Lesson 4.5 Innovation and New Religions

I did not really have assumptions about this lesson before learning about it. It was interesting to read and learn about since it taught me new concepts and ideas regarding invented religions. It gave me a different way of seeing religion since I did not know religions like this could be invented and seen this way. I find it interesting how an author who is not religious wrote a book about religion but did not want anyone to read it. I found out what these religions believe in and I was able to compare how they think about certain things compared to how other people in other religions like Christianity think. The lesson focused on the science behind certain types of thinking on why people in these religions think the way they do. As stated in one of the links, there is science involved in this when it comes to “invented religions”. I can see why new religions would not be counted as religions. This makes me think it will take years for people to see the new religions as actual religions. It was fascinating to learn about Jediism and Satanism and how there is a book on Satanism talking about real people and a real story. It gave me a different perspective on religion. It taught me about ritual abuse which I have never really thought of before. They both have information that is definitely good to read more about. It also included Star Wars and other participatory cultures. The video discussed how religions like these can be adapted even though it is not considered a real religion to some people.