"Sciencism" was an idea I first had about 3 years ago. The idea was to create a new religion based on science. Now, I know that it's been done before, but it's never been done quite like this. Whereas other people (atheists) have tried to create so-called "scientific religions", invariably it meant leaving out the religion part. Because the very last people on Earth who are capable of understanding religion and religious people and the religious way of thinking are atheists. The adherents of these "scientific religions" knew that there wasn't a God, and there was always a hint of a joke in the enterprise. If you do a google search, you will find a few people with such ideas. Needless to say, all of them are dead in the water.
In my religion however, Science is God, and is worshipped as a God would be worshipped. This means that while the first generation of "Sciencists" (note the spelling) know that there isn't a God, they actively indoctrinate and even brainwash their children (the second generation) to believe that Science is God. So just as Christians or Muslims grow up within a Christian or Muslim worldview, the child of a Sciencist grows up within a Sciencistic worldview. From that point onwards, successive generations of Sciencists would believe in Science as God, and would teach their children the same.
But is it really possible to raise children in this manner? Of course it is. There are hundreds of past and present religions, and the adherents of every religion indoctrinate their children into believing in that particular religion. In fact, children could easily be raised with the belief that Mickey Mouse was God. If you teach kids to pray to Mickey Mouse, they will. And if there is a sufficient critical mass of Mickey Mouse believers, then these children would have external validation of their beliefs, and could easily spend their entire lives believing that Mickey Mouse is God.
The idea of creating a new religion is not new. It's been done many times before, and I can think of 3 good examples that originated during the 20th century alone: various cargo cults, Scientology, and Mormonism. To non-believers, it is hard to imagine how Joseph Smith (the founder of Mormonism) and L. Ron Hubbard (the founder of Scientology) could not have been lying. In this sense, they were the "first generation". They knew they were lying. Once they died, subsequent generations had internalized these religious beliefs, and from then on, these beliefs could be transmitted without any further deception. Obviously current believers in these religions are neither lying to themselves nor to others, regardless of whether their beliefs are true or false.
My intention was that Sciencism should follow the same path. I know I'm lying, and the few brave souls who I hope to attract to this cause would also know that I'm lying. They would knowingly lie as well. But we could ease our conscience with the knowledge that it's all done for a good cause. But once these beliefs had been safely transmitted to the next generation, it would perpetuate itself.
So what's the status of this project? It's stalled. I simply don't have the charisma nor the leadership qualities to cold-start this new religion. All my previous efforts have been focused on trying to convince other people. But such a task is nigh impossible, especially for one such as myself who lacks the character traits to be able to pull this off.
But all is not lost. My project may yet come to fruition. I do have a captive audience. My own (future) children.
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