Such was the invitation of Andy Deemer, a 33-year-old independent filmmaker. He took out ads promising "$5,000 to start your own religion." Meanwhile, his film crew would document the effort. Today's New York Times tells us that 300 people applied for the job; the "winner" is Joshua Boden, 35, an unemployed, bald-headed bass player in a rock band. Now he's starting the "Church of the Now."

Starting a new religion is nothing new. The article states that 40 to 45 new religious groups are emerging each year. The most successful in the last century is Scientology; others include the Unification Church, led by Sun Myung Moon; Church Universal and Triumphant, a New Age group; and the Universal Life Church.

Mr. Boden created a MySpace page and produced fliers and postcards. He sat for two hours in New York City's Union Square with a big sign which said, "Talk To Me About Living In The Now," but just three people did. The first service of his "church," held at an East Village bar, attracted only a small crowd composed mainly of Mr. Boden's friends. Most said they would probably not come back.

They heard Mr. Boden discuss his 14 tenets, among them: "The only 'sin' is not living fully"; "This life is the one that counts; this IS your eternal reward"; and "We are God." Mr. Boden believes that his principles have created a new church. Respectfully, someone needs to tell him that he's wrong--his church is the oldest known to human history.

In Genesis 3 we find the serpent and the woman discussing God's command not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve says that if she eats the fruit she will die. The serpent is adamant: "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5). She sees that the fruit is "good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom," so she and Adam eat it (v. 6). As Dr. Phil would ask, how did that work for her?

You and I will be invited to the Church of the Now all day today: to "live fully" in this life, believing that it is our eternal reward and that we are God. Let's not think that such beliefs are new. Or that they work any better in Dallas than they worked in Eden. This morning is a good time to return the universe to its Creator and choose to live for him. As C. S. Lewis observed, if you aim at heaven you get earth thrown in; if you aim at earth, you get neither. Aim well today.

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