Open Source Religion

[Merton]

I just recently discovered what is being called Open Source Religion^WP on YouTube:



I have to admit, I was so put-off by the narrator's comment that "religion, in essence, is a set of guiding principles" that I stopped watching. It appears to me that this phrase is indicative of an irrational love of religion (as we atheists have said before, some people seem to believe in belief) and, moreover, an ignorance of what actually constitutes religion (and philosophy).

In any case, how does this work? I'm an open source programmer and understand the principles of voluntary collaboration, but we have goals (e.g. a word processor needs formatting functions, an image manipulation program needs to have drawing tools). What common goal can people of disparate religions work toward? How can one decide which values, myths, or practices ought to be adopted without a common goal? Does Open Source Religion even make sense outside of the mystical "believers in belief"?

 

[AvalonXQ]

I think it's a misuse of the term "open source," and it doesn't seem to be any different than what various spiritual and philosophic groups have been doing in individualist cultures for centuries.

 

[The Norseman]

From what I can gather, it's already been done under the name 'Unitarian Universalism'.

I'm not sure why this dude wants to make a new group, except maybe to cash in on the hipness of the term 'open source' and geeks and nerds everywhere will rejoice.

 

[Merton]

I'm not sure why this dude wants to make a new group, except maybe to cash in on the hipness of the term 'open source' and geeks and nerds everywhere will rejoice.

That's my interpretation as well; open source is merely being used as a marketing tool to garner attention.

 

[The Norseman]

That's my interpretation as well; open source is merely being used as a marketing tool to garner attention.

Yeah, I love and use OSS (not yet really into programming, so I don't make any myself), but my questions are echoes of yours. This guy is describing something (UU) that has it's philosophical roots like two hundred years ago and formed into the organization we know today in the early 1960's I think. He's about fifty years behind the curve. [Insert Microsoft joke here]

I suppose he'll go on to say something like 'Open Source Religion 2.0'!!! in the near future.

 

[joesixpack]

This video is asinine. It slings BS faster then my mind can deal with it. I'd make a point by point critique but I cant see as it'd make a difference. It's nothing but new age psychobabble after about the 2 minute point.

 

[Apathia]

From what I can gather, it's already been done under the name 'Unitarian Universalism'.

Yeppers!
My U.U. Congregation in Chandler, Arizona has a Religious Education class titled, "Build Your Own Theology."

 

[Mister Agenda]

I claim 'open source religion' in the name of Unitarian Universalism!

 

[alphahelix]

My major concern is how will they handle "bugs", what kind of soul repository are they gonna use and what kind of salvation mananger do they offer.

I don't think yast will cut it (Yet Another Salvation Tool)

 

[John Albert]

This guy already betrays his ignorance of philosophy mere seconds into the video.

He doesn't even know what the "Golden Rule" is. He mentions the "Golden Rule" by name and then recites the guiding principle of the Hippocratic Oath "Do no harm" (which is also a Google motto).

 

[joesixpack]

This guy already betrays his ignorance of philosophy mere seconds into the video.

He doesn't even know what the "Golden Rule" is. He mentions the "Golden Rule" by name and then recites the guiding principle of the Hippocratic Oath "Do no harm" (which is also a Google motto).

But he totally understands how quantum mechanics and psychedelic drugs are important to understanding God and the universe. Also how they will free us from rigid Newtonian mechanics.

ETA; I don't think there is enough sarcastic ire in the whole world for me to convey the level of contempt I have for the jack ass who produced this rubbish.

 

[Paulhoff]

They are all open sourced.


Paul

 

[Merton]

My major concern is how will they handle "bugs", what kind of soul repository are they gonna use and what kind of salvation mananger do they offer.

I don't think yast will cut it (Yet Another Salvation Tool)

There seem to be multiple repositories for different beliefs. Christians and Muslims must submit their souls for sorting by the package maintainer, who either allows them into the main branch (heaven) or dumps them into (pitch)forks. For reincarnation, the soul is sent to /dev/random before being reused; we atheists just get directed to /dev/null.

 

[The Norseman]

Yeppers!
My U.U. Congregation in Chandler, Arizona has a Religious Education class titled, "Build Your Own Theology."

Did you attend? If so, what was it like?

 

[The Norseman]

My major concern is how will they handle "bugs"...

It's not a bug, it's a feature!
</opensourcereligion>

...what kind of soul repository are they gonna use and what kind of salvation mananger do they offer.

I don't think yast will cut it (Yet Another Salvation Tool)

You totally owe me a new monitor for that!

 

[TjW]

This guy already betrays his ignorance of philosophy mere seconds into the video.

He doesn't even know what the "Golden Rule" is. He mentions the "Golden Rule" by name and then recites the guiding principle of the Hippocratic Oath "Do no harm" (which is also a Google motto).

I thought everybody knew that one: He who has the gold makes the rules.

 

[Sledge]

I thought everybody knew that one: He who has the gold makes the rules.

The golden rule dates back to ancient Greece, we're talkin' about Caesar: it's OK when it's in a three-way, it's not gay when it's in a three-way.

 

[Apathia]

They are all open sourced.


Paul

Tell that to the Inquisition!

 

[Apathia]

Did you attend? If so, what was it like?

I never attended that one.
People seemed to like it though.

I thought it was still going, but today when I looked for it in the Program it was gone.
The Dalai Lama and Friends class has had a longer run.
It's the one I attend.
It's pretty open-sourced, but has a strong secular bent thanks to the leader and myself.

 

[The Norseman]

I never attended that one.
People seemed to like it though.

I thought it was still going, but today when I looked for it in the Program it was gone.
The Dalai Lama and Friends class has had a longer run.
It's the one I attend.
It's pretty open-sourced, but has a strong secular bent thanks to the leader and myself.

Right on. Thanks for the response!