Here's my view of what a proper religion/church would constitute. I should start my own church. Anyway:
-walking through the door to my church, one has to readily admit that there is no proof of God, there never has been and if anyone brings up the word "faith" they get laughed at, shit thrown at them and are told to leave immediately.
-Kneeling is not allowed and God is
never to be worshiped. Implying God is a needy, narcissistic, bored fuck that needs to be praised simply isn't allowed. No God would create people to serve and praise him. That entire premise is staggering in its stupidity. Being grateful for what you have is encouraged, as is striving to gain more financially and spiritually.
-all beliefs, suggestions, theories, etc. are to be organic and brought in from the
exclusion of what we know as today's "religious" institutions. They're all failures and manipulate people. Every one of them.
-all members must be employed, newly unemployed or their spouse must be employed. No deadbeats allowed. Contributions will be tracked by an independent accountant and the allocation of all monies will be voted on. We will also pay all applicable taxes, like any other business.
-daily and Sunday masses will be a generally open forum. The sit/kneel/stand/pray garbage will have no place in my church. The discussion will center around family first, community second and the general world, lastly. The goal will be to make better men, women children and families. Fiscal and moral responsibility will be promoted, and all members will be encouraged to live healthy lifestyles (I need some work in this area!). The primary focus, though, will be to make better children for this world. Some old bastard reading 2,000 year old books will not be allowed. Topics like education, hygiene, peer pressure, bullying, drugs, alcohol, and education will be discussed. Small group and family discussion will be encouraged. Adults will talk about the pressures of parenthood, employment, stress and life's other important issues. We're promoting better people and lives, not an agenda.
-transparency will be the norm. No one is better than anyone and there is no hierarchy. Everyone is on a first name basis, but children will learn to address adults as "Mr" or Miss/Mrs." Open forum mass can be led by anyone that has submitted a topic or topics that the rest of the congregation passes via a vote.
-we're gonna do shit to make ourselves and others better, and have some fun. Expect to participate in group/family trips to museums, parks (picnics), shelters, children's hospitals and movies/concerts. We'll offer tutoring to struggling children, counseling for troubled marriages and drug and alcohol programs for those affected members. We will not turn a blind eye to our parishioners in need.
-we'll constantly strive to keep things new and refreshing. Our goal will always to make stronger men, women, children, parents and citizens. Our service to "God" will be shown through each other, how we love ourselves and each other. While we'll never admit to knowing if God exists, we'll take solace in knowing that we're making ourselves and the world a little bit better. And that's good enough.
That's all I can think of, off of the top of my head.
Ya wanna talk wingspan...........
