User:Pseudo daoist/Religious Distros

This is a draft for a proposed page

Logos and screen shots on this page that were correctly sourced, and either had a fair use rational or used the GFDL license when I first used them on this page, were speedily deleted under WP:CSD#14.

Religion is a major force in society. Linux lends itself to niche markets. It was inevitable that the two find a place in which they can merge together.

Microsoft Windows

What makes an operating system distribution "religiously oriented"? Can one legitimately talk about a (substitute religious group here) distribution of Microsoft Windows?

Does installing OTO Tools, gematria software, The complete works of Aleister Crowley, wallpaper with pentagrams, MagiCalc ,and Cal-93 on a Windows computer constitute creating Microsoft Windows (Thelemic Edition)?

Does selling web filtering software, a Bible Study program, wallpaper with angels, and Christian clipart along with Windows constitute Microsoft Windows (Christian Edition)?

Jesux

This distribution was announced in late September 1999. .It used the Christian Software Public License. This is a variant of the four clause BSD license.

It suggested renaming "kill", and "daemon" to something that was less evocative of sin. It also wondered if it was appropriate for Christians to use software developed by homosexuals.

This distribution was later revealed to be a hoax.

Yellow Hat GNU/Linux

The Dalai Lama today announced the official release of Yellow Hat GNU/Linux is how the official announcement on 1 April 2003 began. This was a carefully thought out hoax by Richard Stallman , bringing together elements from both Tibetan Buddhism and Linux.

Christian Linux Live CD

This project was announced on 23 July 2004. A screenshot was posted 17 December 2004.

It was based upon Damn_Small_Linux

The first criticism of it emerged the day after it was announced. .

Despite not being publicly released, five bugs were reported for it.

Ichthux

Ichtux

OS family	Linux
Working state	Ubuntu Metapackage
Source model	FOSS
Latest release	3.10 <<Everlasting Joy>> / October 2006
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux
License	GNU GPL /GNU LGPL
Official website	www.ichthux.com https://launchpad.net/ichthux

This was the first religiously orientated distribution to be widely released. The first two versions were based on Koppix. Subsequent versions are based upon Kubuntu.

[1]

Origin of the Name

The name is based upon the Greek acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ:
I is the first letter of the word Jesus in Greek: Ιησους
CH are the first letters of the word Christ (Χριστος)
TH are the first letters of the word THeou (Θεου), Greek for God
Y is the first letter for Uios (Υιος), Greek for son.
S is the first letter for Soter (Σωτηρ), Greek for saviour.
The X in the end of the name Ichthux is a common termination in the *nix world.

Features

• KDE Desktop Enviornment;
• Kio-Sword as the default Bible Study program;
• Christian console tools: verse, bible-kjv
• Christian emoticons theme;
• Culmus Hebrew fonts;

Version History

Version	Release date	Code name	Comment
0.4.3	03 April 2005		First public release of Ichthux as a Knoppix live CD
0.5	05 May 2005	Valenciana	Second release of the Ichthux, based on Knoppix
6.09	12 September 2006	Amazing Grace	First Ubuntu-based release
6.10	26 October 2006	Everlasting Joy	First release embedded in Ubuntu

In 2007, this distro became a full fledged metapackage within ubuntu https://launchpad.net/ichthux

Reviews and Awards

Reviews

It has been reviewed in:

Wikipedia Article

The main website does not appear to have been updated since late 2006.

The Wikipedia article was deleted 12 August 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Ichthux.

It was also proposed for merger with:

• Ubuntu;
• Ubuntu (Linux distribution);

Spanish article was AfD July 2005 http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Consultas_de_borrado/Ichthux

Transwiki

Russian;http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthux

French;http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthux

Ukranian;http://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthux

CrisTux

CrisTux

OS family	Linux
Working state	Current (?)
Source model	FOSS
Latest release	0.1 (beta release) / 20 May 2005
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux
License	FLOSS
Official website	http://cristux.tamarapatino.org/

Origin of the Name

This project was created with the following aims:

• Use the Internet, Open Source Software, and Open resources as a tool for evangelism;
• Expose mankind to the Holy Spirit, using new technological tools;
• Help people in their growth as Christians;
• Create tools for for people to further their spiritual growth;
• Share with other communities like Ichthux, for example, as the early Christian communities did, in harnessing the power and spirit of ecumenical Christianity.

Features

GnomeSword

GNU GPL 2.0 Bible Study program for the Gnome Desktop. This utilizes The Sword Project API.

Spanish Language Catholic Bible

This project is creating these resources, as most Spanish Language e-text Bibles are more than 75 years old, and omit Deuterocanonical material.

Version History

This project was started in early 2005.

Version	Release date	Based On	Notes
0.1	22 May2005	Ubuntu	Beta Release

The last message to the mailing list was sent in September 2006.

Reviews and Awards

Reviews

It has been reviewed in:

Ubuntu Christian Edition

Ubuntu Christian Edition

Developer	Jereme
OS family	Linux
Working state	Current
Source model	FLOSS
Latest release	4.0
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux
License	Mixed
Official website	www.christianubuntu.com

[[2]]

Features

GnomeSword

GNU GPL 2.0 Bible Study program for the Gnome Desktop. It utilized The Sword Project API.

e-Sword

Gratis Bible Study program for Windows.

The Word

Gratis Bible Study program for Windows.

Virtual Rosary

This application provides the words, and images for mediation as a traditional Roman Catholic form of devotion.

Today's Bible Verse

This program displays a verse from the Bible on the desktop.

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
1.0	23 July 2006	6.06	GnomeSword
1.1	14 August 2006	6.06	Dansguardian, Some standard Ubuntu Packages removed.
1.2	03 September 2006	6.06	GnuCash, Daily Bible Verse
1.3	04 October 2006	6.06	Cross Wallpaper
1.4	04 October 2006	6.06	Christian Theme for Firefox
1.5	10 November 2006	6.06	Ichthux Installer
1.5.1	28 November 2006	6.06	Better technical theme integratin
1.5.2	07 February 2007	6.06	Dansguardian enhancements
1.5.3	15 March 2007	6.06	Dansguardian enhancements
2.0	28 November 2006	6.10	gVerse used as a replacement for Daily Bible Verse
2.1	07 February 2007	6.10	Virtual Rosary, Bible Memorizer
2.2	15 March 2007	6.10	e-Sword Installer, e-Sword resource installer
3.0	02 May 2007	7.04	The Word Installer, Christian Firefox Extensions
3.1	18 May 2007	7.04	Bugs fixed
3.2	29 May 2007	7.04	Ubuntu CE Installer removed
3.3	29 July 2007	7.04	WhatWouldJesusDownload Toolbar
5.0 (32 bit)	19 October 2009	9.04
5.0 (64 bit)	19 October 2009	9.04
5.0 (server bit)	19 October 2009	9.04
6.0 (32 bit)	1 December 2009	9.10
6.0 (64 bit)	1 December 2009	9.10
6.0 (Server)	1 December 2009	9.10
Ubuntu CE 9.10 UNR	8 February 2010	9.10	Netbook Remix

Reviews and Awards

Reviews

It has been reviewed in:

• U S Catholic
• Extreme Tech
• Linux Format

Non Notable Reviews

• http://www.madpenguin.org/cms/?m=show&id=7681
• http://www.reviewlinux.com/?m=show&id=3282
• http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/76696/
• http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2076013,00.asp
• http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/9390
• http://www.linux.org/news/2006/12/14/0002.html
• http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/76696/index.html
• http://quickworx.info/index.php/2006/11/15/using-unbuntu-christian-edition-a-review
• http://www.tuxmachines.org/index.php?q=node/9390
• http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS3093128048.html
• http://www.moka5.com/node/66
• http://cafelinux.org/distropedia/?q=node/153
• http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ubuntuce
• http://www.linuxformat.co.uk: Linux Format Issue 87 (Christmas 2006) Page 39

Wikipedia Article

The Wikipedia article Ubuntu Christian Edition was submitted for Deletion on three occasions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Automatix_%28software%29 27 June 2007: Result: No Consensus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Ubuntu_Christian_Edition 4 August 2007: Result: Keep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Ubuntu_Christian_Edition_%282nd_nomination%29 5 October 2007: Result: Merge/Redirect.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Pages_%C3%A0_supprimer/Ubuntu_Christian_Edition 2 October 2007" Result: Merge.

It was also proposed for merger with:

• Ubuntu;
• Ubuntu (Linux distribution);

Transwiki

Russian

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_CE

Finnish

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Christian_Edition

Spanish

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Christian_Edition

Czeck

http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Christian_Edition

Criticism

Since its announcement in July of 2006, Ubuntu CE has been and still is under criticism from members of the Ubuntu community. Many have voiced their opinions about the Christian Edition in the official Ubuntu forums. Some of the main problems certain users see with Ubuntu Christian Edition are listed below:

• Christianity aside, how should CE be considered a "fork" or "distro" when it basically adds a package of applications and theme that could easily be done in Ubuntu?
• The word "Ubuntu" stands for community, and making a version aimed at specific people goes against this philosophy.
• What does religion have to do with an operating system?

These are not the only issues that Ubuntu members are finding with CE. For a full read, the Ubuntu forums have some threads dedicated to this issue

Jereme, the creator of the CE project, has responded to the above by saying that:

“ It is simply a pre-configured and customized version of Ubuntu for a specific group of people (Christians). The idea is to bring Linux to a community of people who in my opinion are until now are an untapped market for Linux.

This project is not about bringing Christianity to Linux users. It is just the opposite. It is an excellent example of how we can use the power of Open Source software to really provide groups with a product that will truly meet their needs.

I really wish those who are opposed to the Christian faith could take their guards down for a moment and look at the bigger picture of what I am trying to accomplish.

”

Other Ubuntu community members consider the Christian Edition to be a joke of sorts, and have begun creating pundit sites and blogs that poke fun at the project. For example, coming up with facts that toy with the idea a Christian themed operating system, such as "With Ubuntu Christian Edition, you don't need to surf the web. You can walk on it." Others have also decided to make an offshoot of the Christian Edition and create Ubuntu Satanic Edition.

All in all, the discussion over these issues have been conducted in a general civility and politeness, with people from both camps sharing their opinions on the Official Ubuntu forums.

Copied in whole from the Ubuntu Christian Edition article, then extensively edited.

Ubuntu Satanic Edition/Kubuntu Satanic Edition

Ubuntu Satanic Edition

OS family	Linux
Working state	Current
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

This is a set of themes, rather than a distribution, per se.

Origin of the Name

This was created in reaction to Ubuntu Christian Edition. As such, a name that is diametrically opposed to Christian was selected.

Kubuntu Satanic Edition follows the Ubuntu convention of using "Kubuntu" to indicate a KDE desktop, instead of the Gnome desktop.

Features

The focus is upon the "Darker Side". of Ubuntu.

Version History

Version	Number	Release date	For	What is New
Evil Edgy		13 December 2006	6.10	First set of desktop themes
Evil Edgy		17 December 2006	6.10	Wallpaper
Evil Edgy		18 December 2006	6.10	Gnome splash screen
Evil Edgy		20 December 2006	6.10	Screensaver
Evil Edgy		12 January 2007	6.10	First set of KDE themese
		18 January 2007	Any	Gnome Desktop theme
		18 January 2007	Any	KDE Desktop theme
Fiery Spawn		23 April 2007	7.04	New "Bat" Logo, New Baphomet artwork, Both Gnome and KDE desktops are supported
		4 May 2007	AMD 64	Rewrite for AMD-64 architecture
Fiery Spawn		8 June 2007	Gnome	Beryl Theme
		18 July 2007	Power PC	Rewrite for Power PC architecture
Eternity		24 July 2007		Rewrite for Eternity screensaver
Lucifer’s Legion	666.8	18 May 2010	Any	Update for Ubuntu 10.04

Reviews and Awards

Reviews

Non Notable Reviews

• Just in Time For Christmas: http://www.linux.com/articles/114207

Wikipedia Article

The Wikipedia article was deleted

Ubuntu Muslim Edition

Ubuntu Muslim Edition

OS family	Linux
Working state	Current
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Features

Islamiccal

an Islamic calendar program

minbar

a prayer reminder, it launches an athan at the prayer times.

zekr

a Qur’anic study-tool that helps Muslims learn verses of the Qur’an

Ubuntume-artwork

GUI skins, buttons and backgrounds with Islamic themes

Ubuntumewcc

a program that functions as a firewall and filter for you web content.

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
1.0	23 July 2006	6.06
	15 August 2007	7.04	DVD release

Reviews and Awards

Awards

Wikipedia Article

The wikipedia article UbuntuME was redirected to List_of_Ubuntu-based_distributions in October 2007, without any discussion.

French AfD Discussion is at http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Pages_%C3%A0_supprimer/Ubuntu_Muslim_Edition

Criticism

The quote: It is useless since it doesn't bring anything new to normal distribution. You can be more useful by investing your skills in other projects that can make new technologies reach the Muslim community. For example, even if you do not speak Arabic, you can help support Arabic-script languages that are the main languages of the Muslim world and culture... Moreover, this is a silly imitation of the already criticized Christian Edition of Ubuntu. sums up the opposition to this distribution in the Muslim world.

ChurchPup

ChurchPup

OS family	Linux
Working state	Current
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
1.0	23 July 2006	6.06

KubuntuME

KubuntuME

OS family	Linux
Working state	Current
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
1.0	23 July 2006	6.06

Living Water

Living Water

OS family	Linux
Working state	Unknown
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
?	0 January 20009	Church Pup

ShepherdPup

ShepherdPup

OS family	Linux
Working state	Unknown
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
?	0 January 20009	Church Pup

ChurchPup Concordia

ChurchPup Concordia

OS family	Linux
Working state	Unknown
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
?	0 January 20009	Church Pup

LightHouse

LightHouse

OS family	Linux
Working state	Unknown
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
?	0 January 20009	Church Pup

Ubuntu Jewish Edition

Ubuntu Jewish Edition

OS family	Linux
Working state	Defunct
Source model	FOSS
Latest release	7.10
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Features

Ubuntu Jewish Edition

The following programs were not included in this distro:

• Firefox : Include the following extensions
  • Sifrei Kodesh Search;
  • Morfix;

• Luach

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
7.10	November 2007	7.10

Comal-Linux

Comal-Linux

OS family	Linux
Working state	Active
Source model	FOSS
Latest release	08.31 / 2010-0803
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Features

Muslim edition of Slackware.

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
08.31	3 August 2010

Linux Mint Christian Edition

Linux Mint Christian Edition

OS family	Linux
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Origin of the Name

Ubuntu Christian Edition recompiled for Linux Mint.

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
?	0 January 2010

Zenix

Zenix

OS family	Linux
Working state	Active
Source model	FOSS
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux

Version History

Version	Release date	Based On	What is new
Buddhist 1.4 v 1	0 May 2009	Slax 6
Buddhist 1.4 v 2	24 June 2010	Ubuntu 10.4

JewBuntu

This is a hoax edition of Ubuntu. Special features include an insecurity tool, to increase one's feelings of guilt.

JAP Edition

This version of JewBuntu charges every thing to daddy's credit card;

Mixed Marriage Edition

This combines Ubuntu Christian Edition with JewBuntu. Orthodox denominations are uninstallable.

Criticism

The major criticisms of Religiously Orientated Distributions are:

• Where will this end up?
• Why can't users just use apt-get to install the packages?
• Why not create a meta-package, rather than new distribution

The Ending Point

"Where will this path end?" The implication being that there will be a distribution for each denomination of each religion.

This criticism assumes that Elmo Phillip's joke is par for all denominations in all religions.

Using Apt-Get

This criticism says that the software is available, and all that a user needs, is to use apt-get, or similar program to download an install it.

This criticism assumes:

• The software that the distribution includes exists;
• The software is available for the distribution that the users has installed.
• That the individual knows how to use apt-get, or similar tool;

ChrisTux focused their attention on Spanish Language Catholic Bibles, because there are none that are suitable in electronic format. (Most e-text Bibles either omit Deuterocanonical material, or are more than a century old.)

Ubuntu Christian Edition includes scripts to download and install programs for Windows. Without those scripts, installing those programs involves a steep learning curve. With those scripts, some users report problems in installing the programs that require WINE.

Meta Packages

This is the approach that Ubuntu Satanic Edition and Ichthux take.

Depending on the software additions that are taken, this might be a more appropriate approach.

Fantasy Distributions

These distributions do not exist. They were mentioned in articles that were critical of either Ubuntu Christian Edition, Ubuntu Muslim Edition or another religiously orientated distribution.

• Ubuntu Agnostic Edition;
• Ubuntu Aleister Crowley Edition;
• Ubuntu Apathetic Edition;
• Ubuntu Asatru Edition;
• Ubuntu Atheist Edition;
• Ubuntu Baha'i Edition;
• Ubuntu Bhuddist Edition;
• Ubuntu Caodaism Edition;
• Ubuntu Catholic Edition;
• Ubuntu Confucius Edition;
• Ubuntu Cthulhu Edition;
• Ubuntu Daoist Edition;
• Ubuntu Deist Edition;
• Ubuntu Discordian Edition;
• Ubuntu Eckankar Edition;
• Ubuntu Erensitansicalismistic-mirror Edition;
• Ubuntu Eve Online Edition;
• Ubuntu Eventualism Edition;
• Ubuntu Existentialist Edition;
• Ubuntu Gnostic Edition;
• Ubuntu Greek Orthodox Edition;
• Ubuntu Hindu Edition;
• Ubuntu Humanism Edition;
• Ubuntu Jainism Edition;
• Ubuntu Jehovah's Witness Edition;
• Ubuntu Kabbalistic Edition;
• Ubuntu meow-mix Edition;
• Ubuntu Mneptok Edition;
• Ubuntu palindrome edition;
• Ubuntu Pastafarian Edition;
• Ubuntu pppoe_dude addition;
• Ubuntu Scientology Edition;
• Ubuntu Thelmic Edition;
• Ubuntu Wicca Edition;
• Ubuntu WoW edition;
• Ubuntu Zen Buddhism Edition;
• Ubuntu Zoroastrian Edition;
• Ubuntu zyth edition;

Not Religiously Orientated

Several distributions have names which imply a religious theme, or orientated. That association is usually nothing more than an accident in the history of the distro.

Devil Linux

This is designed for secure IT related applications.

Devil Linux

Developer	Heiko Zürker, Friedrich Lobenstock, Bruce Smith
OS family	Linux
Working state	Current
Source model	FOSS
Latest release	1.2.13 / 1 March 2007
Platforms	i386
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel, Linux
Official website	http://www.devil-linux.org/

Origin of the Name

Name came from the logos on the T-Shirt one of the developers was wearing.

Features

Designed to boot from a CD-ROM which is read-only by nature. Configuration files are saved to either floppy disk or USB device.

See also

• Ubuntu_(Linux_distribution)
• List of Linux Distributions