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What are everyone's core values?

Fool

ALL in all
Premium Member
To me, religion tends to divide us. I suspect that if we were to step back from our religion and examine our core values, we might find that we're much more like minded than our religions would suggest.

I'd like to know what your core values are, and I think the shorter the list, the better. Kind of like philosophical axioms. So here is my list of core values:

- the golden rule
- critical thinking (logic and evidence and such)

In my mind, I can start with the golden rule and extend that to include things like: kindness, compassion, patience, generosity and so on. I think that I could make a pretty good defense that those are the only core values I need, and that other things I value are extensions of those two.

Yours?
unconditional love. trying to find something positive about everyone, including our enemies in the face of adversity, confusion, ignorance..
 

Koldo

Outstanding Member
To me, religion tends to divide us. I suspect that if we were to step back from our religion and examine our core values, we might find that we're much more like minded than our religions would suggest.

I'd like to know what your core values are, and I think the shorter the list, the better. Kind of like philosophical axioms. So here is my list of core values:

- the golden rule
- critical thinking (logic and evidence and such)

In my mind, I can start with the golden rule and extend that to include things like: kindness, compassion, patience, generosity and so on. I think that I could make a pretty good defense that those are the only core values I need, and that other things I value are extensions of those two.

Yours?

Justice.
Everything comes after that.
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
With that statement, you have divided people from you.

Its like looking at the other persons thimble in the eye when one has a plank in theirs.

I didn't start religions, I'm just trying to do my part to make them better. As it says in my tag-line, I'm an "anti-theist" :)
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
I didn't start religions, I'm just trying to do my part to make them better. As it says in my tag-line, I'm an "anti-theist" :)

Yeah. But still, With that statement, you have divided people from you.

Its like looking at the other persons thimble in the eye when one has a plank in theirs.

Thats hypocrisy. :)
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
Yeah. But still, With that statement, you have divided people from you.

Its like looking at the other persons thimble in the eye when one has a plank in theirs.

Thats hypocrisy. :)

Let's not jump to name calling until we understand each other ;)

When you say "thimble" I'm guessing you mean some small bit of wood, like perhaps a "sliver"?

So you and I have debated before on the usefulness (or not), of religion. We have always disagreed on this point. But it does seem that on this one aspect of religion, you're harder pressed to take the apologist's stance. I think that even religious apologists mostly agree that over the last several millennia, religion has been used as a justification for conquest, war, and division, over and over again. It seems self-evident that religion has a tendency to divide people into tribes. I really don't think that's a hypocritical thing to say. And further, what is it about MY stance that strikes you as hypocritical in this regard? Atheism? Secularism? Remember, secularism is the best friend of freedom of religion!
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
Let's not jump to name calling until we understand each other ;)

When you say "thimble" I'm guessing you mean some small bit of wood, like perhaps a "sliver"?

So you and I have debated before on the usefulness (or not), of religion. We have always disagreed on this point. But it does seem that on this one aspect of religion, you're harder pressed to take the apologist's stance. I think that even religious apologists mostly agree that over the last several millennia, religion has been used as a justification for conquest, war, and division, over and over again. It seems self-evident that religion has a tendency to divide people into tribes. I really don't think that's a hypocritical thing to say. And further, what is it about MY stance that strikes you as hypocritical in this regard? Atheism? Secularism? Remember, secularism is the best friend of freedom of religion!

Nah. Not relevant.
 
To me, religion tends to divide us. I suspect that if we were to step back from our religion and examine our core values, we might find that we're much more like minded than our religions would suggest.

Wrong way round.

We start off divided and need things to unite us. People are not divided into tribes, but united into them.

Our "default" state is division until we share some form of common identity.

Even if people share similar values, this does not unify them unless some additional unifying marker of identity present.

For example, we can both believe in reason, family and community but unless I view you as also being part of my community these things don't matter.


In no particular order :

  1. Decentralisation of power
  2. Recognising the limits of human knowledge and moral development
  3. Tolerance and respect based on reciprocation
  4. Kindness
  5. Silver rule: do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
To me, religion tends to divide us. I suspect that if we were to step back from our religion and examine our core values, we might find that we're much more like minded than our religions would suggest.

I'd like to know what your core values are, and I think the shorter the list, the better. Kind of like philosophical axioms. So here is my list of core values:

- the golden rule
- critical thinking (logic and evidence and such)

In my mind, I can start with the golden rule and extend that to include things like: kindness, compassion, patience, generosity and so on. I think that I could make a pretty good defense that those are the only core values I need, and that other things I value are extensions of those two.

Yours?
Liberté, egalité, fraternité.

As concepts or "core values" these are equivalent to many which have have been named. Liberty is also tolerance, letting others live their lives as they like (as long as they don't interfere with the liberties of others).
Equality is also justice or treating all people like I'd like to be treated (golden rule).
Brotherliness is also the concept of compassion, family, empathy, not doing harm, not being a jerk.

And I like to add truth. Knowing what really is going on is often a prerequisite to be able to be free, just and compassionate.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
To me, religion tends to divide us. I suspect that if we were to step back from our religion and examine our core values, we might find that we're much more like minded than our religions would suggest.

I'd like to know what your core values are, and I think the shorter the list, the better. Kind of like philosophical axioms. So here is my list of core values:

- the golden rule
- critical thinking (logic and evidence and such)

In my mind, I can start with the golden rule and extend that to include things like: kindness, compassion, patience, generosity and so on. I think that I could make a pretty good defense that those are the only core values I need, and that other things I value are extensions of those two.

Yours?

Leave each situation a little better than you find it.

Then you can go into the rabbit hole of what 'better' means, but simplistically I'd view that with consideration to the long term.
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
Wrong way round.

We start off divided and need things to unite us. People are not divided into tribes, but united into them.

Our "default" state is division until we share some form of common identity.

I would say that a child's default state is neutral on this point. His community decides how big his tribe is.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
  1. Silver rule: do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you

Quick question...I hadn't heard that version of the....well...Golden Rule referred to as a Silver Rule. Not arguing anything, just curious where that description comes from?
I'd heard it as the Confucian Golden Rule...and that actually sounds better out of context than it does in context.
(Much like some Greek philosophy, the assumption on who a rule or right should apply to isn't very modern, in simple terms)
 

Clara Tea

Well-Known Member
To me, religion tends to divide us. I suspect that if we were to step back from our religion and examine our core values, we might find that we're much more like minded than our religions would suggest.
- the golden rule
- critical thinking (logic and evidence and such)

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Christian core values should be Christ's core values. They are reflected in politics.

Christians protest for vaccine choice (not forced). They fear that atheists are taking away their religion, so they protest evolution and DNA taught in schools, and want school directed prayers and school bible studies. They voted for W. Bush to prevent full-term abortion (abortion wasn't an issue after the election). They voted for W. Bush to promote freedom, yet W. Bush made torture camps, tried to institute a draft for wars without causes, and killed a million innocent Iraqis, not involved in terrorism. W. Bush tapped phones, took away 4th Amendment rights to not be searched, and took away the right to sue hospitals (now we have to arbitrate and the hospitals are the arbitrators). W. Bush ignored hurricane Katrina victims (interrogating rescuers from out of state as if they had ties to the al Qaeda) and preventing them from saving lives.

So, Christians don't follow the teachings of Christ, rather, they follow politics, and fall for Satan's misleading lies, and fall of Satan's fear (phony Orange alerts weekly).

Though Christians know better, they let others make decisions for them.
 

Estro Felino

Believer in free will
Premium Member
I totally agree with you @icehorse. :);)
I do believe that the golden rule implies that respecting people's free will in a mutual way can lead mankind to peace.
 
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