Another Cyberpunk thread: Surge of Faith.

[Randyman]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

*actually, I'm not sure of the appropriate term for a Mormon with high Religious Rank.

IIRC (my ex-wife's family was Mormon when I met her, but she was never devout), they have Elders (all men over age 18; it's an historic adaptation to external pressures on the early Mormons), Bishops, and the Prophet ( who is analogous to the RC Pope, but not strictly equivalent)

[Flaco76]

Idea for background: Climate change leads to economic crash and recession. Much of the wealth in industries like Finance, Insurance, Real Estate becomes vastly devalued or worthless. People become dissatisfied with material wealth and focus on education or spiritual growth.

As for a country with multiple religions/ethnics/groups look at India in positive and negative lights. Some state legislatures may have proportional representation based on religious affiliation. Civil law between members of the same religious may be handled by elders. Criminal law and disputes between groups may be handled by the state. In some places cities and states may schedule parades and demonstrations on separate days. Police may guard the larger religious sites against terrorism.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by Daigoro

1.5%, apparently, compared to 25% Baptist.

Yes, the Baptists are a much larger denomination than the Episcopalians in the US. I wasn't claiming otherwise.

Originally Posted by Daigoro

How would non-Christian faiths fit in to such a setting? Persecution or segregation would be the obvious route, but easily leads to cliche. Could they have separate dispensations? Would everyone have to openly identify their religion? Would bouncers at drinking establishments have to check denomination as well as age before allowing people in to drink? Different courts and judges for different religions?

Depends on the region and dominant faith/culture and its biases, with the possibility for some unexpected results. In the USA, for example, we have a Hindu in the (more powerful) Senate with very little comment, while the election of a Muslim to the House caused a minor poop-storm at the time (because 9/11), even though Islam and the local dominant religion are both Abrahamic and have way more in common than either has with Hinduism.

[Daigoro]

Originally Posted by Randyman

IIRC (my ex-wife's family was Mormon when I met her, but she was never devout), they have Elders (all men over age 18; it's an historic adaptation to external pressures on the early Mormons), Bishops, and the Prophet ( who is analogous to the RC Pope, but not strictly equivalent)

And according to my watching of Big Love, there may be self-proclaimed prophets, plural, of splinter groups.

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

Yes, the Baptists are a much larger denomination than the Episcopalians in the US. I wasn't claiming otherwise.

And I was confirming your statement, not refuting it.

[Randyman]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

In the USA, for example, we have a Hindu in the (more powerful) Senate with very little comment, while the election of a Muslim to the House caused a minor poop-storm at the time (because 9/11), even though Islam and the local dominant religion are both Abrahamic and have way more in common than either has with Hinduism.

Also because there is no global terrorism (inclusive of 9/11) going on in the name of Hinduism. Behavior is often more of a criteria than philosophy.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by Anders

An Islamic USA might be fun to consider.

Much less likely than certain European countries gradually coming under stronger and stronger Islamic cultural influences, but still a lot of fun.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by Randyman

For the eastern US, I second Catholicism. Here's a twist - an American schism with Rome, followed by a merger of the Episcopalians into the new AC Church. Throw in some of the other mainstream denominations that are theologically compatible with the Episcopalians, and you have your church.

Americanist heresy reborn?


alternative 1:
Add an Anglican Rite to the Catholic Church and let the Catholic Church absorb the remnants of the defunct (or nearly defunct) TEC. No schism.


alternative 2: There's a schism, but the North American Catholics are the conservative faction. Defy expectations about the US being some kind of liberal standard bearer.

[Randyman]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

Much less likely than certain European countries gradually coming under stronger and stronger Islamic cultural influences, but still a lot of fun.

In this setting, an Islamist Europe would be fitting, somehow.

Originally Posted by combatmedic

Americanist heresy reborn?

alternative 1:
Add an Anglican Rite to the Catholic Church and let the Catholic Church absorb the remnants of the defunct (or nearly defunct) TEC. No schism.

alternative 2: There's a schism, but the North American Catholics are the conservative faction. Defy expectations about the US being some kind of liberal standard bearer.

In the context of the above, an Anglican Rite leads to absorption of TEC in the US, followed by a Papacy-in-exile as Islam overtakes Europe. Then, a North American-centered reunification of not only the RC and CoE, but (due to the exile) a reconciliation with the Orthodox Churches, as the loss of the last historic bishopric to Islam sufficiently erodes the Bishop of Rome's claim to primacy.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by Randyman

In this setting, an Islamist Europe would be fitting, somehow.



In the context of the above, an Anglican Rite leads to absorption of TEC in the US, followed by a Papacy-in-exile as Islam overtakes Europe. Then, a North American-centered reunification of not only the RC and CoE, but (due to the exile) a reconciliation with the Orthodox Churches, as the loss of the last historic bishopric to Islam sufficiently erodes the Bishop of Rome's claim to primacy.

That could be a cool future history.

[combatmedic]

Something else to consider is the role of churches in Africa and what influence they may have in other parts of the world.

Evangelization of European natives by black African missionaries would work best in a ''secular'' Europe and not an Islamic Europe.