If bronydom became a real religion

[DerpyFanatic 114]

Wiccan priest and theologian here, weighing in because OP has piqued my interest significantly.

 

Saying no because I personally hate religions. I was raised with a religion I didn't believe in/understand and when I told my family I was an Aiethist, they were very dissapointed in me. That's more personal experience, but yea.

 

Also, bronydom isn't really religion material. It's based off a TV show for little girls. And I don't think a lot of us actually believe in the fact that Equestria exists (Unless you believe in Realms and Dimensions. Which I somewhat do, but not sure about anyone else). So it would be /very/ hard getting anyone interested.

 

You'd think cartoons wouldn't make very good theological fodder, but turns out they do! Seriously, there's a cult in Russia the worships the character of Gadget Hackwrench from Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers. Google it, it'll blow your mind. MLP-based movement? Stranger things have happened.

 

Depends on the prophet of this 'religion', things can go astronomically destructive or utterly stupid that the mainstream media can't help but to shake its collective head for our stupidity.

While I don't really understand why Scientology is popular, pretty sure it's because it is not based on a Saturday cartoon for girls, not to mention worshipping a clearly fictional shiny horse would only ensure that historians in the far future will use us as a prime example of "doing it wrong"

Nope, not gonna join.

 

Scientology and groups like it are popular because they look for socially isolated and emotionally vulnerable people, offering to fix their woes for a price. Any kind of warm and friendly-looking group would look very attractive to someone in the middle of a personal crisis: like a beggar standing out in the snow looking through an open doorway at a roaring hearth, the sense of community, spirituality and the prospect of having a place to belong and be yourself is almost irresistible to someone who is lonely and feeling cut off or ostracized.

 

The biggest reason MLP fandom has attracted so many dysfunctional people - racists, misogynists and the like - is because the brony creed of love and tolerance attracts and welcomes those normally considered to be social outcasts. The problems start when the outcasts remain ignorant of the issues that made them outcasts to begin with and their dysfunction is exhibited to the rest of the community. If bronies were to start their own religion, that faith would have to put rules in place to make followers aware of their dysfunctions and curb unwanted behaviours. 

 

Oh hell no, yes the brony message is a positive one but making it a religion just seems to be asking for trouble. While I am not one of those people who is saying that religion is the cause of all problems that has ever plagued mankind I will admit that it can complicate things in cases where it doesn't belong. There are many different types of bronies with varying degrees on interest in the show and some disagreements over what direction the show should take in certain situations and this can in some cases such as the "Derpy wars" get a bit ugly. And bronies represent many different religious and political beliefs so what would their creed be and exactly who would get to decide that? Love and tolerate are all well and good but I have seen many people screw even that up, there are people that seem to think love and tolerate= political correctness when political correctness can often be just as intolerant as straight up racism.

 

Histories 12:15 - And it came to pass that the Pegasus with the defective eyes and simple mind came to be known as Derpy Hooves; and her name and person became known throughout the land as those who knew of her came to love and adore her. 16 But some disapproved of her name, and demanded to call her Ditzy Doo; others forgot themselves in their righteous passions, forsaking the path of Love and Tolerance, and called for the blood of Yamino to be spilled upon the virgin ground.

 

1.Tax Exemption for religious organizations in certain countries

 

2.replacing ancient religions that promotes hate and intolerance with one that promotes love and tolerance

 

I guess  it could be more of a secular religion based on secular humanitarianism with some MLP artworks in the religious buildings to make it look legit.I think that #2 alone is good enough of a reason.

 

Don't you just love modern religion?

 

Bronies are fans of a TV show. A fictional TV show. It's not a religion at all. It's a fandom of a television series.

 

How would there be spirituality in that? Princess Celestia, the closest thing to a goddess the series has, is universally accepted as a work of fiction. It could never be like other religions where they believe the deity to exist.

 

Love and tolerance? Really? You think because of some motto that's thrown around that, in reality holds practically no meaning, that a "brony" religion would be peaceful? Think about it: Currently, we have arguments about who the "best pony" is. Think that wouldn't escalate further if there were a religion behind it? People fight over religious figures daily.

 

Not if you're polytheist. Polytheist faiths (Hinduism, Wicca, Asatru, etc.) offer up dozens, hundreds, even thousands of gods for each adherent to adopt and worship. Those who argue over "best pony" need only be reminded that each pony has their own strengths and weaknesses. (and besides, everypony knows Derpy is really best pony ).

 

Terrible reason. Religion should have nothing to do with taxes and government. The government shouldn't favor the establishment of religion through tax exemption in the first place.Really, now? Say what you will about Christianity or Islam or whatnot, but to say that they promote hate and intolerance? Please. Love and tolerance was literally Jesus' message. Those "ancient religions," at their hearts, are good. They aimed to offer guidance to the people and give them a sense of purpose. It's the political shenanigans and power-hungry officials that screw them up. Religion has been used as an excuse for war since the very beginning.

Everything you said here is nothing new. Except for the part with ponies. And ponies should never be a part of religion.

 

It looks like you completely misunderstand the purpose of religious tax exemptions. Churches/temples/etc are given tax breaks with the understanding that the money not paid in tax is put towards social works such as feeding the poor, counselling the vulnerable, etc. Bronies already perform charity in the name of ponies, making it an official religious duty would simply be the next logical step.

 

Cows are part of religion (Hinduism: where do you think the term "sacred cows" came from?), why not ponies?

 

To add to that, it'd be one of the most bashed religions I've ever seen.

 

Oh, wouldn't it ever! LOL

 

 

 

 

Ponies or no ponies, if you're looking for a prophet to get the ball rolling, I'm your man.

[Yellow Diamond 7,565]

I'm sure we can proceed with this discussion without actually debating issues such as the authenticity of certain religions or the separation of church and state. This is not the locale for those particular matters.

 

Personally, no, I wouldn't abandon my faith for the message of the show. I could delve into a deeper selection of reasons as to why I would not, but suffice it to say that "Bronydom" does not adequately address the nature of the world, humankind, and our relationship with God. My sense is that "Bronydom" in the context of religion would be mostly a mixture of humanist and Pelagian concepts. In other words, it would profess the desire and the need for human beings to overcome evil solely through human works. Admirable as that may be in a certain sense, it would fall prey to variant forms of self-justification.

 

As a general rule of thumb, however, Brony causes are quite good. I think Bronies can be instructive to religions which have charity and love at their core. But in my eyes Lauren Faust's reimagining of a toy franchise is insufficient as religious calling---not offense meant toward Lauren, of course!

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

This post has been redacted by the author.

Edited May 6, 2021 by Blue

[DerpyFanatic 114]

Blue: I think we have a bet waiting to happen.

 

I'm willing to bet Bronyism (or whatever this religion would end up being called) could not only gain traction, but also, once some scriptures are written, address the intellectual deficiencies associated with basing one's religious beliefs on a toy and cartoon franchise. (Seriously, just google the cult of Gadget Hackwrench already.) Ponies don't necessarily have to represent any literal truth, but rather form a metaphorical framework (think Ancient or Neopagan mythology) with which the metaphysical underpinnings of existence, the Self and God are expressed in a manner easily understood by even the least of us. If classics such as Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland can not only stand up to intellectual scrutiny but bear metaphysical fruit, then I'd like to find out what could come out of  something like Spongebob Squarepants.

[Jammo 986]

Christian Anarchist ala Leo Tolstoy here.

And it really depends on how loosely you define religion. If you were to gain an ethical system from FiM I am already a practitioner of a brony "religion" as it's views on tolerance and acceptance match my own. Does that make me any less of what I consider my faith? Not really. If you mean "religion" as something that requires a spiritual train of thought, that is not what bronidom is and wouldn't work as a religion in that sense unless it was a splinter group.

 

Hope this can stay civil. (Coming from the guy who called himself an anarchist. . I'm the reject a church saying the "right" way to worship kind not the throw molotovs at anyone above me kind)

[PonyEcho 1,610]

*the f k am i seeing*

 

NO 

 

well there are some cases were i would agree to this ... hell i agree with the idea as Jedi as a religion bronydom, just no sim ply because were part of a internet culture and the idea of use being good role modles is a lie brony are just as vial and cruel as the hater and just because you say "oh that just a small amount of the community" doesn't work because it just points out that you're apart of the ignorant side of it.

 

so over all NO because simply put no good could come from it

[DerpyFanatic 114]

I have the perfect image for this thread:

 

 

I can actually imagine having attractive young bronies and pegasisters going door-to-door like that...

[Azura 1,107]

This has gone too far this time. Us Bronies do not need a religion, we're fine the way it is right now. As a fandom, not a religion.

Who in the hoof would want a religion based on a cartoon anyway?!

Edited December 13, 2012 by Cloud Chaser

[Fridge 382]

Would you abandon your faiths and join the new religion? do you think that it will be better for society compared to the older religions?

 

I don't see why it can't be if Scientology manage to be recognized as a religion and it should be pretty interesting to see haters get charged for hate crimes.

Well first I'd want to know the in's and out's of the new religion before I'd even contemplate it. I did that with Islam, Scientology and the others before deciding on Daoism.

 

Anyway I'd hate for it to become a religion, I think it would be better if it were just a set of ideals.

 

Thinking on it though, it would be the first religion that actually accepts that it's god is fallible (assuming that celestia is being the deity).

Edited December 10, 2012 by Fridge

[khaine21x3 789]

Even were it to "succeed" it would have a very hard time gaining traction compared to even the looniest religions that already have track records (such as Scientology).

 

You would be very surprised at the power of propaganda, none of those things you mentioned actually matters or the communist governments would not have existed.

 

Using effective soviet style propaganda coupled with reverse psychology in making all other religion seem violent and psychotic would make even a religion based on a child's cartoon have millions of followers.

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

This post has been redacted by the author.

Edited May 6, 2021 by Blue

[Vedana Purity 221]

Well if Star Wars actually managed to have a Jedi Religion (that has actually been accepted), then what is to stop a My little Pony Faith going on.

 

Although personally I would not join, still expect the unexpected I always say.

[khaine21x3 789]

 

We've yet to see a Communist regime outlast [a] global empire that tried to displace it.

Christianity and its ancestor religions have done this for the past 4000 years.

 

 

We're seeing the very final days of Christianity now as people become more secular and secular views are imposed by governments.I wouldn't be too sure about Christianity lasting another 200 years or it would just be Christian in name while going against the bible and traditional Christian values like some churches already do.

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

This post has been redacted by the author.

Edited May 6, 2021 by Blue

[Flicker Sweet 3,391]

Absolutely not okay! D:<

I don't even know what I would say if I found out that people were worshiping ponies as a religion!  It is a show and a fandom, nothing more.  I'm sorry, but nobody should take the show THAT seriously......

and no, I may be a pretty wild brony, but I am a confirmed Catholic and I will not turn away from my God EVER!!!!!!

I think my bro @Blue can back me up on that one......

Edited December 10, 2012 by Red

[khaine21x3 789]

You obviously don't have a very good grasp of what Christianity is doing in most places in the world except North America and Britain.

I live in a country where they're being converted and wiped out by muslims so I guess it's not that much different in asia and Africa.Even Philippines is turning secular with each passing year.

 

Roman Catholic on the other hand might survive as they have a centralized leadership and decent power structure.

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

I'm gonna be dead honest, and say that Bronyism would be the most retarded thing ever.

 

If it turns into a "religion" it'd possible be enough to make me leave the fandom. Why the hell would I not only have the Anti Bronies behind my back, watching every move of us to make fun and pick at, but have religions everywhere flipping shit about people leaving their's and starting their own, adoring colorful cartoon ponies.

And besides, what are we trying to promote besides friendship. Bronies are becoming that one fandom that wants to be known by everyone. It's quite annoying really, closest thing we got to a goddess is the Princess, but are we really gonna praise something we know isn't real? -__-

[Titan Rising 2,156]

Its already a religion.  Bronies worship ponies and love and tolerate everything (except murderers and racists and the like because that's not inconsistent with the word "tolerate"); and no I wouldn't join because most people who consider themselves bronies seem overall (to me) rather shallow, liberal, socialist, etc.

[Despair 114]

A fandom a religion?

 

"Oh yes! Lets all go worship a fictional cartoon show about ponies! Celestia be praised!"

 

No. Just no.

 

That just wouldn't work. That's the dumbest religion I've ever heard besides Mormonism.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Would you abandon your faiths and join the new religion? do you think that it will be better for society compared to the older religions?

 

I don't see why it can't be if Scientology manage to be recognized as a religion and it should be pretty interesting to see haters get charged for hate crimes.

 

Maybe not to THAT extreme. Just because it's a religion doesn't mean we should be a Theocracy. (See the Spanish Inquisition for how well "doctrine as law" works out.) That being said, YES! I would submit that I already have even. I'm still loyal and actively practice my Catholic roots, but I've incorporated Celestia, Luna, and even the Mane Six into my prayers. What? I'm not breaking the First Commandment as long as I don't actually refer to them as "gods." (Hooray for loophole abuse!) As far as revering fictional characters goes, you could do a lot worse.

[Shanks 10,816]

As a general rule of thumb, however, Brony causes are quite good. I think Bronies can be instructive to religions which have charity and love at their core. But in my eyes Lauren Faust's reimagining of a toy franchise is insufficient as religious calling---not offense meant toward Lauren, of course!

I am sure she would probably agree with that statement, if I was Lauren Faust and that happened I would be greatly disturbed and either very worried about the people that started the religion or highly suspicious of their motives. I was weirded out enough as it is when people started "jedi" as a religion, at least that didn't go as badly as I thought it would though.

[Earth Saphina 35]

I love this show and its concept of "Love and Tolerate",but not that much.

Religion has a holy book as their reference and I don't think that bronism has one

[Jghx5 33]

Hell No!  Now I don't believe in God but if this really became a religion.  I leave this community in a drop of a hat.  I would think that it would become a cult and that my call to get the hell out of here.

[Swordfishtrombone 384]

As a juggalo, I've seen what putting your faith in a bullshit made-up "religion" can do to you. (Yes, some I've known have been rather quite too dedicated to the whole "Dark Carnival" mythology, considering it their religion even.)

[Jack Durango 119]

 

I'VE GOT MY OWN RELIGION. I'M GOD. ANY QUESTIONS?

 

Haruhiism is based on the belief that the titular character of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (pictured above, staring at you) is basically God based on the fact that, in the show, she controls everything that exists in the universe, even though she doesn't know it. Oh, Japan. It's not official, but it could be taken officially. I think I'd rather put my faith in ponies than in Haruhi.

 

But my point is, a religion can be based on anything. A good idea cannot.