic, and is discussing a discouraged topic (as per the user guide).