Ya; I want to start my own religion and I need some opinions.

Should I....

A - Just start it completely new from scratch and say that I'm God. (Can't use any of my powers because you should have faith in me;))

or

B - Branch off another religion and say that I'm not God but really really close. (Jesus style)

I'm leaning towards A. because B.'s overplayed. Jesus, Muhammad, and Joseph Smith have over used it.

So what's your primary motivation behind starting a new religion?

To amass followers? To glorify yourself? To make a buck? To instill a conduct of living that others should adhere to?

I'd advise focusing your marketing scheme around what people already desire: Leadership, Power and Exclusiveness.

Master that, and they'll come in droves. Sprinkle in a bit of financial gain for yourself, convince people that it's necessary to tithe in order to keep your Word afloat, and you might find yourself in the same position as L.Ron Hubbard was: Rich, powerful and able to fool people who hunger for a new spiritual direction that they just can't bring themselves to discover without someone telling them how to manage themselves.

In all honesty I just want as many people to believe in the religion as possible. Then 2,000 years after my death I want a video of me to be released.

In the video I make fun of my followers for being so God (Me) damn stupid. And go on to laugh at them.

The only problem is LRH might have already beat me to the idea.

1. go to college and get a degree in chemistry
2. move to some third world country
3. do a bunch of amazing experiments to "show off your powers" and convince the "natives" you are God on earth
4. ???
5. PROFIT

1. go to college and get a degree in chemistry
2. move to some third world country
3. do a bunch of amazing experiments to "show off your powers" and convince the "natives" you are God on earth
4. Do the nasty with all the native women and/or men as a form of healing and charge them one cow/other livestock
5. Amass a huge farm of the livestock
6. Use the livestock as primitive tanks, conquer surrounding tribes
7. Repeat 3-6 untill you have a sizable country taht you rule by divine right.
5. PROFIT

Fixed.