In Theory:

Filmmaker Andy Deemer is working on a documentary about a New York man starting his own religion. Deemer advertised for people willing to start their own religion and decided to focus on Joshua Boden, a musician whose religion declares that divinity can be found in common moments such as the laughter of a child or fall colors. In his religion no one tells anyone else what to believe and the congregation searches for answers together. Do you think this religion sounds promising or does the whole exercise of documenting a fledgling religion make a mockery of religious faith?

There is a prayer in one of the Jewish prayer books written by Rabindranath Tagore titled "Where Shall I Find You?" in reference to God. Some of it reads, "Behold, I find You; In the merry shouts of children at their play; in the mother's lullaby, as she rocks her baby in the cradle."

I agree with Boden's statement that divinity can be found in common moments such as the laughter of a child. What I disagree with is that there are a lot of other elements to religion and God that are not found in his pseudo-religion. These elements refer to his precept that there is no God, that "we are God."

In Boden's religion, since he does not believe in God, there can be no prayer. Who would you be praying to? Boden's religion does not even have a name. The world's Western religions all find value in prayer. The Psalms are read not only for worship but to give people a sense of comfort. People need prayer. Institutional organized religion gives a person a sense of community — a place to go to and people to see when misfortune or tragedy occurs. This also is lacking in Boden's religion.

I find other essentials of a religion, unique to Judaism, that Boden lacks in his pseudo-religion. Judaism is based on ethics and a belief in God and a sharing of Jewish civilization and history. Jewish history unfolds in the present. Long ago, in Roman society, Jupiter was a symbol, but the prophets of Israel are a voice. Mars died without ever having lived, but Moses remains a living figure. We are bound by his law given to him by God, a code of ethics. In Boden's religion, he does not even include the Ten Commandments.