Sikhism.

> Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a monopoly on Absolute truth. Sikhism emphasizes simran (ਸਿਮਰਨ, meditation and remembrance of the teachings of Gurus), which can be expressed musically through kirtan, or internally through naam japna (‘meditation on His name’) as a means to feel God’s presence. It teaches followers to transform the “Five Thieves” (i.e. lust, rage, greed, attachment, and ego).

All sounds pretty cool, but I have always liked that it’s one if the few that outright rejects any religion’s monopoly on Absolute Truth.

I was raised Catholic, but I’ve been an atheist for—oh fuck I’m old—more than half my life. But… Monastic life seems pretty dope. Why can’t there be a secular order that’s just devoted to knowledge/contemplation for its own sake (or the betterment of humanity). I know it kind of sounds like I’m describing a university, but I mean with the personal discipline, strong communal bond, and simple lifestyle.

Buddhism in the sense of the actual forsaken nirvana and reincarnation aspects, but the dedication to enlightenment and what I perceive (as someone not in anyway well versed in the totality of it) as a willingness to guide and teach but not seeking to compelle others to abide by it are refreshing in the modern ‘my way or fuck you’ world.

The “you will be judged by how you treat the least among you” and “when you do good works, do it in secret” parts of Christianity are cool.

Jainism, their core tenet of Ahimsa (non-violence) applies to literally every lifeform, even plants and bacteria. Jain monks that take this to the letter make your standard vegan look like a hypocrite - they cannot even eat roots, as that would kill the plant it comes from. They also must take extreme care not to accidentally harm any lifeform, so they have to take measures such as turning off all fire during the night so that insects don’t accidentally burn themselves in them, or brush the soil they’ll walk on to avoid stepping on an animal by accident.

I find Sikhism interesting. My reading thereupon suggests that it has generally positive pro social values. There’s some gender stuff that I don’t like, but no major religion is free of that. Moreover, I can really get behind the dictate to carry a knife to defend the innocent.

Not sure if this qualifies, but the Church of Scientology. Not cause I think it’s got some good points or that I vibe with any of their ideas, I just think everything about the structure to the Bridge to the mind of LRH is super fascinating

Mormonism, because it’s particularly absurd (and considering the competition, that’s saying a lot). It’s grotesquely fascinating. Joseph Smith was obviously full of it, but the con he called a religion succeeded anyway.

I try to respect all religions, but Mormonism takes extra effort on my part.

I’m a Muslim but the one where you’ve someone in a small place sitting (I think, the pastor?) and someone can just confess their entire sin history.

For example, you have committed fraud or murdered someone and you can confess and if I remember well, the pastor is not allowed to do anything (IE: going to the police).

I think it is Catholic or Christianity.

One of my favorites is democracy. I find the displays of loyalty they have where they self flagellate through outrage fascinating. It’s also interesting how they’ve built a whole mythos around ideals of equality and justice that the elected high priests never stop preaching about, but evidently do not follow themselves at all. I also find it insane how seriously their intellectuals take their purity wars and how viciously they denounce blasphemy for any kind of doubt they perceive over their hugely dogmatic beliefs.

Another interesting one is Empiricism, but since their apostoles seem to be unaware or unwilling to accept it being a belief system at all, rather considering it the unquestionable nature of reality itself and can get so defensive and upset when faced with other highly speculative and superstitious bliefs, I’ll just say I find its apotheotic aspirations for mankind inspiring.

Orthodox Economic theory’s intricate divination rituals and soothsaying clergypeople also wonder me, and their sacred sport of “business”, a game of complex trading systems and rule circumvention has a crazy rich pantheon of heroes, profets and deities.

I think Judaism is pretty interesting. No hell to speak of. Strong community focus. Traditions seem not-evil. Seems to foster a sense of curiosity and knowledge seeking. At least among those I know.

Zoroastrianism.

Taoism interests me as it’s so very non prescriptivist and the opposite of what most religions set out to do.

I don’t know enough to explain much about it, but again, that doesn’t seem to be the idea.

Anyway, that’s what interests me about it.

I’ll also give a point to the church of the FSM. Not for any sense of it being realistic, but that such absurdity was originally used in a challenge to the teaching of ‘inteligent design’ by public schools in scientific classes and then people just kind of ran with it writing up a whole scripture and doctrine to go with it.

Sikhism was already mentioned here. Also, Scientology. I find it quite fascinating and would love read the SciFi story behind it.

Also, all these smaller groups where something weird is behind it. Jonestown, Waco, and so on.