Replacing Religions

[Shogun Gunner]

/me kicking himself for ever posting in this thread.

Now, how does one go about un-subscribing to a thread?

[gunnergoz]

I'm inclined at some point to try to mod religion out of the game entirely and replace it with some sort of socio-philosopical model of personal viewpoints and psychological inclinations. Then I'd find some catchy names for these groups and perhaps think up a set of pretend leaders for them (e.g. "Madonna, priestess of the Hedonists") Why? Because the religions in the game seem more like empty sacks, with no content other than effect on gameplay. I can understand that Firaxis took a great leap with the depiction of religion and its inclusion in the game at all; I commend them for their dispassionate and still respectful approach. But it is precisely that vanilla generic moderation that leaves me unsatisfied.
Mind you, I'm hardly religious myself...I'm a former member of a rather large religious group who's leaders are now under fire for their stupidity, and many of whose priests are under indictment for unmentionable crimes against children. But I left long before that erupted into view. I left when I found I could not let myself check reason at the doorway of the church when I entered for services.
So for my particular mod, I will give my "pseudo religions" some bite and character, while not realistically adhering to their archetypes. I welcome suggestions along those lines.

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by Shogun Gunner
* Shogun Gunner kicking himself for ever posting in this thread.

Now, how does one go about un-subscribing to a thread?

Report at Mingapulco?

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by gunnergoz

Mind you, I'm hardly religious myself...I'm a former member of a rather large religious group who's leaders are now under fire for their stupidity, and many of whose priests are under indictment for unmentionable crimes against children. But I left long before that erupted into view. I left when I found I could not let myself check reason at the doorway of the church when I entered for services.

Always good to meet a fellow Catholic.

[Senethro]

Originally posted by gunnergoz
I'm inclined at some point to try to mod religion out of the game entirely and replace it with some sort of socio-philosopical model of personal viewpoints and psychological inclinations. Then I'd find some catchy names for these groups and perhaps think up a set of pretend leaders for them (e.g. "Madonna, priestess of the Hedonists") Why? Because the religions in the game seem more like empty sacks, with no content other than effect on gameplay. I can understand that Firaxis took a great leap with the depiction of religion and its inclusion in the game at all; I commend them for their dispassionate and still respectful approach. But it is precisely that vanilla generic moderation that leaves me unsatisfied.
Mind you, I'm hardly religious myself...I'm a former member of a rather large religious group who's leaders are now under fire for their stupidity, and many of whose priests are under indictment for unmentionable crimes against children. But I left long before that erupted into view. I left when I found I could not let myself check reason at the doorway of the church when I entered for services.
So for my particular mod, I will give my "pseudo religions" some bite and character, while not realistically adhering to their archetypes. I welcome suggestions along those lines.

Now this is a much better idea and what this thread should really be about!

Would hedonists have a higher growth rate?

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Senethro


Would hedonists have a higher growth rate?

No, but they have more fun playing the game.



Hedonism

[gunnergoz]

hedonism = more happiness; reduced productivity & scientific reseach; tends to piss off fundamentalists and evangelicals.

Just for one possiblity...

[Shogun Gunner]

Originally posted by GeoModder


Report at Mingapulco?

That seems excessively punative.

Never mind, I'll continue to read the thread

[Beta]

Originally posted by Senethro


Now this is a much better idea and what this thread should really be about!

It was.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by gunnergoz
hedonism = reduced productivity & scientific reseach; tends to piss off fundamentalists and evangelicals.

Oh no, I disagree- happy and satisfied workers are productive workers.


I do second the bit about it annoying fundies and evals though.

But you know H. L. Mencken's definition of Puritanism, don't you ?

Puritanism - The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.

from 'Sententiae' .


Let us give thanks that we may not be happy:

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by nbarclay
Take a look at slavery in Civ 3. Do I beat slaves? No. Do I break up their families? No. Do I make them work longer hours or under worse conditios than other workers? No. Do I exercise more control over their lives than I do over other workers' lives? No. Everything that makes slavery evil in the real world is abstracted out of the Civ 3 concept of slavery to a point where the onlly way a player can view slavery in Civ as evil is to think about the things that make it evil in the real world but that aren't included in Civ.

Wow. I'm amazed that Nathan, one of the all-time great Civ 3 players has overlooked the key distinction between workers and slaves in both Civ 3 and Real Life.

Ahem.

Do you pay them?

[Cort Haus]

Felinism

Sign me up, Beta!

[Krill]

Another for that PBEM Beta....

Sign me up as well

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


Wow. I'm amazed that Nathan, one of the all-time great Civ 3 players has overlooked the key distinction between workers and slaves in both Civ 3 and Real Life.

Ahem.

Do you pay them?

Every bit as much as we pay wageearners, and often more. They earn food, shelter ... probably more than I do

The root evil of slavery is the lack of freedom, the lack of ability to do what you want and go where you want.

But do we really have more than the illusion of such freedom in the current era?

[Cort Haus]

How about some Discworld Deities (from the comic fantasy writing of Terry Pratchett)...

There are 3,000 known major gods on the disc, and more discovered by research theologians every week.

...

The Discworld has gods in the same way that other worlds have bacteria. There are billions of them, tiny bundles containing nothing more than a pinch of pure ego and some Hunger.

...

Alohura, Goddess of Lightning
Aninger, Goddess of Squashed Animals
Bibulous, God of Wine and Things on a Stick.
Bilious, Oh God of Hangovers
Cephut, God of Cutlery
Electric Drill Key Chuck Fairy
Foorgol, God of Avalanches
Grune, God of Unseasonal Fruit
Hat, Vulture-Headed God of Unexpected Guests
Hyperopia, Goddess of Shoes
Juf, Cobra-headed God of Papyrus
Khefin, Two-faced God of Gateways
Libertine, Goddess of the Sea, Apple Pie, Certain Types of Ice Cream and Short Lengths of String
Nuggan, God of Paperclips
Petulia, Goddess of Negotiable Affection
Reg, God of Club Musicians

(from The New Discworld Companion)