# What if God were three of us... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656 "2013-01-18T22:50:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/1 "2013-01-18T22:50:37Z")
If you could totally eliminate all but three major religions from this planet, which three would you put in the “Keep” pile? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/2 "2013-01-18T22:54:16Z")
Baha’i, Daoism, and Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/3 "2013-01-18T22:56:41Z")
Can I vote for the Amish? They’re not bothering anyone. Wouldn’t want to be born as one, though. Edit: whoops, just as I posted this I remembered: [Inside the eastern Ohio Amish community torn apart by violent beard cutting attacks | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255318/Inside-eastern-Ohio-Amish-community-torn-apart-violent-beard-cutting-attacks.html) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/4 "2013-01-18T22:57:37Z")
> [@MostlyClueless](#): > > Can I vote for the Amish? They’re not bothering anyone. > > Wouldn’t want to be born as one, though. And your other two? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/5 "2013-01-18T22:57:58Z")
Amish, Buddhist and the Shakers. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/6 "2013-01-18T22:59:07Z")
I forgot to add that past religions are in the running, too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/7 "2013-01-18T23:48:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Amish, Buddhist and the Shakers. > [@MostlyClueless](#): > > Can I vote for the Amish? They’re not bothering anyone. But the Amish have that whole separatist vibe: the us vs them mentality with the Amish and the English. Granted, they’re peaceful about it but, to me, an ideal religion should be inclusive not exclusive. I can’t buy into the Buddhist idea that life is suffering and our goal should be non-existence. And the Shakers? They lost me at celibacy. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/8 "2013-01-19T00:01:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But the Amish have that whole separatist vibe: the us vs them mentality with the Amish and the English. Granted, they’re peaceful about it but, to me, an ideal religion should be inclusive not exclusive. > > I can’t buy into the Buddhist idea that life is suffering and our goal should be non-existence. > > And the Shakers? They lost me at celibacy. Remember-you don’t have to join them, just pick them. Maybe the Shakers were picked for that specific reason, btw. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/9 "2013-01-19T00:01:17Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And the Shakers? They lost me at celibacy. That could do wonders for overpopulation. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/10 "2013-01-19T00:09:25Z")
Buddhism Zoroastrianism [Last Thursdayism](http://www.last-thursday.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/11 "2013-01-19T00:22:01Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Buddhism > Zoroastrianism > [Last Thursdayism](http://www.last-thursday.org/) Last Thursdayism is neither major nor established. No go on that one. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/12 "2013-01-19T00:26:31Z")
Heavens Gate, the People’s Temple, and Scientology. In short order, the first two would take care of themselves, and then the only remaining religion would be a joke. Thought oughta nip the whole mess in the bud. Eta: damn, mine aren’t going to pass muster either. Might have to get the Mormons in on this. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/13 "2013-01-19T01:58:31Z")
Oh. From the title, I thought this was going to be an amusing commentary on the concept of the Trinity. Never mind then. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/14 "2013-01-19T02:25:30Z")
Discordianism, Unitarian Universalism, and the Church of the Subgenius. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/15 "2013-01-19T02:45:35Z")
Buddhism, Taoism, and Unitarians. Peace loving and play well with others. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/16 "2013-01-19T02:50:37Z")
Church of England Church of Ireland Church of Scotland (_duh_…) ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/17 "2013-01-19T04:08:19Z")
Thanks, now I have a Joan Osborne ear worm. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/18 "2013-01-19T04:34:13Z")
I’d pick whichever three are the least enthusiastic about recruiting outsiders and most likely to leave non-believers unmolested. Unfortunately, it seems to be the nature of religion to become more restrictive as it becomes more powerful in a society. Buddhism seems really laid-back and non-prescriptive to people in the U.S. because they haven’t experienced it as practiced strictly. I have the uneasy feeling that if the Unitarian church were to become powerful, it would also become authoritarian. I believe I’d prefer to have thirty different religions that were about equal in influence to having three, just because it would dilute their power and make it less likely that I’d end up having to live my life according to someone else’s theology. So…Conservative Judaism, Hinduism, and I suppose Unitarianism anyway. There. That would give me a good chance to be left alone. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/19 "2013-01-19T04:39:00Z")
Wiccans, Pastafarians, and Jedi. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656/20 "2013-01-19T07:13:14Z")
People that think that Buddhists are all peace-loving need to remember the Mongol horde were mostly Buddhists. (The 13th century Mongols were actually a surprisingly ecumenical group. Buddhism was probably the majority religion but they also had Christianity, Islam, Daoism, Manichaeism, and a local form of shamanism known as Tangrism in the ranks.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-were-three-of-us/647656.md?page=2)