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8.0.12 Promoting and Defending ReasonVersion 1.4 March 2013 (Previous Version) What is the most critical thing to say to finish off? Here is our call to arms, our appeal to everyone who sees the validity of this way, . It is all very well to propose a philosophy of life that is reasonable, based on reason and evidence leading us to these global beliefs and the choices we make that reflect our core values: truth, diversity, life, love (or compassion), beauty, responsibility equality and hope, as well as implied values such as: wonder, openness, reverence, mystery, uncertainty, struggle, courage, respect, justice, mercy, authenticity, freedom, stability, security, prosperity, democracy. On the one hand, fundamentalist religion, ideological market liberalism, and jingoistic patriotism promote narrow minded solutions causing more good than harm. On the other hand, moral relativism, post colonial anger and guilt, and extreme multiculturalism can lead to a spineless response to injustice, welfare abuses, and social domination by irrational minorities. Three kinds of action are required: 1. Join the struggle to live according to the beliefs and values which constitute this way; 2. Participate in promotions of this way against both ideological and religious certainties and the moral vacuum that comes with abject uncertainty and the lack of core values; 3. Defend this way, perhaps at some personal discomfort or risk, against threats to what we value, as exemplified in our ideal secular, pluralist, liberal democracy. 8.0.12.1 Joining the StruggleAdopting any religion or philosophy of life entails a commitment. We understand the degree of commitment will vary between individuals depending on their personal circumstances. The guidelines for personal practice (Part 6) partly cover this commitment. The questions for each reader are: ● Can you agree with most of these propositions? ● Which ones – if any – do you disagree with, wholly or in part, and why? ● Does this set of propositions help to explain the fundamentals of your world? ● To what extent are our prepared to live this way, to promote it and defend it. 8.0.12.2 Promoting this WayIn the following sections we consider in more detail methods to promote this way. The guidelines for political action (Part 7) partly cover this promotion. Questions you can ask your local leaders: ● How many of these propositions does your local religious leader accept? ● Which of these propositions does your local political representative accept? ● Which of these propositions are accepted and taught at your local school? ● And most importantly, which of these propositions do they NOT accept – and why? 8.0.12.3 Defending this WayThere is an ongoing struggle need to defend our core values against opposing forces. As indicated in Part 7, political action at national and global levels, and participation in non-government organisations (such as, for instance, Amnesty International) address this, Defending this way can be accomplished by supporting appropriate human rights legislation, such as, for instance, freedom of expression, followed by enforcement of the law by police. Defending these values may also involve properly authorised
military action, such as, perhaps, the United Nations sanctioned defence of 8.0.12 Final Conclusions Adopting this way doesn’t automatically lead us to a life of bliss. Religions that promise eternal; bliss in the after life are not based on the truth. This life is still a struggle. But this Way minimizes major sources of guilt, fear, dread, confusion, alienation, hopelessness and despair that is associated with traditional religions. ● We still need to work out how to behave in particular situations, because the reasonable guidelines we have don’t address all situations, just as religious commandments and legal rules don’t’ cover all situations. ● We still need to inform ourselves as much as we can, to learn, to be aware. Knowledge and circumstances is change, so what is reasonable will change. ● We are still face a society in which there is lots of disagreement about these issues. This forces us all to adapt. It will encourage some of us to spread the word. ● We need to have the courage to join the struggle to live this reasonable way, to promote it, and defend it against the forces of unreason. Implications of this Reasonable Global Way: We all need to struggle to identify, understand, clarify and live by (submit to) reasonable beliefs and values that: ● can be justified as reasonable to all people; ● cover our ultimate concerns and life’s strategic issues; ● are not restricted to a particular ethnic group; and ● don’t ignore key areas of knowledge. Traditional religious approaches have become unrealistic: ● It is better to find meaning and purpose, and values to guide our choices, on what we can know, rather than to base these on incomprehensible, irrational or unreasonable beliefs. ● It can’t be either sensible or good to base our lives and values on something incomprehensible or that we can only accept with a huge leap of faith contrary to the evidence and common sense. Despite: ● the inherent uncertainty (the dilemma of truth), ● our personal limitations (no-one knows everything), and ● our ignorance as a species (we are learning so quickly), these global beliefs, and the values we have adopted, can be shared by people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. We can find meaning and purpose, and values to guide our choices, in these global beliefs, in this Reasonable Global Way. Our challenge is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be aware of this Way, so they can freely choose which way to go.
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