NationStates Jolt Archive

When I eventually decided that having my citizens worship me as a god might not be a good way to go, I wondered what truly would work. What religion is best for a nation? What god should my people worship? What will make them better workers or better soldiers? What will make them better people. I have the best interests in mind for my people, and I intend to make it impossible for them to adopt or create religions that preach intolerance or hate against each other. A nation filled with people that hate each other is not a strong nation. We must be united. A new Aryan religion cannot stand in the same nation as Muslims. It simply doesn't work. But an all-Aryan nation? An all-Muslim nation? That's unity (note: Don't accuse me of being racist just because of this example. Just post your religious suggestion). So there's the question. I will accept all suggestions, with the exception of scientology. Cause that's not at all what a country needs.

My opinion is to go Christian if you are absolutely driven to have a totally state driven religion. As long as you stay true to the Word of the Bible, a lot of life get's easier and nicer. Plus, you could never ask for a better religion for people to love each other.

Just my little bias thought,

-R. S. of UC

In the name of all that is holy, you must WORSHIP THE SUN! Yes a failure to pay hommage TO THE SUN! will result in the Gods displeasure! To invite the wrath of the Gods will bring about a thousand lifetimes of pain and wave after wave of locusts that will destroy all crops within your nation! If you fail to annoint the proper rituals for the Sacrifice that must be made each and every nightfall, then the GODS WILL BLOCK OUT THE SUN! Make all haste and construct pyramids in Their honour and be spared!!!!

::is big scary man in a trenchcoat and black pilgrim hat:: You will worship the Eternal God Emperor of Man and most holy terra!

If you want a better military, then make a cult out of some general that died a few decades ago. Then declare yourself his representative upon earth.

Thank you all for your input. I like the Christian god quite a bit. He's just so cruel without motive. Very good, yes. But there is more to know, so don't hesitate to send in your suggestions! Thanks again.

(Maybe) Like Right Arm, The Gulf States supports moderate Bible-based Christianity.

our offcial religion is Catholicism

I would also have to go for Christianity. You see with Christianity one is exhorted to "Do it heartily as unto the Lord." in otherwords everything they do is like they are doing it for God directly so they are commanded to it with everything they have. Just my opinion too.

Religion should be seperate from state, therefore, an ideal way to go is with the government being mostly atheist.

Get Roman Catholiscm, it united the Roman Empire and it could unite YOU!

Catholicism also has the best afterlife plan.

Sin for 65 years and confess at the last minute, boom sinless, free of charge.

no no no because atheism leaves the people with no cares and a pointless feeling in life. Christianity at least makes them know there is something if they die, so they go and fight hard. It could be like your country starts the second crusade.

Get Roman Catholiscm, it united the Roman Empire and it could unite YOU!

Catholicism also has the best afterlife plan.

Sin for 65 years and confess at the last minute, boom sinless, free of charge.

I may not be up on Catholicism (I'm Protestant) but doesn't Catholicism require you to do time in Purgatory (a temporary Hell, for those who don't know) before getting to Heaven?

Course, like I say, I may not be up-to-date. I got quite a bit of my knowledge from studying it and the Reformation in history, but I didn't think the Catholic Church was as liable to reform its views as others....

It could be like your country starts the second crusade.

There were 7 in the medieval times, ya know. So 8th :)

I may not be up on Catholicism (I'm Protestant) but doesn't Catholicism require you to do time in Purgatory (a temporary Hell, for those who don't know) before getting to Heaven?

Course, like I say, I may not be up-to-date. I got quite a bit of my knowledge from studying it and the Reformation in history, but I didn't think the Catholic Church was as liable to reform its views as others....

Last I heard, we don't do Purgatory anymore...

Catholics do "do purgatory." Vatican II didn't change any Catholic Beliefs, it was more of a change in how we go about things rather than a change in what we believe (It did clarify some doctrines though.)

Catholics believe in Purgatory. To be specific purgatory is

The Place or condition in which the souls of the just are purified after death and before they can enter heaven. They may be purified of the guilt of their venial sina, as in this life, by an act of contriton deriving from charity and perforemed with the help of grace. This sorrow does not, however, affect the punishment for sins, because in teh next world there is no longer any possibility of merit. The souls are certainly purified by atoning for the temporal punishments due to sin by their willing acceptance of suffering imposed by God. The sufferings in purgatory are not teh same for all, but proportioned to each person's degree of sinfulness. Moreover, these sufferings can be lessened in duration and intensity through the prayers and good works of the faithful on earth. Nor are the pains incompativle with great peace and joy, since the poor souls deeply love God and are sure they will reach heaven. As members of the Church Suffering, the souls in purgatory can intercede for the persons on earth who are therefore encouraged to invoke their aid. Purgatory will not continue after the general judgment, but its duration for any particular soul continues until it is free from all guilt and punishment. Immediately on purification the soul is assumed into heaven. (From Pocket Catholic Dictionary, Joh A. Hardon, S.J. 1985)

If you want, I could show the biblical backing for this, but I would have to do it in another thread, as I don't want to hi-jack this one.

PioMagnus

Yeah, it looks like Christianity will be the best way to go. But for those of you with more to say, I won't stop ya, so feel free to post.

Yeah, it looks like Christianity will be the best way to go. But for those of you with more to say, I won't stop ya, so feel free to post.

Now, what demonation?

Catholic? Mormon? Baptist? Presbyterian?

How about Evangelical? You would want a denomination that believes in divine healing for a healthier populace.

We find that a nation with several religions (none of which hate other religions) is the best way to go. For the military, atheist is best, as soldiers who don't believe in god do not question the sin of killing enemies. For the general populace, a system of Christianity is good, though with less damnation and hell.

Unfortunately, Akaton has a much weirder religion. After our recent encounters with demons and the supernatural, people stopped believing in the Christian god, seeing that evil has overpowered good. They now have no god. Instead, the people have become devoted to The Cult of The Great Machine, a philosophy based upon total industrial development. The fanatics of this semi-religion are tech priests, and the temples are gothic cathedral-factory combinations. This is not a good religion for a non-evil nation, as it innevitably leads to the complete destruction of the environment and burning environmentalists at the stake as heretics.

Be Catholic! I will pay you to do it!

You have my ear, Island of Rose. I'll send you a telegram and we can straighten things out.

Catholicism seems to be the most popular religion around here. A few tweaks (stricter priest/altar boy relations, my throne making me infalible, and eternal damnation for unwilligness to die and kill in the name of this nation) and I think I'm set. If there's any other tweaks you think I should make, I could use your advice.

A massive cult is probably the best way to go. People are motivated and devoted to the cause, there is no deviation from the party line. In cults, crime will lesson for fear of punishment from whatever sort of deity you choose...

Or maybe that's just organized religion in general... ;)

Go with Orthodoxy. In many ways its similar to Catholicism and you don't have to deal with the Pope. Orthodox countries never launched crusades either.

Be like George Carlin and worship the Sun... and Joe Pesci.

Science and logic are the way to go. Religion is archaic and primitive. If you want an advanced and enlightened nation, abandon the superstitious religions and go with a secular and atheistic ideology that's empowering; like humanism, rationalism, free thought, etc.

Religion is indeed primitive. Believe in logic, not faith, because that's all it is. Almost everyone in my nation is Atheist/Non-Religious.

*wonders why scientology was so easily discounted*

Surely if everyone was a Scientologist, that would also create a form of unity?

(ok, christianity has been decided upon now, and imo an evangelical form would be most productive for your nation)

Obviously, the only real religion for anyone is the Way of the Water Cooler.

Our totally biased, zealous, dogmatic, one-eyed and only opinion is to adopt Roman Catholic Christianity.

God bless

Religion is indeed primitive. Believe in logic, not faith, because that's all it is. Almost everyone in my nation is Atheist/Non-Religious.

Yeah. Because the Soviet Union thought the same way. And they collapsed.

Haiti doesn't worship God, the only RL country that doesn't. And well, they're beyond repair and heading towards complete disaster.

WE are fundamentalist Hindu-based ecclectics.

Religion is indeed primitive. Believe in logic, not faith, because that's all it is. Almost everyone in my nation is Atheist/Non-Religious.


Yeah. Because the Soviet Union thought the same way. And they collapsed.

Haiti doesn't worship God, the only RL country that doesn't. And well, they're beyond repair and heading towards complete disaster.

And I'm sure it was some supernatural mumbo jumbo and not their complete lack of understanding of economics that was the cause of that.

Please.

I would like to suggest main-stream Prodestantism. It is allows a person to be free and pursue a lasting relationship With The Father. A person can thrive on this form of Christianity. It isn't strict and confining, yet it isn't too liberal. People can use their own understanding to find their Savior, a major aspect of all branches of Christianity. It doesn't require anything except repentence. It allows people to care for each other and accept people as they are. This makes people compassionate and loving, making them want to reach out their hands to their less fortunate neighbors. Then there's the whole Hell and damnation aspect. Most main-stream Prodestants, this is a picky subject. They tend to believe there is a Hell, but as long as you love Jesus with all your heart and accept Him as your Savior, the door to Heaven is opened to you. There isn't the beauracracy that some of the other denominations have. And if your society is always open with their spirituality and open to God, your nation will prosper far beyond you ever expected.

Sincerly,

Sonorus Capita

And I'm sure it was some supernatural mumbo jumbo and not their complete lack of understanding of economics that was the cause of that.

Please.

Eh. There's Christian logic and there's your logic. It's not like we're going to convince each other the other side's right.

And I'm sure it was some supernatural mumbo jumbo and not their complete lack of understanding of economics that was the cause of that.

Please.

Eh. There's Christian logic and there's your logic. It's not like we're going to convince each other the other side's right.

ROFL! Hey! No fair bringing logic into this!

Alright, as you've made me laugh - and not sniped - I'll point out that those nations which are actively, practicing and devout in their religion and tolerance of others (which excludes the US) tend to have a much more active and successful economy then those who are not over the long term. They also tend to have less internal strife and a more stable political system.

Those who remove any method of teaching moralistic behavior to it's populace tend to break down quickly as "One man One vote" has as it's logical opposite "One less man, One less vote", yet is not an ethically acceptable action. Further, those who have a well-formed ethical nature tend to have a better appreciation of "the other guy", which in turn has surprising effects. Too many examples to list, but it does appear that What goes around comes around and As ye sow so shall ye reap do tend to be the laws of nature, as it were.

Oh and btw they just released a study in which they found nations with a higher belief rate in hell tend to be more financially successful. And this came from AOL, the co-owners of CNN which are both extremely liberal companies. So to hear that from them is quite a shock.

Oh and btw they just released a study in which they found nations with a higher belief rate in hell tend to be more financially successful. And this came from AOL, the co-owners of CNN which are both extremely liberal companies. So to hear that from them is quite a shock.

Nah. Belief that you have responsibility for your actions leads to more thought about what the results of said actions will be.

How about Hinduism? Or Sikhism? Or Buddhism? Something creative.....

I think Monumenta already has the right choice in Catholicism. A few of his previously-mentioned tweaks and he's on the right track. Of course, you should proclaim yourself as the living rapture, and get some advisors to help get the nation used to their new state religion. Regarding the terrorist attacks, school your citizens in the art of ratting each other out. If they think that someone is no longer worshipping Christ, or notice someone is no longer going to church, let them know in advance to report it. Put out commercials, whatever it takes. See to it that religious lawbreakers are not able to disrupt your naton's carefully-balanced environment.

Desertica has a Catholic Spiritual Advisor, even though I am personally a Protestant. I wasn't going to appoint an atheist or a new ager, because I think they are wrong, big time. I say go for Christianity.