"I am not always good at telling serious from satire; which is this?"
Admittedly, a bit of both. I'm so tired of RTCs trying to pass off an obviously mostly-mythological story* as fact. So I decided that I'd use the MLP:FiM mythology shown in the first two episodes as the basis for a "Flying Spaghetti Monster"-style religion. But as I watched the show I noticed that Princess Celestia is not only a political and governmental leader to her ponies, she's also a *moral* leader to them as well -- and, arguably, probably a far *better* one than the Hebrew God or Christian God were/are to His followers.
Also, both Celestia and Luna have come represent certain ideals to me: i.e. Patience, Nobility, Leadership, a sense of Humor, Redemption, The ability to forgive, etc.
Another plus (in my eyes, at least) is that both of them are *flawed* -- and the show acknowledges this! (i.e. Celestia loses her temper over Twilight's antics in the episode "Lesson Zero". But she forgives Twilight; and when the other ponies admit that they didn't listen to her concerns, she turns it into a "teachable moment" by assigning them to write letters to her as well. Also, she actually *loses* her spell duel with Queen Chrysalis in the Season 2 ender and winds up a prisoner, and the Mane 6 have to rescue *her!*)
So, yeah; a "religion" based on an animated TV show ostensibly meant for 5-to-11-year-old girls may sound a bit (okay, *more* than a bit) facetious, but it's premise can't be any more wild than what's found in the Bible.
*Granted, there's probably a bit of actual history mixed in; but it can be hard to tell from all the Supernatural stuff that goes on.
Re: World-building survey.
Admittedly, a bit of both. I'm so tired of RTCs trying to pass off an obviously mostly-mythological story* as fact. So I decided that I'd use the MLP:FiM mythology shown in the first two episodes as the basis for a "Flying Spaghetti Monster"-style religion. But as I watched the show I noticed that Princess Celestia is not only a political and governmental leader to her ponies, she's also a *moral* leader to them as well -- and, arguably, probably a far *better* one than the Hebrew God or Christian God were/are to His followers.
Also, both Celestia and Luna have come represent certain ideals to me: i.e. Patience, Nobility, Leadership, a sense of Humor, Redemption, The ability to forgive, etc.
Another plus (in my eyes, at least) is that both of them are *flawed* -- and the show acknowledges this! (i.e. Celestia loses her temper over Twilight's antics in the episode "Lesson Zero". But she forgives Twilight; and when the other ponies admit that they didn't listen to her concerns, she turns it into a "teachable moment" by assigning them to write letters to her as well. Also, she actually *loses* her spell duel with Queen Chrysalis in the Season 2 ender and winds up a prisoner, and the Mane 6 have to rescue *her!*)
So, yeah; a "religion" based on an animated TV show ostensibly meant for 5-to-11-year-old girls may sound a bit (okay, *more* than a bit) facetious, but it's premise can't be any more wild than what's found in the Bible.
*Granted, there's probably a bit of actual history mixed in; but it can be hard to tell from all the Supernatural stuff that goes on.