8. NATURAL, RATIONAL WAY

Version 1.5 August 2014                               (Previous Version)

This Part 8 simply brings Parts 1 to 7 together. 

The conclusions of these global beliefs are based on reason and evidence.

●  Our conclusions from Parts 1 to 3 (Philosophy, Science and History) provide an understanding of the nature of reality, and are the basis of the choices we make which reflect our core, derived and effecting values. 

●  Our conclusions from Parts 4 and 5 (Religion and Culture) help us to understand how we can gain insight into, and express, these understandings and our values. 

●  Our conclusions from Parts 6 and 7 (Personal Practice and Politics) integrate a) our understanding of reality, b) our values and c) our insights into expressing our values, so that we have high level, effective, guidelines for our behaviour in the real world. 

●  Part 8, with our final conclusion, provides a reasonable evidence based way of looking at the other conclusions and our values, reflecting our vision of a Reasonable Global Way.

In this Part we discuss the main components of this global vision:

●  the process of coming to our key conclusions and core choices, , especially our commitments to reason and the evidence, and keeping an open mind (valuing truth, diversity and responsibility);

●  the basis of our hope and plans for the future (valuing life, love, beauty and equality);

●  the links between this way and traditional religion and religious expression, and the roles we can play in our universal narrative, in our quest for meaning and purpose.

We explore these under the following headings, to clarify the impact of this Way on our behaviour:

0. Final Conclusions	What is a Reasonable Global Way?	Is it reasonable to break down the discussion of this vision of a reasonable global way into these twelve topics, to summarise the vision, describe its implications and guard against misinterpretations? Click on feedback, or add a comment below, to tell us if you agree or disagree, or suggest improvements.
1. Debating the Structure:	Can our structured conclusions be improved?
2. Alternate Conclusions	How do we deal with alternative conclusions?
3. Converging Views:	Might our conclusions reflect a global trend?
4. Natural, Rational Hope:	Is it reasonable to hope for the future?
5. Service to Others:	Is service to others a waste of time?
6. Personal Impacts:	How does this Way help to address the personal crises raised in the introduction?
7. Political Implications:	How does this Way help to address the global and national political crises we have raised?
8. Religious Definitions:	Should we call this Way our religion?
9. Natural and Sacred:	Is anything sacred in a secular world?
10. Natural Rituals	Do any rituals remain or become valid?
11. Natural Ceremony	How can we share this Way in public?
12. Promoting this Way:	Does this Way impact on what we do now?