The best that you might hope for would be a religion that attempted to base itself on science, which to me would seem to be no more than wishful thinking — Banno
Raëlism teaches that an extraterrestrial species known as the Elohim created humanity using their advanced technology. An atheistic religion, it believes that the Elohim have historically been mistaken for gods. It holds that throughout history the Elohim have created forty Elohim/human hybrids who have served as prophets preparing humanity for news about their ultimate origins. Among those listed as prophets are The Buddha, Jesus of Nazareth, and Muhammad, with Raël himself being the fortieth and final prophet. Raëlists believe that since the Hiroshima bomb of 1945, humanity has entered an Age of Apocalypse in which it is threatening itself with nuclear annihilation. It argues that humanity must find a way of harnessing new scientific and technological development for peaceful ends, and that once this has been achieved the Elohim shall return to Earth to share their technology with humanity and usher in a utopia. To this end, the Raëlians have been committed to building an embassy for the Elohim, incorporating a landing pad for the latter's spaceship. Raëlians promote a liberal ethical system with a strong emphasis on sexual experimentation, engage in daily meditation, and hope for physical immortality through human cloning. — Wikipedia on Raëlism
According to this story, 75 million years ago Xenu brought billions of people to Earth in spacecraft resembling Douglas DC-8 airliners, stacked them around volcanoes and detonated hydrogen bombs in the volcanoes. The thetans then clustered together, stuck to the bodies of the living, and continue to do this today. Scientologists at advanced levels place considerable emphasis on isolating body thetans and neutralizing their ill effects. — Wikipedia on Scientology
Banno
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↪Frank Apisa I've re-read this with eyes that are less wearied, but still think it muddled.
Yes, i was thinking of omnipotent deities when I wrote the OP. But I don't see how Thor or The God Of Small Things would be useful as the answer to a philosophical conundrum.
Edit: actually, the God of Small Things might be an exception... — Banno
They are back. — Banno
I've argued elsewhere against over-reliance on commencing with definition. it's often better to allow the definition to grow alongside the conversation. — Banno
...take scripture or revelation as a starting point for discussion; theology, not philosophy. — Banno
In summary there are three things that identify a move from a philosophical enquiry to mere theology: — Banno
threads should be removed if they
...take scripture or revelation as a starting point for discussion; theology, not philosophy — Banno
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