July 15, 2008 | 5:13 pm

Open invite to creat your own religion

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

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People have been inventing their own belief systems for a long time. Religion has historically been used not just to explain our place in this mixed-up universe but to shape culture and provide social order. Some religions have one God, some have many and other none. Some use crackers for communion, others marijuana or peyote.

More than ever, Americans are trying out various religions, searching for that—and I used this phrase pejoratively—perfect fit. And, this week only, you can be rewarded for starting your own religion. The Washington Post’s Style section, which put out the call, can’t promise you eternal life, or even a better one now, but the judges will send the best creator (little “c”) a trophy. Hallelujah.

Second place receives “Brides Behaving Badly,” a collection of wedding photos from what must have been the alumnae of the Tonya Harding School of Elegant Deportment and Apparel.

Other runners-up win their choice of a coveted Style Invitational Loser T-shirt or yearned-for Loser Mug. Honorable Mentions get one of the lusted-after Style Invitational Magnets. One prize per entrant per week. Send your entries by e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by fax to 202-334-4312. Deadline is Monday, July 21. Put “Week 773” in the subject line of your e-mail, or it risks being ignored as spam. Include your name, postal address and phone number with your entry. Contests are judged on the basis of humor and originality.

Frisbeetarianism is already taken. As is Dudeism. And Heaven’s Gate, well ...

But builder beware: just because you create your own gods doesn’t mean you don’t have to answer to the God. (In fact, I understand it works just the opposite.)