Belief Net Try this!!!

[miss taken]

Anyone tried this yet. It is a quiz, and it will tell you the religion that most closely matches your system of beliefs!

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

I tried it a few years back, and came out

1. Liberal Christian Protestant
2. Bah'Hai
3. Quaker
4. Mormon!!!!

Interesting!

Mary

I just tried it again, and 3 years later, I come out as

1. Hindu
2. Bah'Hai
3. Neo-Pagan
4. Jainism (have no idea what that is!)

Shows that beliefs develope and change over time.

[mutleydog]

Mmmmm.....not sure what this tells me....a bit of everything really!!

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (94%)
3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (92%)
4. Neo-Pagan (92%)
5. New Age (85%)
6. Mahayana Buddhism (79%)
7. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (75%)
8. New Thought (68%)
9. Bahá'í Faith (65%)
10. Taoism (65%)
11. Secular Humanism (64%)
12. Theravada Buddhism (64%)
13. Scientology (59%)
14. Reform Judaism (56%)
15. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (52%)
16. Hinduism (47%)
17. Sikhism (47%)
18. Orthodox Quaker (40%)
19. Jainism (37%)
20. Nontheist (37%)
21. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (36%)
22. Jehovah's Witness (31%)
23. Orthodox Judaism (26%)
24. Eastern Orthodox (17%)
25. Islam (17%)
26. Roman Catholic (17%)
27. Seventh Day Adventist (16%)

[ifitmakesuhappy]

Anyone tried this yet. It is a quiz, and it will tell you the religion that most closely matches your system of beliefs!

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

I tried it a few years back, and came out

1. Liberal Christian Protestant
2. Bah'Hai
3. Quaker
4. Mormon!!!!

Interesting!

Mary

I just tried it again, and 3 years later, I come out as

1. Hindu
2. Bah'Hai
3. Neo-Pagan
4. Jainism (have no idea what that is!)

Shows that beliefs develope and change over time.


I did this test several months ago and came out with my number 1 result as Mormon. I just tried it again, as recently a lot of my beliefs and opinions have altered. Anyway to my despair i came out Mormon again :eek:
Not decided yet if its a bad thing to have a lot of the same values i had before. Anyway I'm gay fgs how can they have mormon anywhere near the top. Sigh.

[mutleydog]

I did this test several months ago and came out with my number 1 result as Mormon. I just tried it again, as recently a lot of my beliefs and opinions have altered. Anyway to my despair i came out Mormon again :eek:
Not decided yet if its a bad thing to have a lot of the same values i had before. Anyway I'm gay fgs how can they have mormon anywhere near the top. Sigh.

It does beg the question!! LOL!!

[dogzilla]

I've taken this test several times. This is the first time I got this result:

1) Liberal Quaker
2) Unitarian Universalism
3) Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (usually this is where Wicca ranks)
4) Neo-Pagan
5) Secular Humanism (What is that? Is that a religion?)

[peter_mary]

The breakdown on Paul is (top 10 only):

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Secular Humanism (96%)
3. Liberal Quakers (84%)
4. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (80%)
5. Nontheist (75%)
6. Theravada Buddhism (71%)
7. Neo-Pagan (62%)
8. Bahá'í Faith (51%)
9. Taoism (49%)
10. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (46%)

I would have guessed I would test as a Humanist first, and nontheist second, but was surprised by what I found. Not too surprised about Unitarian Universalism being high--lot's of Post-Mos attending the local UU congregation. What really surprised me was the Liberal Quaker and Mainline to Liberal Protestant being so high...maybe I'm ripe for the RIGHT set of missionaries to come along after all? Nah...

And I'm shocked that I came out as ANY degree of compatibility with Mormonism, as I can't think of ONE question I answered that would have been consistent with that one! Maybe there's things about me I don't know... :eek:

Anyway, this was interesting.

Paul

[Born Free]

[QUOTE=mutleydog]Mmmmm.....not sure what this tells me....a bit of everything really!!

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (94%)
3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (92%)
4. Neo-Pagan (92%)
5. New Age (85%)
6. Mahayana Buddhism (79%)
7. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (75%)
8. New Thought (68%)
9. Bahá'í Faith (65%)
10. Taoism (65%)
11. Secular Humanism (64%)
12. Theravada Buddhism (64%)
13. Scientology (59%)
14. Reform Judaism (56%)
15. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (52%)


Mutleydog,

I am alarmed :eek:

You MUST get that compatibility with Mormonism back below 50% or you are at serious risk of going over to the dark side! :p

Daryl

[jmkm]

my results...
1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Secular Humanism (95%)
3. Liberal Quakers (88%)
4. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (79%)
5. Neo-Pagan (75%)
6. Theravada Buddhism (74%)
7. New Age (69%)
8. Nontheist (68%)
9. Mahayana Buddhism (56%)
10. Reform Judaism (55%)

[silverfox]

Too many of you have come back with Mo'ism in your results. If I take this test and there is even on iota of Mo'ism in my results I literally would puke. :Puking Seriously. So although it looks very interesting I will avoid it for now.

[Born Free]

My scores above 50% are:

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (91%)
3. Neo-Pagan (87%)
4. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (86%)
5. Secular Humanism (84%)
6. New Age (84%)
7. New Thought (71%)
8. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (67%)
9. Scientology (67%)
10. Mahayana Buddhism (65%)
11. Reform Judaism (63%)
12. Taoism (63%)
13. Theravada Buddhism (61%)
14. Nontheist (56%)
15. Bahá'í Faith (55%)

Mosim came in at 37% for me, so I am guessing my risk of relapse is lowish! :) Not susceptible to falling off the wagon, me thinks.

I am still waiting on the LDS responses. Not being stampeded to date. The only nibble is from a High Counsellor who is on the edge of tipping!

Thanks for pointing this test. Certainly will make it into my bookmarks.

We are all in the same ballpark!

Daryl

I notice, the Royal Order of Noodle Pushers was not on the list of faiths! :cool:

[Born Free]

Too many of you have come back with Mo'ism in your results. If I take this test and there is even on iota of Mo'ism in my results I literally would puke. :Puking Seriously. So although it looks very interesting I will avoid it for now.

You're in denial. Na, na, na, na, na, nahhhhhhhh!

Almost thou protesteth too loudly!

Go for it!

Daryl

[Born Free]

The breakdown on Paul is (top 10 only):

I would have guessed I would test as a Humanist first, and nontheist second, but was surprised by what I found. Not too surprised about Unitarian Universalism being high--lot's of Post-Mos attending the local UU congregation. What really surprised me was the Liberal Quaker and Mainline to Liberal Protestant being so high...maybe I'm ripe for the RIGHT set of missionaries to come along after all? Nah...

And I'm shocked that I came out as ANY degree of compatibility with Mormonism, as I can't think of ONE question I answered that would have been consistent with that one! Maybe there's things about me I don't know... :eek:

Anyway, this was interesting.

Paul

It would be interesting to see the internal test logic, to see what elements of beliefs sat with what religions. I said on another thread, that I was surprised to see one of the new magazine essays (Bob McCue's) noting that JS's take on God (as being G because he/she was in step with, in contrast with above ,all Law) was more in line with Eastern thinking. On that score alone, I had to see that I was in step with JS at least.

So the compatibility can lie in surprising places, and I, for one, am only too prepared to accept it, if that is how it is!

Daryl

[free thinker]

Too many of you have come back with Mo'ism in your results. If I take this test and there is even on iota of Mo'ism in my results I literally would puke. :Puking Seriously. So although it looks very interesting I will avoid it for now.

Even if you come out as mo we will still welcome you here!! :D

I came out as Bahai!! What in the world do they like to do!! If you cant have the occasional beer etc, I aint goin!! :D

Free Thinker

[noodle]

My results (down to my "mo" ranking)

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Secular Humanism (95%)
3. Liberal Quakers (92%)
4. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (88%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (74%)
6. Neo-Pagan (73%)
7. Nontheist (66%)
8. Bahá'í Faith (64%)
9. New Age (63%)
10. Taoism (56%)
11. Reform Judaism (55%)
12. Mahayana Buddhism (54%)
13. Christian Science (51%)
14. New Thought (47%)
15. Orthodox Quaker (45%)
16. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (40%)

[Born Free]

My results (down to my "mo" ranking)

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Secular Humanism (95%)
3. Liberal Quakers (92%)
4. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (88%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (74%)
6. Neo-Pagan (73%)
7. Nontheist (66%)
8. Bahá'í Faith (64%)
9. New Age (63%)
10. Taoism (56%)
11. Reform Judaism (55%)
12. Mahayana Buddhism (54%)
13. Christian Science (51%)
14. New Thought (47%)
15. Orthodox Quaker (45%)
16. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (40%)

Obviously haven't got your MoJo workin' with Moism at only 40% :)

[dogzilla]

Does anybody NOT have Neo-Pagan in their top 10?

I told you there was a trend.

[twine]

My results:
1. Unitarian Universalism (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8041_1.html) (100%) 2. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8039_1.html) (98%) 3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8028_1.html) (84%) 4. Mahayana Buddhism (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8045_1.html) (83%) 5. New Thought (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8056_1.html) (83%) 6. Liberal Quakers (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8038_1.html) (81%) 7. Neo-Pagan (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8058_1.html) (81%) 8. New Age (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8055_1.html) (80%) 9. Hinduism (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8047_1.html) (76%) 10. Scientology (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8057_1.html) (67%) 11. Theravada Buddhism (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8042_1.html) (66%) 12. Bahá'í Faith (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8051_1.html) (65%) 13. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8035_1.html) (61%)

Considering my answers to this, and my scoring a 61% Mo'ism, I have to wonder if the authors of this know anything about Mo'ism. Then again, my former involvement with the mormon church certainly has had a large role in my belief process.

[nate]

Here's my top 10:

1. Liberal Quakers (100%)
2. Unitarian Universalism (97%)
3. Neo-Pagan (95%)
4. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (94%)
5. New Age (91%)
6. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (89%)
7. Mahayana Buddhism (81%)
8. Bahá'í Faith (81%)
9. Theravada Buddhism (79%)
10. Taoism (78%)

[silverfox]

Okay, I did it only to appease you all. It's rigged. There is NO WAY I am 50% Mo - no way!!!!!! Excuse me while I puke........ :Puking (I warned you)

I'd like to know how they have this test rigged. Does choosing "not applicable" mean it doesn't count so only the rest of the questions are used to calculate? I should note I didn't choose anything that was directly God or Christ related. Maybe that's where they get the 50% Mo'ism....whoever created this test....do THEY recognize the Mo church as "christian"???? If not then I am cool with the results.

However, I do feel faint and feel a great need for therapy now......sigh (blaming all of you EVIL people for pressuring me to take the test) :Puking

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Secular Humanism (97%)
3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (95%)
4. Liberal Quakers (88%)
5. Nontheist (76%)
6. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (68%)
7. Theravada Buddhism (68%)
8. Neo-Pagan (63%)
9. Bahá'í Faith (55%)
10. New Thought (55%)
11. New Age (54%)
12. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (50%)
13. Reform Judaism (48%)
14. Mahayana Buddhism (44%)
15. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (44%)
16. Scientology (44%)
17. Jehovah's Witness (41%)
18. Taoism (40%)
19. Orthodox Quaker (31%)
20. Islam (22%)
21. Jainism (22%)
22. Orthodox Judaism (22%)
23. Sikhism (20%)
24. Eastern Orthodox (8%)
25. Hinduism (8%)
26. Roman Catholic (8%)
27. Seventh Day Adventist (7%)

[dogzilla]

Just relax, Silverfox. We all know you're ten other things before you're half Moron. Breathe deeply and have another cup of coffee. You'll feel better shortly after that. Especially if it's Irish coffee! ;)

[silverfox]

Just relax, Silverfox. We all know you're ten other things before you're half Moron. Breathe deeply and have another cup of coffee. You'll feel better shortly after that. Especially if it's Irish coffee! ;)

Okay (pouting) I will go do what you said. sniff sniff I am sure I will feel better in a little while. Wait, instead of coffee I think I'll make that a pina colada. :)

[Born Free]

Okay (pouting) I will go do what you said. sniff sniff I am sure I will feel better in a little while. Wait, instead of coffee I think I'll make that a pina colada. :)

Mormonism is probably pina colada soluable, so have a few and you might be able to get your score below 25%. If, impact is not adequate, try pina colada plus coffee. :)

Daryl

PS: I just worked out what probably got you into trouble. Possibly answering "Not applicable"! See Mormons think that a whole lot of things that relate to the rest of the world are not applicable to them, so that might be how you got a high Mo score.

[mutleydog]

[QUOTE=mutleydog]Mmmmm.....not sure what this tells me....a bit of everything really!!

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (94%)
3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (92%)
4. Neo-Pagan (92%)
5. New Age (85%)
6. Mahayana Buddhism (79%)
7. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (75%)
8. New Thought (68%)
9. Bahá'í Faith (65%)
10. Taoism (65%)
11. Secular Humanism (64%)
12. Theravada Buddhism (64%)
13. Scientology (59%)
14. Reform Judaism (56%)
15. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (52%)


Mutleydog,

I am alarmed :eek:

You MUST get that compatibility with Mormonism back below 50% or you are at serious risk of going over to the dark side! :p

Daryl

LOL!! I was completely surprised by this because as Paul already said, I don't think I answered one if any questions that mormonism would agree with!! The fact that I am gay should have been a big minus score on the mormon front!!

[peter_mary]

PS: I just worked out what probably got you into trouble. Possibly answering "Not applicable"! See Mormons think that a whole lot of things that relate to the rest of the world are not applicable to them, so that might be how you got a high Mo score.

Daryl



This makes me :D !!!

Paul

[silverfox]

Mormonism is probably pina colada soluable, so have a few and you might be able to get your score below 25%. If, impact is not adequate, try pina colada plus coffee. :)

Daryl

PS: I just worked out what probably got you into trouble. Possibly answering "Not applicable"! See Mormons think that a whole lot of things that relate to the rest of the world are not applicable to them, so that might be how you got a high Mo score.

OUCH! Well, at least now I know where to reconsider some of my thinking, right? btw, the pina coladas didnt' work. Okay I will try a few margaritas next go around.

[dogzilla]

I recommend Kaluha: coffee and alcohol in the same bottle.

It's like garlic to a vampire! :D

[bigeddy]

Interesting,

I guess I will have to join a local congregation of the New Pagan's for Divine Union. (Actually, maybe I need to create it) My scores:

1. Neo-Pagan (100%)
2. New Age (95%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (90%)
4. Mahayana Buddhism (87%)
5. New Thought (87%)
6. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (76%)
7. Scientology (76%)
8. Hinduism (75%)
9. Theravada Buddhism (73%)
10. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (66%)
11. Liberal Quakers (65%)
12. Taoism (56%)
13. Sikhism (51%)
14. Reform Judaism (45%)
15. Jainism (43%)
16. Secular Humanism (41%)
17. Bahá'í Faith (40%)
18. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (36%)
19. Orthodox Judaism (27%)
20. Orthodox Quaker (27%)
21. Nontheist (25%)
22. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (25%)
23. Jehovah's Witness (17%)
24. Seventh Day Adventist (13%)
25. Eastern Orthodox (10%)
26. Islam (10%)
27. Roman Catholic (10%)

So, all in favor of me as bishop of the Ogden 1st ward of the New Pagans for Divine Union (NPDU) please manifest by the usual sign (on this thread the usual sign seems to be :Puking )

Here are the 10 Partially Important But Never Imposed Kind-of Suggested Ideas That May Aid One In Finding Divine Union (But They May Not Help At All) of the NPDU:

1. Thou shalt not ever not (unless you want to)
2. Six days shalt thou have orgasms (unless you like them more or less than that)
3. The great Is created them male and female but some are more one than the other and some more the other than the one so thou mayest hold nothing to this (unless you want to)
4. Thou shalt value thyself (unless you have not overcome the shame, in which case you get to beat the hell out of yourself until you are tired of it)
5. Thou shalt value all that Is (unless you have not learned this yet, in which case you get to rape, pilage and burn until you figure it out)
6. Thou shalt commit (unless you don't want to)
7. The great Is giveth thee boundaries to love honor and cherish and thou shalt pummel all who cross them with malice in heart (unless you are co-dependant and haven't learned this yet, in which case you get to hearken to everyone, save everyone, let anyone into your home even if you don't want them there, take responsibility for everyone's sorrow and negative feelings, blame yourself for anyone's problems)
8. Thou shalt be grateful (unless you aren't)
9. Thou shalt pay 10% of gross income to the Bishop of the Ogden 1st ward of NPDU (unless you don't want to)
10. Thou shalt not (or can if you want but don't necessarily have to if that is your bag) listen to me.

So, who wants to join?

Ed

[noodle]

So, all in favor of me as bishop of the Ogden 1st ward of the New Pagans for Divine Union (NPDU) please manifest by the usual sign (on this thread the usual sign seems to be :Puking )

Here are the 10 Partially Important But Never Imposed Kind-of Suggested Ideas That May Aid One In Finding Divine Union (But They May Not Help At All) of the NPDU:

1. Thou shalt not ever not (unless you want to)
2. Six days shalt thou have orgasms (unless you like them more or less than that)
3. The great Is created them male and female but some are more one than the other and some more the other than the one so thou mayest hold nothing to this (unless you want to)
4. Thou shalt value thyself (unless you have not overcome the shame, in which case you get to beat the hell out of yourself until you are tired of it)
5. Thou shalt value all that Is (unless you have not learned this yet, in which case you get to rape, pilage and burn until you figure it out)
6. Thou shalt commit (unless you don't want to)
7. The great Is giveth thee boundaries to love honor and cherish and thou shalt pummel all who cross them with malice in heart (unless you are co-dependant and haven't learned this yet, in which case you get to hearken to everyone, save everyone, let anyone into your home even if you don't want them there, take responsibility for everyone's sorrow and negative feelings, blame yourself for anyone's problems)
8. Thou shalt be grateful (unless you aren't)
9. Thou shalt pay 10% of gross income to the Bishop of the Ogden 1st ward of NPDU (unless you don't want to)
10. Thou shalt not (or can if you want but don't necessarily have to if that is your bag) listen to me.

So, who wants to join?

Ed
Ummm...depends on whether or not we have to pay 10%. Also, do we have to be re-dunked? :cool:

mamajama

[free thinker]

I would like to be member!

I pledge to you all I have now, or will ever have!

If I ever marry , you can have my wife if you want!!

You can marry any daughters I may ever have!! I will have to set the age limit at 14 though!! :Crazy:

You can have 10% of my gross income!!

I will plan to spend three hours in church on Sunday, or more if you need me to!!!!

I will bear my witness to the ultimate truth of neo-paganism once each month, publicly!!

I hope you will have a temple. As a suggestion, you may want to look into the rites of Masonry. They are pretty interesting, and would probably suit well a group, if you are looking for controlling symbolism, and secrecy!! :o

Will you be requiring new underwear? I think that would be a good idea! A religion is not complete unless you get new underwear that are considered sacred. I hope you will be having sacred underwear!!

Free Thinker

[Born Free]

Interesting,


Here are the 10 Partially Important But Never Imposed Kind-of Suggested Ideas That May Aid One In Finding Divine Union (But They May Not Help At All) of the NPDU:

1. Thou shalt not ever not (unless you want to)
2. Six days shalt thou have orgasms (unless you like them more or less than that)
3. The great Is created them male and female but some are more one than the other and some more the other than the one so thou mayest hold nothing to this (unless you want to)
4. Thou shalt value thyself (unless you have not overcome the shame, in which case you get to beat the hell out of yourself until you are tired of it)
5. Thou shalt value all that Is (unless you have not learned this yet, in which case you get to rape, pilage and burn until you figure it out)
6. Thou shalt commit (unless you don't want to)
7. The great Is giveth thee boundaries to love honor and cherish and thou shalt pummel all who cross them with malice in heart (unless you are co-dependant and haven't learned this yet, in which case you get to hearken to everyone, save everyone, let anyone into your home even if you don't want them there, take responsibility for everyone's sorrow and negative feelings, blame yourself for anyone's problems)
8. Thou shalt be grateful (unless you aren't)
9. Thou shalt pay 10% of gross income to the Bishop of the Ogden 1st ward of NPDU (unless you don't want to)
10. Thou shalt not (or can if you want but don't necessarily have to if that is your bag) listen to me.

So, who wants to join?

Ed
Ed,

The great "Is" has obviously appeared to you in vision! Truely thou art inspired. :p

Sorry to fiddle with the sacred number 10, but I wanted to propose some commandment/option dealing with projection. Might go something along the lines:

11. The great Is giveth thee boundaries to love honor and cherish, and an empathic brain that is prone to acute levels of emotion, which shall/might be dealt with by projection across said boundaries. Such projection may or may not be owned through formal processes along the lines "I experience my guilt and inadequacy or joy and happiness as too intense to cope with alone, so I formally and explicitly project that out onto (state target), in the express desire that said projection will reduce the intensity of my experience to something I can cope with. Equally I acknowledge others desire to reduce their intense feelings in the same process."

Because of the expected frequency of said projecting the sacred garment for the NPDU will/might be a Tshirt with a large target on the chest.

We reserve the right to even disown and project said intensity onto the great "Is" itself.

Daryl

PS: What a great "Is" to be in favour of more/less orgasms. I am sure that will insure the success of the NPDU.

[nancyp]

Late response to this topic. It has been a while since I took it UU, Liberal Christian, etc. like most of you. There are a couple of trick questions that will cause the Mormon point gain. I took it once with a Mormon mindset and I was 100% Mormon.


I find it interesting that so many post-mormons find their way to UU congregations. Although I imagine there is another set that find their way to born-again Christians. Personally, I didn't know what to do with Jesus or what to do with my previous personal relationship. So I shut the door and I'm just now revisiting my Judaic-Christian roots. There is a growing Christian movement in Unitarian Universalism. Also one of the senior editors of the UU Magazine is a post mormon, now a Harvard MDiv. He has a wonderful, challenging blog. http://www.philocrites.com/ where you can link back to some mormon blogs.

Nancy

[bigeddy]

I have decided that what we at the New Pagans for Divine Union (NPDU) need is a book of scripture to guide our thoughts and efforts. I think it should be called The Dogtrain and Cubbyholes. This name would indicate the inherant and important tension between movement (dogtrain--going someplace) and being allowed to be where one is (cubbyholes--staying static as long as I want or need). So, everyone who wants gets to submit a chapter. Here is the Book of Gardiner (Chapter One in The Dogtrain and Cubbyholes.)

CHAPTER ONE, THE BOOK OF GARDINER

1. Shit happens. I did not cause it; it is not my fault.
2. I hurt. I hurt because I breathe air; because I live. I live in a world where shit happens (see verse one.) I did not cause it; it is not my fault. (In fact, I have no faults, see verse three.)
3. I am sacred; I am perfect. I have areas where I have grown and areas where I have not grown. Areas where I have not grown are not faults, they are merely areas where I have not grown.
4. I am a child, I am a parent, I am an adult. All three are acceptable and important parts of me. (See verse three.) I can do all three in healthy ways or I can do all three in pathological ways. If I do them in pathological ways they become; victim, rescuer and abuser. If I do them in pathological ways I will create further problems for myself. I can choose to do them in healthy ways; I can be a child when I hurt, when I feel small, when I am vulnerable. I can do parent when I am moved to nurture and support others. I can do adult when I seek to meet my needs. I can be a wise parent and a wise adult; I can do parenting in wise ways and I can meet my needs in wise ways.
5. I am pathetic. This means I have pathos; I have emotion. My emotions are neither good nor bad, they just are. My emotions are one of the greatest parts of me. I get to have them; they are not to be judged, denigrated, minimized nor marginalized. (See verse three.)
6. Everyone does the best they can always. If they could do it any better they would. They have no faults, just as I have no faults. (See verse three.)
7. I can avoid the fundamental attribution error. I can see that problems lie not in people but in situations. I can avoid blaming people and can see and attribute causality in situations, not in people. (See verse six.)
8. First grade is first grade, second grade is second grade--growth is like that. Fifth grade is not better than first grade, it is just more evolved, more grown, but it could not be what it is without first grade. I get to go through each stage of my growth and I get to know that growth will continue beyond every grade.

Ed

[peter_mary]

I LOVED what Ed wrote in his Book of Ed, and since I am not one to sit on my hands, I HAD to play. Note that unlike the Book of Mormon, which PRETENDS to be written by different authors, the Dogtrains & Cubbyholes really IS written by different authors, so it really will sound like it is. :)

The Book of Paul (D&C 2)

1. In the beginning there was the universe, and it still is.
2. For reasons and according to means for which the truth is unknowable, but for which you can choose to believe whatever you want, people were introduced to the universe on this tiny planet we call "Earth." There might be others "out there" but we'll likely never know, though many choose to believe, and that's acceptable in the universe.
3. There are infinite varieties of people, none of which are the same, and all of which are perfect. Can you say to one rock which is gray that it is perfect, when you say to another rock that is red that it is not perfect? No, for all things are created to be exactly as they are, perfect in their uniqueness and individuality.
4. Each perfect person is entitled to see themselves as perfect if they choose. Yet it matters not to the universe if they choose to see themselves as imperfect. It only matters to them. If they choose to see themselves as inadequate in comparrison to another, then it is as the red rock who longs to be gray, but can never be.
5. It is wisdom for the red rock to recognize that it is perfect in both its redness and its rockness (it is acceptable to make up words in the Book of Paul). Likewise, it is wisdom for all people to compare themselves only to themselves, and to strive for what they choose for themselves, be that happiness and fulfillment, or misery and failure. The universe doesn't care.
6. When each of us becomes content with our own perfection, it is natural to be likewise content with the perfection of every other person. When we are fulfilled in our uniqueness, than we are not threatened by the uniqueness and perfection of another, nor do we covet that which another possesses that is merely different from ourselves. It makes peace possible.
7. Nevertheless, it is your choice to choose to feel perfect or not. You are free to see yourself as less than another, free to desire the physical, spiritual, familial, monetary, or any other characteristic of another person and allow yourself to feel insecure, inferior, or victimized. The choice is yours. The universe doesn't give a shit.
8. That bears repeating: The universe doesn't give a shit. Only you do. So decide, and be satisfied. Or not.

Paul

[bigeddy]

I would like to bear my testimony as to the value of The Book of Paul. I find it to hold wisdom and great value. On to chapter 3 anyone?

Ed

[Born Free]

I have decided that what we at the New Pagans for Divine Union (NPDU) need is a book of scripture to guide our thoughts and efforts. I think it should be called The Dogtrain and Cubbyholes. This name would indicate the inherant and important tension between movement (dogtrain--going someplace) and being allowed to be where one is (cubbyholes--staying static as long as I want or need). So, everyone who wants gets to submit a chapter. Here is the Book of Gardiner (Chapter One in The Dogtrain and Cubbyholes.)

CHAPTER ONE, THE BOOK OF GARDINER

8. First grade is first grade, second grade is second grade--growth is like that. Fifth grade is not better than first grade, it is just more evolved, more grown, but it could not be what it is without first grade. I get to go through each stage of my growth and I get to know that growth will continue beyond every grade.

Ed

Ed,

I love this way of making this important point.

I now liken Mormonism to a grade 7 teacher (in Oz we complete primary school at the end of grade 7, then head off to high school) who does everything in their power to deny the existence of high school, and to hold students captive, using anything and everything so they won't move on, including misinformation, fear, censorship, peer control, bullying etc..

I can also see that learning to deal with a problematic grade 7 teacher is also just a phase, a lesson, and that stumbling on that one for a while (OK 30 years) was just another growing step.

I can handle all that AND I am still fangry! I realise that growing beyond that anger is another growth stage, and boy, am I impatient to get past that one. I am just starting to connect with and really feel that anger in my body, which I had been so resistant to feeling and acknowledging.

I have been in massive resistance to my corpreal experience. I have come to appreciate that Mormonism is a rather "heady" experience, actively disconnecting people from their body in many ways.

Any comments on that observation?

Daryl

PS: I particularly appreciated the Dogtrain and Cubbyholes. So the above might be expressed as a real frustration with the Dogtrain, and being impatient to be on a Bullet Train.