December 27, 2007
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The Coming New Year
I don't often make new year resolutions. It's mostly because I am already perfect in every way and require no further improvements. While I do speak in jest, I really just don't want to change anything about myself. This year, however, I think I am finally ready to make a resolution to finish by the end of 2008. I truly detest all forms of organized religion and often take the time to make fun of them or argue with overzealous people. Every time I do, though, I feel a little twinge of guilt from my sanctimonious attitude. Not because I always crush them in an argument, but because everybody tries to use their own holy books as proof of their religion, and while I have read several books on the holy books, I have never actually read any of them. I plan to change that this coming year. By the end of 2008, I hope to have read every holy book for every religion I can think of. This may be tough since some religions don't have a set religious book, per se. Then there are the many sects of each religion that has their own ideas. I plan to focus on just the mainstream holy books, so hopefully I won't have to deal with too many secular differences. I have already read the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (Flying Spaghetti Monsterism), which is the most important, and I am currently working on the Poetic Edda (Old Norse). The list of books includes:- The Bible (Christianity) - This one I am actually looking forward to reading. Since I live in America, I am inundated with so much Christian zeal, that I'm surprised I haven't already broken down and read the thing. I have read a few select passages already, and I must say that it looks entertaining. (Judges 19: 22-30, anyone?)
- The Qur'an (Islam) - This one is probably getting a lot of attention because of the, y'know, scuffle going on amongst the oil fields. Anyway, the only thing worse than organized religion is someone who thinks they know what they're talking about. Here, specifically, I am speaking about bigots who think they "know" about Islam. They clearly do not, and I wish to read up so that I can argue with knowledgeably.
Tanakh (Judaism)- This one is almost identical to the Old Testament, so I don't think I need to read this one. I might do some research to make sure my prejudice is correct, but for right now I will run with this assumption.- The Book of the Dead (Ancient Egyptian) - This one isn't strictly a holy book, but I feel like reading it nonetheless.
- The Vedas (Hinduism) - I am not looking forward to this, simply because of the sheer volume of test I need to wade through.
- Tao Te Ching (Taoism, et al.) - This one looks like it might be interesting, but a yawn-fest at the same time. I may save this one for later.
- Whatever the hell Scientology's holy book is (Scientology) - This one is way down on the list, if only because I think of this more as a joke than an actual religion. I have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll admit, but I think my Pastafarian religion has more credibility.
That's all I feel like typing right now, but I plan to read far more. I also need to figure out if Buddhism has a holy book. That is one I am looking forward to. Time to head to the library and begin some reezerch.
Comments (5)
Scientology's book is Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard. Geez, I thought you would know something like that from all those visits to YTMND.
I've read the Bible(the Gospels are the best, particularly Mark and Luke) an the Vedas. The Hindu scriptures/books are actually very interesting. I really liked the Bhagavad Gita. Of course it was for school(Theology and Asian Thought classes) but I still liked them.
I'd also read some Buddist books, especially ones like Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, or anything by the Dalai Lama is also great and interesting too.
So if you are serious about it.. those are my recommendations.
Lucky for me my Core class required me to read a good majority of those books, no scientology, or book similar enough, and i must say that they are BORING as hell. Although i found Genisis in the Bible to be some funny funny shit the 3 or 4 hour i read that i was just laughing all entire time.
I notice that you dont have any Pagan/ Wiccan text. You should consider reading some of them too, you might acutally find that some weird or random things we do today come from that religon.
Not necessarily "come from" Wicca since that religion came about in the 1950s and it's not the oldest religion like some wiccan books say. I read one called... I think it was called "The Solitary Witch" among others. My best friend has a friend who is Wiccan/Pagan.
But certainly many traditions come from Greek and Northern European Pagan religions. ^^
Let me clarify here "Pagan" is a word invented by Christans and is definded as any religon that is not Christan based, so technically speaking Hinduism, Buddisim ect. are all "Pagan".(and some argue that Islam is pagan but i wont get into that) But it was and still is generally used to refer to Earth Based religons that worshit multiple good. (celtics ect) Recently there has been a larger movement to stop calling them Pagan religons because if carrys a more negative context with it (just look through history and you will see what i mean) and start calling it Wicca. So in a way saying Wicca is just an extension of Paganism and, just like christantly is considered an extension of Judisism.I put "Pagan/Wiccan " text like that because not all followers of this religon agree with the name change and some dont really understand it. (like that chic who left the comment above)
I was raised as a Wiccan, i was a memeber in a convent and follwed/ particapated in most of the traditions growing up. (I still do quite a few of them still). And i have meet many many many Pagan/Wiccans from all over and from all sorts of differnt sects. Plus i have read a million differnt text so i am pretty sure i know what i am talking about.
And what i ment by things we do that do make any sense are traditions like eggs at easter. What do eggs what to do with the resserection (sp) of Christ? Nothing, but Christ resserection is are the same time as the Pagan/Wiccan festival of fertility which involes eggs, so i kind of rubbed off. That is a pretty common known one, but there are a bunch of things like that.