Jan 192012
I was inspired by “How do atheists find meaning in life?“, and then a subsequent discussion on Facebook that quite rightly pointed out the sometimes too-generalised criticisms levelled by the author, to write a bit about the rules I live by as an atheist.
- This life is the only time you exist. Make the most of it.
- This life is the only time anyone else exists. Do not take it from them.
- That which we leave behind when we’re gone are the memories and thoughts others have of us. Do your best to ensure they’re good ones.
- It’s valid to feel angry about things from time to time. Hate is not valid.
- Do not attack the personal religious or spiritual beliefs of another, unless it is to defend against those beliefs being used to impinge your rights.
- Good and bad, or good and evil, are discoverable without religion, and we should always try to do good.
- Good and bad, or good and evil, are evolving concepts.
- Believe that which can be empirically proven.
- Follow Hanlon’s Razor until Occam’s Razor demands otherwise.
- Our “purpose” should be three-fold:
- Contribute, in some way, however small, to the evolution of the human mind.
- Be mindful that we’re not the last generation to inhabit the earth.
- Be mindful that we’re not the only species to inhabit the earth.
I’m not perfect. Sometimes I fail. That, however, is just part of life.
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