| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"News from Modern Living Church" |
| Date: |
26 May 2007 01:41:37 AM |
| Object: |
MODERN LIVING RELIGION MANIFESTO |
Modern Living Religion Manifesto
Version: 2007.05.21.001
Kenneth W. Brotman, Founder
www.modernlivingchurch.org
Preamble
Practicing an established formal set of beliefs and values can be very
useful -especially if those beliefs and values cast away old notions and
embrace new understandings as they are discovered. Every one of us must
make decisions about our values, beliefs and conduct.
Religions play important roles in societies. They offer moral direction and
instruction. Their churches are places of community. These qualities are
highly desirable. People want these things for themselves and for their
children.
Science has a separate purpose than religion. It does not compete with
religion. It can be used to determine facts; religion cannot. On the other
hand science can not suggest what is right and what is wrong; religion can.
Both are needed.
The Modern living Religion professes specific beliefs and values relating to
man's relationship to the universe and certain beliefs and values on how to
conduct oneself. Mankind's approach to religion itself needs to be freshly
recreated as the old approaches to religion do not suit modern times.
While we believe in being respectful to others who may not share the same
beliefs as us, this manifesto is about our key principles and why we find
the old style religions to be inadequate.
Our Key Principles
The Truth Is Valued above Our Beliefs
1. People should remain open to the possibility that their beliefs are not
correct. As new understandings are discovered, a religion should embrace
these new understandings. Even a religion's most fundamental documents
should change to take into account these new understandings. That's why many
of our documents have version numbers.
Tolerance towards Other's Beliefs
2. The quality of our lives depends on how well we work with each other and
how well we help each other. It is critical that we have good relations
with one another even as we disagree in our beliefs. No harm should come to
anyone over differences in beliefs. We should not force our convictions on
others. The only way an open society can function is if we have tolerance
for one another's beliefs.
Isolation is Dangerous
3. It is dangerous for a group to isolate themselves from others. Every
sect benefits from a free exchange of ideas between themselves and those
with other ideas and beliefs. Protection against extreme tendencies is also
gained.
Clarity is Essential
4. We strive for precise definitions of shared values and beliefs to
eliminate misinterpretations. Definitions should not be stated so vaguely
that they can mean anything a person wants them to mean.
Critical Thinking is Embraced
5. That we are better off acting in blind faith is rejected as it would
leave us susceptible to all types of deceptions. There is no reason why a
God would punish us for thinking through things critically.
Religion Should Not Consume It's Followers
6. Religion should provide useful information and services in a manner that
leaves most of their follower's time and money for all the other things they
want and need to do.
Acknowledgement of Limitations of the Human Mind
7. We must understand our limits and our susceptibilities - and learn to
guard against the troubles they can get us in.
Religion Should Help Protect Us from Cult Tendencies
8. A group or society can get caught up in false beliefs and destructive
practices. We must acquire skills and tools to counter the social
programming and group phenomenon that occurs. A true religion ought to help
people acquire these skills and tools. We are all affected at times.
Responsibility and Truthfulness in Declarations of the Church
9. It is irresponsible for a Church to present an opinion or belief as a
fact.
Rejection of Revelation Concept
10. That we could only see the presence of a supernatural being if he chose
to reveal himself is rejected. It is unlikely that a powerful supernatural
being could be actively at work in our world without there being a
detectable footprint of his presence.
Fresh Start Principle
11. If a supernatural force is interacting with our world during our times,
we should see recurring proof. We should not have to rely on historical
accounts.
Iteration Principle
12. The doctrines of the Church should be revisited, revised, refined and
updated to fit the modern world in which people are currently living and to
embrace new knowledge, understandings and capabilities as the world
progresses.
Rejection of Man's Fall and the Need for Redemption Concepts
13. Man isn't fallible because we are bad or because our ancestors sinned.
We're just human. No one should feel guilty just because they can't live an
absolutely perfect life. Logically, the creator of us, if there is one,
would be responsible, not us. We do not need to be redeemed.
Retribution from a Loving God Rejected
14. A loving, caring god would not mind if its creation created a better set
of guidelines to live by than the one even he inspired or helped create.
15. One person should not be punished for the actions of another person. A
just god, if there is one, wouldn't punish everyone for the actions of
someone long since past away.
16. No Worship: If there is a God, he surely did not intend us to spend our
time worshiping him, but instead to live the lives he gave us. A loving God
wouldn't demand that you worship him so doing so out of fear and the desire
to avoid consequences is irrational. We reject the requirement, validity and
rituals of worship.
17. Requirement to Sacrifice Life Rejected: Most people will go through
their entire lives having done nothing so severe that they should die for it
as punishment. Therefore, no one else could pay for those transgressions by
giving up their life.
18. If a God exists and is like a father and we like his sons and daughters
who have fallen away from him, that is not justification for killing us.
Would you kill your son or daughter if they did not listen to you!
19. Wrath by a Loving God Rejected: A loving God would not wipe out entire
lines of people or kill or torture, in any way, any masses of people for any
reason.
20. Eternal Torment Rejected: No loving God would send a person's soul to a
place of eternal torment such as Hell. No matter what a person did, they
could not deserve such a punishment.
Agency for a Supernatural Being Rejected
21. A wise supernatural being would not think that he could enlighten just a
few people and have his message spread to everyone else. There are too many
of us and there are too many valid reasons for each of us to be skeptical of
someone claiming to have a message from a supernatural being.
22. If there is a god and he is all powerful, he certainly doesn't need
anyone to kill another person for him.
Results Should Be Demonstrable
23. The beliefs and practices we live by should enrich our lives. If a
religion is useful, there should be positive visible results in the lives of
followers. Those results, to be considered worthwhile, should be better
than the results obtained from a placebo.
Perils of the Old Style Religions
24. We intend no hostility towards those that practice the old style
religions. Many people grew up in an environment where the old style
religions were the accepted way to practice religion; therefore they did not
feel the need to analyze the validity and effectiveness of their religious
practices. We feel that practicing the old style religions can cause their
followers too many perilous consequences.
25. Their followers often shun the real world. A religion should help us
function in the real world.
26. Their followers often have false expectations that if they follow the
religion's strictures, their problems will be solved supernaturally; and
furthermore, that they will receive rewards and have an easy existence in an
afterlife.
27. Their followers often discourage people from taking control over their
own destiny with claims that they should instead yield to the will of a
supernatural being.
28. Their followers tend to lose hope for the world. They insist that the
world must be saved supernaturally. We reject this. Instead of expecting
doom and gloom, and the eventual collapse of mankind, we should work to make
things better.
29. Their followers often are taught to resist ideas that might change their
beliefs. They are taught that they may be tempted and should not listen to
others.
30. Their followers are often exposed to teachings filled with images of
ceremony, worship, retaliation, retribution, wrath and war.
31. Their followers are often impeded by rituals and ceremonies that deplete
the amount of free time available to improve quality of life and reduce
suffering.
32. Their followers are often taught in the language of extremes; that
things are either good or bad; we either go to heaven or hell; we either do
right or wrong; we either receive reward or punishment. Things are rarely
at the extremes.
33. Their followers often experience deep unfounded feelings of guilt,
embarrassment and shame.
34. Their followers often become confused and conflicted. They become
filled with symbolism and vague teachings. They take some things
figuratively and some things literally as is convenient. When such people
write down and evaluate what they believe in, they often find their beliefs
inconsistent.
35. Their followers often lack the ability to discern, their thoughts having
been suppressed by unquestioned devotion to old religious writings and
participation in thoughtless mechanical activities.
36. Their followers are often tricked into giving money. Their followers are
told that God rewards those who give to the church and punishes those that
don't. We reject this. You can't give money to a God and even if you could
such a God doesn't need it. Since a God doesn't need it, he doesn't require
you to give it to him.
37. Their followers are often taught to discriminate. They are taught to
group people as the chosen ones, as gentiles, as believers, as heathen, as
enlightened, as infidels, and so on, causing bias, intolerance, segregation,
bigotry and hatred.
Call to Action
It's time for the world to have a modern religion; one based on truth and
critical thinking; embracing both science and religion; free from
manipulation and trickery, embracing new ideas, new discoveries and new
facts without fear; casting off the past beliefs when proved wrong; with the
goal of eliminating suffering from all forms of life and increasing the
capacity for each of us to live life more fully.
These key principles of the Modern Living Religion and observations about
the old style religions being so set forth, we invite all persons who agree
with this manifesto to stand up, join us and support our efforts to practice
religion a better way.
Please visit www.modernlivingchurch.org
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: MODERN LIVING RELIGION MANIFESTO |
26 May 2007 02:10:06 AM |
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On Sat, 26 May 2007 01:41:37 -0500, "News from Modern Living Church"
<news@modernlivingchurch.org> wrote:
- Refer: <1180161789_13237@sp6iad.superfeed.net>
Modern Living Religion Manifesto
Version: 2007.05.21.001
Kenneth W. Brotman, Founder
www.modernlivingchurch.org
:
Another would be cat-herder, eh?
--
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| User: "Al Klein" |
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| Title: Re: MODERN LIVING RELIGION MANIFESTO |
26 May 2007 08:30:08 PM |
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On Sat, 26 May 2007 16:40:06 +0930, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sat, 26 May 2007 01:41:37 -0500, "News from Modern Living Church"
<news@modernlivingchurch.org> wrote:
- Refer: <1180161789_13237@sp6iad.superfeed.net>
Modern Living Religion Manifesto
Version: 2007.05.21.001
Kenneth W. Brotman, Founder
www.modernlivingchurch.org
Another would be cat-herder, eh?
Or another get rich quick scheme?
.
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: MODERN LIVING RELIGION MANIFESTO |
27 May 2007 01:27:19 AM |
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On Sat, 26 May 2007 21:30:08 -0400, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid>
wrote:
- Refer: <bonh535vpc6hga25ck7l8dcd50d3orithm@4ax.com>
On Sat, 26 May 2007 16:40:06 +0930, Michael Gray
<mikegray@newsguy.com> wrote:
On Sat, 26 May 2007 01:41:37 -0500, "News from Modern Living Church"
<news@modernlivingchurch.org> wrote:
- Refer: <1180161789_13237@sp6iad.superfeed.net>
Modern Living Religion Manifesto
Version: 2007.05.21.001
Kenneth W. Brotman, Founder
www.modernlivingchurch.org
Another would be cat-herder, eh?
Or another get rich quick scheme?
It doesn't seem so.
It seems pretty genuine, but ill-fated.
--
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