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8.0.8.6 Religion or WayVersion 1.2 July 2016 (Previous Version) How should we refer to this Reasonable Global Way, these ‘global beliefs and values’? In elucidating these beliefs we have shown that traditional religions are inadequate. If we propose this reasonable way as a viable alternative approach, whose structure is similar to that of traditional religions, should we be bold enough to call it our religion? We can call this Way a “philosophy of life”, a “world view” or a “life stance”. We could just use a long description, to say these global beliefs constitute “non-religious core beliefs that provide whatever meaning and purpose we have and provide the core values that guide our choices on how we behave”. Some people will think this means that there must also be other “religious core beliefs” that we might hold at the same time as the “non-religious core beliefs”. This could be misleading. We would need to explain what the phrase means: that our core beliefs that provide meaning and purpose and core values that guide our choices are non-religious. We could use a shorter description to say these global beliefs constitute, for example, a “naturalistic, evidence based, universal narrative and a set of ethical guidelines based on naturalistic philosophy”. It needs these two parts because the universal narrative itself, based on science and history, does not provide values, meaning or purpose: both make up the whole set. But this description has no emotional force and only philosophers will understand it, so it does not express the idea well enough. We would still need to explain what this phrase means. We could use as a brief description for these beliefs the phrase “a reasonable global way”. If you are familiar with terms such as “the way of mindfulness” (from Buddhism) or “the way” in Daoism, you know that “way” in this definition implies some kind of ethical or proper behaviour. Using “reasonable” in the description adds the implication that the mooted ethical behaviour must be based on reasonable principles or reasonable beliefs, and “global” implies universal applicability. But “a reasonable global way” seems better as a label, like a brand name, for the set of beliefs, rather than a description of what kind of beliefs they are. In these pages “a reasonable global way” is used as a name for this whole approach. 8.0.8.6 A Religious Way Whether or not we call this Way a religion will depend upon the context. ● In a legal context, it is a religion, as worthy as any other of tax concessions and similar privileges such as access to schools for educating students in values. ● In a discourse in which religion must by definition involve transcendental – out of this universe – beings or principles then this way is not a religion, because it has none of those things. ● If religion involves more than mere reason (ie value choices) and some faith (though ours is minimal) then this way is a religion, because it involves those things, and we can justify that involvement. ● If religion addresses our ultimate concerns, meaning and purpose, values and our connection to the world, then this way is a religion, because it addresses these issues. ● In a social context it may perhaps be perceived as being even more than traditional religion, because it is more comprehensive, including political and economic matters, as well as open, flexible and corrigible.
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