If I were start my own religion, what would be the key ingredients for its success?

Question

Should I make the beliefs vague enough so no one can pin my members down on any given point?

Should it be filled with mysteries that no one understands?

What would be a good name for my followers?

Would it help if I was a known con artist or a science fiction writer before starting it?

Answer 1

I think the key ingredients to modern successful religions include
1. Moral guidelines that stem from however the person feels at the time; no demands
2. No mention of future punishment, only reward for "good deeds," whatever good deeds happen to be
3. Plenty of talk to potential worshippers about how victimized they've been in the past and how empowered they can be and how good they can feel by converting
4. Broad acceptance of everyone into the fellowship, no matter what they do or believe, unless of course they believe in absolute truth.

Answer 2

OK, the key to the sucess of any religion is food. Christians have "communion" during service, AKA food. And they also eat before and after service and look how well thats worked for them. Even their savior fed people, albeit with fish and bread but it was a great party...or so ive heard. now on to your other questions:

Should I make the beliefs vague enough so no one can pin my members down on any given point? Yes.

Should it be filled with mysteries that no one understands? yes, create some mystic force that you cant totally prove exists. a force like "the Force" from Star Wars, ESP or quantum physics/string theory.

What would be a good name for my followers? Id say find a country you hate, have them beat you to death and then call yourself whatever they called you in their native tongue and then use that as your name, your followers will be names after you. I have to use christianity for this example again. Jesus' real name was Yeshua, however his followers call themselves christians because the country that hated him and mocked him called him "Christ" So see..it would work for you if it worked for them.

Would it help if I was a known con artist or a science fiction writer before starting it? there's no such thing as bad publicity my friend it worked for scientology (Sci-fi writer) and Haeven's Gate (Con-man)

Using these elements Im sure your religion will take off pretty quickly. Especially with people who have no intelligence, are searching for something to believe in and most republicans. Just try not to have mass suicides you need the followers to get money if they keep dying you cant get rich. and after all...thats what most religion is about.

Answer 3

Well, I don't know why you would, but it would need a purpose, most likely in a higher power(s) (like god).

And mysteries usually just lead to suspicion, which could turn people away from your religion.

Followers would most likely depend on the name of the religion, anad being known as a con artist or science fiction author would probably be a bad idea, because no one would believe you.



PERSONALLY, I don't think you should make your own religion, being a christian and all, but your life is your own, and you can make your own decisions.

Answer 4

Follow L. Ron Hubbard's example.

It's hard to "make" a religion instantly, though. Pretty much every religion was made by a saviour-type character, and later on (a few hundred years, maybe) there won't be anything but vague records of your existance, and so people will start seeing you as a god, etc, just like with Jesus and Mithras for example.

But since we live in such technological times, this is not a possibility, since everything is recorded etc.

Answer 5

Anything that can't be positively defined should do it. When something has an elastic definition it can just be bent to serve a need.

As far as being a con artist or sci fi writer.. well worked for L. Ron Hubbard didn't it - he was both.

Answer 6

The key to a successful religion is to capitalize on three emotions: greed, fear, and guilt. To address greed, make sure you make its adherents feel like they are all-powerful. Rituals, such as prayer, that allow people to believe their thoughts have some sort of enormous power are good. Maybe even promise them they can move a mountain or something!

To address guilt, make sure you constantly remind people that they cannot live up to some ideal standard. Also, make your god voyeuristic and jealous. Make sure pride and doubt are labeled as bad things, because nothing brings a man to his knees faster than utter self-contempt and a broken spirit.

Finally, offer immortality. People are terrified of death, so they'll delude themselves with anything to escape that fear.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Do some major magic tricks of Chris Angels and David Copperfield. And start preaching with fearful messages about the end of the world. It has made millions to many Evangelists.
Do not worry about being a con artist, tell the people you were enlightened.......................Good luck but do not lose your head.

Answer 8

Dont you think there is enough mess in the world without you starting another religion?

If you want to start something, start a movement to get justice for the violated and punishment for the culprits or perpetrators.

But dont start another religion before accountability is brought about and people punished for their criminal activities.

Dont let people get away with murder or you will be held accountable too.

Answer 9

in all probability no longer as maximum religions that look to have a founder had one that based the religion for the duration of their lifetime fairly than hoping they might bury a holy e book and it could be found 1000's of years later. Sedartha, Jesus, and Mohamed did no longer wish that 1000's of years later people could detect their writings yet tried to transform others for the duration of their lifetime.

Answer 10

There are many ways you could go about starting your own religon. It should be suspensefull and fightening so people are afraid to turn it down. You should definetly get a tax exempt status so it's all profit baby! Wait...this is starting to sound like scientology. You better get Tom Cruise's arch enemy as a leader just to be safe.