User:Crash Underride/Zen ChrisJanism

Zen ChrisJainism (pronounced Christian-ism) is an unofficial subset of the Christian religion. It is a religion that blends philosophical beliefs with belief in Jesus Christ, created by Crash Underride in the year 2009. It blends the zen beliefs of Mahāyāna Buddhism, Christianity and Jainism. Crash Underride created this system of belief after deciding that no established church preached the core beliefs that he held to be important in having a good life and being a good person.

Creation
On Wednesday, October 6, 1999, Crash Underride's grandfather and father figure passed away from lung cancer. After attending church the next few weeks, Underride became disillusioned with the church's continued preaching of death and chose to stop attending. After doing so, he began to develop his own beliefs, some of which were not supported by the established church – such beliefs being the existence of extraterrestrial life (aliens) and ghosts, souls either unable or unwilling to cross over.

Etymology
The name Zen ChrisJainism comes from a combination of the Buddhist term zen, as well as Christianity and Jainism. This name was chosen as a way to equally represent each of the three religions. The name was officially given on August 7, 2009.

Beliefs
The core beliefs of Zen ChrisJainism is that of the Baptist faith. However, differences include acceptance of extraterrestrial life and ghosts, as well that the ways of dating time in established Christianity are incorrect. Zen ChrisJainism includes the "zen" beliefs of Buddhism, those being that one can attain heightened awareness through meditation and the control of one's anger through behavior modification where possible. Zen ChrisJainism also includes beliefs from Jainism, those being that the belief that one must not rely on material possessions and the uncontrollable desire for material things. Zen ChrisJainists also believe in the acceptance of other religions, however they differ.

Zen ChrisJainism was created by Crash Underride when he realized that multiple different religions had something plausible and worthwhile to offer. Those beliefs being:


 * Jainism - Non-materialism.
 * Buddhism - The ability to attain a level of heightened awareness and in some a sense similar to nirvana.
 * Christianity - The basic tenets of the religion, that Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to Earth to give his life for mankind.
 * Additional beliefs - The existence of ghosts, those being souls of the dead who have not yet, are unable or unwilling to cross over into the afterlife. Their inability to cross over maybe due to an evil force, keeping them earth-bound or the unwillingness to cross over for fear of punishment for an injustice committed during life. Another additional belief is in the existence of extraterrestrial life. As described by Crash Underride, "How egotistical is it to think that God only created us and not any form of life in the universe?" Another and possibly more controversial belief is that the times listed in the Book of Genesis are incorrect, meaning that the term "day" may actually be longer than one 24-hour period – possibly tens to hundreds of years – thus allowing for Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Theories
Zen ChrisJainism also contains one unofficial theory: humans did evolve from apes. However, the Book of Genesis states that God created man in his image, that possibly being of an ape. However, this is only a possible theory and not a stated theory, nor is it an opinion of the religion.

Practices
Zen ChrisJainism does not practice any one set of religious practices (attending church services on Sundays, etc). Though it is not forbidden, it is accepted. It also allows for followers to not only attend just Christian services, but those of other religions as well. This is believed to help foster friendly relations with members of other religions. Zen ChrisJainism does, however, observe all Christian holidays. It also allows for followers to celebrate holidays of other religions as a show of equality and togetherness.