It can be easily observed throughout the Entire History Earth that ALL religions or cults (same thing) are a very BIG and Basic part of the planetary prison system we call Earth!  Religions ensures that the “parishioners” or “prisoners” (same thing) remain INSIDE the prison, and do not KNOW that they ARE inside a prison.

There have been many, many THOUSANDS of deities and religions in the short history of human civilization on Earth.  Religions and cults have similar fundamental characteristics.  So, if you are thinking about starting your OWN religion or cult (same thing), as so many really weird, self-appointed “prophets” have done before, here are the basic things you will need provide for your “followers” or sheep with a realistic religious cult experience:

1) Invent a “deity” or “divine principle” that is ineffable, intangible and improvable. Don’t use your own name or face…it’s too easy to prove you are NOT divine.

2) Write some Dogma.  A system of beliefs, superstitions, mythologies, rituals, trials, recitals, indoctrination, secret rites or “acceptable behaviors” you must agree to swallow and follow.  Write a The Book of Your Dogma, or, you can just make it up as you go along, or both.

 3)  Recruit some Priests.  You must have a bunch of Priests who tell what the “followers” what they CAN think and what they CAN NOT think.

4) Start an organization that demands money, (lots of money) obedience, faith, loyalty to the Dogma and to the Priests or to the deity, or both.

5) Set up a “toll both” or “gate” (cashier or collection agent, or bag man, or sales team, etc.) through which the “faithful” must pass in order to enter into a state or place variously called heaven, nirvana, immortality, paradise, the “afterlife”,  the promised land, shangri-la, blah, blah, blah, blah….  (You can make up a name for your own place or state of being.)  However, the “followers” must PAY AND OBEY the Priests to get there!

(Of course, you know that NONE of the Priests have ever actually BEEN to heaven, nirvana, etc..  So, they must become good liars and keep a straight face when they claim that such a place exists!  Just ask any Priest this question:  “HAVE YOU EVER PERSONALLY BEEN TO HEAVEN, etc..?   You already know the answer…..

6) ONLY the Priests may communicate directly to this unknowable deity on behalf of the followers, and only AFTER they PAY to do so!

7) If the “followers” do not PAY AND OBEY the priests or do not BELIEVE in the deity or dogma, the priests must attack them, tell all the other “prisoners” to attack , excommunicate them, punish them, and/or kill them… or ALL of the above.

There are a few religions that are nothing more than social clubs for poor people that organize sing-a longs, and charity fund-raising pot-luck dinners and bake sales.  I recommend these if you like to sing and if you want to eat a lot of free or cheap, home-cooked, high-carbohydrate foods and sugary deserts!  And, they are easy to get started on a part-time basis and to maintain on a small budget.  Most small towns in American has dozens of them!