Why it "just doesn't matter"

Some think it's odd that an atheist would start a religion. Religion is usually associated with the supernatural, the acceptance that some things are unknowable, that there is a power higher than yourself.

I view religion as a netorking infrastructure for individuals of like mind. By like-mind I mean those who come to the same conclusions on issues such as "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" "Will there be life after this life?" The common answer: "It just doesn't matter!"

It doesn't matter because however you came to be, you were not involved in the decision. You were not party to any negotiation. Therefore you have no obligation to whoever, whatever put you here. Your life, your self, belongs to you, in this life or any other.

The atheist does not have to forego pondering an "afterlife". An afterlife does not have to be supernatural. In fact anything that exists must be natural. The fact that we don't know all the mechanics of it yet doesn't make it magic. What is, is. The one thing I know for sure is no matter where I go, there I am. I'm still me and I still own my self. This is non-negotiable in any universe.

The rest Doesn't Matter. Same game, different playground.

The Three Commandments

If you read my previous post you know I've attempted to come up with some guidelines, suitable for atheists, in the event that there is some kind of life after this one, although not one governed by an almighty supreme being. They're actually quite useful even in the event that there isn't.

These guidelines are meant to be very basic "software instructions" for the self that give you a solid base for decision making. They are meant to be "omniversal" in that they may be applied in any environment in which you can still process thought. I came up with three, and upon further reflection, I think that's all we need.

Your self, it is all yours. You exist for your benefit, enjoyment, entertainment, not for anyone else's. Why, because we said so. Human rights were not endowed within us by a creator. We bestow them on each other by mutual consensus. You can declare your "rights" to the universe, but if nobody else recognizes, protects or enforces them, you have nothing. We will have this right when we agree that we have this right. The right extends to everyone who recognizes, protects and upholds it, human or otherwise.

A right is not a right until someone else recognizes and agrees to uphold it. Doing so must be mutually beneficial. An even trade. "Treat your neighbor as you would have them treat you.". This is the most basic form of negotiation between individuals. It doesn't require language or sound or anything but engaging in no behavior that does me harm, so long as I engage in no behavior that does you harm. We test each other during interaction. If I engage in behavior that makes you uncomfortable you respond, I respond, at some point we reach an equalibrium or part ways.

Okay, we've established that we are the center of our own universe and that we will allow others to be the same. Why? What's the agenda? A three word command: "Make it Better". You build your own agenda starting with those three words. In any situation or moment think: "How can I make this better?". A very subjective question. One that each individual answers for themselves. The starting point for the solution is adherence to the previous two principals.

How to boil those already concise fundamentals into three one line "commands"?

1. My Self Belongs To Me.
2. Your Self Belongs To You.
3. I Will Make This Better.

These are not proclaimations to the congregation. These are commands to be written by, sent by, directed to and received by your self.