Idea Mining

Most religions direct their followers to go out and recruit new followers. They're instructed to proclaim the groups commonly held conclusions and persuade others to accept them as fact. I have a different mandate, or suggestion. Go forth and receive new input. Analyze it in light of the three commandments and apply logic, reason and creative questioning. Share any interesting new insights or information.

To best accomplish this there are a few guidelines that could be helpful.

Information Mining:

In this type of conversation the goal is not to persuade, but to discover. To start with, determine the points which you believe are considered unshakeable truths by your co-converser. Proceed with the conversation from a mindset that these truths are indeed indisputable. Now try to make it make sense. Listen, ask relevant questions. You don't have to ever proclaim acceptance of any of the core beliefs, just don't challenge them directly. This is a combination of the Socratic method and statistical analysis. The Socratic method serves the purpose of engaging in conversation with someone of a different mind rather than a confrontation. The assumption of the other persons core beliefs is akin to holding certain factors constant for the purpose of examining differences in thought processes between yourself and the other person. Given A and B, how does your brain process the occurance of C? How does the other persons? If they are very different, the belief in A and B can't be the cause because you both have accepted as fact A and B.

For example Both Bob and Bill accept as fact that there is a God and that he is the almighty ruler of the universe. Bob may conclude that he must do his best to carry out God's will. Bill may conclude that he and God aren't going to get along very well. There is something more to the difference between Bob and Bill's thought process than the belief in an almighty God. One becomes subservient in the face of such a belief, the other rebellious, or at least oblivious. What is it about each one's processing system that leads to the two very different reactions?

In general, the idea is to seek out databases different from your own and look for patterns and correlations that may develop when specific ideas or beliefs are held constant for both thinkers.

The reward is new insights, information, knowledge. The currency of information exchange.

Umanitarian Religion

What is the essence of religion? What is its function? I think it boils down to a conversation among people who have all agreed to accept a specific set of premises and facts as established and indisputable. The problem is the indisputable part. The way that facts become and remain established is through constant challenge and re-examination in light of new input.

It can be productive to engage in idea exchange among a group of people who have agreed to agree on certain key points. This means you don't have to spend time and energy making those points. The audience already has accepted them. This is pretty much the model of the internet forum. When you go to a "vegetarian forum" you know the vast majority of readers are already convinced that vegetarianism is a good thing. You don't have to make that point. This is a major time-saver.

The problem with religion is that it's a one-way conversation with no re-examination of the commonly held premises based on new input and analysis. The only positive that religion can add to the forum model is the branding and marketing aspect. I think "Church of Umanity" has more marketing appeal than "Athiest Forum". And Umanity is more a religion in that the Three Commandments are considered indisputable for the purposes of the conversation henceforth known as The Church of Umanity. This church makes no offer of salvation, just a chance at productive, interesting, intelligent conversation. Members may also be members of any number of other religions, but not while engaged in this conversation. You make no pledge of allegiance outside of the agreement to accept the Three Commandments for the duration of your participation in the conversation.