The Least Obnoxious Forms of Religion for Religion Addicts?

[lpetrich]

Some people make the argument that religion is a universal human addiction, for lack of a better term.

Never mind that that argument could be made for many things that such people may dislike, like religions other than theirs.

But granting that premise, what would be the least obnoxious sorts of religion for religion addicts to believe in and practice?

 

[braces_for_impact]

Well, Jainism comes to mind I guess. At least a fanatic follower wouldn't be violent. Quakers maybe are often upheld as mild as far as religions go, as are Universalists.

 

[bigfield]

But granting that premise, what would be the least obnoxious sorts of religion for religion addicts to believe in and practice?

Any non-ethical religion would be a massive improvement. Much of the trouble caused by religion today stems from religious morality.

For instance, there wouldn't be widespread religious resistance to equal rights if the predominant religions just required people to get high as fuck and hold a full-moon orgy.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

Mennonites too.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I'd say that for the fact that they have no real effect on anyone else, the deists and the pantheists are the least obnoxious. However, due to how inane and useless their religions are, I find their mere existence to be more obnoxious than all the other ones put together.

 

[Politesse]

TV fandoms perhaps?

I was going to suggest Victorian literary cults, but then I remembered that this would include the Marxists.

 

[Sarpedon]

Congregationalists. When the minister is the employee of the congregation, a lot of problems are solved.

 

[Jobar]

Consider the North Texas Church of Freethought. I've often stated that religion can provide the scaffolding to build needful social structures, and we unbelievers ought to work on designing such structures without the dogma and superstition.

I've been to Unitarian Universalist churches that are approaching such freedom from dogma.

The problem is that we skeptics, and the more liberal and enlightened believers, lack the carrot of Heaven, and the stick of Hell. Those of us who are ethical and educated need neither of those; but sadly most people seem to require them, or some analog thereof.

 

[RavenSky]

I would second or third Unitarian Universalist as far as something most resembling "organized religion" with a minimum of yuck.

Wicca/World Pantheism doesn't strike me as obnoxious (or dangerous) in any way, but might not provide the "organized religion" feeling some might be looking for

 

[Jobar]

Here's a 2013 article from The Christian Post- https://www.christianpost.com/news/london-atheist-church-model-looking-to-expand-worldwide-91516/

An atheist "church" in London has modeled itself after the Christian church and plans to add more locations worldwide soon. Since its launch, The Sunday Assembly has heard from over 200 people who want to start their own location.

The Sunday Assembly's website says that it is "a godless congregation that meets on the first Sunday of every month to hear great talks, sing songs and generally celebrate the wonder of life." They say that it is a service for anyone who wants to "live better, help often and wonder more."

Atheist "church" co-founder and comedian Sanderson Jones says in the group's recent video, "It's part-foot-stomping show, part-atheist church, and 100% celebration of life."

"We've come up with a plan so that as many people as possible can start having as much fun as we're having as soon as possible," Jones says in the video. He went on to say, "We're pretty sure there are going to be loads of people who are going to want to live better until they're doing their best."

The Sunday Assembly says it will provide atheist "church" plant hopefuls with videos, marketing support, and all the resources it can, but will make sure there is creative space left for personalization. Choosing the songs, readings and speakers is up to each individual location.

Being that is from a Christian viewpoint, no surprise that the writer of that story is no supporter of Sunday Assembly:

Matt Slick, president and founder of Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, studies atheism and often speaks at events about atheism. He says that a movement like this is dangerous. "The devil is working through them to replace the Christian church with the church of the devil. Atheism is the ultimate denial of God," Slick said. "This movement is a manifestation of the enemy of the Gospel trying to replace Christianity, corrupt it and weaken it."

"It might be that they become united and become a stronger front against Christianity. That is my concern. This has potential to do a lot of damage to the Church," Slick said. He also warned that Christian pastors need to no longer teach the "comfort-me gospel" and need to preach and teach true Christian theology so that Christians do not go out to seek places such as this.

I'm willing to accept that it's possible to have religions which don't cause the social and individual traumas we see so often. But I strongly suspect that Stevie Wonder was right when he sang
When you believe in things
That you don't understand
Then you suffer!
Superstition ain't the way.

 

[lpetrich]

Sunday Assembly – Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More -- it now has chapters in most English-speaking nations, and also some in continental Europe, mostly northwestern Europe.

The Oasis Network | Communities of reason and compassion, celebrating the human experience. -- much smaller