My religion has just one doctrine: Do no harm to others.

[MineralMan]

No other doctrine is needed. My religion requires no deities. That doctrine eliminates the need for them.

That is all.

[akraven]

1. "First - do no harm" is what we try to live by.

I don't do religion well. Except for that tenet.

[Voltaire2]

9. It's the hippocratic oath.

No religion involved.

[NeoGreen]

2. I would suggest a possible slight improvement...

...try to leave the world better than you found it.

I would offer that this version includes your rule as an axiom.

[Tribalceltic]

3. Harm None

Has always struck me as better than "do unto others". Each human has their own individual positives and negatives. I would hate being "done unto" by a Republican!

[Fullduplexxx]

8. Do unto other as you would have others do unto you'

[Tribalceltic]

10. So if I am a ceral killer ...

I't ok to murder innocent cheerios?

I just don't like smiling cereals I guess.

[EarnestPutz]

4. Here's the way I've been thinking about it lately.

I've told my religious friends that "God did not put me here on
earth to be unkind to other people, don't you agree that's a good thing?"
They usually agree.
Then I tell them "I've decided that I don't want to spend my time here on
earth being unkind to others, don't you agree that's a good thing?"
They usually agree again.
Then I ask them "What's the difference, as long as I treat other people well
and my time on earth doesn't hurt others?
If this bothers some of them, taking God out of the premise, am I being "unkind" and should I cut it out?

[3catwoman3]

5. When my sons were growing up, I did not take them to any organized...

Last edited Fri Dec 21, 2018, 12:37 AM - Edit history (1)

...religious services - I wanted to be the only one to "warp" their young minds because I knew I would do my best to make sure they grew up to be open-minded and compassionate. We used to talk a great deal about the "treat others as you would like to be treated," rule, and how, if everyone followed that one rule, we would not need any others.

The "boys" are now 28 and 26, and did turn out to be open-minded and compassionate. People often look at you rather askance when you say you don't take your kids to church, as if you are neglecting them somehow. Lots of people home school. I decided to say that I "home churched" my kids, if the topic arose.

[PhrankT]

6. Congrats on raising 2 fine sons. I feel the same way also

[LakeArenal]

7. I, also, do not need a list to remind me what is right or wrong.

A list that leaves too many things off anyway. Like, don't cage babies..

[Act_of_Reparation]

11. Mine doesn't have any.

Doctrine is too strong a word for my liking. It's nitpicking, I know, but it implies a degree of inflexibility I find unpalatable. Ethical situations can be complex... too complex to be solved by simple axioms.

If anything, I try to do that which will maximize hapiness for the greatest number of people.

[MineralMan]

12. I've always considered doctrines to be principles.

As we see regularly, violations of doctrines are pretty common in religious organizations. So, my single doctrine is really just a single principle. For example, I would violate it in defense of myself or others. Of course, since I actually have no religion, that doctrine or principle is purely internal and individual, anyhow.