Could you believe in an invented religion?

Thanks for your answer. It is just an example I wrote, so would you believe in it?

No, i would not believe in it, just like i don't believe in any other religion.

As soon as I read this I was thinking the exact same thing, I believe all religions are invented, they are all made by someone be it a man or group. Though I was brought up in the Catholic religion including going to a Catholic school all my life the reason I see it this way is because I am an Atheist all that time and all that teaching has never proven to me that there is a "God" and the bible has always appeared to me as a book of fables and teaching on how to live a good life, not neccesarily a historical document but the stories of man, therefore invented. Though I respect others for believing in whatever religion it is that they want to believe in, I don't believe in a higher power.

Ha....Yeah...I believe in only one God.

I believe that there is only one God. Different religions emerged my men are as per the belief generated in the circumstances they lived and they may be or are right in many aspects. There is no need for any new religion, but the certain customs generated by certain vested interests are to be changed so that every religion will be more human and by that they will be more near to god. ( Previously I was started my discussions as a general subject and the responses received to me for any subject was very much poor. Now I am also starting my religious discussion on the specified subject "religion" of my lot. Thank you. )

So what you mean is that a religion must be built over centuries and transmited trough generations? Somehow it grows up and get more deep and experienced with familiar strength, is it that?

The Nephilim appear first in the Sumerian religion, but also appear in Roman texts about the Underworld, the Book of Enoch, and Middle Ages texts by the Roman Catholic church! They should not be mistaken for the Gothic Rock band 'The Fields of the Nephilim' who sang such classic tunes as 'Preacher Man' and 'Moonchild'!

I had not heard about the Nephilim, I'll research on that to make another discussion, thanks!

Thank you for the information. So I will research on this books, and also I am curious about the Gotic Rock band :)

Thanks for sharing that interesting information! I don't really know that much about Cuban traditions, so that was really new to me. =) I'm really interested in the way you do things. I'm not really fond of people who take things from other religions but then insist they didn't do so (I've met a lot of people like this) but I love when people can unashamedly choose what they will believe from all that is available. This might sound silly coming from me, since I am so set in one tradition. But I think what determines those thigns is the type of person you are, your personal history, and the experiences that lead you down your path. I am so set in my own ways because as a very small child when I was in a really bad situation, a particular Goddess came to me in dreams, and I called her Mother. So the idea of following deities that aren't her, or related to her, is incomprehensible for me. She isn't some kind of far away spirit for me (that I could easily call by another name), she's my family. Does that make sense?

I love your answer (I hope nobody gets jealous, there are many godd answers around too, I was impressed how far something that started more or less as a joke could go!). So you stated the main reason on why this couldn't work: a religion is also made by the use through times and an important thing is its roots on our ancestors knowledge. Bu you also took into account my "artistic mediation", which was the most important for me in this discussion. I do believe that art (specially music and more specifically drums, as we talked about in another discussion) is a direct link to the superior being/s. I come from the cuban tradition, where people could belong to different religions at the same time (until religion got forbidden). That obliged them to be widely open minded: if the only Godess over all is Oloddumare, how could it be the only God over all Nsambi? or Christ? This is matematically wrong, but they have found a good explanation: it is the same spirit but with different manifestations and names. Of course, they had to make some little changes to make things compatible, but not in the essence. The weirdest example is that cuban muslims wer allowed to eat pork, as in stronger cuban traditions it is more like an oblation to eat it. So all they have to do is call the name of Allah (Bismillah) while they eat it. I don't belong to any of these religions, but I like them, and I find they are right (they depict life accurately) as I also find many others are right. That is why I can abstract myself from anyone, and that doesn't mean that I don't deeply believe...

Of course it makes sense. I like your ways also. Thanks!

Thank you for this explanation. I have several discussions about Islam so maybe you can come and clarify a little! In Cuba we have some muslim influences from the Mandinga Empire, and many people salutate in this way: Salamalcun-Malecunsala. So Salamalecun to you!

I have not seen you in my "Hindu Gods" discussion, didn't you like it or didn't you find it? And also many other religion discussions from all the beliefs I know. I'll definitly read Kahlil Gibran's short story, it sounds very interesting, deep and funny. Where can I find it? or what is the name of the book? God Bless!

I must have missed your discussion on Hindu gods. I'll definitely take a look around your other discussions too. As for the short story, it is definitely interesting and deep, but I didn't find anything funny about it :) You can find almost all the works of Kahlil Gibran on this site: http://leb.net/gibran Incidentally, to my knowledge, all the copyrights over his works have expired and thus, they have come into the public domain, meaning that you can freely display his works or even publish them, as long as you give due credit to him. You can find the short story, Satan, here: http://leb.net/gibran/works/satan.html

This is one of Gibran's most popular works of art. He was a great artist too, besides being a poet and philosopher.

I didn't see you in my muslims discussion, were you? If you weren't, check it out, you might like it.

What a long "easy answer" lol. Very well thought. I just would add that I take art=creativity (perhaps using the Ockham's Razor). So in my idea, the role of art is the same that you explained as demonstration of the invented religion coming from God (see my answer above). I think it is the argument that John used for Revelations: they have been inspired by God and the prove is that they are artistic. I like your mathematical definition of art. That is why arts and mathematics are not good friends. I think taking the facts and making more of them is a good thing if you use it to live life to the fullest :)

My point exactly!

My point exactly!

So in this times of changes there is a lot of space for spiritual art/creativity, isn't it? I think that is the key for an equilibrated evolution that respects traditions and also affronts new sights. I also look forward to this!

If you think about it all religions have been invented according to the various cultural needs and dogma. Religion is the way men make themselves powerful so they can rule the masses. Nothing beeter to scare common folk than the threat of eternal damnation by unknown gods or godesses. Once you have the masses scared into believing you have the power to do as you want.