A Religious Blog

A Religious Blog

What kind of text is this—this blog? I said a while ago that it is my New Testament. That implies a religious identity, so this a religious text. It is a statement of my religion: that is, a statement of my basic beliefs, values, and life-practices. My Sermon on the Mount (or front lawn). I set it out in short essays—parables, like Jesus. What kind of religion is it? The components are evident enough: the intellect, the body (especially the hand), sport, music, humor, and scathing denunciation. No carpentry and miracles; no crucifixion and resurrection. As atheist as a scorpion, as devout as a monk. I don’t want to boil it down to a few maxims—no religion should that simple. Religions should be all-encompassing. There are no n-commandments for finite n. There are attitudes and principles. The denunciations are crucial (here I follow Jesus of Nazareth who was good at them). Animals have their place of honor. Liars and fools are not tolerated. Spinelessness is excoriated. What should this religion be called? Scientology has already been taken. I quite like Zoolatry, but it is a bit restricted. How about Realatry, pronounced Ree-al-la-tree? Trutholatry isn’t bad—you can be a truthalitarian. But perhaps we should follow the fashion and call it by a single letter, one not generally favored—say W. It is the religion of W (double you). You could call yourself a “doublist” and baffle people. In any case, henceforth, and in retrospect, regard this blog as a religious document.[1]

[1] It is more Nietzschean than Nietzsche, more scientological than Scientology, more Christian than Christianity (has been).