From: Robert Owen (rowen@technologist.com)
Date: Fri Jan 07 2000 - 16:59:19 MST
REFERENCE: Subject: Re: A Message to the Membership
Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 16:57:11 -0500
"[2] As a question for the Legal Department: Suppose "Extropianism"
were redefined as a "religion"; what protections and advantages would
this afford (at the price of some hypocrisy and double-think)?"
I know the reason I have not been contacted by the Legal Department
is their discouragement over the apparent difficulty of such a task. Well,
to liberate your energies I am revealing my amazingly simple secret steps
to "rolling your own" religion. It is a ridiculously easy process of rummag-
ing about for twelve -- yes "12" -- items which you either already have
or can inexpensively purchase from local suppliers. Here is your shopping
list; look it over quickly to become convinced that ANYONE CAN DO THIS
and therefore you can too.
[01] A Suprahuman Ancestor
[02] At least one Sacred Text
[03] Several Magical Procedures
[04] A Sacred Talisman and Logo
[05] A Sacred Grove, Edifice or Website
[06] A Hierophantic Language
[07] A Charismatic Spokesperson for [01]
[08] A Rationale for Financial Support of [07]
[09] A Remedy for Pain and Death
[10] Some measure of Financial and Legal Immunity
[11] A Sacred Rulebook as a basis for [09]
[12] A System of Indoctrination
=======================
Robert M. Owen
Director
The Orion Institute
57 W. Morgan Street
Brevard, NC 28712-3659 USA
=======================
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 15:26:09 MST