8.0.1.1 Subject Selection

Version 1.2 August 2014                               Previous Version

In these pages we are attempting to construct comprehensive guidelines for life’s major decisions, as well as for our day to day personal conduct and political action.

Some people believe they obtain these from the Bhagavad-Gita, the Bible, the Qur’an, or other holy books.  We can indeed find inspiration in some parts of traditional religious texts.  But we have shown that they contradict themselves and each other, they do not accord with reality and our core values, and we cannot rely on them as our primary source of values. 

Some people have suggested the collected works of the famous English poet and playwright William Shakespeare provide sufficient moral guidance.  There is no doubt that we can use the works of many artists to illustrate various issues.  But we still have a problem with selecting who to follow, and which parts of their work, and how to interpret them in our current, real world.

We have pointed out that many excellent books summarise particular knowledge domains, in philosophy, science and history.  These are great sources of information and we must learn from them.  But there are no books covering almost “everything�.  We need the sort of overview that these pages humbly attempt to provide.

Most people are already confused enough about what to believe, and most people don't have the time or wherewithal to wade through dozens of texts to distil what they need and what works.

So we need some criteria to select from all the available material in all knowledge domains that which is pertinent to defining this overview and appropriate guidelines for life.

We have adopted “action based criteria� to select the subject matter for consideration:

Whether some knowledge of that area is required

for a reasonable, informed, educated, sane, concerned person

to make choices, adopt values or personal guidelines,

for a reasonable, global way of life,

in both personal and political spheres.

Guiding principles in this selection process are:

·       What are the most significant conclusions that distinguish these global beliefs as a whole from traditional religions, world views and philosophies?

-        Because such systems still influence people’s moral choices, i.e. their behaviour;

·       What do we really want our children – and our leaders - to know and understand?

-        Because this will influence our children’s and our leaders’ behaviour;

·       What is required for us to be responsible custodians of life on this planet?

-        We need to remember that our core values of life and love extend over generations;

·       What areas can most of us agree on so that we can cooperate more fully?

-     We need to rely on reason and the evidence as much as possible, knowing its limitations.