A Bicycle Religion?

BicyclePathist

Don't ask me what inspired me to do it but one day I did a web search for "bicycle religion" and I found this:

Matrixism - The path of the One

It's a religion based on the movie The Matrix (kind of like Jediism) that bicycling plays a big part in. Riding in Critical Mass is a sacred duty and Bicycle Day is one of its Holy days. I guess the bicycle represents the proper man/machine/environment relationship or something.

I figured it was a joke because its just a geocities website but it turns out the website has gotten some decent publicity in the press and in academia. See this article for references:

http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/Matrixism

So what do you think? Is Matrixism a viable religion?

kdelong

Anything that someone believes in can be construed as a religion. IMO a religion based upon a movie is very shallow since the movie is fiction and was created by a man for financial gain and probably nothing more. Therefore, I would not classify it as a religion, but that's just my two cents worth.

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alienator

That's no more shallow than religions that were created to exercise power over groups of people or to promote and perpetuate a political viewpoint.

I saw on the back of a truck today:

Seems spot on these days.

LONGPATH

You know I am not sure if it is or is not a religion but if those people who call themselves Trekkies form some sort of worship cult I am going to be quite worried. What kind of madness makes people learn Klingon and motivates them at the age of 35 to occupy their parents attics and basements.

Hey gang, Klingon is not a real language and Klingons are not real creatures!!!

What about all the crowd that still sees Elvis mucking about here and there? Frankly any religion that sees bicycles as sacred is okay in my book.

stlblues

We view hockey as a religion and pray to the Hockey Gods, yes more than one, almost every weekend, our house of worship is which ever rink my kids are playing at. So why not a cycling religion? Its probably based more on fact than most other religions that rely on books that have been translated numerous times written by guys 2000+years ago who were trying to scare people into conformity.

kdelong

If we form a cycling religion, who or what is our deity?

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TheDarkLord

A bicycle of course! You can already see where this is headed - there will be many sects each having their own brand as the deity. With time, the multiple groups will start fighting with each other much the same way that we see many sects of the same religion fight each other.

EmPat

kdelong

You must worship Raleigh! Death to Trek! Death to Specialized! Death to the USA (why not, everyone else says it) .

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LONGPATH

I suppose this is how holy wars start. I am Specialzed! Lets join up with the Trekkies and go after the people of Raleighdom!

kdelong

I'm going to be attacked by Specialized Klingons ?

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stlblues

I worship Fuji damn it. How about a Giant Fuji Haro, that about covers it. Do I get a tax break for my bike, and where do I get ordained?

bkaapcke

So we are all going to worship the great god Shimano? Hope not. bk

LONGPATH

No! We worship at the altar of the Great and Powerful Campagnolo!!! Alias the Almighty Campy!