Developing A Universal Religion/Preface

Developing A Universal Religion is composed of four parts.

Thinking And Moral Problems includes /Thinking/, /Solving Problems/ and /Making Decisions/.

Religions And Their Source includes /Religions' Origins/, /Revelations And Conversions/ and /Present Day Religions/.

Purpose includes /The Universe/, /Life/, /Looking For A Purpose/ and /Life And Exploiting/.

Developing A Universal Religion includes /Why Bother?/, /Possible Applications/, /Determining Moral Behaviours/ and /A Universal Religion/.

Why four parts?

The four parts attempt to explain why the world needs a "universal religion."

To properly understand the need for a universal religion, we must first understand why religions are needed. Part One, Thinking And Moral Problems, of this book examines the neurological and environmental conditions that create the mental need for a religion. Essentially, our minds are problem-solving and decision-making entities, handling practical situations proficiently but often finding moral ones difficult. Religions help by shaping the background “environment” that defines the moral problem that confronts us.

Unfortunately, none of our existing religions could become the basis for a universal religion. The rationale for stating so is developed in Part Two, Religions And Their Source.

Part Three, Purpose, searches for a purpose that is significant enough to be used when universally applicable moral decisions have to be made. It gives reasons for stating that life’s behaviour itself may provide such a purpose. Part Four, Developing A Universal Religion, presents some philosophical and practical reasons for using such a purpose then illustrates how it might be used to develop a rational code of “moral” behaviour. Part Four ends with a few suggestions about religion building.

The emphasis throughout this book is on the importance of choosing a suitable (i.e., universal, timeless and rational) purpose and using it to make decisions that impact upon civilization’s progress. In that such a purpose will generate moral solutions, it may eventually head a “universal religion.” However, this book explores only the reasons why such a religion is needed and how one might be derived; the possible development of one is a task that others might like to think about undertaking.

Original book

Since the text is being modified, you may wish to read, or print, parts (or all) of the original book. You can do this by downloading the file: Developing a Universal Religion Parts 1-2-3 & 4.