Secular Religions (functional equivalents)

[Mithrea]

Secular religions are what are sometimes called "functional equivalents" because they are groups or organizations that have several characteristics of a religion but do not claim to be a religion. Here are some examples:

Mary Kay Cosmetics
Marxism
Alcoholics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
The Elks Club
The Girl Scouts

All of these have a code of behavior that move you from some prestate, through a movement and transformation to some ultimate goal, yet they do not claim to be a religion.

I was wondering what other ones you could think of? :)

[Armitage]

AMWAY! Crazy cult more like, but hey. And possibly Church of the Subgenius. I don't know how secular that is.
(edit: bizarre grammar problem)

[Cait]

Hmmm...

WeightWatchers? Or other weight-loss style organizations (I have a friend who belongs to one, and she says she's sure it's a religion substitute for a lot of people).

The Rules? (ick, cringe, yuck)

[Mithrea]

OOOOOOHHHH I forgot about AMWAY! I meant to mention that (though I admit that was a friend that gave me that one--I had never heard of it) :) Weight Watchers is a great one! :D

[MammaStar]

You have Girl Scouts but forgot Boy Scouts silly!!!

My son is part of them. He's a Webelo. But I have to say, they've been pretty cool in his new den not to shove the religon part down my throat (& his for that matter). :D