And it makes me wonder.
It really makes me wonder.

The following list/rant was inspired by my reading of a Religious Satanist website discussing the "true" faith of the real Satanists. Now, I don't want any Satanists to feel singled out, because my rant applies to a lot of different religions that I have read about and have subsequently annoyed me.

Religions that engage in,

Observational selection, reductionism, exclusionary practices, elitist ideals, ad hominem arguments, inconsistency, begging questions, argument from authority, de-emphasis of practical experience, picking favorite's among polytheistic traditions, creating "new visions" of old traditions (possible post hoc, ergo propter hoc), emphasize meaningless questions, focus on unique or "special" powers, are seemingly sprung from a need to be a counter-culture, basis on poor understanding of history, basis on poor understanding of traditional regional culture, amalgamation of forced fusion of multiple unique traditions, denial of lines of heritage, anointing themselves as "special cases," denial of human nature, selective attention to portions of humanity which suit their arguments, use straw-man arguments, emphasis of false lines of heritage, or just a general need to be "special,"

are anathemas to spiritual development and the general well being of humanity. In my opinion. Anyone agree? Disagree? Require clarification? I know almost all religions/faiths/traditions could possibly fall into this rant, but damn it, this shit pisses me off!

For those people who would like a little bit more insight into my spirituality,

1. Mahayana Buddhism (100%)
2. Neo-Pagan (94%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (93%)
4. Liberal Quakers (86%)
5. New Age (85%)
6. Hinduism (81%)
7. Theravada Buddhism (80%)
8. Taoism (74%)
9. Sikhism (73%)
10. Jainism (71%)
11. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (65%)
12. Secular Humanism (59%)
13. New Thought (58%)
14. Reform Judaism (58%)
15. Bahá'í Faith (57%)
16. Scientology (54%)
17. Orthodox Quaker (53%)
18. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (47%)
19. Orthodox Judaism (45%)
20. Nontheist (36%)
21. Islam (34%)
22. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (33%)
23. Seventh Day Adventist (29%)
24. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (26%)
25. Eastern Orthodox (25%)
26. Roman Catholic (25%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (20%)

Islam has plumited, as well as Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Neo-Paganism is on the up and up, and there is now a much more pronounced divide between Theravada Buddhsm and Mayahana Buddhism.