Talk

Specifity - the bane of religion

Note to the worldy wise: If you intend to start your own religion and have any expectations for its success, avoid details. Try to remain vague. Prophets who have proclaimed the end of the world at specific times have seen the strength of their following wane drastically after the passage of such time. Remain purposefully vague when describing the physical phenomenon that your Gods are responsible for. The Greeks told us the Sun was nothing but Zeus's son Apollo riding his chariot across the sky. When we finally figured the planetary alignments we said no dice and moved on. As a consolation prize we did take along with us some of the superstitions and rituals.

If your God is about to give a sermon only invite selected people. Discourage participation by claiming that God's presence will be overwhelming for the non-prophets. For example when God asked Moses to ascend Mt. Sinai with Aaron he asked the common people not be invited lest they be overcome with God's magnificence. (However later when God decides to send his son out into the world, he has no problems impregnating a common woman). When God decides to talk to Muhammed he sends Gabriel to a remote cave. When Muhammed takes a guided tour of the heavens its a trip for one.

Keep the eschatology powerful and imminent. Christianity and Islam make ample use of the thunderous phrase "The day of judgement". This keeps your followers on their toes. When times get worse it will be easier for your followers to generate a revival by pointing to your forecast. Do provide ample description of the rewards and punishments that await your subjects.

Keep your metaphysics as simple and confusing as possible. Islam kept it simple with one God and a human as the prophet (oh and by the way everyone who came before him was also sent by God just seemed to have trouble communicating). Christianity unfortunately failed the simplicity test but made it up by making it hellishly (note the use of the adjective) confusing with a trinity that is inexplicably interlinked (Father, Son and the holy Spirit). Hinduism blamed you for not achieving your goals by claiming that when the atman (soul) became one with the brahman (universal truth) then you reached liberation. Buddhism won this round hands down - You will be enlightened when you hear the sound of one hand clapping!