Okay, first of all: I wasn't calling you stupid, I was calling the idea of it stupid. Second of all, I never said you needed a reality check. Lastly, my opinion is my own, and, as I would respect yours, I would expect you to respect my opinion as well instead of overgeneralizing it as a statement meant to insult or hurt others. I was stating -my opinion-, which the OP wanted. Don't get defensive over an opinion. In my experience, 'Love and Tolerate' has always gotten me and other people around me hurt. So I choose not to follow it because -I- think the idea is stupid. I never said that anyone who follows it is stupid. I apologize everyone, I didn't mean any offense by stating my honest opinion. If I did offend anyone, I'm sorry. But I don't think the idea of Love and Tolerate is something I would follow or support.
I can´t get it. why people think we´re somekind of religion. I mean a religious man is someone who believe in the existence of a supreme entity or at least that´s in my religion. (I don´t know a lot about other religions.) and I don´t know what you think about it, guys but I find that the people think that about us is kind of silly. I mean it´s just a TV show. I love that show but I´m not crazy to believe that those characters are real (but I wish it ;D). in conclution, I think it´s just another stupid thing that people say about the show and us. it´s just the same thing when the powerpuff girl showed up here. a lot of people started to say crazy stuff like that about that show too.
I always thought it was strange when people said they "converted" their friends into bronies. This fandom did change me pretty significantly from what I used to be. It gave me reason to believe that there are still plenty of good people out in the world. I started giving up on mankind a couple years ago. Everything seemed to be corrupted at that time in my life and I started caring less and less about everyone. It took a TV show and a group of refreshingly kind-hearted people to make me think differently. I don't consider "bronyism" a religion at all, just an ironic detachment from the terrifying and cold world we call "reality."
One point that I noticed was used more than once is that we don't believe in some supreme being. The person I was arguing with - truly, I very good friend of mine- is an Elementalist. No judging please. The point being, he doesn't believe in a supreme being. Chances are that point would be invalid to him.
I haven't read the other posts (yet) so this is totally just my opinion. We are a fandom. Every fandom has the creative parts, and every fandom has the NSFW parts, and every fandom has of course, people that join the fandom. We do not worship Lauren Faust, nor do we worship the ponies. Lauren Faust is not the sole creator of the show, nor should she be worshipped, maybe just be seen as a nice person. Again, we do not worship the ponies. No offence if anyone does, but it would be silly to see a bunch of cartoon sprites on a screen as your religion out of all the things to make a religion on. There is no set of rules or moral guide for being a brony. Heck, you don't even have to claim the brony title just to like and watch the show. That's your choice. Which is what makes us a fandom. Because we are not all completely joined under one cause to make it a religion or cult etc. My two cents.
While a supreme being is not necccesary for a religion, they need to have a claim to the nature of the universe. No brony I know believe the ponies actually exist, so yeah. Though I sure wish they did, and because of what I do believe I think that on some level, they might, my heaven would be filled with ponies for sure.
The morals the fans push are good, but they were pioneered by the fans, not the show itself. People seem to forget that. They're good morals to live by, but most think they're so closely tied to the show that it's creepy to actually practice them.
Well, well... Another thread about Bronydom (this/your fandom) being a religion. I guess this is something I can write a bit on. So, first of all, in order to say whether or not your fandom is a religion, we have to have a definition about what makes a religion. For this, at least for the first part of this post, I will compare it to the most common group of religions. That is, Judaism and it's various forms (Christianity, Islam, etc). First of all, let us look at the most frequently cited part of these religions, their respective scriptures. Most religions have some sort of document that defines them. The Holy Bible, The Qu'ran, The Torah, The Book of Mormon, whatever it may be for the given sect. I, for one, think that the fandom has a scripture. That is to say, it has the show. It is, in many ways, very similar to the above scriptures. All of the above (excepting maybe the Book of Mormon, since I do not know too much about it) are, basically, a collection of stories, each of which furthers both a general plot as well as teaching a specific lesson. This is eerily similar to an episode from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (MLP), where each episode not only furthers our understanding of the world and it's canon, but each one also teaches some moral or story, which is conveniently explained in the end. Admitedly, this convenient explanation is not present in religious scripture, but the general premise is still the same. A collection of stories made for the purpose of teaching the younger or newly converted population the principles of the religion as well as establish a moral code common among them. This brings me neatly to the next point. Each religion, in it's scripture, defines or hints at a moral and behavioural code. In the established religious scriptures, these are the Ten Commandments. In your fandom, the "lessons" at the end of each show take their place. These letters take the place of th explicitly mentioned rules from scripture, and, when taken together, define the same moral code as in said scripture. This is not the only sign of religion here. Another sign is the obvious punishment of people who disobey said moral code. Specifically, there is a social form of punishment, usually critique and excommunication. Earlier, I mentioned that each religion HINTS AT a moral code. I say hints at because much of the popularized moral code is interpreted from the scripture, not stated in it. For example, homosexuality amongst men is explicitly forbidden, "Thou shalt not lie with a man as thou would lie with a woman." but no such rule is present for lesbian relationships. However, homesexuality is frowned upon in both genders. There are many other such examples, and one of them, as well as the most relevant, is the concept of "Love and Tolerance". Sure, love and tolerance is an explicit theme of the show. However, it is not actually ever said in any of the lessons. Rather, it is the underlying theme, just as it is in the New Testament. Whether or not people follow it is another question, one that I see is hotly debated here, both as it applies to Christanity and to this fandom. However, even thouth there is a moral code and scripture, there also has to be another factor. While in most religions there is a deity, in some there is not. However, there is belief. In everely religion, all of it's members believe one thing. This is not necessarily believing that a certain being exists, or that a certain set of events happened. Many Christians belive in God, but not in the biblical events. However, they all belive that accepting Christ will lead to their salvation. Judaism and Islam belive similar things, each with a different way of expressing this. In general all of the above religions believe that performing some set of ritualistic actions and behaving a certain way will lead to their personal benefit. In other words, a religion offers a way of life and offers betterment.. A similar trend is seen in the many other religions. Buddhism also proposes a certain way of life, and also promises enlightenment. However, it does not strictly speaking have a diety, or even dieties. At the center of Buddhism is the idea that anyone can become a diety, and thus, none are truly dieties in the Christian sense of the word. Spiritual Satanism, while it too has a diety, also proposes a certain way of life leading to enlightenment and eventually to becoming godlike yourself. The same can be said of Wicca, and of spiritualism in general. All of the above promise betterment for following them. Now, let us look at the MLP fandom. Here, through the moral code, and through a certain set of almost ritualistic actions (ponifying language for example), it promises a better life. Just as in mainstream religions, these morals and rituals are taken from the scripture. And more importantly, people belive in this, as they have themselves said in this very thead. So, we can conclude that MLP is a religion. Being a religion, it also has it's consequences. Namely, the zealous fanatics. We see in the posts above, there are bronies that give this religion a bad name. People who froth at the mouth when their belief system is endangered, and more interestingly people who likewise rage when people claim that they are religious fanatics. I see no need to go in to detail here, since four pages full of discussion about them are above this post, but I think these people both know who they are, and so does everyone else. Arguably, the existance of this zeal is the best proof that your fandom is also your religion. Not only in MLP, but in many other shows.
I only see all of us as a fandom, but it could happen personally. For example, I considered myself a Kokiri ( I am very fond of plants, specifically trees). But if it WERE a religion ( like Christianity, its not like only one person believes in it ) I'd most likely follow it
I really wish the mods would close this thread. I'm sorry, if people hate me for this. But I don't like it when people compare MLP to a religion. I know us Bronies hate this phrase, but it IS a little girl show. Or a kid show, to be more subtle. And I personally think that 'being nice to people' isn't a religion, its something you should do no matter what. I think be are a fanbase, just a very large one. Ok, go ahead and hate me forever now....
religion!? are you loco in the coco? just cause people like something and follow some sort of code doesn't make it a religion. maybe some people treat it as such but that does not make it one. no offense but comparing it to that makes me cringe.
Yo Dan, It seems the flaw I see in your dialectic regarding whether the lessons taught by MLP constitute a religion or not is equating characteristics to definition. Take black and white, for example. Black is a kind of paint, so is white. Black can be seen by dogs, so can white. Black can be mixed with other colors to make a new color, so can white. Just because black and white share certain characteristics, doesn't mean black actually is white. Taking this to MLP lessons and religion: you're right that both consist of a source of ideas that are advocated to be followed for personal betterment. You're right that it is possible for both to not have a deity. You're right that both can be misinterpreted and taken to irrational extremes by people. However, I find that none of these prove that MLP lessons make a religion, because although the two concepts share characteristics, we're avoiding that defining characteristic here. Religion is defined to be, according to handy-dandy dictionary.com: "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs." So far, MLP hasn't said much on the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, and if it tried to do so without aligning with a pre-existing religion, I and I'm sure plenty others would disagree On a side note, from what I've read in Abrahamic scripture, it's a combination of direct and explicit lessons and slightly less direct stories that then directly connect to those explicit lessons
Strictly speaking, the purpose of the universe and it's creation is a subject touched upon in the MLP episodes. It is not, however, about the creation of THIS world. I see no reason why one can not follow a religion from another world though.
Really? I actually don't see anywhere in MLP where the creation of the MLP universe (not the founding of Equestria, but the actual creation of MLP's universe) is discussed. In any case, the never-discussed system of beliefs adhering to THAT not-mentioned religion is most certainly not the purpose of this thread xD
Sadly, it seems that I am not enough to convince the people here that they are a cult. I guess it's time to break out the supporting links. http://www.ponytubeblog.com/2012/06/brony-cult.html http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/610010-the-brony-cult/
true. I meet a lot of weird people everyday in the internet. - - - Double Post Auto Merge - - - I don´t hate you for that. in fact, I think you´re right.
