The mixing of religious and non-religious beliefs in an individual.

A Discourse on Open Source Religion

If you weren’t already familiar with the open source movement (of the non-religious variety) it is described in Wikipedia as “practices in production and development that promote access to the end product’s source materials.”

In this article I will cover:

Why an open source methodology is perfect for the way religion and spirituality operate today.
What is Open Source Religion?
What are Belief Modules?
Why is OSR important?
And what is the future of the movement?

What is Open Source Religion?

First thing, let’s cover my working definition of the movement. Open Source Religion is A system for the mixing of religious and non-religious beliefs in an individual, even across multiple religions. The “open source” aspect of the name comes from a technology related ideaology, so let’s continue that imagery along with its similarities and differences to what I call Proprietary Religion.

On one side of the coin is Open Source Religion. Think of it as the Firefox internet browser. Firefox is an open source project. With Firefox you have access to the script by script codework if you so choose, and are free to customize at will. While everyone has the tools to do this, not everyone has knowledge of this ability (much like Open Source Religion).

On the other side of the coin is what I refer to as Proprietary Religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc. Think of them as the Internet Explorer internet browser. IE is proprietary software made by Microsoft meaning that, as the end user, IE has been designed for you by one or more individuals, but you do not have access to the “back end” code work; in essence you are not encouraged to alter or customize this software.

Belief Modules

Belief Modules are the building blocks of any religion, belief system, or spirituality. If a module could be described as an individual functional unit of its own, which can be, or is used within a larger platform, then beliefs like Karma, Love at First Sight, Life After Death, or that you are a “cat person” are Belief Modules.

Open Source Religion doesn’t require people to mix religions. Being a “cat person” is a Belief Module, and so is the idea that “people are good at heart”, and these are not religious beliefs – but they are beliefs. You could be a Christian who believes “you get what you deserve”, and the combining of this Belief Module with your religious Belief Modules is a great example of Open Source Religion.

But people have been doing that since forever ago right? So what makes OSR a “thing” today?

Globalization and technology have spent the last couple decades bringing everyone much closer together. As tech gets bigger, our world gets smaller. Every believer in a Proprietary Religion has more opportunities to interact with each other today, unlike any other time in human history. It isn’t at all uncommon to meet someone who believes in both Karma and Salvation Through Jesus. So while people have always had religious beliefs mixed in with non-religious ones, the pace of inter-religious Belief Module mixing is at an unprecedented peak

The Pope, for instance, is quite openly pro Open Source Religion. The Bible is quite clear about the sins associated with the accumulation of wealth in the church, yet he dresses like a king and sits in a golden throne – an obvious customization of a Proprietary Religion.

Why is Open Source Religion important?

Revolutionizing an Extremely Basic, yet Neglected Topic

Open Source Religion provides an immense opportunity to clarify, organize, and evolve the natural human habit of culminating beliefs inside and outside a religious context. We’ve spent centuries cataloging people, in primarily about a dozen popular labels (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, Jewish, Wiccan, Spiritual, etc), all the while ignoring the far more accurate fact that people’s belief systems are customized. This is a gross oversight of one the most important aspects of human life – of the very way we individually experience life.

We even see this trend within Proprietary Religions themselves. Saying someone is a Christian these days is like saying a dog neglects the fact that there are thousands of breeds with different temperaments and builds. At some distant time in history perhaps anyone called “Christian” truly believed 99% the same things as the next Christian. That time has passed, and that level of homogeneity will never be seen again. It is through this lens that you will begin to see how OSR has been evolving through time, and how in need of a fitting coinage and platform it is.

Empathy and Unification

Empathy is perhaps one of the only binding human experiences based in emotion that can bring two very different people together. Well I’m here to tell you that something almost magical happens when you approach someone from the perspective of OSR; you stop seeing them as someone who just IS some stereotypical amalgamation of their labels (Christian, Wiccan, whatever), and you start seeing them as someone who has chosen (like you) a unique compilation of Belief Modules for very personal reasons. It’s very difficult not to have understanding and empathy for someone once you see this.

If you want more unification in the world, you’re going to have to understand that people won’t let go of their beliefs, and that is practically the very nature of beliefs, you believe them, why would you give them up? With Open Source Religion you don’t need to, and yet OSR wraps itself around all belief systems as it is completely impartial to what Belief Modules you fill it with. If religions could be represented by colors, Open Source Religion would be transparent.

Open Source Religion helps the user to self reflect on their belief system, module by module. Which modules create separation? Which create empathy? Which could be edited? Which contradict one another? Which create negativity?

The Future

I believe Open Source Religion is the future of religion. Its natural progression and maturation, and our participation has already been guaranteed by the billions of people who practice it. We will continue to adapt Belief Modules in ever more unique ways, we will continue to spiritualize new things, and the grindstone of time will continue to cleave new facets into the Proprietary Religions, giving old gems interesting new reflections.

Open Source Religion, part of the great frontier of inner-space (psychology, etc), is what the next century of religious studies will be exploring and evolving together and it is my dream to help bring Open Source Religion into that light.

The use of OSR is old, but the innovation of putting beliefs in this perspective is quite new. Smart phones and apps existed before the iPhone, but the iPhone presented them in an innovative format and that is what I’m going for here, the innovation of an old practice.

Steve Jobs is someone I really admire for his philosophies in technology, his innovation was legendary. Jobs believed in making something new and incredible out of something old and ubiquitous. He believed in a process of constant perfection of products the public didn’t even realize they needed. Following this philosophy, I intend to be the Steve Jobs of religion.

For the last 8 years I have been evolving the concepts and issues of this movement, digital platforms for its practice, and even future (unannounced) products. This movement is nowhere near finished, but I foresee a tremendous future for OSR and a new era in religious/spiritual experience.

Sidian Morning Star Jones

OpenSourceReligion.net

< Previous Post

Comment by Sidian M.S. Jones on November 13, 2011 at 3:52pm: For those reading this and who are first time visitors to this site: OpenSourceReligion.net is just the social network for OSR. I'm working on building an actual platform for the practice of OSR. Coders needed!

Comment by James Germiquet on March 4, 2012 at 10:43am: Hi Sid

My experience on OSR has so far seen a disconnect between what OSR is trying to acheive and what is so far happening here.

I see the same old same old, stereotype thinking of people to the specific religious labels and the same old same old ridiculing of other people and very little attempt to find a common ground. Instead of focussing on the common theme of the supposed basis of most religions to think right and do right.

I have come to understand the problem is this evident refusal to try to understand the other persons point of view and to instead demand the other person agree with ones own point of view.

The golden rule speaks to the obvious concept that one must be open to another persons beliefs just as one would want that other person to be open to theirs, but ironically it is the insistance that we hold the true position and that the other person is wrong that clearly show we are the one that is actually doing what is wrong by not doing that which we would want done to us by that other person.

I would expect that perhaps for OSR to accomplish its intended purpose that perhaps the forums should be Grouped under names that would be more suited for this.

For example, I really do not like the word "debate" A debate is designed and intended for one side to prove they are right and the other side is wrong. Hardly conducive to understanding the others point of view, especially in a "faith based" topic such as religion. The forum Religious Debates sounds like an arena for gladiators instead of a forum for understanding of others.

What is it OSR wants to acheive? Try naming Forums with these goals in mind.

Comment by Kernel John on March 5, 2012 at 7:35am: James, I wish I had a nickle for each time you say it's just "the same old same old because" or "nothing you haven't seen before" We live in a world of continuous change and all you can see is "the same old same old"? Nothing new for you eh! Then why would one change - right James.

So your experience here at OSR has so far been a disconnect between what OSR is trying to achieve and what's going on here. But James, you are a big part of what goes on here. Why write Sid? Why not do something? Where's the real disconnect? Why don't YOU try to make a CONNECT rather than squawk. Do something about the situation.

OSR is Sid's experimental psycho-drama that exposes how spiritually minded people react in an environment like this. The pattern has been pretty clear. A relatively small number of religious fascists (fundamentalist Christians) have attempted to alienate and berate those who do not agree with their thoughts and understandings. These are the ones prepared to use their religious beliefs like weapons. You remember Jeff H. Now you get to face the tolerance of Robert DeFord and I get to harassed by KEHM's vulgariies.

Rather than complain about the disconnect, why don't you do something concrete and constructive. Use you blog area and make a systematic contribution to this site. Contribute your some thoughts. Can you begin to define,for example, what you mean by this spirit. Is it related, for example, to the Holy Ghost or what.

Comment by James Germiquet on March 5, 2012 at 12:15pm: Oh look

Same old same old Kernel. Nothing ever changes.

Comment by Kernel John on March 5, 2012 at 4:28pm: James, I'm simply suggesting that you take your idea of what this site should be like then contribute accordingly. Rather than do anything all you can think of is how to turn the tables. I'm suggesting that you love this place the way it is because you do nothing to document any components for OSR. So if you won't document your concept of The Spirit of Truth and Righteousness, how about Salvation or Sin. Post it in your blog so we can all get to your contributions. OK?

Comment by James Germiquet on March 5, 2012 at 5:24pm: Kernel I have documented all my beliefs many times here. If you choose to disregard them. then do so, but as you have done with others over and over again dont suggest we have not already dome so. Yes my beliefs change on occasion and when they do I will let you know. I have continually tried to find common ground between my beliefs and others here and I will continue to do so, but you on the other hand do not share that goal. Instead recently you insisted your beliefs were NOT like mine. Yours is the attitude of all religions, seperation instead of unity fighting over differences in religion instead of trying to find common ground in spirit.

This is what I told sid I saw in the attitude of people here who would rather debate/argue over who is right and wrong, instead of discussing and seeking to find that ONE GOD you pay lip service to.

Comment by Kernel John on March 5, 2012 at 6:28pm: We've all documented our beliefs many times in discussion forums. You're not alone there. The problem is that if I want to reference some of your core beliefs, they are not in one central spot for me to go. I get the impression you wouldn't like to write up any of these beliefs because you would become accountable by going on record.

As for finding common ground, you are naive if you think common ground can be found between spiritual beliefs that oppose one another. Tolerance not common ground is what is needed James.

So, are you prepared to document core beliefs in your personal blog area?

Comment by James Germiquet on March 6, 2012 at 6:38am: Kernel

I shall seriously consider doing so.

But I think from the tone of your message we are indeed making progress in both of these areas.If only everyone could think in trerms of Common ground and Tolerance, which I will also present in terms of Christs teachings.

Each person has their own lens to see through and I still say that "more often" ...than "not" there is common ground, even in our difference than anyone can imagine, after all we do all come from the same ONE God who created all of us in His image.

Comment by Kernel John on March 6, 2012 at 12:19pm: James, people keep leaving this place because their spiritual beliefs were not tolerated by people who appear to be fundamentalist Christians. Common ground cannot be found without tolerance or as Sid points out above - empathy.

"Empathy is perhaps one of the only binding human experiences based in emotion that can bring two very different people together. "

The name calling by these people has continued for the past year+ that you're been here. It doesn't seem to be going away. Does it?

Are you really suggesting you, me and Khem, for example, will find COMMON ground without tolerance.

I don't mind my ideas and opinions being challenged but when people describe me or others in derogatory terms . . . .

As I recall, you were against having a code of conduct here. Sid agrees this place should have no standard for civility.

. . . And you think people like Robert and Khem are going to search for the highest common denominator?

Comment by James Germiquet on March 6, 2012 at 12:57pm: I actually have a much better suggestion for Sid,

Have a seperate forum for each religion, with only people of that religion in it. Their job is to present their core beliefs in secular language.

Then once each forum has decided on the secular version of their beliefs, they present it in a forum for all to compare, no one is allowed to mention religion beliefs (other than the name), creed, or doctrine in that forum.

Then we will see if most religions have more in common or more not in common.

No one is forced to listen to others, perhaps sid can just institute an ignore button which if you press ignore on that user you will not be able to see any of their messages.

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