User:Bluebirddaisy/sandbox

Universal Truth Religion

Overview: The Universal Truth Religion is a specialized form of many other religions. In short, Universal Truth does not believe in a God or afterlife. It does believe supporting those with differing views of religion.

Specific Tenets: 1.	We don’t believe in any sort of supernatural beings (no Gods). 2.	We are not atheists (short for anti-theists or anti-God) in a strict sense as we are NOT “against” others who may believe in a God. 3.	We don’t believe in afterlife. When you’re dead – you’re dead. 4.	Because of #3 above, we cherish life, the privilege of living, and in knowing the short duration and fragile nature of life, we try to make the best out of life. 5.	We support and defend the rights of others to have a different religious belief. 6.	We do not believe in attempting to force our beliefs and values on others. 7.	We have no churches, priests, or associated expenses. As a result, we will never ask for money. 8.	There are no daily, weekly, etc. services. Members may meet periodically if they chose or go their own separate way. 9.	A person becomes a member of Universal Truth by simply agreeing to abide by these tenets. There is no ceremony or record. A person can also quit being a member of Universal Truth by a similar personal decision. 10.	We believe one’s religion should be an informed personal choice. 11.	We believe in being honest and kind to all people at all times. 12.	We prefer to be positive-minded and work on the things we can control/influence to achieve desired outcomes (rather than just hoping for an outcome). 13.	We honor and appreciate family ancestors as well as non-family ancestors whose contributions make today’s life what it is. 14.	We appreciate the complex beauty of nature and how things stimulate our senses. Our appreciation understands all things in nature are the result of natural conditions and natural processes. 15.	We acknowledge feelings of “spirituality” (or “grace” or “rapture”), but rather than looking to a deity as a source, we understand these feelings to be internalizations of the setting and circumstances. 16.	We understand that humans are members of the animal kingdom and are part body (our carcass, organs, etc.) and part spirit (our dreams, thoughts, emotions, etc. associated with our brain). We understand that other animals have more evolved senses of hearing, sight, and smell but we have more evolved cognitive skills. We do not believe humans (or any other animals) have a “soul”. 17.	We understand that science cannot explain all things, but rather than looking to a deity as an explanation, we trust that in due time, science will provide a testable answer. 18.	The symbol for the Universal Truth Religion is a faded sun sign and two circles. The sun sign is in recognition that some of the earliest recorded religions worshiped the sun as a God. The symbol is faded to indicate that we now understand how the sun works, how the planets orbit, and no longer need to worship a God for the sun to work as it should (the faded symbol indicates a faded belief). The two circles are in reference to Edwin Markham’s poem “Circles.” The smaller circle is the one where other religions shut us (and every other religion) out. The larger, all-encompassing circle is the circle of our religion which brings all the others in. 19.	We expect that the Universal Truth Religion will evolve as times change. Future generations are encouraged to make necessary changes to these tenets, making them even more relevant.