Let’s do a comparative study, or rather, let’s compare a couple of things. The American Humanist Association has a ten commandments, and I made up a ten commandments a few weeks ago, so it might be interesting to see if they have much in common. I naturally assume they have a good deal in common – a lot more in common with each other than either has with the Old Testament version.
The Humanist version:
1) Thou shalt strive to promote the greater good of humanity before all selfish desires.
2) Thou shalt be curious, for asking questions is the only way to find answers.3) Harm to your fellow human is harm to humanity. Therefore, thou shalt not kill, rape, rob, or otherwise victimize anyone.
4) Thou shall treat all humans as equals, regardless of race, gender, age, creed, identity, orientation, physical ability, or status.
5) Thou shalt use reason as your guide. Science, knowledge, observation, and rational analysis are the best ways to determine any course of action.
6) Thou shalt not force your beliefs onto others, nor insist that yours be the only and correct way to live happily.
7) If thou dost govern, thou shalt govern with reason, not with superstition. Religion should have no place in any government which represents all people and beliefs.
8) Thou shalt act for the betterment of your fellow humans, and be, whenever possible, altruistic in your deeds.
9) Thou shalt be good to the Earth and its bounties, for without it, humankind is lost.
10) Thou shalt impart thy knowledge and wisdom gained in your lifetime to the next generation, so that with each passing century, humanity will grow wiser and more humane.
My version:
- Don’t be cruel.
- Love justice.
- Embrace equality.
- Practice compassion.
- Be generous.
- Do what you can to make the world better.
- Aim for truth.
- Think carefully.
- Share what you learn with others.
- Amuse.
Their 1 is my 5 and 6.
Their 2 I don’t have, and that’s an oversight – I do think curiosity is hugely important and worth inculcating and preaching.
Their 3 is my 1 and 4.
Their 4 is my 3.
Their 5 is my 7 and 8, although it’s also not. There’s an important difference, which I’ll elaborate below.
Their 6 I don’t exactly have, although you could say it’s implied by some of the others – 2 and 6, basically.
The same goes for their 7.
Their 8 is my 6.
Their 9 is included in my 6.
Their 10 is my 9, almost exactly.
They don’t have my 10. I think that’s an oversight. It may seem frivolous or trivial at first blush but I don’t think it is; that’s why I included it.
Now about their 5. It’s wrong.
5) Thou shalt use reason as your guide. Science, knowledge, observation, and rational analysis are the best ways to determine any course of action.
No, they aren’t. Not always, and not exclusively. 5 leaves out emotion, and that’s dead wrong. (And surprising, from humanists of all people!) Leaving out emotion doesn’t get you cleaner, more “rational” decisions, it gets you no decisions at all. People with brain damage in the emotions can’t make decisions because they don’t care either way.