Your Own Ten Commandments

[Sir Rhetor]

I got this idea as I was thinking about how humans should behave as members of a society. In this thread, I would like the community of this forum collaborate to develop a set of moral guidelines for how people should behave, depending on their role in society. I have yet to come up with ten, but I have some, which I will post in a bit. But some guidelines for this topic are

~You don't need to post ten totally different rules. Add a new rule, or improve upon someone else's.
~I think that guidelines are better than rules, which are absolute. This is where I have a problem with the Bible's "Do not lie" commandments. The Golden Rule is better, because it is flexible.
~Please don't write "Do not segregate (based on race or gender etc.) or enslave others, or subjugate others," because then it becomes rather tedious. Try to generalize it into "Treat all humans with respect, as you wish to be treated" or maybe even something more scientific like "Treat all organisms with respect in proportion with their awareness".
~You should probably make your guidelines hierarchical. There are some things more important than others. I'm not sure if the Bible did this, but if not the question is necessary, "What if one conflicts with another?"
~You don't have to be an atheist if you post here, but please do not declare that God is the source of morality. Is it moral because God said it, or did God say it because He is moral? The first possibility is preposterous, because then God could (and indeed did) order acts which in any other context are completely immoral. And we certainly didn't need God to figure out that slavery was immoral.

[McCulloch]

OK, I'm no Moses, so I've found only eight

1. Free Inquiry
   truth is more likely to be discovered if the opportunity exists for the free exchange of opposing opinions; the process of interchange is frequently as important as the result. This applies not only to science and to everyday life, but to politics, economics, morality, and religion.
2. Secularism
   Separation Of Church And State
3. The Ideal Of Freedom
4. Ethics Based On Critical Intelligence
   ethical judgments can be formulated independently of revealed religion, and that human beings can cultivate practical reason and wisdom and, by its application, achieve lives of virtue and excellence
5. Moral Education
6. Skepticism
7. Reason and Science
8. Education

[JoshB]

All of the following rights apply to all.

Freedom of speech
Freedom to protest anything abridging human rights and/or freedom
Right to privacy
Right to a fair, secular, and politically unbiased trial judged by fellow members of society and a fair judge
Standard human equalness in human society
Freedom to defend one's self through physicall violence and/or civilian weaponry

Behavioral Guidlines

Until logically proven to be otherwise, all people have an equally valid opinion, and thus respected in discussions, judicial cases, forums, ect.
Since it is essential to civilizations functionality, all citizens must pay taxes, with a fairly increasing rate as your annual salary goes up

[Sir Rhetor]

OK, I'm no Moses, so I've found only eight

1. Free Inquiry
   truth is more likely to be discovered if the opportunity exists for the free exchange of opposing opinions; the process of interchange is frequently as important as the result. This applies not only to science and to everyday life, but to politics, economics, morality, and religion.
2. Secularism
   Separation Of Church And State
3. The Ideal Of Freedom
4. Ethics Based On Critical Intelligence
   ethical judgments can be formulated independently of revealed religion, and that human beings can cultivate practical reason and wisdom and, by its application, achieve lives of virtue and excellence
5. Moral Education
6. Skepticism
7. Reason and Science
8. Education

Even though I value all of these things, I was kind of looking for more of a set of guidelines on how to live locally. Yes, I think secularism and free inquiry are important, but maybe we can frame them more as things we should do (how I should live my day-to-day life, as opposed to how a government should be run), instead of things others shall not abridge.

I think that my first commandment (it's really a guideline, so for now commandment ==guideline) basically points towards a democracy. I guess we could refine it to be more explicitly so.

The following is what I see as the relationship between rights and moral guidelines:

Rights are limitations governments consent in imposing on their power.
Moral guidelines are limitations we people try to apply to our actions.

Free Inquiry
No person or organization shall actively abridge or discourage another's ability to openly inquire, share ideas through a free press; or punish another for doing so until after the speech is completed if it can be shown to present a clear and present danger.

Skepticism & Reason
All decisions should be made by employing reason. All ideas are open to revision, and should therefore be viewed with skepticism.

[McCulloch]

Fair enough

1. Seek to discover truth. Openly seek and objectively evaluate the opinions of others. Do not become attached to the idea that you must be right. Be open to the modification of all principles, including those governing inquiry, believing that they may be in need of constant correction.
2. Avoid being deceived. Get independent validation. Commit yourself to the use of the rational methods of inquiry, logic, and evidence in developing knowledge and testing claims to truth.
3. Attempt to develop the capacity for critical intelligence in everyone.
4. In matters of opinion, be as tolerant to diversity as you can be. Do not seek to impose your own opinions on others.
5. Seek to protect the freedoms of others. It may be that your own freedoms may likewise be protected. Where it is necessary to limit any of the freedoms of others, the limitation should be justified in terms of its consequences in strengthening the entire structure of human rights.
6. Live ethically independent of revealed religion. Instead, judge your own actions by critical reason. Making their own choices in life based upon an understanding of human behavior.
7. Value Education. Seek to learn and to teach. Support public education.

[Slopeshoulder]

Find your own voice and sing your best song.

Intestinal and verbal flatulance is to be tolerated but not encouraged.

Support globalization.

Defeat fundamentalism.

Find the sweet spot.

Evolve.

When booty calls, answer.

Study hard, work hard, think hard, stay hard, play hard.

Foster empathy.

Crank it up.

[azmo]

Find your own voice and sing your best song.

Intestinal and verbal flatulance is to be tolerated but not encouraged.

Support globalization.

Defeat fundamentalism.

Find the sweet spot.

Evolve.

When booty calls, answer.

Study hard, work hard, think hard, stay hard, play hard.

Foster empathy.

Crank it up.

Dude, I agree very much with you
My golden rule:

Don't take things too seriously. Live and let live.

[JoeyKnothead]

My Ten Commandments, with the seven deadly sins conveniently placed first...

1- Females are addressed as Ma'am or Miss, not bitch or ho.

2- Only pork is barbecue, so only pork can be called barbecue.

3- Hank Sr. is to be played at least once a day.

4- No touching a hen who's passed out drunk unless she does so in your bed. If your couch is your bed you're SOL.

5- If the Beverly Hillbillies, or Smokey and the Bandit comes on, you are required to stand, hand on heart or in salute, during the opening music.

6- Open doors for women, the elderly, the handicapped, or others in need. Stand at attention and offer a howdy. Wait until both feet or all equipment are completely inside/outside and clear of the door before moving on. If they're carrying bags you must offer assistance. If no "'preciate it", "much obliged", or other acknowledgement is forthcoming, you are free to slam the door on 'em.

7- It doesn't matter if she's fat or ugly or whatever, you will stop and render roadside assistance in whatever weather, at whatever time, under whatever circumstances.

8- Whatever beer you get for free is beyond complaint, but the temperature is open to argument.

9- The Superbowl is not the time to discuss your feelings, our "situation", or anything other than the G*dd*mn Superbowl.

10- Do not pick on folks for how many teeth they're missing, but carry on about their big ears at every opportunity.

[Mascaput]

Here's the ones I use as a guide:


The Seven Respects

Earth

Respect the Earth as you are of the Earth. The Earth sustains you in all your needs. Abuse it not, and husband it with care.

Water

Respect the waters of the land and of the seas. The waters bring life to all things. Foul it not and lay it not to waste, as you will die because of such neglect.

Air

Respect the air, and be ever aware that your well being depends upon that which you cannot see, as it is with many things.

Light

Respect light though it costs you nothing, and like unto the cost of it no thing can grow without it. The purity of it has no price, as it has no price. Understand this.

Plants

Respect you all that grows upon the Earth and from the Earth, especially the green things which do not bleed as you do nor cry out in pain. You live only because of them. They stand not only between you and death; they are your link with the Mother Earth.

Beasts

Respect the beasts of the Earth, as you too are only a beast. Forget it not. Even the smallest of that there is of them may be greater than you in its own purpose. They give you companion and lend you their beauty. They are more than just service to you. They are more than just food. They are as you are.

Knowledge

Respect you knowledge, as it is the most important of all things. Without knowledge you shall understand of no thing. You shall die in the darkness for lack of it. Abuse it not, for it is the key of life itself that opens all eyes and all portals, and it shall show you The Way.


Mascaput

[adthemad]

1. Question EVERYTHING...
check the validity of a statement from a person in 'proposed authority'

2. Ask yourself:
"what can I do today for the good of all?"

3. Accept your place in the universe...
you are no LESS important than the trees...
do not elevate yourself into a deluded state of self importance.

4. strive to be happy
You'll live longer and be a whole lot nicer to be around!

5. Assert yourself
speak your mind strongly and intelligently
you have a brain... use it!

6.LOVE
Love to give love
Love to make love
Love to be loved

7. "Illegitimi non carborundum"
don't let the b***ards grind you down
if you get knocked down, dust yourself off... and start again

8. Learn from the mistakes from the past
MURDER / ADULTERY / COVERTNESS / IDOL WORSHIP:
Are all symptoms of a BROKEN SYSTEM!!...
work to FIX THE SYSTEM!

9. Healthy Body - healthy mind...
Eat well and stay as fit as you can without hurting yourself
You will live longer and be nicer to look at!

10. Do something TODAY that makes you smile

[adthemad]

ONE: 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
PARANOID DICTATOR

TWO: 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'
EVEN MORE SO!

THREE: 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.'
OFF THE SCALE!

FOUR: 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'
'WEEKEND' a concept invented by CAPITALISM to keep us sweet... working for the MAN...

FIVE: 'Honor your father and your mother.'
NO Brainer! really unless they are psychotic and you are in immediate danger!

SIX: 'You shall not murder.'
symptom of a CORRUPT SYSTEM - fix the system!

SEVEN: 'You shall not commit adultery.'
symptom of a CORRUPT SYSTEM - fix the system!

EIGHT: 'You shall not steal.'
symptom of a CORRUPT SYSTEM - fix the system!

NINE: 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.'
symptom of a CORRUPT SYSTEM - fix the system!

TEN: 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'
PURE UNADULTERATED CAPITALISM! need I say more...

who the hell made THIS list up?