Battletech and Religion, or: The Unfinished Book

Factual Questions
1

A friend of mine claims that something called the “Unfinished Book”, which was created/mentioned in the history of BattleTech spawned a few modern religions.

He says the theory behind the book is that all religions are right, and hence they can all be summed up in an “Unfinished Book”, which can always be added to. He said he thought one of the religions created on this principle had “humanitarian” in the name. He also says he believes this was published in the BattleTech universe around 1984, 1985.

Sorry if a lot of these details are vague. Now, my research of the subject:

Cosmic Humanism: Mentions an Unfinished Book, but dates back to 1974 at LEAST.

One site called an Unfinished Book a failed life, using Judas as an example.

Another Unfinished Book is a Chinese text about Lao Tzu and the invasion of Western Culture (I’m fairly sure that’s pre-1984 ;))

I also found lots of Bible references.

Can anyone enlighten me? Is it true a religion was based off of BattleTech? If not, where is he getting these ideas?

2

I doubt it.

I don’t think the first mention of any sort of religion or social institutions other than various competing houses was in print anytime before 1986 (when the Mechwarrior RPG was published as a role-playing add on for the Battletech board game).

I don’t remember the “Unfinished Book,” but if you have found references to it dating back to 1974 or earlier, it’s safe to say that Battletech didn’t invent them.

If anyone told me their religion was based on something they read in a Battletech book, I would nod and smile and get in my car and drive away.

3

I’d probably do the same! I think my friend must be confusing a religion borrowing from BattleTech for BattleTech borrowing from a religion.

He says that cosmic humanism, as it dates back before BattleTech, is not the religion he was thinking of. Any other suggestions?