Bronies are a religion?

[Serbon div 386]

 

 

Dude, that wasn't even cool.

Too bad it wasn't. I had too close contact with dark magic and witchcraft to let myself associate friendship with "magic".

[Malinter 3,064]

What the heck is "New Sincerity Movement?"

 

that a fancy name for "don't be a dick to others"?

[Bendy 1,821]

The thing is, some Bronies do think of Ponies as a religion.

 

In fact, there's an entire sub fandom of fan fiction called The Conversion Bureau (not all the sub fandom) that justifies and openly thinks Humanity going extinct due to Ponies killing all Humans is a 'good' thing, by turning all Humans into Ponies.

 

All the while not realizing that's the same logic as the Reapers from Mass Effect.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Rush

[StarSwirlTheBearded 356]

Can we seriously put this MLP religion/Celestia incarnation talk to rest?

[Ribbonfree 2,383]

Can we seriously put this MLP religion/Celestia incarnation talk to rest?

 

No we must become more than we once were, or possibly less depending on who you're talking to.

[Jeric 46,851]

This whole discussion reminds me of Michael Creighton making the case that Environmentalism was a religion.

 

http://www.pe.tamu.edu/DL_Program/graduate_seminar_series/Documents/MichaelCrichton_evironmentalism.pdf

 

In the end, I think the broader (and more interesting) discussion centers around the question of what exactly defines a religion.

Can it even be defined? How much of it is conditioning, cultural, or institutional compared to something intrinsically part of our human makeup? Is religion -- like science -- a byproduct of our need to explain fundamental questions around us when we don't have easy or palatable answers?

 

That said, no this fandom isn't a cult or religion. I would so not have ever posted one word on this board if I got that general vibe from lurking. I simply think that in the end, Faith, Science, and Art all try and address the same broader and deeper questions we have as a species at any given time. This is why to some, things like a fandom of a product based on an art form may bear a passing resemblance to a religion. Same with an strict adherence to a scientific study like ecology.

 

And if in 1000 years this thing does end up being a real religion, please for the love of all things holy, don't like it center around Celestia. I mean, from what I can see so far she is a little useless at times.

 

[PinkiePieJr 122]

Umm...I don't think these people know what the difference between a fandom, and religion are. I mean, nothing against religion, but bronies are not one. Just cuz we are followers of the ponies, does not make us a religion, or a cult to (thought I'd bring that up). We, a fandom, are just people who very much enjoy our ponies, and like to talk about them. I mean, it would be like saying that people who are fans of fishing, are a religion, just because they get together to fish, and talk about it. That's not quite how it works. Religion yes, is a following, but it's not this kind. Ponies are not a religion, they are a fandom.

[Revertz 159]

And Blessith Celestia in all of her Glorious might and Renounce Night Mare Moon or we shall banish you too the outer regions of the Everfree Forest............. Oh sorry what we're you saying about religion?

[SilverStarApple 849]

Bronyism might be the first Religion I don't hate. Besides the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, of course.

 

Come on, think of all the neat religious-person perks we'll get if this thing goes through!

 

You know how religious people can wear their religious-person hats in their ID Photos? Well... If Bronyism becomes a Religion, we'll be able to wear PONY PLUSHIES on our heads in our ID Photos! Your favourite pony becomes a plushie, and sits atop your head cheerfully in your ID Photo. And we'll get away with it, because 'Blah blah, Freedom of Religious Expression, blah!'. So come on, make Bronyism a religion! I want to wear a Twilight Sparkle Plushie atop my head in ALL of my ID Photos!

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,177]

http://thebrigeeda.deviantart.com/art/Sweet-Pony-Jesus-271685023

 

For the love of god NO!!!........ Don't f**k up this awesome cartoon with religion........ Just imagine them putting in a Jesus pony...... Just no....

[7th Boss 102]

In the first quote they got alot of info right, but, the second one is iffy. Yes we do have holidays like Derpy day and the numerous ones from the show but that doesn't mean we're a religion. It's a TV show that has merchandise, and we wear it. And what's this about

 

They also believe the world should be more like Equestria

 

I call bullshit on that one.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Gearhart

[PinkDeadly 34]

If Bronyism was an religion. Would Princess Celestia be god and Discord be the Devil and the mane 6 be like Hercules? 

 

 

They also believe the world should be more like Equestria

 

 

I mean not exactly like Equestria but the world is not a friendly place. I don't think that will ever change tho

[StarSwirlTheBearded 356]

I think we can follow morals outlined in the show, but it isn't a religion.  If this were a religion, we'd be believing that the ponies actually exist, that they directly assist in life, and possibly that we may go to Equestria when we die.  Although I've seen people suggest the latter, I guarantee that the characters in MLP are not supernatural beings that shape the world we live in.  Of course, the devotion of some bronies can seem religious, but bronyism simply doesn't have all of the components of a religion.

[King Sejong 859]

   The media these days is a joke, they try to make us look like a cult, of course there are real sects that could pose a serious threat to others, but the media chose a easier target, that challenges their order at the cost of individual freedom. I have been a Pokemon and Harry Potter fan for years, that does not make me heathen, nor practise black magic, yet it not illegal to, still people have too much control in their lives, and want someone to enforce their will and judgement, until that power turns against them. We are bronies, not Branch Dividians, Aum Shinrikyo, or the Family, we just want to live peaceful and watch this amazing show, and be creative with it, without some zealous lunatic call us crazy for liking good animation, nor threaten us with violence to force us to conform to their fandom, the way we have altered religion and nationalism, it does resemble a fanatic sect, with many followers who are just fans to impose an undefined law, in order to punish different people, regardless I am a fan of My Little pony, and I do not need religion to make me happy.    

[Adachi 772]

A religion is made to glorify one or more deities. Unless there is a deity to worship, then one cannot make a religion based on the show in a technical sense. The correct term would be, philosophy. There are people trying to make Celestia a goddess through magick, but that's a whole different realm of discussion, and it's not something I'm gonna get involved with (although if somepony does actually make Celestia into a goddess, and manages to give her an anchor to our plane of existence, then so be it, and I will gladly allow Celestia to work through me).

 

Of course, I'm a Druid/Omniist, so my views on religion might be greatly different from most people's.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Princess of the Sun

[Khaoios 1,970]

Oh no......not this,   

Might as well be considered an Equestrian Heretic, b/c taking MLP to a religious stand point is going a little too far, if you think about it.  Yet, we have our moments of "praising the show" b/c of the nature of it, but somewhere along the line it should stop to a certain point. 

[CosmicHooves 2,705]

Oh no......not this,   

Might as well be considered an Equestrian Heretic, b/c taking MLP to a religious stand point is going a little too far, if you think about it.  Yet, we have our moments of "praising the show" b/c of the nature of it, but somewhere along the line it should stop to a certain point. 

I know.

And if they start going around saying "join my cult", I'm gonna debate them and hopefully common sense kicks in.

[The Blades Shadow 444]

At first I was laughing because I thought it was just a joke... Then I realized they were being serious and laughed even harder XD

 

Nah, but seriously bronies as a religion seems kinda stupid. I'll watch the show and everything but no way I'm gonna take it that far...

[Adachi 772]

I know.

And if they start going around saying "join my cult", I'm gonna debate them and hopefully common sense kicks in.

There you go again. Making fun of people's beliefs, and calling it nonsense. What if I said, that I have just as much reason to call Christianity a bunch of bunk, as you do for dismissing egregores? I'm just as willing to love and tolerate others, despite their beliefs, but that finger wagging. Uncool.

 

And you know what they say. For every time a Christian points a finger at someone's beliefs, 5 atheists will point their fingers at him, and will be armed with logic.

 

I'm not saying that my beliefs are any more valid than yours. But people really need to stop bashing people's beliefs. I find worshiping the show itself kinda silly, but in the end, if it makes people happy and gives them purpose, it fulfills the purpose of a religion.

[SveciaDash 364]

Pony is life. Life is pony.

 

Pleasing our pony god overlords is the only satisfaction

[MyLittleGLaDOSFalls 26]

This is beyond lol. This is cachinate. 

[FluffyGoat13 375]

The amount of times i've heard people mistakenly call Bronies a cult or religion is enough to drive me insane (and i'm not already? STFU ME!). Any who, when people make the mistake of calling us a religion i do 3 things:

• Punch them (if i can't punch them i just rage at them)
• I point out that I'm a brony and an atheist, atheists are people who don't believe in God(s) and arn't part of ANY religion.
• I make sure they don't make that MISTAKE again.

THIS.......IS.....A FANDOM!!!!!!!

[7th Boss 102]

The amount of times i've heard people mistakenly call Bronies a cult or religion is enough to drive me insane (and i'm not already? STFU ME!). Any who, when people make the mistake of calling us a religion i do 3 things:

• Punch them (if i can't punch them i just rage at them)
• I point out that I'm a brony and an atheist, atheists are people who don't believe in God(s) and arn't part of ANY religion.
• I make sure they don't make that MISTAKE again.

THIS.......IS.....A FANDOM!!!!!!!

I'm right there with you man/women, I do the exact same thing

[FluffyGoat13 375]

man/women

I'm a dude. And yeah one of my "Friends" claimed to be a brony (after my years of being a hater and months of being a brony, i can spot a brony from a mile off, he isn't a brony). Anyway, he said he left the fandom (of which none of my brony friends or me acknowledged that he was a part of) because it was a religion.

I punched him immediately after he said religion.

Edited April 16, 2014 by BritishBrony 13

[Jeric 46,851]

(whoops ... wrong thread)

 

*shrugs*

 

In all seriousness, no a fandom should ever be considered a Faith.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Jeric