SwimModSponges Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 All right, so... Religions evolved because they're excellent tools for the production of social structures. Prayer and meditation have also been shown by many a study to have concrete physiological benefits; slowed heart rate/relaxation, focus, etc. (Ironically I've seen studies that show that if you tell someone who's been injured that you're "praying for them" it will have the opposite effect, causing the person to not work as hard at recovery). Now, a fun psychological fact is the "placebo effect" will work even if you're aware that it is a placebo; therefore one could easily gain the positive effects of prayer even if they don't believe in the deity to which they're praying. Which gets me thinking... Maybe I should become religious purely for the psychosomatic positives? It'd have to be the right religion though... probably not any of the Abrahamic religions. They have some decent ideals (help the poor, love your neighbor, don't be a rich asshole, etc.), but they've all been so entrenched within societies that don't really follow them as much as use their identity as a shield and cudgel. Eastern religions are all out too; I'm way too materialistic to forsake all of my possessions, stop eating, and attain oneness with all reality through the suffering and purification of my earthly body. Plus, I mean, talk about something an easily impressionable teenage girl would be after seeing a bonsai tree. "Oh my god you guys, guess what? I'm totally into Buddhism now." Probably have about the same problem trying to resurrect any kind of pagan religion. There's always the worship of the self; taking the view that you control your own destiny and are therefore god. That's satanism, and I used to consider that the theology which most closely matched my view of what was worth worshiping. After a fair amount of thought though, I've disavowed this belief structure as I no longer believe in the existence of free will. ... Time. I will worship time. Praise be to Akatosh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
🍬Candy🍬 Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 I believe in a benevolent higher power beyond man's understanding. My purpose here is to love. I follow my heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poof Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 2 hours ago, SwimModSponges said: It'd have to be the right religion though... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpgamer Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 I chose to worship Nothing. Because you know what they say. "Nothing is greater than God." "In the beginning, there was Nothing." "When you die, there is Nothing." From the Void was existence ripped, and every moment since then has sought to return to that state of Nothing. It's fun to think about, anyway. Sadly, no real "worship," so no real (or fake) psychosomatic effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiemarie90 Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 I personally like the secularism of shinto religions. But I also think I want to bring back ancient native religions like the ones of the Maya. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katt_goddess Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 If you are really looking into practice for practice sake, you could always look into pop culture folk saints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwimModSponges Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 28 minutes ago, rpgamer said: I chose to worship Nothing. Because you know what they say. "Nothing is greater than God." "In the beginning, there was Nothing." "When you die, there is Nothing." From the Void was existence ripped, and every moment since then has sought to return to that state of Nothing. It's fun to think about, anyway. Sadly, no real "worship," so no real (or fake) psychosomatic effects. Sounds like Sithis to me. 5 minutes ago, katt_goddess said: If you are really looking into practice for practice sake, you could always look into pop culture folk saints. I was leaning towards worship of one of the various deities in the Elder Scrolls, I just wasn't sure which one. Now though, pretty sure Akatosh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrigunBebop Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) I worship inflatable party decorations made of latex. It's a pretty bangin' religion. Edited September 15, 2019 by TrigunBebop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpgamer Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 38 minutes ago, SwimModSponges said: Sounds like Sithis to me. Bah. Representations still fall short. Ascribing a deity to the Void diminishes the Void itself. What sort of fool comes up with a god of non-existence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwimModSponges Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) Nonexistence is a label like any other. Edited September 15, 2019 by SwimModSponges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricolor Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 I worship the almighty hammer. It's pretty banging... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Teddybar Gut Fullung Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 Take it to Rants! (j/k) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwimModSponges Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 You know, while i was typing that out i kinda realized it was an editorial... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnmjy Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) Supposedly you can attain similar results practicing meditation and mindfulness and believing in the universe. I dunno. Edited September 15, 2019 by bnmjy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
André Toulon Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 People are so stupid and irresponsible. Gotta blame shit on god's unquestionable will or the devil's mischief.....Oh well, I guess you can't be disappointed when you're dead and there's nothing else....Because you'll be dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpgamer Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 17 hours ago, SwimModSponges said: Nonexistence is a label like any other. That's the beauty of Nothing. The contradictory dichotomy. It doesn't exist, but by not existing, the existence of the state of Nothingness is achieved. It both is, and is not. Which makes sense, mathematically. Zero is the sum of all things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwimModSponges Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 Sithis is the void. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSAID Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 I once lived in a trailer and actually a house before that, that came with its own crucifixes and it didn't make me feel any more relaxed, and I mostly forgot they were there until looking. Not sure any other talisman would have done the trick. Seems easier and more fun to get a cat for the vague heart health benefits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwimModSponges Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 It could be fun to worship though. Build a big shrine in my backyard, pray to it, offer the occasional sacrifice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwimModSponges Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 It could be fun to worship though. Build a big shrine in my backyard, pray to it, offer the occasional sacrifice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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