[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('careinke', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('careinke', '
')4. Thou shall limit populations so not to harm the earth or people.

.

[DesuMaiden]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('careinke', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('careinke', '
')4. Thou shall limit populations so not to harm the earth or people.

.

[careinke]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '
') With only one billion people surviving you would only need one seventh of the current herds and flocks to feed them or perhaps one quarter if you let living standards rise. farmers won't raise animals they have no market for so that problem will take care of itself if you can solve the initial problem of reducing the population from seven to one billion.
Does this new religion require an all powerful god figure to worship or can the body of knowledge we have gathered about biology and environmental limits be "The Light" that guides us?

[Lore]

Going back down to 1.5 billion people, or what ever number is not going to mean we can pick up sticks and carry on like nothings happened, or will further happen to push that number lower.

[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '
') Does this new religion require an all powerful god figure to worship or can the body of knowledge we have gathered about biology and environmental limits be "The Light" that guides us?

[onlooker]

I think we should heed what Ibon is saying as it directs itself to what we are to be about as humans going forth. Most have heard the oft used phrase "What is the meaning of life" Well we all can identify with philosophical musings as I think all humans have these thoughts occasionally. So the objective is to instill in ourselves in a profound way the way we should think and behave as humans, you could say consciously and intentionally evolve as humans. We will have the transition that will highlight and force us to confront our flaws but then we must make this new insight not just the law of the land but the essence of what we should be about as humans. In that sense I agree that this mode of thinking should be seen as sacred/religious/spiritual. Finally I may add that we need this bonding and care for/of to extend to EACH OTHER. The challenges to be confronted require us to join as one besides we all should welcome this solidarity as a blessing that we have sorely lacked throughout our history. Oh and if this is veering away from the subject of this post my apologies

[Pops]

Still there is no personal reward for foreswearing all those evil things like unprotected sex, gluttonous stuffing of thine face (talking food here) and cutting down the forest to roll your Maoi to the perfect seaside vantage.

gotta have a hook, resurrection and everlasting life seems to do it for lots of folks, if communing with nature were the hook we'd still be pagans.

[onlooker]

Pops gotta give that one to you. Our selfish and hedonistic side can always get the better of us. So then forget about reward rather think punishment. Now I do not necessarily mean down to the dungeon to be tortured and killed. More like banished because it seems in the future nothing will be worse then to be cast adrift alone in the unforgiving wilderness for a current or former denizen of a civilized urban locality.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'S')till there is no personal reward for foreswearing all those evil things like unprotected sex, gluttonous stuffing of thine face (talking food here) and cutting down the forest to roll your Maoi to the perfect seaside vantage.

gotta have a hook, resurrection and everlasting life seems to do it for lots of folks, if communing with nature were the hook we'd still be pagans.

[Newfie]

Cy,
Make that 2. Hard core atheist.

[careinke]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '
')The personnel reward is leaving things in good shape for your grandchildren and their children. But if it involves worshiping some mythical supreme being whose pronouncements come down to the masses through a priesthood count me out.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('careinke', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '
')The personnel reward is leaving things in good shape for your grandchildren and their children. But if it involves worshiping some mythical supreme being whose pronouncements come down to the masses through a priesthood count me out.

[Newfie]

Did I post this above or elsewhere? Oh well....

Georgia Guidestones...not a bad start...

Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.
Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.
Unite humanity with a living new language.
Rule passion — faith — tradition — and all things with tempered reason.
Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.
Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.
Avoid petty laws and useless officials.
Balance personal rights with social duties.
Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.
Be not a cancer on the earth — Leave room for nature — Leave room for nature.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', 'T')he personnel reward is leaving things in good shape for your grandchildren and their children.

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', 'T')he personnel reward is leaving things in good shape for your grandchildren and their children.

[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('careinke', ' ') Personally, I would prefer no deity, but I can see the value in one, especially the OP. It would make things easier for those on the left side of the intelligence bell curve.

[Newfie]

Ug!

Threads converging in thought about religion. Can't remember what I posted where anymore.

In my view religion can have three functions.
1. It can explain the mysterious. For many science has taken over this role.
2. It provides law and order. Now largely given over to governments.
3. It is a place of community, where folks go to share joy and Greiff. And it provides a social structure. This role remains.

Ethical Humanisim is a non-theistic religion, they believe in no God.

It does serve this third function providing a way for agnostics and atheists to have the equivalent of a religious community where they can socialize, celebrate, and grieve.

I was fairly deeply involved for a while.

[vtsnowedin]

That was pretty long Ibon, my eye were glazing over from the ten dollar a word verbiage.
I'll pick at just one point.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Humans cannot live without myths. Even the most devout atheists believing in reason and logic cannot resolve the secular failure to understand the ecological destruction we are causing to our planet.