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What would Open Source Religion look like? How would it work?
As religion becomes de-institutionalized, assuming religion has a place in the marketplace of ideas, how do we update? Given our new social reality, how do we want to/how will we access the wisdom of our ancient traditions? What impact will a new platform for religious living have on the extant institutions and on the religions as a whole?
Background: I am a rabbi in Atlanta GA and am crafting Open Jewish Project in this community (openjewishproject.com). Some of my fellow thinkers at CLAL (CLAL,org) are trying to crack this nut. We know Judaism is changing (all religions are) and the soul reliance big building epi-centers is a way of the past (mega churches get a longer explanation but not for this post), But we are not certain of what is next.
The fear: If religion goes online, what happens to our religious COMMUNITY. I tell my people all the time that Judaism cannot live in a vacuum. To BE Jewish, I propose-as do many others, one must be in community. Will virtual tools of religon take that away and is that a loss which Judaism can take and still maintain its fundamental essence?
Ideas already out there to build on:
Jewish Futures Award winner on Open Source Judaism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56x46QezJ9k
How to Build Open Source Communities: http://tuxradar.com/content/how-create-open-source-community
Don Wesley 50+
http://www.openjewishproject.com/?page_id=271
“Service is the rent we pay for living on this earth. It is the very purpose of life and not
something you do in your spare time.”
Those words were spoken by Marian Wright Edelman,
founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, and truer words have rarely been spoken.
We are not just the people of the book, sitting for hours in study; we are a people of action.
Our destiny is bound with that of the widow, the orphan and the stranger. It is why we do all
that we do, to enhance our connection to one another and to bring about a better, more just
world.
Don Wesley 50+
Why now, you may ask; well I was inspired while searching through TED to help another TED member who asked for help from the collective consciousness of TED.
This is from the past but it talks about the “Open source contacts of men throughout the world of every religion” who came together to make huge progress. At a time when telephones didn’t exist. I maybe wrong; nonetheless I feel passionate about sharing this with the wonderful TED members who are present.
A Charge To The Fraternity by Benjamin Franklin, starring Richard Easton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaBDLsicvcs&feature=related.
Thomas Jones 100+
http://www.ted.com/conversations/7543/do_you_use_crowd_wisdom_to_thi.html
Sidian Jones
Earlier this month I published my "Discourse on Open Source Religion" which you can read here: http://www.opensourcereligion.net/profiles/blogs/a-discourse-on-open-source-religion
What does the Open Source Religion look like? Much the way it does today actually, but that's because we're already practicing a great deal of OSR. Whenever a Christian believes in Karma, whenever any person who identifies themselves as a believer in Proprietary Religion believes in something outside of their holy scripture - you've got Open Source Religion.
I'm really glad to have found this discussion, and on the TED site no less. I've been advocating OSR for a lot of years now and I hope to make the biggest impact regarding it's public acceptance as an active phenomena.
Comment deleted
Sidian Jones
You don't put the content of the beliefs up for modification; instead you look at the modification of structures/foundations.
For instance a Christian might believe in Karma. The fundamental content of those beliefs are not changed, but the structure of that person's belief system does.
This is why I came to refer to beliefs like Karma/Salvation/Afterlife/etc as Belief Modules, to help the reader gain a particular perspective of beliefs - that they are modular, able to be extracted, placed elsewhere, changed, destroyed, etc.
This is the way religious people already operate in todays world, and in the future, will be even more prevalent.
Don Wesley 50+
I am “checking-in” to your conversation right now, however my “baggage-of-thoughts” are still on route, metaphorically speaking.
I am ready to enjoy and bring value!
I can reveal[some thoughts] before leaving:
1. Small village communities[touch and feel] are a human essential that must fit under a bigger organizational structure.
2. What kind of “Value-Adding-Chains” will evolve to create the “Goods” we want?
3. Those will evolve and grow as the internet grows.
4. Can the authority of Gods-Moral-Imperatives be sustained? I hope so.
5. A flock of ideas will paralyze conversations quickly; unless some very powerful idea emerges.
6. Brain Storming was an idea that I learned about from a business associate in the 1950’s. It didn’t get real for me then, except that many good and doable ideas I had then, we stolen from me. Today I offer them freely.
7. Your question for me is a cry of spiritual desire to do what is right, with good reason.
8. I will load up with empathy and do some unconscious cerebration before I return.
Don [From The Silent Generation - 1930's]
Sidian Jones
Don Wesley 50+
I became aware of your reply just a few moments ago after returning from a discussion about, "The Reason for God - Belief in an Age of Skepticism", by Timothy Keller.(2008) www.redeemer.com
The meeting was the seventh of two-hour-Fire-Side Chats, over seven weeks.
I reviewed the 8 points made in my first Hello to Rachael, and will stand by them for the moment.
Now I will turn my attention to studying what has transpired under Rachael's question.
I promise to visit your site; OpenSourceReligion.net and to read your replies here.
Please feel free to visit my Profile for more background details about me in the meanwhile. I will visit your Profile.
I will use the time to make my own thoughts clear and distilled, to help in answering the Question.
To say it in another manner, I want to hear myself think, before I talk. I usually talk to hear what I think; somewhat like Alice-in-Wonderland. I wouldn't like to lose my privilege of being a TED member.
Please be patient; who knows what will evolve in the next few days.
I have spent much of my life with the Jewish Community and two years close to the Sikh Community and have talked to God since my time in the crib, always aware of the meaning of Christ.
Until soon,
Aware of and caring about you
Don [From The Silent Generation - 1930's]
Don Wesley 50+
A powerful video, where Ben Franklin can inspire us with great wisdom from the past.
Why now, you may ask; well I was inspired while searching through TED to help another TED member who asked for help from the collective consciousness of TED.
A Charge To The Fraternity by Benjamin Franklin, starring Richard Easton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaBDLsicvcs&feature=related.
Thomas Jones 100+
If anything, you might identify as human and, if you wanted to draw on any source of wisdom whether it comes from an ancient source or from the Muslim kid down the street, you would. And you would not need to.
Could you live "in community" without your role?
I think you could.
You might disagree with me.
Rachael Bregman
Julius Newman
""since every religion on the planet abides by these laws, why not unite by wisdom? the structure of language would be a good template for the structure of a new open source religion. unity by philosophy THEN different religions can branch off into "dialects". forming their culture around it. but i think the fact that religion is simply a "dialect" of wisdom, will effectively preserve the essence of religion while creating the peace we all strive for. you use it to preserve your religous community.""
an improved stucture of religion has nothing to do with changing the "content or doctrine of religion". i'm proposing that the GOAL for the new structure of open source religion shouldnt be as much to separate itself from other religions as it currently is, but find a way to structure it so that it helps people to see the common purpose of all religions. people today are mismatchers! with the internet people are finding it ever harder to believe in anything becuase there's always so much knowledge available, religious beliefs are constantly being challenged or rejected by people. much of the world believes that God would't want just one way of doing Anything. people are starting to question whether the God they serve is worthy of THEM. living in a state of here and now, not as many people are motivated by fear of God, they want something that'll help them find more meaning in life. the way to make THAT more effective is to make a structure that makes the code/values/morals of the religion more prominent than the specifics. keep re-reading this until it makes sense. and NOW that you have a DEFINED GOAL for your new stucture, you can begin to peice together models of what should be incorporated into the new structure, and what it should look like. GOOD LUCK :/ btw--if you dont attack me after reading this i'd be happy to help.
Denis Fitzpatrick
I truly admire such an effort, but it is beyond me how the Symbols of your faith, or any faith for that matter, can activate the awareness of the Sacred, through a medium such as this.
It seems so impersonal at times... and even though I imagine something deeper can develop here, I can't imagine anything even close to an I-Thou relationship ever occuring here, given the contemporary preference for fact over symbol.
How can cyper-space ever become sacred space ?
This seems to me to be the crux of the matter... but who knows... perhaps there are sites on here, where this is already occuring.
You have my deepest admiration for even attempting such a venture !
I cannot tell you how much I would have enjoyed a visit to a cyber-chapel over this past month. I am very new to the chat-room experience, and although it has been very rewarding, the growth opportunities here have been numerous !
So all the best with your endeavour, and if I have any suggestions, I will be sure to get back to you with them !
Respectfully,
Denis
Frans Kellner 100+
You say: "I would have enjoyed a visit to a cyber-chapel "
If you like it is possible.
The circle of the Sufi-movement holds a service regularly that they connect to Skype.
You can listen and view the event and if you want to participate they even put you on and you can speak as well.
Follow the link an choose "special events", left/down.
http://www.sufimovement.us/med_hik_current_english.php
Denis Fitzpatrick
I knew from the moment that I starting reading your posts, that your gentle Heart was always leading your Path.
I cannot possibly thank you enough for this !
My love of Sufism first took root in my early twenties, and it continues to deepen today!
I will certainly look forward to this ... but I probably won't do it until next week... as my daughter is visiting from out of town !!!
Thank you for this kindness!
Denis
Gerald O'brian 50+
I don't know if any trick or witty make-up can reverse the engine.
Frans Kellner 100+
Gerald O'brian 50+
Julius Newman