(1) Techniques for achieving gnosis. Direct experience of the Spirit would be one of its goals.

(2) A robust yet flexible mythological/conceptual framework to help the adherent deal with the gnosis once it arrives.

(3) Self-organized non-hierarchical communities. Of necessity, these communities would remain somewhat small, so as to not calcify into Archonic control structures. Communities can avail themselves of worldwide networking online and at occasional conferences to share ideas and create greater community. But there would be no nationally-agreed-upon rules or charters.

I think the best religion would be one where you would continually participate in it and apply it’s lessons/teachings in your day-to-day life where you’d see tangible, immediate results. Kinda like Hogwarts, I suppose. The people in that world live and breathe their “religion”, which of course is magic. And what is magic but manifesting change by willing it? This power is the ultimate transcendental experience of the Divine and I can see no other reason for a religion to exist unless it delivers real results in an effective manner. Sharing beliefs and faith, uniting like-minds, and feeling a sense of community are all well and good for most religions, but what is the point, really? In terms of the individual self-improvement.

I need a religion that’s more like a school, where new ideas and thoughts that actually affect my physical reality can be learned and mastered over a period time. This way you can actually see the progress you’re making and where your weaknesses are, and thus devote your time and energy to the areas you most need to focus on. This “religion” would be fun, practical, and infinitely rewarding. . and I curse Yaldabaoth daily for making me a god damn muggle!

Sounds like the Jedi to me Specifically, the ones in the books set after the movies, where Luke reforms the Jedi Order. I also think it would be possible to recreate a “real” Jedi religion (minus the lightsaber ), combining various eastern philosophies and practices (like Tai-Chi and other inner martial arts) with “occidental” traditions, like magick. Sprinkle in some shamanism, and you’ve got yourself a Jedi religion.

Also check these guys out, The Nogardian Knights.

Interesting

I can see no other reason for a religion to exist unless it delivers real results in an effective manner. Sharing beliefs and faith, uniting like-minds, and feeling a sense of community are all well and good for most religions, but what is the point, really? In terms of the individual self-improvement.

I need a religion that’s more like a school, where new ideas and thoughts that actually affect my physical reality can be learned and mastered over a period time. This way you can actually see the progress you’re making and where your weaknesses are, and thus devote your time and energy to the areas you most need to focus on. This “religion” would be fun, practical, and infinitely rewarding.

A religion for me would be a way of life, and the concept of “God” would simply be the acceptance of ’some’ higher intelligence, in the sense that there are higher and higher levels of intelligence already apparent in our physical world, and who are we to assume that our little human brains represent the highest?

All kinds of concepts and creative approaches could be openly explored between like-minded individuals, but the emphasis would be on those concepts most useful towards improving the quality of life of all involved.

There would be “Mind-control” - but more in the Robert Anton Wilson sense - learning to gain greater and greater control over one’s OWN mind, while continually lessening control of it by outside forces.

There would not be over-emphasis, or negation, of any aspect of life or the self. “Holistic” success would be the basic aim. Material success would not be placed above or below Spiritual ’success’ (whatever that would consist of for the individual), for example. Individuality would be balanced with unity, etc, etc… The balance principle being essential - though not worshipped. Imbalance being ‘balanced’ with Balance as it were. And I think I better come back to this discussion after more coffee. I feel myself losing my train of thought.

Basically go back to Pete’s post. He summed it up better in the first place. Though Mark’s idea has a certain appeal all its own….

Needless to say, I don’t like the idea of a corporate religion, and I already dislike the traps of consumerism.

I mean, Scientology is kind of close to being a corporate religion. Or closer than anything else I can think of. But how crazy would that be if companies instead of just having like a sort of de facto consumerist religion banded together and created rituals, theology, symbolism, the whole nine yards?

Pete - I really like the idea of being able to somehow “know where you stand” in all of this - self-assessment. I think thats a major part of why many occult groups have rankings. It’s not a matter of enforcing rigorous hierarchies all the time, but a way for people to know where they are at, what to expect and a defined order of doing things. Maybe some people find that constraining, but I can imagine it also being liberating in a way.

I need a religion that’s more like a school, where new ideas and thoughts that actually affect my physical reality can be learned and mastered over a period time. This way you can actually see the progress you’re making and where your weaknesses are, and thus devote your time and energy to the areas you most need to focus on. This “religion” would be fun, practical, and infinitely rewarding. . and I curse Yaldabaoth daily for making me a god damn muggle!

I’ll reproduce it here:

The Nystagmus (”a rapid involuntary oscillation of the eyeballs (as from dizziness)”) [I have no idea where I found this word!?!?]

1. The Nystagmus

A. Would embrace gaudiness -
a) neon/plaid colors
b)perhaps tacky religious figures from other faiths - “the meaning behind divinty seen in a car-freshner Jesus, or a Buddha comb, ” (etc.)

B. Be mainly internet based (homepage, chat rooms, messageboards) with some local temples for periodic group meetings.

II. Beliefs (optional)
a. find humor in conventional attitudes towards the sacred.
b. find sacredness in the profane.
c holiness with infantile behaviors
d. the ability to return (or keep firm) to that which is orginally considered sacred (traditional faiths) as well.
e. no set rules, no absolutes and at the sime time extreme absolutes.
f. emphasis on paradox (see “ii, f”)
g. finding divinity with the odd
h. individual choice in what to believe - find community with people who move back and forth within the arenas of scared and profane, and from people who hodge podge their faith, or who conversly stick to one path.
j. the internet provides for a disembodied voice, which can be as psuedonymnous and contradictoy as one pleases.
k. confusion is a virtue.

III. Rituals (optional)
a) unconventional ways: romantic personal ads, airplane banners, bathroom stall graffiti, shouting out car windows on the free-way, etc.

V. Exclude:
a) anyone willing to join would not be excluded

VI. Life Questions:
a) there is a time for the sacred and a time for the profane.
b ) perhaps groups vote on which rules will become part of scripture, but indivudals will be the ones to deem which rules will be sacred and which will be profane.
c) ultimate concern for the individual no matter if it conforms or opposes the group sentiment.

The Compassion seen in Christ

The all-pervading unity of Taoism

The transcendent journey of shamanism

The pursuit of knowledge as found in gnosticism

The “magick” or psychic rituals and techniques found in “occultic” religions

The calcuated and careful use of mind-expanding substances and techniques (like sensory deprivation)

The routine use of meditation as found in the Yogis of the east.

And finally, the FAITH in self (athiesm, agnosticism), as well as FAITH in the SELF

So yes, my religion would be very mystical, but very satisfying for me.

“Don’t feed the trolls.”