Putting upon any religion to your children is abuse. Even though there are many strange and absurd religions, I decided to present you a few of the most extremist and registered ones. Read this text with hold and feel free to take upon an interpretation that suits you best. I have no intention to out upon anybody any of these religions or some of their beliefs and ideas. My only intention was to show in what kind of world we live today, and what strange thinks do people all over the world believe in.
1.
Scientology
This is the most popular religion of this kind and the most people have heard about it. She is probably best known for its absurd alien beliefs.
75 million years ago, there was an alien galactic ruler named Xenu who was in charge of 76 planets in our sector of the galaxy, including planet Earth, whose name at that time was Teegeeack.
Xenu realized over-population and came up with an idea how to save the world.
Xenu’s made fleet of DC8-like spaceships then flew to planet Earth, where the frozen people were dumped in and around volcanoes in the Canary Islands and the Hawaiian Islands. When Xenu’s Air Force had finished dumping the bodies into the volcanoes, hydrogen bombs were dropped into the volcanoes and the frozen space aliens were destroyed.
However, Xenu’s plan involved setting up electronic traps in Teegeeack’s atmosphere which were designed to trap the souls or spirits of the dead aliens. When the 13.5 trillion spirits were being blown around on the nuclear winds, the electronic traps worked like a charm and captured all the souls in the electronic, sticky fly-paper like traps.
These souls inhabited the bodies of humans and continued to live within.
Maybe this religion wouldn’t be so popular if there wasn’t for our beloved Tom Cruise which decided to go crazy and accept this belief. A group of Scientologist from Germany is under constant surveillance. Should we really believe that people are aliens? This religion is absurd but not as much as the following ones are.
2.
Jedi Religion – Jediism
The Jedi Church believes that there is one all powerful force that binds all things in the universe together. The Jedi religion is something innate inside everyone of us, the Jedi Church believes that our sense of morality is innate. So quiet your mind and listen to the force within you!
I suppose that they must have lightsabers and robes in their religious equipment.
Now, this doesn’t sound that bad, because most of the religions in the world are founded on the belief in some supreme power in the Universe, but only Jediist based their beliefs on Star Wars SF movie. Insane?
3.
The Church of Ed Wood – Woodism
First thing that you see when you enter their web site is a pop up that says: “To answer your first question – yes, we’re totally serious.”
They are an internet church that practices Woodism. Woodism is a pop-culture-based religion created in 1996 by Reverend Steve Galindo. They follow the late cult director Edward D. Wood Jr., and they look to him as a savior. At The Church of Ed Wood they use Ed and his films to inject spirituality into those who get little fulfillment from more mainstream religions like Christianity. By looking at his films and his life, they learn to lead happy, positive lives. We strive for acceptance of others and of the self.
This religion is registered and official. Woodists at their gatherings always dress up as opposite genre and indulge their desires, because Ed Wood loved transvestites and engaged them in his movies. There is always a lot of alcohol at these gatherings and I suppose orgies until dawn. Interesting concept, isn’t it?
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There is so much disinformation in this article:
“The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, while having existed in secrecy for hundreds of years, only recently came into the mainstream when this letter was published in May 2005.”
Wow. This is so wrong.
And, apatheism as a religion? Lol, it is not a religion, and it is not in any way organized (“They gather once a year and snap wrapping bubbles to show their indifference about the existence of God.”)
The vast majority of Jedi followers do not really believe it is true, either.
These are pretty funny even if some of them may be made up, I strongly disagree with your statement at the beginning where you said “Putting religion upon a child is abuse.”
This is not true at all, what’s the worse that can happen if someone goes their life being a christian, and the christians turn out to be wrong, he will simply rot in the ground like everyone else if that turned out to be the case. However if christians are right then everyone who doesn’t beleive will face eternal suffering, saying that putting kids on the safe side is “abuse” is nothing more than a christian bashing statement considering christians beleive more than anyone else that it is important to teach kids about Jesus more than anyone else, why can’t we just live and let live?
I’m not a christian of particularly strong faith, but I do know the more that people ridicule, insult, and mock what we beleive in through the mainstream, the more people blindly fullfill the prophecies in the book of revalations.
“what’s the worst that can happen if someone goes [sic] their life being a Chistian?”
Well, they could become a homophobe, or they could attempt to teach others how dirty and sinful any non-missionary *** is. Maybe they could form a compound in Waco, where they have *** with children. I bet they might picket the funerals of dead servicemen and women like the Westboro Basptist Church does. They could molest children like Catholic priests have done on occasion, or I suppose they could ignore the Holocaust and order Hitler’s birthday to be a recognized holiday like Pope Pious XII did.
I realize that Stalin was an atheist, but he was also the godhead of the Russian religion. He required the Russian people to spend all their time thinking about the state and his needs. Hitler ran on a Catholic ticket and had an excellent relationship with the Roman Catholic Church.
These are not examples of Christianity, but the failures and corruptions thereof. Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.
Are you retarded?
What a boring, clumsy use of Pascal’s Wager. Change all references from Christians and Jesus to Muslims and Muhammad, and a Imam could make the same argument.
“What’s the worst that can happen if someone goes their life being a Christian…”
I’ll stop you right there, chief. The problem is not people going their whole lives being Christians, it is terrorizing and indoctrinating children. Christianity is all about making you feel bad for being a human being, they want you to believe that you will burn in eternal hellfire for wanting to have *** before you are married or any number of other beautiful, wonderful things. The anguish that many feel over the conflict between their desires and beliefs in entirely unnecessary and can be highly harmful.
Another humorless moron who just doesn’t get it. Ever heard of a parody, dude?
A parody should not evoke other parodies (i.e. Pastafarianism). That’s like saying the newer Movie Movies are funny, because they reference other, better comedy films.
Whait a minute – what makes these religions (by the way, the FSM is not a religion but a parody on religion) any more bizarre and ridiculous than all the others?
Mainstream religions, regardless of their various belief structures, share a common thread in their establishment of morality in their particular time and place. These top 5 are not religions because they do not contribute to society, morality, or decency. They are just organized groups of hedonists that couldn’t muster the self control to obey any rules so they invent their own as a tax dodge.
Hedonism? Really?
Congratulations, John. You know absolutely nothing about the above religions.
How about removing the tax exemption status for all “religions”. Wait 2 years. See which ones are still in existance, ie self sustaining. Then we will see if these are religions or just tax exemption schemes.
I’m all for it, but given that Pastafarianism is a joke and Apatheism seems to be more of a philosophy than an organized church, I don’t think they’d change at all. Then there are the Jedi, who honestly think it’s a good framework for religious beliefs (fictional or not).
How very dare you! How very, very dare you!
Pastafarianism is the one truth; just because we don’t try to force others to see the light, does not mean we are not a religion.
Here is a surprise for you John. Exactly what you say above (Mainstream religions, regardless of their various belief structures, share a common thread in their establishment of morality in their particular time and place.) is the basis for Jedi Realism.
Regardless of what the article above says, it shows that the individual only performs half researches. However, I digress. I totally agree with Scientology being a weird religion. However, in my own opinion, I would have added two “Christian” beliefs in there-Jehovah’s Witness and Mormonism. Those confuse the hell out of me.
They seem unbelieveable to me also because Mormon literature can be interpreted as justifying the mass-murder of Native Americans. Jehovah’s Witnesses profess the ability to work miracles by vocalizing God’s name (although they don’t even get the pronunciation right).
However, the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses have church properties, employees, bodies of literature, and doctrines and beliefs that they have professed for over 100 years. I have heard that Hitler persecuted Jehovah’s Witnesses and at least made some negative statements about the historical revisions that were being promoted by the Mormons. That, by itself, doesn’t make them right, but if people are willing to die for their beliefs how can anyone question the official validity of their faith?
And yet, neither the Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses are on this list. That’s actually quite depressing, given the origin of either.
Have you READ the bible?! Surely christianity should be on this list.
The Bible is only 1/5th Christian.
Oh, no doubt, i’m not sure why the FSM made the list but a group of people who believe that a cosmic Jewish zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree. isnt considered strange enough to make it?
“Putting upon any religion to your children is abuse.” This first line let me know that nothing in this article nor its author have any credibility. It appears to have been written by a 13 year-old angry because someone expects him to be a decent human being. I am not religious. In fact, I think that religion is the largest single impediment between man and spirituality. Let me get this straight, however. Teaching a child a belief system that carries with it an ethic of reverence to something larger than themselves, a code of behavior dictated by the creed of the Golden Rule (which virtually every widely-practiced religion holds as a sacred tenet – with probably the greatest exception being Islam), and the overriding belief that thoughts become actions and each have their own consequences and rewards is ABUSE? You don’t have to be Godless to be a moron, but it seems this author has been blessed with both.
What in Islam is against the Golden Rule? Maybe I don’t know much about Islam but the few Muslims I know seem like fair people.
You are not right DW! You don’t need religion if you want to become “decent human being”. Basic of religion is indeed to become a good person, but religion isn’t necessary needed for reaching higher goals. You are speaking about Islam and yet you don’t know anything about it? Have you ever read basics of Koran??? I suppose we all know the answer of that…
I think what the author meant when he said ‘putting upon any religion to your children is abuse’ could’ve meant that if you enforce your child to believe – like an extremist. I’m just guessing. Religion is not ‘abuse’ but brainwashing is.
RG, you guess right. Thanks!
so let me get this straight, you cant teach your children these values WITHOUT bringing them up with some form of religion?
Lol, wow i guess it’s only to be expected. A bunch of angry christians and whatnot yelling about this page.hah PIRATES FOR LIFE
Piracy may be fun and profitable but it is also a capital offense. Navy 3, pirates 0.
Christianity is different with Catholicism, children must be guided by their parents or guardians at early age to believe in one God and be Bible prepared, we do not need to argue about the extreme belief of others, yes must be spiritual not just religious, to follow one prophet Jesus Christ and one God the Father.
If you think Jesus was only a prophet then your not Catholic. Islam and some Jews might consider Him a prophet but Catholics consider Him as God become human.
Why is any modern human looking for God when God has already found you, just look both ways before you cross the road because you are your only saviour.
In America we have cars with brakes that allow them to stop before hitting people. We also have great big engines that make lots of noise so people can hear them coming. Thank Our Ford for these salvations/innovations. Did Aldous Huxley create a new religion when he wrote Brave New World?
eh, i certainly wouldn’t put religion on my kids. i’d let them live without me harping in their ear. if my child was truly interested in a religion (which i doubt he would be until he was mature enough to start questioning existence and its meaning), i would tell him to research it, and i’d support whatever it was he felt he believed in.
religion is such a fickle thing though.
and no matter how silly it is, the story about xenu is entertaining, if nothing more
Yea Xenu is awesome! Jesus never commanded an airforce of DC-8 like spaceships. WWXD
I think Jesus was a pirate.
He didn’t lose his sandals. He buried them.
“I think Jesus was a pirate”
Wrong, is a Lion, Get in the car!!!!!!
really is it that big of a deal?
“With millions, if not thousands, of devout worshipers…”
Please tell me you were high when you wrote this.
Oh, and btw, “bizarre” compared to what?
All of the rational/fact-based religions?
If you have any answer to “Is there a god?” other than “I have absolutely no idea whatsoever” then you, my friend, are completely full of ****.
Frank, my friend, from dust were you crafted, and to dust you shall return. It will be a shame to be all dressed up and no place to go. If you are such a devout agnostic why did you even click on this topic? Perhaps you fear God more than “religious people” do.
I have no comments about the article, except that you have the writing skills of a third grader.
The Jedi religion is not based on Star Wars. The Star Wars universe borrowed this concept from a real world religion, which is why there are people who really follow the teachings you see in the movies. That religion should not be in this list.
Also, while it would be a big abuse to force a child to a faith, I do not have a problem with raising a child as a member of a religion, till the time comes when he/she decides whether or not to keep the faith. Heck, it’s probably beneficial on some level. However, that first sentence has nothing to do with the article and as such the article would be better off without it.
ppp, Judging from your post here, I am going to take a wild guess you are the individual from TOTJO which said he was leaving a comment here. It’s either you or Azrel below(possibly both of you are from there).
Given the recent history, I’m not surprised that Jediism made it on the list. We are highly misrepresented in the media. Tesco vs. Church of Jediism has left us with a mark that will be difficult to overpower. The idea that it is a requirement to wear a hood in public for them, gives the sense that we are all about being in the next Star Wars film as either serious actors, or extras. *roll*
I will tell you, when I see people like you coming onto boards like this to help bring more awareness to who we are, and who we are not, I know I can trust that there are people working towards fixing our image. ^^
it amuses and saddens me when people get so worked up over a silly fun thing. this is a Christian saying – God has a sense of humor. there’s no need to let someone’s opinions, or fun article, get your panties in a bunch.
cheers all ya fun folks
Let me ask you something Mr. Writer: do you often judge a book by its covers? Those religions might look funny and stupid and whatever but only because you wanted to make them look like that. When you do a research and write about things like this, first study them in a deep manner. And before thinking to what reply to give me I must say i did my studies in archaeology and anthropology so I know how the things must be done.
However, as a member of the Jedi Order, let me inform you that stating that we are based on Star Wars trilogy is a lie. Yes we do believe in the force but tell me what is the difference? You call it God or whatever, I call it force! Besides we believe in something real which can be seen everyday. Our purpose means discipline for mind and body in order to improve human condition and make this world a better place. Each Jedi has a different path but we all have the same goal. Jedi is just a new name for ancient faiths, for great universal truths. You won’t see us worship the great Obi Wan or Luke Skywalker.
Anyway, thanks for writing this here, it gives me the opportunity to know what people think about us. But next time try to do your work in a pro manner and come with valid and proven arguments.
When the star wars movies first came out someone suggested that the Jedi religion was basically a fictitious representation of many consolidated Hindu and/or Budhist beliefs because they believe in a similar life force. Did the Jedi Order exist as a recognised independent religious organization prior to the creation of star wars?
Well, this has proven to be rather interesting debate.
I must say that I have to agree with the fact that the writer of this article needs to research what they write about before “opening mouth and insert foot” scenario.
I am a member of many Jedi Organizations and have found that this belief fits and mingles well with my Pagan/Druid beliefs as well. God, Christ, Allah, Buddha, Vishnu, whatever one wants to call it, it is the same thing.
We are all human and thus must practice what we preach with the vise of tolerance, elsewise what have we learned as a race of beings?
Frank Drakman says:
“With millions, if not thousands, of devout worshipers…”
Please tell me you were high when you wrote this.
Oh, and btw, “bizarre” compared to what?
All of the rational/fact-based religions?
If you have any answer to “Is there a god?” other than “I have absolutely no idea whatsoever” then you, my friend, are completely full of ****.
That is exactly the point!
If you are catholic, christian, jewish, muslim, taoist, buddhist, agnostic, atheist, jedi,scientologist, mixologist, any ologist, ish, or whatever, the bottom line is that no one knows! All religion is the expression of the same fundamental question. Through all of our toiling the lack of a direct answer from any supereme being, has prompted us to create answers to suit ourselves. It’s all six of one half dozen of the other. No one is any different than anyone else, really what makes any religion better than another?
Cost of fuji camera capable of taking photos of the afterlife,
$250,000
Getting the picture of Frank’s face when he is seated in the Olive Garden in the sky, waiting for judgement by the great and powerful
Flying Spaghetti Monster, right next to all those pirates
Priceless
Please do not confuse freedom of religion with all religions being equal. If God made Himself visible, taking up the whole sky, and in a booming voice said “I am the Lord your God…”, and proceeded to dictate a list of 10 basic rules for mankind to follow, and then disappeared, billions of people would become faithful and try to obey those rules, but some of their great grandchildren wouldn’t believe that this appearance actually occurred. In a few more generations the number of those who believe would be diluted further. We have no lack of any direct answers, only a reluctance to believe in the ones that seem unpleasant or inconvenient. It’s not enough to practice your religion. You have to LIVE it.
*Pulls down pants and leaves a great big steaming dump on this article*
Pastafarians:
Well, interesting fact about this religion. It was created to one up the Kansas State School Board.
Actually, the idea of it being a religion, might be a joke, but it is nothing short of ingenius. As long as you understand that the religion is meant to target our education system with regards to the universe’s creation. Along the way, they have turned events-such as our recent influx of pirates- into satires as well.
All good fun.
Is this satire?
What is a ‘registered’ religion?
Clearly Jovan is not a native English speaker, so I’m trying to figure out if ‘registered religion’ is a legal term in his country. I don’t know what it means in the U.S. Many of these are not ‘tax-exempt’ religions in the U.S.
But if this piece is satire, you can ignore my question.
Hi,
as I know, every religion that is not registered in the country where you live, is called Sect.
Isn’t it same in the USA or in other counties?
Dude. 1 – Learn English. 2 – Learn to tell joke religions from real ones. You aren’t supposed to take Jediism or Pastafarianism seriously. The Flying Spaghetti Monster was made up to show how silly all the ‘logic’ ‘proving’ God exists is, as the same arguments can be made in favor of a Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Dan, if you know so much, tell me, what do you believe Jediism is about?
Jediism is actually some people’s religion. It’s not a Joke like Pastafarianism. There is some real thought that goes into it. If you lump Jediism in the same group as Pastafarianism, you will have to lump in Unity Church with this group as well. As Unity Church is probably the closest church that actually has standing nation-wide, to what the Jediism school of thought is.
I need to make a correction on the which church, I often get Unity and Unitarian confused. So, it is Unitarian Universalism that comes the closest to Jediism, not Unity.
Please tell me, where do I sign in ?
As the founder of The Church of Ed Wood, I would like to say that alothough there usually is “a lot of alcohol” at Woodian events, there are no “orgies until dawn.”
Ed saves.
Yeah right, you are founder…
I am, look it up. I founded it in 1996 in Phoenix, Arizona. I now live in Sacramento with my wife and two kids. I’ve been interviewed in New Yorker, National Enquirer, Bizarre, Rue Morgue and Playboy. I just wanted to set the record straight on the orgies.
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/The_Church_of_the_Heavenly_Wood
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz214926189bf98.html
Wow! Do you guys have some assemblies (with photos and topics)? If you do, please contact me here: http://www.weirdworm.com/contact/ and we could make some article only for you.
Thanks!
If no orgies, why a lot of alcohol?
I am not religious, but I assert that this article is a load of ****. It’s poorly written and full of obvious biases along side misinformation.
ugh. this is so poorly written, i can’t even comment on the actual subject matter.
Interesting, if biased, list. Here are a few that I either am a member of or have come across:
Discordianism: I am a long time and proud member of this church, where we worship the Greek goddess of Chaos, Eris. “If organized religion is the opiate of the masses, than discordianism is the marijuana of the lunatic fringe”
http://www.principiadiscordia.com is the best place to find our bible, or google the churches name and read about it on Wikipedia.
Speaking of Google: Googleism. No, I am not kidding, and to tell you the truth they put together a pretty good argument. The Nine Proofs make a lot of sense, I suggest you read up on it before casting judgment.
http://www.thechurchofgoogle.org/
And finally, the church that I have joined in order to marry those who wish it. Dudeism, or the Church of the Latter Day Dude. Ever seen The Big Lebowski? Ever think there was a zen like undertone? your not the only one! Direct from the bottom of their website:
Dudeism is a religion deeply inspired by The Big Lebowski, as well as several other traditions that predate Lebowski – most particularly: Taoism, Zen Buddhism, American Transcendentalism and humanism. However, it is not affiliated with the film in any way.
http://www.dudeism.com/
Human beings are a wonderfully diverse group, and it is my preference that we celebrate that diversity. After all, if your buddy was the exact same guy as you, how boring would a game of monopoly be?
Where’s the grandaddy of them all: The Church Of The SubGenius?
Oh, and btw, Jedism is just Taoism in a tacky costume.
All religions are fake you morons