Do " Parody Religions" just prove God even more?

[jas84173]

I was talking with a friend about this recently. The countless parody religions that have popped up over the years almost making fun of religion ( although adherents claim it is legitimate religion but it’s obviously really not, I think they are just trying to prove their beliefs are just as legitimate as anyone elses.) A couple examples could be the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or the Church of the Subgenius, etc. There’s quite a few. But does this concept of making fun of religion to try to disprove it actually just make more proof of it? I can’t see why a person who doesn’t believe in God would need to go out of their way to bash it. It almost seems as though God is pulling them but they refuse to acknowledge it. I always said, it you don’t believe, whatever; but why does it seem like atheists are the most vocal opponents to religion? We don’t put up signs bashing atheists, what is the point? Shouldn’t a person who doesn’t believe just be indifferent altogether?

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

But does this concept of making fun of religion to try to disprove it actually just make more proof of it?

No, parody in this way is to point out troubles with a concept or an element of a concept. It’s not a subconcious endorsement of that concept.

I can’t see why a person who doesn’t believe in God would need to go out of their way to bash it. It almost seems as though God is pulling them but they refuse to acknowledge it. I always said, it you don’t believe, whatever; but why does it seem like atheists are the most vocal opponents to religion? We don’t put up signs bashing atheists, what is the point? Shouldn’t a person who doesn’t believe just be indifferent altogether?

Religion affects people of that religion, of different religions, and of no religion. This can be seen in politics and laws, schools, in families, and society as a whole. It’s not uncommon for a person of religion X to denounce the morality of people in religion Y or those of no religion. Indifference simply isn’t an option.

We don’t put up signs bashing atheists, what is the point?

I would disagree with that. For example here, here, and here.

 

[Crusaderbear]

Me thinks they doth protest too much… Some find the self control and discipline of religion to be too difficult, so they trivialize it. Pray for them. To the believer these things only strengthen our beliefs, to the non-believer, its just cheap entertainment.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

People who joke around with Spaghetti Monster or Bob Dobbs Subgenius stuff aren’t necessarily un-religious. Some take these things seriously as an indictment of religion, others just take it as humor and art. I’d personally rather have somebody make parody centering on a flying plate of spaghetti than centering on Christ.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

People who joke around with Spaghetti Monster or Bob Dobbs Subgenius stuff aren’t necessarily un-religious. Some take these things seriously as an indictment of religion, others just take it as humor and art. I’d personally rather have somebody make parody centering on a flying plate of spaghetti than centering on Christ.

That’s a good point. If you take something like The Life of Brian the guys from Monty Python were parodying aspects of religion, but they very specifically said in interviews that they were not mocking Jesus.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

That’s a good point. If you take something like The Life of Brian the guys from Monty Python were parodying aspects of religion, but they very specifically said in interviews that they were not mocking Jesus.

I generally like Monty Python, like every other nerd from the 70s and 80s, but the “Life of Brian” stuff was pushing it a little for me in terms of respect. It has its funny moments but I’d rather just go watch Dead Parrot Sketch or Lumberjack Song and not have to deal with mixed feelings.

 

[thephilosopher6]

Parody religions seem more aimed at the Fundamentalist. They seemed to have been pretty popular during the whole “New Atheist” craze of the late 2000’s, although New Atheism has kind of died within the last 2-3 years.

 

[GEddie]

I don’t think they prove God; anything can be made fun of.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Darryl_B]

I think people are just generally bored, one could take up a hobby instead.

 

[exnihilo]

I don’t know that it proves God but it certainly proves pride. The people who come up with such things don’t want others to have the religious beliefs they do. They feel superior because they themselves don’t have those beliefs. Another thing it does prove is that it isn’t just religious groups (assuming you don’t count these parodies as actually religious) who want everyone to believe the same. This is ironic since usually these folks against religion condemn the imposed ‘group think’ of religion.

 

[Jerusha]

I have been watching “Ancient Aliens” on the History Channel. They have fun explaining the unexplainable with acts of extraterrestrial beings, but they are SERIOUS about it!! It is developing into a cargo cult, and, interestingly enough, believers are mostly atheists. In one episode, they expressed dismay at Catholics who say they would baptize aliens if they wanted baptism.

The need for religion is so intense, that people invent all sorts of bizarreness in order to fulfill that need.

 

[Crusaderbear]

Is that what non-religious people tell you?
That they are not religious because they don’t want to have “self control and discipline”?

Do you mean…some people you know believe in God, believe that the Catholic religion is true…but then, do not join or follow the church because they don’t want to have “discipline”?

None of the non-religious or atheists I know feel this way. And, many atheists I know are very disciplined.

Can you elaborate more on what you mean?

.

Nope.

 

[jas84173]

I have been watching “Ancient Aliens” on the History Channel. They have fun explaining the unexplainable with acts of extraterrestrial beings, but they are SERIOUS about it!! It is developing into a cargo cult, and, interestingly enough, believers are mostly atheists. In one episode, they expressed dismay at Catholics who say they would baptize aliens if they wanted baptism.

The need for religion is so intense, that people invent all sorts of bizarreness in order to fulfill that need.

There’s actually been a religious movement called Raelism that has promoted this for over 40 years now. It’s kind of weird but basically is what Ancient Aliens promotes.

Rael.org is the website I believe.

 

[Jerusha]

There’s actually been a religious movement called Raelism that has promoted this for over 40 years now. It’s kind of weird but basically is what Ancient Aliens promotes.

Rael.org is the website I believe.

Oh, yeah, I heard about that one a long time ago. And Heaven’s Gate.

 

[Thom18]

Not necessarily. Using their time time to make fun of their “opposition” rather than try to convince us that we’re wrong hurts their credibility, but it doesn’t prove us any more right.