So many have suggested that the world would be better off without religion, what guide book would you suggest?

Question

People as humans, need guidance and rules to keep a society civil. What would you suggest? Would a radical change like that make the world communist, or would we all be selfless, lifeless and basically robots? Your thoughts?

I am asking a question, and looking for your thoughts. I am not telling anyone they have to do anything, and please don't tell me what I need to do, worry about yourself. And don't say that no one needs a book, otherwise there would be no self-help or spirituality sections of book merchants. If you don't need one, that's good, but this question is to get information for those who do. If you don't read the question thoroughly, and understand it, then don't answer it.

I never said "bible" so don't put words in my mouth. If you don't understand the question, don't answer it.

Answer 1

Ayn Rand's "The Virtue of Selfishness"

Answer 2

First, every religion has its own "guidebook" which differs from all the others, so the only way to have a single guidebook would be to force everyone into one interpretation of one religion.

So we who eagerly await the demise of religion aren't creating a void where there wasn't one before.

I disagree that people need to be given a bunch of arbitrary rules they are supposed to mindlessly follow.

Arbitrary rules, that you accept only if you accept lies, suck. They're arbitrary, and therefore following them often leads to harm, even if once in a while following them means following sound principles (almost by accident).

It's a mistake to think that anything will improve by taking up any set of rules to be mindlessly followed.

How's that been working out so far?

Increased suckiness, that's how.

You can't take the mind out of reason; just doesn't work.

There are principles that I would like to see more generally accepted -- in fact, I believe they ARE becoming more generally accepted, we just aren't far enough along yet.

The principles:

All humans are human.

Live, and let live.

Fun is good.

Suffering sucks.

The first and last, are, I think, the most important.

All humans are human. (We're all bozos on this bus.)

Suffering sucks.

Everyone's suffering sucks.

Suckiness, not good.

Keep those two in mind, and USE your mind (which includes what's usually referred to in this society as one's "heart"), and we'd all do pretty well.

Much better than we've done under the arbitrary, harmful "guidance" based on myth people get shoved down their throats.

The bases of any true morality have to do with human universals.

We all need to breathe, drink, and eat. We all want other people -- families and friends. We all want to sometimes have a little joy.

Always stick with the basics, not a bunch of arcane and arbitrary rules.

The basics.

Oh, yeah, and there's another kind of basic, to go along with food, and friends, and joy: No person has the right to define for ME what my mind says, what my feelings are, or what brings me joy.

Not so hard.

Avoid causing suckiness.

Really simple, isn't it?

You need not subscribe to magic to play.

Answer 3

People will always be good and bad. There are countries with very little religion that aren't states of anarchy. Most of western Europe seems to have done away with religion and we live in relative peace. and fairness. In contrast Africa is religious and look at the state of it over there. In fact if you look at all the dangerous countries in the world, they are all religious. Middle East, S America for example. We don't need a guide book, parents can instill good moral values in to their children also a good, fair system of law and order also to name but a few..

Answer 4

We don't really need a book; just moral parents/a moral upbringing.

What we have and what we do need, however, are rules laid down by the society you live in; such as laws for a country.

At the moment the Bible is only good in that people have not bothered to read it; they've just been told that it is good. If people started to actually read the Bible and follow it's teachings then 'all hell' would break out. No civilised morals would exist.

Answer 5

What a fantastically great question! Now I have QUESTION ENVY because I should have thought of it myself. Well, now let me see, since I have thought about this very problem, I should have an answer. Hummmm................... To begin with, you were incredibly brave to post the question, considering the amount of personal abuse you're likely to stir up. Now back to the ANSWER: There should be a worldwide essay contest which answers this question: What moral code and value system can you offer the human race in place of all its discarded religions? The winner will be named GRAND POOBAH and installed as Great Moral Arbiter of the Human Race in the former headquarters of the former United Nations in NYC.
THE WINNING ANSWER:

Just do whatever in the h*ll you want to do, and see how long you last. Good luck!

P.S. I'll be in NYC next week to be installed as GRAND POOBAH.

Answer 6

"Life is a journey, not a guided tour". If we all followed this, we'd have to be humble, considerate of others, and honest in trying to figure out how to behave, rather than thinking we already know the answers. So, no guidebook. That would just be sneaking religion in again, through the back door.
All forms of "guidance" are really just social hypnosis, mind-control.

Answer 7

Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now

Answer 8

If the Bible is nothing more to you than a rule book, you have sadly missed the point. Rules and regulations are necessary for those who live for the flesh. They have no higher inclination. For those who live in submission to God’s Will, please read scripture for spiritual guidance.

Answer 9

secular humanism, maybe?

I think the best government would need a democratic system framed by a bill of rights, in order to protect individual liberties, including those of women and minority groups.

It would also need avoid censorship, political rhetoric, or sanctions against free speech, while protecting its citizens from the violation of those liberties (crime).

While minimal, this government would also need to encourage economic prosperity and the development of science/technology, though both areas could grow using the private sector.

So no, definitely not "cog in the wheel" thinking. Communism doesn't work economically and it violates individual freedom.

Answer 10

The Bible

Answer 11

The Bible. If there were any other book used for guidance they would still put some stuff from the Bible anyway...