Designing a personal religion: principles and practices

¶ … Religion

Most of the world's religions have many common thoughts and underlying beliefs, including commonalities in beliefs about developing good character and the importance of love and compassion. This essay will attempt to create a new religion (called the Harmony) that is inspired by the commonalities seen in many world religions. Rituals, commandments and beliefs will all be examined, and where applicable, outlined for this new religion.

Stand up comedian George Carlin's comedy routine "Complaints and Grievances" reflects a great many North American's attitudes about faith and sex. The premise of his discussion of the Ten Commandments is that Ten Commandments are an artificially inflated number designed to invoke authority, and that the commandments should be revised down to a minimalist number that are more logical and workable. At the end of his discussion, Carlin gives his list of two commandments. They are, 1) "Thou shalt always be honest and faithful to the provider of thy nookie" and 2) "Thou shalt try real hard not to kill anyone, unless of course they pray to a different invisible man than you."

His final suggestion for another commandment is, "Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself."

Carlin's "Complaints and Grievances" touches on the commonality of belief and thought seen in many religions; something that many individuals and theologians have explored throughout time. Religion has often been one of the greatest reasons for dissention and war among humans, and yet many religions share a common basis of both moral and ethical guidelines.

Most of the world's religions have many common thoughts and underlying beliefs. While religions can differ in the type of god or gods that are worshiped, rituals, commandments, and structure, most religions share some of the same basic, core beliefs. Essentially, virtually all religions of the world espouse many of the same beliefs, but choose to express these beliefs in their own ways. Specifically, many of the world's main religions like Buddhism (technically a philosophy but often considered a religion), Christianity, and Hinduism all preach the same concepts of love and being a good person.

Love and compassion are tenets shared between a large number of religions. Christianity urges followers to love their enemies, and notes that God is love. The Dali Lami, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism argues that humanity cannot survive without love and compassion (Shreve).

Similarly developing good character is a common theme of many major and minor religions. Christianity argues that tribulations produce perseverance, character and thus hope, while the Hindu Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5 notes, "The doer of good becomes good; the doer of evil becomes evil"(Shreve). Islam argues that the believers with the most perfect faith are those with the best character, and Buddhism encourages a path of continual self-improvement, and Taoism argues that virtue links the individual to God (Shreve).

The Harmony Religion

Give the commonalities seen between so many of the world's religions; it may be possible to create a single religion that incorporates many of these commonalities. Given the widespread nature of religion, humans seem to both want and need an element of spirituality in their lives. The new religion, Harmony, is inspired by the commonalities seen in many world religions. As such, Harmony's encompassing aim is to create a spirit of companionship, peace, and unity among not only its adherents, but in the rest of the world.

Beliefs

Despite the humorous tone of "Complaints and Grievances," comedian George Carlin's touched upon some crucial issues in his routine. Through humor, Carlin helps the audience to see the commonality of faithfulness and honesty in world religions. He also lampoons the commandment of thou shalt not kill, by noting the number of deaths that have come in the name of religion, citing Northern Ireland, the Inquisition, and the Crusades as some examples. Yet, despite his mocking tone, it is clear that most religions strive to avoid murder, and that this is indeed an important concept within religious and spiritual experience.

The Harmony religion will aim to incorporate many of the shared beliefs of many of the world's religions into one religious concept. As such, faithfulness and honesty, a prohibition against murder, compassion and love, and developing good character will be deeply held beliefs within the Harmony religion.

Commandments and Rules

In his comedy routine, George Carlin reflects the feelings of many people when he lampoons many of the commandments as "controlling people." He argues that the first three commandments, which include keeping the Sabbath, not worshiping false Gods, and not taking the name of the Lord in vain, are simple, controlling superstitions not applicable to an intelligent person in the 21st century. Carlin's dislike of commandments that are needlessly controlling is likely reflected in the attitudes of many individuals. As such, the commandments and rules of the Harmony religion will be as simple and nonrestrictive as possible. The commandments of the Harmony language will be: 1) love one another with compassion and honesty, 2) develop good character, and 3) try as hard as possible not to kill or harm anyone.

Beyond the commandments, a list of helpful guidelines will be developed, rather than creating a list of restrictive rules. These may include guidelines for physical health (including medical care), emotional health (including counseling and psychologist services), and spiritual health. These guidelines will be aimed at helping the members of the Harmony religion, as well as others, rather than restricting their lives through rules.

Rituals

Rituals are an important part of almost all religions. While the word ritual often brings up connotations of animistic worship, and even extremes like sacrifice, ritual can be an innocuous event. Perhaps the most familiar and somehow benign example that is the most familiar to North Americans is the ritual of church services on a Sunday.