[plasmid]

I'm curious about non-theist opinions on this matter, but theists are of course invited to participate and provide illumination as well. The almost universal development of religion in some form or other across many different cultures seems to indicate that there is a deep underlying drive to have some sort of religious experience which is embedded in many (if not to some degree all) humans. I doubt that it's purely due to primitive attempts to understand the universe before the development of science -- even with modern science and state endorsement of atheism, the Soviet Union still had plenty of believers. If religion as we know it were wiped from the face of the earth, it seems likely that it would simply resprout in some new form.

If this is the case (which is certainly open to argument) then would it not be in our best interest to fill this illogical but evident need with a religion that is as benign and perhaps even beneficial as possible? Most mainstream religions at least preach to love thy neighbor and straighten up and fly right and all that, whether or not it's actually put into practice. Christianity may stand to be improved regarding its opposition to stem cell research and discrimination against homosexuals to name a few issues. However, it was previously opposed to a non-geocentric solar system and abolition of slavery (in areas where it was profitable) and has since mended its ways, not without cost in the meantime, but the point is that it's adaptable.

Is it better to have such a mainstream religion fill the void of the masses who apparently can't do without it, or attempt to eliminate all but reason and leave open the chance for something much more uncontrolled and potentially malignant to take root in the open void (militant jihadists, or another Jonestown)? If something must fill the void but not any currently existing religion, would it be possible to design something better, bearing in mind that you have control only over the text of the holy doctrine but not people's interpretation and implementation of it, and that it must have enough of this intangible spiritualistic property that people crave in order to persist?

And the ultimate question: could you craft a doctrine to fill this need in such a way that its propagation would have an overall positive effect on humanity, and be so convinced in its potential that you would put forth whatever effort and resources were required to make it a reality? I have no intention of converting any nonbelievers into messiahs, I'm just curious what people think. Seeing as how we're on BrainDen, you can consider this a practical riddle.

Edited April 20, 2009 by plasmid

[unreality]

mostly awesome stuff floating around, I especially like plasmid's resummation of what we've done so far (I think on pg 23 or so)... but like dawh I'm not liking some of the new directions that some of the philosophy is taking...

The focal point of Phronism lies in its attention to the material world... it's all we have and all we know we have, so Phronism is all about making the material world the best it can be and fulfilling yourself and others within the material world. Phronism is about not wasting time & effort on unhealthy unknowns. I think we have sufficient mystery/mysticism already within the parables and guidelines, enough to make it a "religion", while still remaining healthily rationalistic.

I'm not sure where I've seen any specific cases, but I hope we don't move into the sort of "abandon physical happiness" mindspace. Phronism is all about physical happiness, really.

One example is the monk parable... I'm not sure why I had the monk originally walking around, but it seems honest enough. A lot of people - including me - exercise to think, and it's a form of meditation but not pointless meditation seeing as its physically and mentally stimulating. But chanting weird phrases at each corner??? I'm not sure at which phase of this nifty collaborative process this was added in, but it seems as if Phronism supports strange ritualistic behavior. Which is one of the things we're primarily against I thought. As seeksit said it's not about the ritual itself, it's about the canvas it provides (or something like that), but that's not even mentioned so it may seem to an outsider that Phronism supports things like that.

Well to make it clear, Phronism supports everyone to do whatever makes themselves and the world a better place, but we don't want to encourage such behaviors. So, yes, the monk is doing this for himself only, but still this is a major parable so we can't have confusing sideballs in here that semi-contradict the more important message.

And on the issue of free will, I agree that it's a risky issue but I still think we need to promote self-responsibility. And there's no need to sugarcoat it. The parables with Laozi and thieves are excellently written, plasmid, but to me they're too confusing and too sugarcoated. I've only read the second one in detail, and maybe it's a sequel thing, but it doesn't make much sense to me, and allows for lots of misinterpretation. Just because we're mimicking old texts doesn't mean we need to be as vague in parts where we want to be crystal clear.

So, respectfully, I think we should "chop out the fat", soto speak, and have a major Samarkand council figure say it: "You have responsibility for your actions" and make it short and sweet (not that short but you know what I mean). I don't know what this hocus pocus is about the Essence "sending thieves as punishment" but the Essence isn't a god or cosmic judge, it's more passive (unless I'm missing some change we decided to enact, I've been on a family vacation the past week so I'm not 100% caught up yet)

I have to go for a bit but when I come back I'll be happy to help edit some of the parables we've been churning out (plasmid especially - you're an awesome parablist! ;D)

[unreality]

maybe we should recoagulate into another all-in-one Phronism pamphlet like plasmid did a few pages back, because I looked back again and saw some posts of people saying basically everything I said in the above post so maybe we should figure out which proposed changes are to be official and then re-make the central post, and then we can bounce off again from there (I'm thinking of making a Q&A session thingy, or maybe FAQ)

[plasmid]

Sure enough, you're right! Maitreya requires not only that people stop practicing, but that the faith be completely forgotten. Thank the Essence we've got you on board, seeksit! That justifies the disappearance; as for re-appearance I guess now we just need to decide whether we want to tell a grand story about how Maitreya goes about appearing and reintroducing Phronism. Miracles I guess are out? Just a quiet congregation of adherents to be told of the meeting at Samarkand? Dare we even go so far as to mention an online discussion forum?? Both dawh and unreality are right: we don't really want to accept all of Maitreva's teachings about renouncing the physical world. With most of the parables, I've tried to incorporate elements from the leaders' respective religions that we want to include in Phronism but sort of ignore the inconvenient parts. The most simple solution would be to have Maitreya start Phronism, but to again pick and choose carefully what parts of his dogma to mention. Another option would be to make Maitreya be just one person among a group similar to the Samarkand crowd, along with Elijah (especially if Malachi is the Seventh Shepherd) and Jesus' second coming and Douglas McArthur and the Terminator and anyone else who wants to come back, so the beliefs can get diluted a bit. I think I'd be more inclined to go with the first option at this point though.

I agree with practically everything unreality said. The chants from the monk (now Buddha) parable can, should, and shall go – vestigial remnants from bygone days when Obama was our messiah. The Laozi parable on responsibility does get muddled a bit because I'm trying to do several things, and it would certainly make no sense at all unless the Confucius parable were read immediately beforehand. In the Confucius parable, the message at the very end is of course open to debate: I think it conveys one of the core principles of Phronism – that all people influence society and should act together for everyone's benefit – which I would like to keep, but on the other hand it is sort of socialist. In the Laozi parable I was trying to prevent people from overinterpreting the end of the Confucius parable, and address issues of assuming responsibility for your actions versus blaming society for your circumstances (the closest I think I can come to "free will vs determinism" in the pre-Newtonian era), and on top of that throw in a little wu wei to make this seem like something Laozi would do. Quite a bit to chew off. If it still seems scattered and disjointed even after reading the Confucius parable, then that's probably because it is, and it can go. Either way, I'll see if I can rewrite it to get the main message across more succinctly and unambiguously, for it does worry me when even a BrainDenner says something is unclear.

I'll plan to re-compile everything soon, after deciding whether/how to include a responsibility/free will/determinism parable, and whether we want to give a rough outline of the story of Maitreya re-introducing Phronism to the world (or just hold off on that until the next thread).

[Guest]

*sheepishly holding up hand*

I'm the guilty party who injected the "weird phrases" that the monk chanted at each corner in the monk parable. I accept the judgment of the group that they should go; but let me at least explain them. I didn't just throw them in for "effect". They are meant to succinctly describe the central (unending circular) process by which Phronism leads a person toward enlightenment via interaction with the Essence. Or at least I was articulating my personal conception thereof. I would love to have anyone read this and comment on whether it captures your concept of Phronism or not. Am I way off base? Too mystical or too abstract? Do I have an entirely deviant view of the Essence compared to what the rest of you perceive?

1. "I ponder the passing of this darkness into light and the Essence flows"

The individual considers her/his life experiences and what (s)he has learned (going from the darkness of not understanding, to the light). (S)he realizes that it is part of a process of growth that is like flowing down a river in which new tributaries constantly add to the flow. These tributaries (really all sources of our life experience) ultimately emanate from the Essence, the same "place" our unique identities came from (the "answer" to the question "why am I here?"). There was a "convergence of currents" that occurred at our birth and molded our individual identity. These currents combine our DNA with the specific physical circumstances into which we are born. From there we continue to accumulate life experiences that define us. This is the never ending cyclical process that continues throughout life. In step one, we are pondering our latest lessons and reminding ourselves of how they fit into the "big picture".

2. "I observe my thoughts objectively and the currents divide"

The "gift" we humans have of conscious, self-aware thought allows us to stand back and objectively look at ourselves. This is really a special talent that our minds have evolved. And it gives us huge freedom to recognize options (yes, choices). The currents before us divide (we face decisions about our future course).

3. "I choose the noble course and the flow nourishes me"

Based on the principles of Phronism, the "prudent" individual chooses a course that is best for the greatest good of himself and for his community and for the brotherhood of humanity. The feedback from her/his choice begins immediately. Wrong choices produce ill effects; whereas noble choices nourish and allow the individual to grow in wisdom and stature and happiness.

4. "I drink of its waters and awake to a new light"

The realization that we have just experienced a positive reinforcement for making a noble choice causes us to appreciate the rightness of this unending circular process that is guided by the principles of Phronism. We go back to step one and touch base with the Essence once more, just as a touchstone, a reminder of the religious element that seems entwined in the process.

[unreality]

wow I ran across this by accident today during an ABCs-of-Mafia game:

http://phrontistery.info/

[plasmid]

*sheepishly holding up hand*

I'm the guilty party who injected the "weird phrases" that the monk chanted at each corner in the monk parable. I accept the judgment of the group that they should go; but let me at least explain them. I didn't just throw them in for "effect". They are meant to succinctly describe the central (unending circular) process by which Phronism leads a person toward enlightenment via interaction with the Essence. Or at least I was articulating my personal conception thereof. I would love to have anyone read this and comment on whether it captures your concept of Phronism or not. Am I way off base? Too mystical or too abstract? Do I have an entirely deviant view of the Essence compared to what the rest of you perceive?

1. "I ponder the passing of this darkness into light and the Essence flows"

The individual considers her/his life experiences and what (s)he has learned (going from the darkness of not understanding, to the light). (S)he realizes that it is part of a process of growth that is like flowing down a river in which new tributaries constantly add to the flow. These tributaries (really all sources of our life experience) ultimately emanate from the Essence, the same "place" our unique identities came from (the "answer" to the question "why am I here?"). There was a "convergence of currents" that occurred at our birth and molded our individual identity. These currents combine our DNA with the specific physical circumstances into which we are born. From there we continue to accumulate life experiences that define us. This is the never ending cyclical process that continues throughout life. In step one, we are pondering our latest lessons and reminding ourselves of how they fit into the "big picture".

2. "I observe my thoughts objectively and the currents divide"

The "gift" we humans have of conscious, self-aware thought allows us to stand back and objectively look at ourselves. This is really a special talent that our minds have evolved. And it gives us huge freedom to recognize options (yes, choices). The currents before us divide (we face decisions about our future course).

3. "I choose the noble course and the flow nourishes me"

Based on the principles of Phronism, the "prudent" individual chooses a course that is best for the greatest good of himself and for his community and for the brotherhood of humanity. The feedback from her/his choice begins immediately. Wrong choices produce ill effects; whereas noble choices nourish and allow the individual to grow in wisdom and stature and happiness.

4. "I drink of its waters and awake to a new light"

The realization that we have just experienced a positive reinforcement for making a noble choice causes us to appreciate the rightness of this unending circular process that is guided by the principles of Phronism. We go back to step one and touch base with the Essence once more, just as a touchstone, a reminder of the religious element that seems entwined in the process.

When you say it like that it makes perfect sense, the meaning just wasn't clear at first. If the latest Laozi parable looks too much like one of my "I'm not a ..." riddles to have the desired effect, then the chants would have to come with that explanation attached to be properly understood by the public. Or be taught at the denominational level; after all, they're around for the express purpose of instructing people exactly how to worship, er, harmonize. But the concepts you just explained do seem like what we're going for, just weren't obvious from the chanted phrases.

wow I ran across this by accident today during an ABCs-of-Mafia game:

http://phrontistery.info/

Must... avoid... cunning-linguist jokes.

Don't want... to get... banned.

[unreality]

yes I have a similar sentiment on the phrases. They're fine and dandy when you know the thinking behind them, but they can't be in the parable without sufficient explanation, which would sidetrack the parable. So we should drop the ritualistic phrases but still get across those ideas through more straightforward mediums.

[unreality]

when someone (coughplasmidcough ;D) recompiles what we've got so far, he can add this on:

Q: What is Phronism?

A: Phronism is the pursuit of truth, the balance of chaos and order, the harmony of man, mind, Earth and Essence. Phronists value rational thought and imaginative intellect to expand their understanding of the Actual and Potential states of the Universe in order to harmonize with what we call the Essence.

Q: What is the Essence?

A: The Essence is our spiritual path: our journey into the realms beyond understanding. It is what binds humans to the great mysteries of life and existence. The Essence consists of the Actual (what men have come to understand through our many millenia of truth seeking) and the Potential (the great sea of undiscovered reality that surrounds us). Phronism encourages a vigorous pursuit of the rational understanding of the Potential while at the same time celebrating its sheer, awe-inspiring depth and complexity.

Q: Besides that, what do Phronists believe?

A: Phronism is about the belief of a current of insight, wonder and life that flows through the universe. Understanding this Essence and becoming one with it is our primary mantra. Phronists believe in the innate spirit of arisen life and its meaning within this inevitable existence we call the universe. We believe in responsibility for one's actions and the mutual ability of mankind to positively advance society and humanity. We find no evidence for afterlife (survival of consciousness after death) but rather we anticipate a blissful reconnection with the eternal Essence, losing one's identity in lieu of the greater mutual braid of the universe. We believe in no gods but rather the collective social force of mankind, of species in general, of life in general, of the Earth, of the Universe, of Nature, of the Essence. We believe that recipricocity is built into the universe at all levels, reflecting itself on the macroscopic scale of our daily lives with a karma-esque permeation within life and a ripple effect similar to what you might know as the 'golden-rule', or the 'moral circle'. We believe that everyday small positive actions can build into extremely good results.

Q: How is it different from other religions?

A: Phronism is perhaps the only 'benign' religion. By this we mean that it does not judge, suppress, belittle or restrict the human spirit, but enables, sustains and nurtures it. Phronism flows as does the Essence, constantly adapting to the shifting moral zeitgeist, sensibilities of the times, scientific advancements, social advancements, etc. It has a fluid, open structure that naturally engenders its own evolution. It has limited central leadership and no basis for corruption, infighting, religious zeal/extremism or crusadism. It values the role of nonbelievers. It appreciates the insights and views of all members, and gives total freedom to its members to change around within and out of the system. It tries to take up as little time and energy as possible away from the lives of its adherents. It promotes a full, happy, opportunistic life. It is open to new ideas and opens its member's minds to think about everything around them and to learn more about themselves, their friends and the universe. Phronism found its roots at the dawn of human self-awareness. It re-affirms the original meaning an purpose of religion: to re-connect the people with one another and with every level of reality from the parochial to the Essence. It extends beyond religion to being a true World Philosophy.

Q: What are the goals, mission, vision?

A: The goal of Phronists is to harmonize with the Essence: this does not entail mindless worship but rather expansive thinking, finding oneself and looking objectively at your own mind to better serve yourself and the greater good. The mission of the Phronism movement is to appreciate and expand and positively influence the collective Humanity. And its vision is a world free of tyrant religions, a world free of ignorance, a world free of unfulfilled lives. A world full of breathtaking Potential and a world full of virtuous Actual... a world, a planet, a people, all harmonized with the Essence.

Q: What is the backstory of Phronism?

A: About 2500 years ago, in a year known as 0 PE (Phronist Era), religious leaders from all over the world flocked to a central, secret location. Sacrificial priests from the jungle ziggurats met with Greek philosophers. Buddhist cave meditators came and shook hands with icy shamans from the North. These influential figures had one thing in common: they existed in a time broiling with conflict, discovery, internationalization and religious action. They would have considerable impact on the next two and half thousand years of philosophy and theology... and these figures were fed up with the problems that were developing within their religions: political corruption, infighting, increase in ritual in lieu of true faith. The council was held in secret, with 7 members most esteemed. You can read more about the details of this world conference in other Phronist material as well as the parables left behind by these ancient freethinkers, but the First Council was rumored to have occurred in Samarkand along the Spice Trade routes. These masters of thought discussed many things and imparted many important and timeless ethical lessons, as well as exchanged ideas which would shape their religions when they returned home from the conference. However, Phronism suffered a major setback: due to the culture gap of customs and languages, the leaders went their separate ways shortly after the conclusion of the Council, taking their separate denominations in different paths without enough contact. The world was not yet internationalized enough to allow for the members to interchange denominations which is a Phronism key focus. Thus, Phronism lost its name to the tides of time, as per the Buddhist prophecy of Matriyema (sp?), but the ideas remained, spread out throughout history among the works of the great. Aristotle built on the virtues discussed, expanding various ones discussed at the Council such as Prudence and Moderation. But the name and central ideas of Phronism went into hibernation, lost to history, until a time when the world could become internationalized enough for these ideas to reconnect. Recently there has been a resurgence of Phronism due to the information age and the free flow of people and ideas across the world. In our modern society, Phronism has a chance to flourish and take root to make this universe a better place.

Q: So what are these denomination thingies?

A: Phronism is like the Essence in that it is the sum of the streams that make it up, the denominations, but also defines these streams. There are numerous denominations, and making one is a simple matter. They live, thrive and die according to a sort of memetic evolution process based on member count (anyone can join and anyone can switch around freely - in fact it's strongly encouraged to "shop around" and change to find the denomination that suits your tastes). Denominations have certain foci and ideas, and different places of meeting and interpretation of ethics and other issues (however they must adhere to the "core doctrine" concepts of Phronism), and thus the denominational scene changes over time to reflect the changes in the mindset of society. There is an annual council that discusses, debates and approves the denominations. You can read more about it and denominations in general in other Phronist material (just like anything else briefly touched upon in this FAQ).

Q: Why do you value the role of nonbelievers in society?

A: This is an important aspect of Phronism because no single perspective can fully grasp the Essence. The more viewpoints we see the truth from, the more we can discern it. Often an outsider to any religion can offer insightful input on the inner workings of said religion and its beliefs. Unlike other religions, Phronism understands and respects this and uses it to its full advantage by both supporting and being supported by these nonbelievers.

Q: Are Phronists' views on ethics similar to those of Moral Relativists'?

A: Yes and No. On a metalevel, Phronism as a whole endorses a variety of moral standards due to the unique denominational system. Since these denominations change with the times, then yes, overall, Phronism's ethical beliefs are similar to Moral Relativism's. However, an individual Phronist is part of a denomination, which are much more specific ethics-wise than the general assertions of the Phronism core doctrine. So it can be different for each Phronist, depending on the denomination they adhere to, which in turn reflect their own personal moral compasses. Ergo, Phronism is similar morally to Moral Relativism, but in a more organized way.

Q: I was going to write another one but it's getting late ;D

the answers for the first five questions are heavily based on my response to seeksit's quickfire questions, with a few modifications of my own and some of seeksit's additions from post 219 incorporated (but I didn't add a lot of stuff since the point was to be more concise, and it seemed like stuff reiterated so I took some out), but after that, the Q&A's are new. Most of the edits to the first five are a few changes I've added for clarity, conciseness or meaning, plus a bunch of minor changes to wording (most suggested by seeksit in post 219). The second question and its answer are entirely by seeksit btw.

Also I called the universe an "inevitable existence" in q3, let me know if this clashes with any known Phronism dogma

also, in part of his last compiling, plasmid drew a lot from the first five q's of this FAQ so he doesn't need to incorporate that in the overview again for the recompilation seeing as it's covered in the FAQ. Maybe just a brief overview and leave the specific q's for the FAQ. And if anyone wants to add any possible questions to the FAQ, feel free to do so

[edit - typo]

Edited June 21, 2009 by unreality

[plasmid]

It would be an understatement to say that I drew from the FAQ to write an overview of Phronism, the overview basically was an abbreviated version of the FAQ . It depends on how you would want to present Phronism to the other BrainDenners; I had envisioned giving them an overview covering the basics of the doctrine and practice of Phronism compared to other religions, and then we could follow with more detail on each of the separate topics. Since the questions seeksit had covered most of the important stuff you would need to know to get a basic understanding of Phronism and your answers were quite well written, I basically just took that and condensed it.

If you prefer presenting everything in FAQ format, we could go that route instead. Separate overviews & FAQs are just how I tend to think. And I also wanted to keep it fairly short so other forum members would be more likely to read it.

[unreality]

yeah my goal was to sorta parse/separate the answers so it seems very short, to get people with short attention spans (aka everyone including me ) I think an FAQ would be really helpful for the basic points (of course we would still have our in-depth overviews and discussions on every little thing for the interested Phronist, but we've already gathered significant portions of that into various posts on various topics... for example I think your overview on pg 23 had an in-depth description of the First Council while the FAQ answer was much more limited)

[plasmid]

Grayven seems to be back, so it looks like a good time to recompile everything. After reading it over again, one thing really jumped out at me as not jiving. Comparing the parables "Zoroaster, on how to harmonize with the Essence", "Buddha, on finding your own path to harmonize with the Essence", and "Mahavira, on listening to outsiders", they seem to me like they're delivering rather conflicting messages.

We might have a real difference in priorities here. The Zoroaster parable saying that the way to harmonize is with productive action and the Mahavira one on listening to outsiders are two that I consider to be delivering some of the most important material that makes Phronism particularly useful as a religion. With the Buddha one, it's definitely true that people should be free to find their own paths through life, but to some degree that message is already being delivered by having many different denominations to choose from and by allowing people to start new denominations, and I really think that it all needs to be done within the constraints of choosing a path of useful action and mindfulness of the wise that doesn't come across with the parable as it is now. I would propose either not including the monk-turned-Buddha parable, or modifying it to make the importance of leading to useful action at the end of the day and listening to outsiders much more clear.

Briefly: "the Essence" is all of the laws of nature (cause and effect anyway) rolled up into a single, only slightly anthropomorphized thing. Phronism is all about understanding the Essence and using that understanding to "harmonize" with it, which means acting to create a better society. The specifics of how to do this are not laid down in core Phronist doctrine in very detailed terms; instead Phronism will have many different denominations to specify reasonable moral guidelines and to provide many of the trappings of modern religion (meeting for a weekly service, holding weddings and funerals, having wise elders you can talk to) in a way palatable to the local circumstances, prevailing customs at the time, and scientific advancements. People are free to choose which denomination they want to associate with, and are instructed in the parables that make up the core doctrine of Phronism to visit other denominations frequently (at least every three years) and choose the one that they find drives them to best harmonize with the Essence (do the most good for society). Initially some of the denominations will likely look quite similar to the current major religions as far as their superficial customs in order to make the transition from current religion to Phronism easier, but they will likely evolve over time because new denominations can spring up and people are required to periodically try out other denominations, which should give them the chance to undergo natural selection.

Phronists are actively encouraged to heed the advice of outsiders who offer sincere advice on what they believe is the best course of action, and are instructed to judge the words of Phronists and outsiders alike based not on who said them but on how much sense they make. Phronism's core doctrine is silent on the existence of God, although the possibility of an omnipotent, omniscient, interventionalist God is excluded and people are encouraged toward action to harmonize with the Essence (improve society) rather than prayer and sacrifices to a God as the path to fulfillment. As for "afterlife", Phronism explicitly says that life as we know it does end with death, but it does describe a different form of existence – a merging back with the Essence that is enjoyed proportionally to how well you harmonized with the Essence during your life.

As for the story behind Phronism: there is a particular era in about 500 BC where religious and philosophical thought was in its heydey. Several great names were around at the time, and trade routes linked the world. The story goes that there was a meeting in the trade city of Samarkand between Diotima of Mantinea (reported by Plato to be a teacher of Socrates), Laozi (father of Taoism), Zoroaster, Gautama Buddha, Confucius, Mahavira (founder of Jainism – part of Hinduism), and someone known as the Seventh Shepherd who has been postulated to be the prophet Malachi after the point at which his writings were no longer considered part of Judeo-Christian canon. It is from this meeting that Phronism emerged. At the time, it could not be practiced as intended because travel between denominations to maintain the flow of ideas proved impractical, and the faiths went their separate ways. However, there is a well known Buddhist prophecy of Maitreya – one who is to come after the teachings of Buddha have been forgotten (we assert that they already have been since Phronism no longer exists and has been wiped clean from all historical records) when the oceans decrease in size so that he can traverse easily (which we interpret as the information age). Maitreya revealed the truth of the Samarkand meeting, and some of the parables from that meeting which serve as essentially the holy text of Phronism are shown below.

We can also reveal one big cosmic secret about Phronism to you: the actual identity of Maitreya. For much of the thread where we were developing Phronism, we were considering something called Uberfaith which we now know is heretical. The point at which we realized the error in our ways was when a humble newcomer questioned our path, and thereby sent us into a re-examination of our direction that ultimately led us to the truth. The name of that person, the actual Maitreya who through subtle action revealed the great truths of Phronism, is of course Bran.

The Seventh Shepherd, on questioning words regardless of the speaker

After a long day of discussion at the council, the Seventh Shepherd walked out to the quiet hills outside Samarkand to reflect. But he noticed a crowd gathering and following him. "Teach us, master," they cried, "what has the council learned of God?" And so despite weariness from the day's deliberations the master spoke. "God says thusly," he began. "All persons have the manifest destiny to influence the course of events, acting to impact the community of all other living things – even the Earth itself – and so to steer everyone's and everything's path into the future. As such, the world's destiny is in each of our hands. We are each entrusted with this great responsibility, and for guidance to carry it out dutifully we must employ all tools at our disposal. Toward this end, one's spiritual consciousness must be unified with one's reason. Men do this best in community, for reason often fails the individual striving alone for truth. Those who stop improving or eschew reason are acting blindly and risk ruin for themselves and all around them. Each day is a cycle of habitation in physical body and spiritual pursuit while one's spirit takes shape. For most people, a striving toward balance, meditation in search of the guidance and support from one's ancestral past, consultation with the wise, and sincere veneration of truth is sufficient to find guidance for their actions so that they may shape a better future. Those with strong motivation to shape destiny may study nature to understand its inner workings and thereby know how best to guide it. Others may consult my Word. In invoking the Word of God, however, exquisite care is required to ensure alignment of thought and action, of humility and strength, of reason and divine guidance."

The Shepherd paused, gazed upon the people kindly and spoke again. "I ask you now: Why should men heed these words?" An eager seeker responded quickly, "Because they are the Word of God! Have we not now heard His voice, as if spoken through your mouth?" The Shepherd replied, "This is not the reason. The prudent man weighs the words rather than the speaker of them. How do you know that I did not just lie to you? Indeed, how do I myself know that I am not suffering from delusion and attributing wild thoughts to God? Judge words. Put them to the test. If they are wise and guide you toward honesty, compassion, and the courage to act with integrity then heed them. If they defy all reason and guide you down the path of corruption, hatred, and sloth then have nothing to do with them. Such would be a wise course whether you hear words from a prophet or from a child." As the seven met in council again the following day, the followers themselves met to discuss the wisdom of what the Seventh Shepherd had just told them, for now they began to understand.

Laozi, introducing the Essence

A group of followers waited outside for the Seventh Shepherd to emerge from the day's deliberations, but it was Laozi who first stepped out. The followers questioned him, "Laozi, we have discussed what the Seventh Shepherd told us, and we believe it may be true. Please then, teach us what more you have learned about God today?" Laozi responded, "You wish for me to tell you about God? How curious is this. Perhaps it is I who should be asking you about God, for you at least know to ask of him. Had I never heard of Zoroaster, I should not walk up to someone and say 'Tell me of Zoroaster' for I would not know the name. In fact, I should have no reason to ask of Zoroaster at all until someone had already told me something of him and I wished to learn more, or unless I saw him and asked another man 'Who is that person over there?' but I would not know to use the name Zoroaster. But here you come asking me to tell you about God, so you must already know something of this God. Did the Seventh Shepherd describe God to you the other day, or do you know him through some other means? Tell me."

A follower answered, "He spoke the word of God with his voice." Another follower corrected him, "He told us words that might have been from God. We have discussed them and believe they may be true regardless of their source." Laozi then said, "Is this all you can tell me about God, some words that might or might not have been said by him? There are several things I might speak about, but you want to know about God which is a name I do not find meaning in. How should I recognize this God you speak of so that I might explain this thing to you?"

A third follower answered, "Ancient scripture taught to me declares that God made the heavens and the Earth. He created us. He makes the plants grow, and gives the animals life. He brings the sun and the rain. He is the one we should worship." Laozi then said, "How did the hand that wrote these scriptures come to know that all these things emanated from one great being? Regardless, you have now given me a question I can address: who is this 'one' that gives life to the plants and animals, and brings the sun and the rain. You have formed ideas about this thing 'God' that you thought you knew, yet you were merely given words from a hand in an ancient book, or from the voice of a humble Shepherd. But hear me: things of power must not be named until they may be called by their proper names. So you do not attribute these ideas you had about 'God' to the thing I describe, let us give it a different name. Let us call it 'The Essence'. This is what brings the sun and the rain, and what brings life to the plants and animals. It is what brings the wind and the waves, what drives fire to dance. It is what gives breath to a living man and light to his eyes, and what makes the mountains keep their shape instead of crumbling like sand. You want me to describe this thing, 'The Essence', to you? In council we ponder this deeply. For indeed, the Essence ought to be explained to the people. Let me say simply now, just this: The Essence obeys its own laws - laws that men do not fully comprehend. The sun and the moon fly through the skies in patterns. New life looks similar to its predecessors: a goat does not beget a monkey. It is our noblest duty to learn these laws. For if you know how the Essence will act, you will know how to act yourself. A farmer would plant seed where crops might grow, but avoid land that will be scorched by fire. Tell me now, is this what you wanted to know about when you asked me of 'God'?"

A follower said, "It is not what I expected; but I thirst for your teaching. Please tell us more about the Essence." Laozi smiled and gazed beyond the horizon, "One might spend a lifetime learning about the Essence and not understand it completely. But you have taken the first step for now, you have begun to call this thing of apparent power by its proper name."

Diotima of Mantinea, on the nature of the Essence and rejoining it

Diotima was restless after the day's discussion with the six others. Unable to sleep, she began to pace. Her thoughts were interrupted by sounds from a neighboring room, and because she was expecting no visitors she went to investigate. There she found one of her traveling companions lying with a local man who Diotima knew spoke sweetly to the women. Diotima left them for the night, going unnoticed, but the next morning she approached her fellow traveler. "Last night, when you were visited by that local man, do you think you were acting wisely with him?" Knowing that she had been discovered, she was too embarrassed to answer, so Diotima continued, "Such men are but beggars whose only art is casting illusions to draw you near. They will leave you with nothing save an illness or a child with no father. You would do well to avoid them." "Diotima, surely he loved me! He told me things I had never heard from any man before. I listened to my heart, and it told me to be with him." But as soon as the words left her mouth, the traveler thought the situation over and realized that she was acting foolishly and recanted. Diotima continued, "Their behavior springs from a deep wish to live forever. Not being capable of this, they instead seek to live forever through their seed. But even that is failing to understand the situation. We have long known that it is not our flesh but our ideas that most define who we are, and such men are foolish enough to spread their flesh but do not pass on their ideas."

The traveler then said, "Were he only like us, seekers of truth. Surely we will find the answers, and as the others have said we will not have to settle for passing on our ideas to others because we will have eternal life itself." Diotima recalled the previous day's discussion and responded, "It does not seem that they are entirely correct. The Essence is no god like Zeus, and we do not simply live in its presence for all eternity. The Essence is something else entirely. It does not drive the sun like Apollo with a chariot and horses, and it does not fire an arrow like Cupid. Instead, the Essence is more like the waves and the wind, but reaching into everything around us. After we die, we do not live as we do now in a new land with the Essence; it would be more accurate to say that we join the Essence by becoming a part of it."

"Diotima, do you mean that we will have the powers of a god after we die? If this were true, imagine the things we could do. We would be able to so many great things for the world." As Diotima prepared to rejoin the others for the day she said, "You don't realize your own potential now. You might not have the power of the seas and wind, but you have your two hands. If you want to do great acts for the world, then now is the time." And so she left to meet the others.

Mahavira, on existence with the Essence

Mahavira came upon a woman in Samarkand who he found to be weeping, and seeking to comfort her, he asked why she wept. The woman answered that her husband had died, struck down by fever and festering boils, and she was sorrowful over the suffering he faced in his final days. But she wept most of all because, although her husband was a good man, he found little but suffering in this life. "Do you believe, then, that your husband's soul is gone? Far be it from the truth. At the end of the stream of life is a return to the Essence from which life is drawn. Do not grieve if your husband has returned." But the woman continued to lament for she believed that, as her husband had suffered in his life on Earth, so he would continue to suffer in his existence flowing back into the stream of the Essence.

Mahavira asked her, "Was your husband brutal, or a liar, or a thief, or a glutton, or full of avarice?" The woman answered that he was none of these. "Then his existence now with the Essence is free of pain" said Mahavira, "Now tell me: was your husband faithful, and was he wise, and did he conduct himself well at all times?" The woman answered that he was. "Then at the end of his stream of existence here, in his existence with the Essence, is a safe and happy and quiet place." The woman then asked if the man would have eternal life in heaven.

Mahavira paused to consider, and told her "You must understand, your husband is dead. No life is eternal, and his is ended. He is no longer plagued by the desires and fears of life, the pain and pleasure, the hubristic and terrified state of clinging to an identity that must grow, change, and ultimately dissipate. Your husband exists, but he does not live. Now he has a new state of being. If his words and deeds have directed the world onto a better course, so has he directed the essence of himself on a better course. As a school of fish may divide and go where the ocean takes them, so has your husband lost his individuality but gained his true identity, shedding the false one that held him in life. Life makes us individuals, but the true substance of ourselves is not so. Fear, desire and pride make us serve and cling to the individual state, but death takes this from us regardless. When we can release ourselves in life from our attachment to the individual, and embrace the whole, then we may attain Nirvana."

Zoroaster, on how to harmonize with the Essence

The followers were daily learning more about the Essence, and they began to understand that it was no mere idol demanding prayer or sacrifice but a force that is guided by every action they take. Yet the followers still lacked direction to channel their efforts. So as the council dismissed for the day, a group of them approached Zoroaster and asked, "Our actions shape the flow of the Essence and determine how we will ultimately exist with it, do they not?" Zoroaster replied, "Any one person's actions may influence the Essence and thereby affect the world around us, and they will affect both your ultimate existence and your existence now. The Essence should be your partner, your efforts must harmonize with it for you to achieve fulfillment."

"Then Zoroaster, if our actions are so important: how ought we to act?" Zoroaster answered them, "As your existence helps shape the Essence, the Essence shapes the lives of everyone else. The most noble of paths would have the Essence bring the world peace and prosperity, understanding of the world around us, imagination to create works that stir our hearts and minds, courage to explore new paths, and compassion to help our fellow man. Guide the Essence toward this end with your acts, and help others do the same with your speech. Focus your thoughts ever on this goal so that you can see clearly how to achieve it. With these right thoughts, right speech, and right acts, your life can harmonize with the Essence for the betterment of all."

Confucius, on reciprocity of the Essence

Confucius was deep in thought as he walked a road by the fields of Samarkand when a farmer saw him and approached. The farmer came holding another man at knife point and asked Confucius, "You are one of the men of the Phronist council, are you not? I have caught this thief stealing from my fields! How should I punish him in accordance with your faith?" Confucius looked to the thief, "Have you stolen from this man's farm?" "Yes, Confucius, I stole from him. Is this a sin? If so, let your Essence strike me down. I say there is no justice from your Essence. I grew up without my parents and rarely knew the shelter of a house, but what had I done to deserve such a fate while I was just a child? If fairness is not dealt to me then I need not grant it to others. Let your Essence that knows no justice be the one to punish me. It is inept and I fear nothing from it."

"Do you expect that the Essence should watch your every move, pay you promptly for every kind act, and punish all who cross you before they leave your sight? With every evil deed you tarnish yourself, and whether repaid immediately or not, you mark yourself for suffering. Good men are not paid for every act they perform, but by developing noble habits and becoming an honorable person they pave the way to happiness and contentment." Confucius turned to the farmer, "Samarkand has laws. Let the authorities punish this thief."

The thief taunted Confucius, "See, your Essence is powerless to bring justice! You are a fraud, deceiving your followers." Confucius answered the thief, "The Essence flows through everything, including the authorities. How did you expect it to act?" Confucius again turned to the farmer, "Just as the Essence brings punishment to this man for stealing, so this man was a punishment for you. Do the people of Samarkand cast children to the street? Do people of means give no way for those without to be a useful part of their society? If that is the case, you have just faced your own punishment at the hands of the Essence."

Laozi, on responsibility

Laozi was awoken in the night as a farmer barged into his dwelling and began looking for valuables to steal. Surprised but not unsettled, Laozi asked the man what he was doing. "I've come to take whatever I wish," was his reply, "for your friend Confucius told me the other day that I was responsible for a thief stealing my crops. If that is they way you Phronists think, then I will steal from you and the fault will be your own for spreading such teachings."

Laozi remained calm and asked, "By what reasoning did Confucius say that you were responsible for that theft?" The farmer answered, "He said that I gave the thief no way of supporting himself without stealing, and so I was to blame." Laozi then asked the farmer, "Do you have means of supporting yourself without stealing?" The farmer realized that he did not need to steal and he began to see the fault in his actions, but he replied, "That is beside the point. If the thief was sent by the Essence to punish me for Samarkand's society, then so I am sent by the Essence to punish you for the flaws of Phronism. Now go back to sleep and I will take what I please."

To that Laozi answered, "Strike a beast and it will move. Give it a harness and it will move in the direction you wish. It is a wonderful thing to be able to guide so much power and to move without moving at all. Still, any horse would have the sense not to run into a burning fire or jump off a cliff. We all take part in the flow of the Essence. We may attempt to guide it, and it will affect the way that we may act. Just like a horse and rider, so a person and the Essence join forces to make their way through the world. Would you call a horse that jumps off a cliff foolish and deserving of its fate? So too is the person who says that the Essence guided them to act foolishly when they should have known better.

"Now in your case, tell me which way you would go if you did not struggle against the Essence. Does necessity compel you to steal? Where would you expect to find my foot if you were to steal from me? And what did Confucius say to do with the thief that stole from you the other day?" When the farmer recalled what had happened to the thief, he realized that he was still held accountable for his actions. The farmer did not stay to answer but dropped all we was carrying and fled. Laozi returned to sleep without having to use his foot.

Buddha, on finding your own path to harmonize with the Essence

One day shortly before the council was to convene, Buddha was walking along the top of the narrow Great Stone Quadrangle, a ruin said to be the site of a far more ancient Phronist gathering thousands of years before. He walked a continuous route over the four walls, always going counterclockwise. A neophyte Phronist saw this and approached Buddha after watching his progress. "Why do you walk forever in such a route?" the neophyte asked. "You get nowhere."

Buddha responded, "This is a form of meditation. I walk to celebrate the infinite, circular journey of life, a journey into light, which has no beginning, no end and no destination." The neophyte was still puzzled, "Wasn't it you who advised us to follow our own hearts to find meaning in life and to always enjoy its bounty? You seem to plod this worn and dreary path without purpose. Is there not so much more to life than this?"

"This is a great joy," said Buddha. "Everyone celebrates life in a different way. You must respect this facet of nature. You say I am walking without purpose upon these hallowed ruins, but your argument applies to any other action in life as well. The meaning is what we apply to it, there is no pre-ordained or mandated purpose. Each person's journey is his destination." The neophyte wrinkled his brow into deep furrows, "But why do you enjoy life in this way that seems so tedious?"

"Do you find it tedious already? You should build more fortitude if you are already exhausted before taking your first step. For me this is an old familiar way to contemplate on past events and better understand the Essence, but for you this is an unexplored path. If you sincerely believe that it will bring ruin then you have good reason to avoid it, otherwise you are depriving yourself of a possible path among many toward the Essence." Buddha then continued his circuit.

As Buddha's figure slipped away his words echoed in the neophyte's mind, stirring a new perspective that took shape as the footsteps sounded in the distance. When Buddha completed the circuit, he returned to the neophyte to find that the frown had cleared, and he met eyes filled not with confusion but with purpose. "What is it I have just experienced?" the neophyte asked, awed by the inexplicable power of the sensation.

"It is the power of the Essence. You have awakened and are beginning to merge with its flow," Buddha said with a slight grin. "Through its infinite subtlety the Essence offers us a goal, but there are many paths toward that goal and many may be followed by any one person. You may learn the fullness of what that means as you continue your journey and ever refine your direction through this world."

Another Phronist soon entered the Quadrangle. She looked around and saw two others walking around the rim of the Quadrangle, chanting at each cornerstone. Curious, she climbed the ancient stone steps and waited until they approached her. "Why do you walk forever in such a route?" she asked. "You get nowhere."

Mahavira, on listening to outsiders

As Mahavira was returning home, he saw in the distance a man who he recognized from Phronist gatherings. Drawing nearer, Mahavira watched as the man drew out from his robe a branch, and baring his back, he began to beat himself with it. When Mahavira drew nearer, he asked the man why he was flogging himself. "Mahavira," the man said, "I am practicing ascetic ways. I am forsaking my own worldly pleasures and comforts so that I might achieve loftier goals." Mahavira saw that the man did not fully understand his actions, but he did not correct the man himself. Indeed, Mahavira knew that although he might be able to correct this one mistake, he would not always be there to correct every mistake the man might make. So instead, Mahavira asked "Have you spoken with any of the others about this? Do they agree that striking yourself is a wise path?" The man answered, "No, but the other Phronists are only men just as I am a man. If we should disagree, then who is to say which of us is right and which is wrong? I have faith that my course is wise." Mahavira saw onlookers who watched as the man flogged himself, and he pressed the man again, "Look around you. Do you see those people over there staring at you? What do you suppose they think of your acts?" The man responded, "Why should I care what they think of my acts? They are not even Phronists! Their words are useless to me."

At this Mahavira became most concerned, and he called the onlookers forth and explained what the man was doing, and asked them if they thought it was wise. One of them said, "This seems foolish. You are beating yourself to deny yourself comfort, but what are you accomplishing? If you wish to deny yourself comfort, then go plow a field. Then you would not only be practicing asceticism, but you would produce a harvest in the Autumn." After the onlooker left, Mahavira asked the man what he thought of the advice. Again the man said that the onlooker's words were useless because he was not a Phronist. Then Mahavira said, "Would you have accepted the same words had they come from my mouth? Because I tell you truthfully, I would have said the same thing." The man was silent for a moment, but then asked "Surely you do not want me to live my life by the whims of an outsider, do you?" Mahavira answered, "Had the man mocked you, or tried to swindle you, or told you that his God has other commandments then you should ignore him, for his God is likely a figment of his imagination. But this man spoke to you as an outsider with no malice toward you, no eagerness to see you make a fool of yourself, and with full sincerity. You should consider such advice carefully. Beyond that, he gave reasoning with his words. Nowhere have we said that Phronists are always right, nor have we said that non-believers are always wrong. Reason is the best guidance that humans have, so do not forsake it no matter where it comes from."

Buddha, introducing the denominational system

As the young Phronist faith was taking shape, the followers began to disagree about the proper ways of observing the faith. The Hindu practice of cremating bodies was bewildering to the Egyptians, and the Hellenic sacrifices of cattle were reprehensible to the Hindus. The seven discussed this mounting discord in their council, and Gautama Buddha then addressed the followers:

"You each carry your own traditions, your own scriptures, and your own lessons from past teachers that now shape your beliefs. I submit that you should not rely so heavily on such sources of wisdom. The Essence makes itself manifest, for it is what gives the world its form and its function. Every day we interact with the Essence, and so we each learn about it through our own experiences. This experience will guide you in discerning what practices should be followed. When you know that a practice is good and that it is blameless, follow it. When not only your teachers but many wise men praise a practice, follow it. When a practice leads to the benefit and happiness of yourself and all others while avoiding suffering, follow it.

"Because you come from different lands with different customs, by no means must you all follow the same set of practices. Such practices do not define Phronism itself. They are merely different means of harmonizing with the Essence. For that reason, those of you who have found the practice of arranged marriage to lead to greater harmony than allowing each to find their own spouse should continue to do so as long as this is judged to be wise. Those of you who shun alcohol because of the disharmony it breeds, continue avoiding it as long as this course is judged to be wise. Since different groups of people will find different ways of harmonizing with the Essence, let them each form denominations of Phronism to practice the ways that they have found to be fit. Although each will be different in their own ways, these denominations will all be part of Phronism, united in their dedication to understand the Essence, expand the Actual, and benefit all of humankind."

Later, when these words of the great Buddha reached the people, the master was approached by a follower and questioned. "Revered One, we have learned that Phronists are to form various denominations that are instructed to travel to one another to exchange wisdom and understanding. You have traveled far to come to this council. Men of ordinary means cannot abandon their fields and flocks and make such an epic sojourn. What are we to do?"

The great Buddha heaved a deep sigh. His eyes lifted wistfully toward the sky as he responded. "My child, Phronism is a patient faith. I foresee a day when the teachings of Phronism have been completely forgotten for precisely the reason of the difficulty of our many denominations to stay in contact. But this is as it must be. For it is prophesied that the great Mithra, the Maitreya shall not arrive to provide the true dharma of the Essence until a far day when the oceans seem to have decreased in size such that the true dharma, the knowledge of the Essence of Phronism, may traverse the seas freely. In this time will the revival be readied, and Phronism shall finally flower. Be patient, my son."

Confucius, on selecting a denomination

As Confucius left the council for the day he was set upon immediately by a group of followers. "We have heard the instructions to each follow a denomination in our pursuit to harmonize with the Essence. How should we identify which of the denominations sets forth the best commandments?" Confucius responded, "Commandments? Laws may prevent people from doing harm, but guide a man by laws and you will only teach him to avoid the punishments that violation brings. If you seek to carry out Acts of Legacy, find those who can teach you virtue and excellence, for this will not only prevent you from doing ill but will drive you toward doing good. Those who know virtue and excellence cannot help but show this in their daily lives. They are the ones who act towards all others just as they would wish for others to act towards them. Their examples may be your instructor. Furthermore, seek those who not only know virtue but are able to teach it. If you see greatness but this does not drive you to greatness yourself although you make a sincere effort, then find a better teacher."

"Very well. We shall set forth to look for someone perfect in his virtue from whom to learn." Confucius was amused at this and said, "One with perfect virtue? Such a man I have yet to know. You might spend all of your life looking for this man and none of it learning. Let the man beside you be your teacher: select his good traits and emulate them, and if you see faults then avoid them. But unless you should find this perfectly virtuous man you speak of, do not stay with only one denomination. After three years of learning you should have learned something, if you are to learn anything at all; at that point go forth and look for others from whom to learn. Find and adopt the virtuous aspects of many people, and you will have few regrets."

The Seventh Shepherd's closing speech at Samarkand

Humanity struggles to fulfill our potential as it emanates from the Essence, and much remains to be learned and understood. Connecting with the Essence is an endless quest along a path that will be increasingly revealed as humanity parts the veil of the unknown through reason and sober study. While science reveals the mechanics of nature, it remains silent on our overall purpose, and for this we turn to the Essence. Purpose implies a need to act, so old practices which accomplish nothing should be shunned. Do not offer up sacrifices of life or belongings, rather use them to aid your fellow man. Do not simply recite rote prayers, rather contemplate on your experiences and expose yourself to new ideas to build your understanding of the Essence. Do not pray for intervention from the Essence, rather act to guide its flow. Do not worship by expressing submission, rather express your oneness with the Essence by living joyously and with humble Acts of Legacy. To harmonize with the Essence: Help others, be generous, be reliable. Do not harm others, steal, or lie. Learn throughout your childhood, and fulfill your potential as an adult. Find something you do well that will benefit society and do it. Understand at all times that faith is a supplement to, and not a supplanter of, reason; it is a way to see the world that will lead to fulfillment, and its worth is measured by the degree to which it accomplishes this goal.

It is fit that there be many denominations of Phronism, for not all people are alike, and diversity helps humanity flourish. The denominations shall each have their own customs and ways of harmonizing with the Essence. As it is important for people to each find their unique role in the harmony of the Essence, it is imperative for them to visit other denominations from time to time and experience their ways, and thus find their place in the world. As it is important to have many denominations, so it is important to have people outside Phronism who can view it objectively and dispassionately. Outsiders that understand the world through mankind's endeavors are to be welcomed, for they offer a unique perspective and often seek to advance humanity as the followers do. But beware if outsiders bring ideas that are based not on reason but on unsubstantiated beliefs such as gods, for these may be illusions of human imaginations that guide the way to decay. Likewise, do not accept teachings about an omnipotent, omniscient God, for such beliefs beget a mind geared for servitude rather than questioning and understanding the motives and consequences of your actions.

Human understanding of the Essence is a never ending quest requiring the joint efforts of many, and humanity's understanding should be reviewed from time to time. Phronist councils should take place to review what is known, and when a more complete description of the Essence becomes clear it will be shared with the followers. The council must also evaluate whether people's practices truly guide the Essence to positively affect people's lives. If denominations need to be altered to harmonize with the Essence, they will be so instructed, or will be excluded from Phronism if they cannot harmonize. The council will evaluate new denominations and determine whether they harmonize with the Essence, and will admit those that do into Phronism and allow them to participate in the council.

Q: What is Phronism?

A: Phronism is the pursuit of truth, the balance of chaos and order, the harmony of man, mind, Earth and Essence. Phronists value rational thought and imaginative intellect to expand their understanding of the Actual and Potential states of the Universe in order to harmonize with what we call the Essence.

Q: What is the Essence?

A: The Essence is our spiritual path: our journey into the realms beyond understanding. It is what binds humans to the great mysteries of life and existence. The Essence consists of the Actual (what men have come to understand through our many millenia of truth seeking) and the Potential (the great sea of undiscovered reality that surrounds us). Phronism encourages a vigorous pursuit of the rational understanding of the Potential while at the same time celebrating its sheer, awe-inspiring depth and complexity.

Q: Besides that, what do Phronists believe?

A: Phronism is about the belief of a current of insight, wonder and life that flows through the universe. Understanding this Essence and becoming one with it is our primary mantra. Phronists believe in the innate spirit of arisen life and its meaning within this inevitable existence we call the universe. We believe in responsibility for one's actions and the mutual ability of mankind to positively advance society and humanity. We find no evidence for afterlife (survival of consciousness after death) but rather we anticipate a blissful reconnection with the eternal Essence, losing one's identity in lieu of the greater mutual braid of the universe. We believe in no gods but rather the collective social force of mankind, of species in general, of life in general, of the Earth, of the Universe, of Nature, of the Essence. We believe that recipricocity is built into the universe at all levels, reflecting itself on the macroscopic scale of our daily lives with a karma-esque permeation within life and a ripple effect similar to what you might know as the 'golden-rule', or the 'moral circle'. We believe that everyday small positive actions can build into extremely good results.

Q: How is it different from other religions?

A: Phronism is perhaps the only 'benign' religion. By this we mean that it does not judge, suppress, belittle or restrict the human spirit, but enables, sustains and nurtures it. Phronism flows as does the Essence, constantly adapting to the shifting moral zeitgeist, sensibilities of the times, scientific advancements, social advancements, etc. It has a fluid, open structure that naturally engenders its own evolution. It has limited central leadership and no basis for corruption, infighting, religious zeal/extremism or crusadism. It values the role of nonbelievers. It appreciates the insights and views of all members, and gives total freedom to its members to change around within and out of the system. It tries to take up as little time and energy as possible away from the lives of its adherents. It promotes a full, happy, opportunistic life. It is open to new ideas and opens its member's minds to think about everything around them and to learn more about themselves, their friends and the universe. Phronism found its roots at the dawn of human self-awareness. It re-affirms the original meaning an purpose of religion: to re-connect the people with one another and with every level of reality from the parochial to the Essence. It extends beyond religion to being a true World Philosophy.

Q: What are the goals, mission, vision?

A: The goal of Phronists is to harmonize with the Essence: this does not entail mindless worship but rather expansive thinking, finding oneself and looking objectively at your own mind to better serve yourself and the greater good. The mission of the Phronism movement is to appreciate and expand and positively influence the collective Humanity. And its vision is a world free of tyrant religions, a world free of ignorance, a world free of unfulfilled lives. A world full of breathtaking Potential and a world full of virtuous Actual... a world, a planet, a people, all harmonized with the Essence.

Q: What is the backstory of Phronism?

A: About 2500 years ago, in a year known as 0 PE (Phronist Era), religious leaders from all over the world flocked to a central, secret location. Sacrificial priests from the jungle ziggurats met with Greek philosophers. Buddhist cave meditators came and shook hands with icy shamans from the North. These influential figures had one thing in common: they existed in a time broiling with conflict, discovery, internationalization and religious action. They would have considerable impact on the next two and half thousand years of philosophy and theology... and these figures were fed up with the problems that were developing within their religions: political corruption, infighting, increase in ritual in lieu of true faith. The council was held in secret, with 7 members most esteemed. You can read more about the details of this world conference in other Phronist material as well as the parables left behind by these ancient freethinkers, but the First Council was rumored to have occurred in Samarkand along the Spice Trade routes. These masters of thought discussed many things and imparted many important and timeless ethical lessons, as well as exchanged ideas which would shape their religions when they returned home from the conference. However, Phronism suffered a major setback: due to the culture gap of customs and languages, the leaders went their separate ways shortly after the conclusion of the Council, taking their separate denominations in different paths without enough contact. The world was not yet internationalized enough to allow for the members to interchange denominations which is a Phronism key focus. Thus, Phronism lost its name to the tides of time, as per the Buddhist prophecy of Matriyema (sp?), but the ideas remained, spread out throughout history among the works of the great. Aristotle built on the virtues discussed, expanding various ones discussed at the Council such as Prudence and Moderation. But the name and central ideas of Phronism went into hibernation, lost to history, until a time when the world could become internationalized enough for these ideas to reconnect. Recently there has been a resurgence of Phronism due to the information age and the free flow of people and ideas across the world. In our modern society, Phronism has a chance to flourish and take root to make this universe a better place.

Q: So what are these denomination thingies?

A: Phronism is like the Essence in that it is the sum of the streams that make it up, the denominations, but also defines these streams. There are numerous denominations, and making one is a simple matter. They live, thrive and die according to a sort of memetic evolution process based on member count (anyone can join and anyone can switch around freely - in fact it's strongly encouraged to "shop around" and change to find the denomination that suits your tastes). Denominations have certain foci and ideas, and different places of meeting and interpretation of ethics and other issues (however they must adhere to the "core doctrine" concepts of Phronism), and thus the denominational scene changes over time to reflect the changes in the mindset of society. There is an annual council that discusses, debates and approves the denominations. You can read more about it and denominations in general in other Phronist material (just like anything else briefly touched upon in this FAQ).

Q: Why do you value the role of nonbelievers in society?

A: This is an important aspect of Phronism because no single perspective can fully grasp the Essence. The more viewpoints we see the truth from, the more we can discern it. Often an outsider to any religion can offer insightful input on the inner workings of said religion and its beliefs. Unlike other religions, Phronism understands and respects this and uses it to its full advantage by both supporting and being supported by these nonbelievers.

Q: Are Phronists' views on ethics similar to those of Moral Relativists'?

A: Yes and No. On a metalevel, Phronism as a whole endorses a variety of moral standards due to the unique denominational system. Since these denominations change with the times, then yes, overall, Phronism's ethical beliefs are similar to Moral Relativism's. However, an individual Phronist is part of a denomination, which are much more specific ethics-wise than the general assertions of the Phronism core doctrine. So it can be different for each Phronist, depending on the denomination they adhere to, which in turn reflect their own personal moral compasses. Ergo, Phronism is similar morally to Moral Relativism, but in a more organized way.

Procedural details have not yet been worked out, but the idea is to have an annual meeting of denomination representatives to conduct business, including evaluating groups who want to establish a new denomination within Phronism. The path to forming a new denomination starts with simply putting up a shingle (so to speak) and getting people meeting, then beginning to invite people from established Phronist denominations to come visit (they're supposed to be visiting other denominations every once in a while anyway), and finally appearing at an annual council and ask to have the people who visited evaluate whether or not you're a suitable denomination.

The council will also evaluate the current denominations and offer input on whether or not changes to their practices should be considered. If offenses are considered very egregious with no realistic prospect for reconciliation, the council can decide to expel a denomination from Phronism and no longer encourage people to visit it. Changes may even be made to the interpretation of the core Phronist doctrine if a large enough percentage of the denominations support it.

Edited June 24, 2009 by plasmid

[Guest]

I'm back. Please save your applause till the end.

wow I ran across this by accident today during an ABCs-of-Mafia game:

http://phrontistery.info/

I'm pretty sure I mentioned this site before in this thread, when I suggested prhonistery as a name for meeting places. I've had it bookmarked for ages now, for the word lists. (I use them for masterword games).

OK, at the risk of repeating some things that have said before, I will just jump in and start small. I've really missed a LOT here...

There has been some concern that our use of actual historical figures in our parables may be debunked and undermine the whole thing. I say, fear not. To quote the wikipedia article on parables:

The word "parable" comes from the Greek "παραβολή" (parabolē), the name given by Greek rhetoricians to any fictive illustration in the form of a brief narrative. Later it came to mean a fictitious narrative, generally referring to something that might naturally occur, by which spiritual and moral matters might be conveyed

I'm not sure what my point is there, but I remember that was one point I wanted to make weeks ago and couldn't get to it. More later.

As for the promised big news concerning Phronism...

It will have to wait until tomorrow, because my appointment got pushed back...

[Guest]

@ Grayven's spoiler

... and ...

@ the identity of the Maitreya. Very clever.

That poor monk parable keeps getting dissed. But I have to agree: I find that "zen" sort of approach to life to be a cop out ("The cat is climbing the post"). You might be able to save the world by sitting in a phrontistery somewhere deep in meditation to harmonize everyone's Essence by perfecting your own connection with it, or by spinning a prayer wheel, or by circling an ancient foundation in silence (or chanting), or by praying the rosary for that matter, but it's a whole lot more productive to actually get out there and get your hands dirty.

Another point: I'm sensing something missing in the compendium of writings: a "grabber" -- what ONE SENTENCE would we use to grab the attention AND INTEREST of "the man on the street"?

Something like:

Phronism is ancient. It was the first religion; and it's the only one that won't rot your brain.

or

Phronism is a grown-up religion. It is for people who are sick of being told to believe stuff that doesn't make sense when you actually stop to think about it.

or even

Phronism is the religion your conscience is already practicing.

Edited June 24, 2009 by seeksit

[Guest]

Phronism is the religion your conscience is already practicing.

Woo yay for that one, not sure if "conscience" says it all, but can't think of a better way to put it ("inner voice" maybe?) Hmm, I'll just pop a few more off the top of my head.

Religion meets reality

Religion has come full circle

Think freely, live fully, embrace the truth

[unreality]

all of these grabbers are good :laugh:

And yeah let's nix the monk parable. I hate to see it go but it does seem to promote ritualistic behaviors, which sends a conflicting message. Thus... off with its head!

and lol @ Bran being the prophesized Matriyema

[Guest]

Phronism is the religion your conscience is already practicing.

Religion meets reality

Religion has come full circle

Think freely, live fully, embrace the truth

OK, now we're in my wheelhouse...

Those were good, but seeksit's others were a bit awkward. These need to be billboard length, I think.

Envision billboards emblazoned with our <as yet undetermined> logo.

Phronism: The religion that isn't.

Phronism: What your heart wants your religion to be.

How will you be remembered? Realize your Potential at ActsofLegacy.org

Phronism: A rational approach to religion.

THINK. ACT. LIVE.

Question what you "know". www.phronism.org

We need to be enigmatic and thought provoking. Converting top notch ad execs would be a plus early on.

A question: It's been a while and I can't remember. Are we still saying that Phronism always existed? That we just finally recognized it and gave it a name? (haven't had time to read the FAQ yet.)

Also, on the subject of a spokesperson, I would be thrilled to see Morgan Freeman take up the cause. Mr. Freeman always seems trustworthy and approachable. He carries himself in a manner consistent with Phronism, and is one of the few Hollywood actors who doesn't appear to have become "Hollywood".

I like that he's charismatic, but without being bubbly. He's just got that "wise one" quality that is so hard to quantify.

[Guest]

Just saw an ad...

LOVE...

HATE...

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?*

...SCIENTOLOGY

Just a reminder we don't necessarily have to make any sense at all Easy to lose sight of that.

*what was the question?

[Guest]

Phronism: Religion for your mind.

Phronism: Your soul knows it's right.

Phronism: Where truth meets your deepest passions.

Plasmid, maybe the new thread should have a poll. (Sadly all polls are now labeled "Solved" instead of "Poll", but a subtitle could explain). Pick the best of these sound bytes and let the readers vote for the best.

Edited June 24, 2009 by seeksit

[unreality]

btw, I tried a variety of potential phronism websites:

www.phronism.___

.com - inexistent

.org - inexistent

.net - inexistent

.web - inexistent

.biz - inexistent

.gov - inexistent

.edu - inexistent

.us - inexistent

which is rare and pretty nice to see. At least mistypes won't lead to porn sites lol. Anyway I think .org is the way to go, especially for a religion/philosophy

~~~

with regards to the billboard phrase, my favorites so far:

* Religion meets reality

* Religion has come full circle

* THINK. ACT. LIVE.

* Phronism: The religion that isn't.

* Phronism is the religion your conscience is already practicing.

[Guest]

Phronism: Religion for your mind.

Phronism: Your soul knows it's right.

Phronism: Where truth meets your deepest passions.

Plasmid, maybe the new thread should have a poll. (Sadly all polls are now labeled "Solved" instead of "Poll", but a subtitle could explain). Pick the best of these sound bytes and let the readers vote for the best.

"Your soul knows it's right"? Genius. As long as the "s" word isn't off limits in any official capacity.

As for picking just one, maybe not necessary. We will need a whole ad campaign after all. Kind of like those "God" billboards from a couple summers ago, only better executed.

Unreality, we'll need more than just the "Phronism.whatever" site. We'll want to nail down site names to imported related terms like "actsoflegacy". Unfortunately, Essence.com is taken by essence magazine, and potential.com by some next generation business building company.

Having multiple in routes for the casual browser is important. Someone may be see that Phronism is another religion and be instantly turned off by that, but "what's the deal with "realizeyourpotential.com?"

The Acts of Legacy site could even operate independently from Phronism. After all, it's a good idea no matter what your religion. Kind of like the "what have you done for your marriage today?" campaign by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Regardless of your beliefs, there is a good message there.

More blurbs:

Be remembered for the right reasons... ActsOfLegacy.org

The road to enlightenment can be confusing, why not take a map?

Don't take our word for it, make up your OWN mind.

[Guest]

I think we should avoid using the word "soul" (I'd suggest the modification "Phronism is the religion your conscience soul is already practicing" otherwise). It's a nice word but I'd say it implies too much, notably individual identity beyond life which IMO we should quietly avoid. It's a bit awkward though, since "inner voice" is the best replacement I've come up with and it lacks the punch of a single word. Anyone else have an opinion on that?

[unreality]

yes how about no souls, spirits or such ;D

but "essence" might be a nice fit there

"Phronism is the religion your essence is already practicing"

and if we capitalize Essence, hinting at its connection with the rest of the religion, that might add extra intrigue. But still it sounds a bit awkward. I think it can only sound good with a one-syllable word... perhaps "mind" or "self" or "heart" or "id" or OOOH i got it:

"Phronism is the religion your life is already practicing"

(maybe. What do you think?)

~~~

@Grayven:

yoinks: http://www.essence.org/

That looks similar to what Grayven had in mind, basically telling you to go here which seems a lot like Phronism haha (at a first glance, I didn't delve)

~~~

@Plasmid: awesome recompilation!

One thing caught my eye from the first spoiler:

... The specifics of how to do this are not laid down in core Phronist doctrine in very detailed terms; instead Phronism will have many different denominations to specify reasonable moral guidelines and to provide many of the trappings of modern religion (meeting for a weekly service, holding weddings and funerals, having wise elders you can talk to) in a way palatable to the local circumstances, prevailing customs at the time, and scientific advancements. People are free to choose which denomination...

What's our stance on weddings and funerals?

edit: we definitely have to retain weddings as they pretty much are today. All aspects being the same except the part at church... for that part, they can meet in a phronistery (of any denomination, they don't have to belong to it, and more importantly the wedding isn't tied to any single denomination, no denomination is mentioned in any wedding records, it's a Phronism-wide thing) and the Phronite (do we have a word for priest? lol) will say some stuff about how the "Essence has coiled around them, wrapping them in an unimaginable unity, a bond of love, connection and mutual journey", etc, and maybe less ritualistic words (more of a general speech about them and the Essence) but rather one official sentence which sort of legally and phronistically wraps up the deal (something like "I hereby witness your eternal Connection in the golden streams of the Essence" or something like that)... then everyone claps and they kiss and have a huge reception and then go on a honeymoon (aka wedding)

as for funerals... maybe a little less "medieval" with all darkness and candles and open casket... I think we should promote cremation, but not in a stuffy weird funeral home, but on a mountaintop or something cool like that, and watch the ashes float into the wind and rejoin the world.

Edited June 25, 2009 by unreality

[Guest]

I think we should avoid using the word "soul" (I'd suggest the modification "Phronism is the religion your conscience soul is already practicing" otherwise). It's a nice word but I'd say it implies too much, notably individual identity beyond life which IMO we should quietly avoid. It's a bit awkward though, since "inner voice" is the best replacement I've come up with and it lacks the punch of a single word. Anyone else have an opinion on that?

IMHO the word 'soul' adds the religious connotation to a short, catchy phrase in a way that works as well as any short word, without explicitly referring to a conscious afterlife. Yes, it implies afterlife in general, but the word 'soul' has so many other definitions that I think it's worth accepting that potential misunderstanding. Abridging my unabridged dictionary definitions of 'soul', only the third of six definitions *partially* implies a conscious afterlife. Remember that individual identity beyond life is what 'being remembered for your acts of legacy' is all about.

1. Animating principle of life or individual life (that 'something' that is the spark of life)

2. psychical or spiritual principal shared by or embodied in individual beings

3. immortal part of man, having permanent individual existence

4. personality, psyche

5. man's moral and emotional nature as distinguished from his mind or intellect

6. a person (sort of synecdoche), as in "every soul in the theatre applauded the performance"

Edited June 25, 2009 by seeksit

[Guest]

I think we should avoid using the word "soul" (I'd suggest the modification "Phronism is the religion your conscience soul is already practicing" otherwise). It's a nice word but I'd say it implies too much, notably individual identity beyond life which IMO we should quietly avoid. It's a bit awkward though, since "inner voice" is the best replacement I've come up with and it lacks the punch of a single word. Anyone else have an opinion on that?

I see that some people (or should I say "souls?" ) have been offering their suggestions for the phrasing. Here's a few of my own.

I'm not sure of a good replacement, but I've been doing a quick check on Dictionary.com's Thesaurus and came up with a few interesting entries:

Main Entry: conscience

Part of Speech: noun

Definition: moral sense

Synonyms: censor, compunction, demur, duty, inner voice, morals, principles, qualms, right and wrong, scruples, shame, small voice, squeam, still small voice, superego

How about: "Phronism is the religion your scruples are already practicing" since it's so much fun to say scruples?

We could also try something from this list...

Main Entry: soul

Part of Speech: noun

Definition: psyche, inspiration, energy

Synonyms: anima, animating principle, animation, animus, ardor, bosom, bottom, breast, breath of life, cause, conscience, courage, disposition, ego, elan vital, essence, feeling, fervor, force, genius, heart, individuality, intellect, intelligence, life, marrow, mind, nobility, noumenon, personality, pith, pneuma, principle, quintessence, reason, recesses of heart, secret self, spirit, spiritual being, stuff, substance, thought, vital force, vitality, vivacity

Antonyms: body

Unfortunately, nothing jumps out at me, but maybe something could be made to fit, especially if we change the phrasing a little bit. I'd have to look at it a bit more to get the right idea. Of course, I think it's a little funny that body is listed as an antonym to soul, while heart and mind are both listed as synonyms.

We could use "heart" or "mind" since those are the cliche ones, but to be different, we could try "anima" defined as: the inner personality that is turned toward the unconscious of the individual. Of course that could send the wrong message as the secondary definition is: the feminine principle, esp. as present in men. Though I do like the sentiment of the first definition and it does add a certain "Je ne sais quoi" to the mystique of the phrase.

Also, I'm not sure how the third definition of seeksit's list only *partially* implies a conscious afterlife. It sort of defeats the purpose of something being immortal if it's not conscious to the fact.

[Guest]

My objection to the soul was not so much because of the immortality aspect, more that it suggests an image of our spiritual being as a discrete unit as opposed to being part of the greater Essence, which has given us a sense of identity only for the duration of our lives (or so I've implied in Mahavira's afterlife spiel). That's my take on it, I'm considering personal identity as a physical thing.

"Phronism is the religion your essence is already practicing"

and if we capitalize Essence, hinting at its connection with the rest of the religion, that might add extra intrigue. But still it sounds a bit awkward. I think it can only sound good with a one-syllable word... perhaps "mind" or "self" or "heart" or "id"

I like Essence in there, it's not a big tag line but it's intriguing. Alternatively we should go with "id", though we may have to change the character of the religion just a bit...

I got stopped by the police while driving home the other night. The policeman walked up to the car window and said "I need to see your id please"

I said "Id? Don't you mean you want to see my I.D.?"

"Don't get smart with me sonny, just show me your id."

So I bit his nose off and buggered him over the hood, crying "DADDY! DADDY!"

That looks similar to what Grayven had in mind, basically telling you to go here which seems a lot like Phronism haha (at a first glance, I didn't delve)

Whoa there! If that's what Phronism looks like, you can count me out. We seriously need to distance ourselves from all that new age hippy nonsense. That's a matter of image. We've got to come across as being more slick, well-thought out, and reality-based.

Weddings and funerals:

My feeling is that we should create lots of freedom to do what you want. Weddings is an interesting one because other religions consider marriage to be a "holy state" (particularly endorsed by the religion). I'm not sure if we should do that. Maybe our take on it should be that it is a binding commitment made explicitly for reasons of personal security and security of existing or future children. If we encourage people to consider the reasoning behind it, it might encourage them to give it the proper consideration and either not get married, or stay together if you do.

In the UK if you have a non-religious wedding you're not allowed to have music with any kind of a religious element in it. Since the Essence is within everything and particularly evident in all forms of artistic expression, I think we should consider all music to be religious for our purposes so people outside of Phronism may no longer have any music at their weddings.