www.SteveHein.com
Ideas on a New Belief System
To me, a new belief system is needed in the world in order to
reduce violence, death, destruction and emotional pain. The
world's dominant belief systems and religions were all founded by
people without knowledge of the laws of evolution. Nor did they
have the benefit of modern psychology or brain research.
Each system attempted to explain what was at that time
unexplainable. With the progress of science, however, we now are
in the position to form a much more intelligent and accurate
system of beliefs. While we do not yet have answers to all of our
questions, it seems clear we have enough scientific evidence, as
well as historical data, to move to a higher level of social and
universal enlightenment.
Here are a few components which might be in this new belief
system:
- Harmony
with nature and evolutionary trends
- Recognition of the importance of survival instinct and of
the primacy of the survival of the species over the
survival of the individual.
- Distinction between "rights" and natural needs
(both physical and emotional)
- Distinction between what is healthy and what is legal, as
well as between what is unhealthy and what is illegal.
- A new defintion of succeess which is not based so much on
material or academic success.
- A system of conflict resolution based not on power, but
on mutual respect for feelings and needs
- A higher respect for instinct, intuition, and inner
intelligence
- A reduced reliance on the supernatural and on drugs and
distractions
- Increased unity
- Increased respect for individual differences and less
attempts at forced equality and conformity
- Reduction of nationalism
- A more effective system of leadership selection
- A decrease in centralized control and an increase in
personal responsibility
- Increased moral autonomy
- A distribution of power based on intellectual and
emotional intelligence
- A healthier prioritization of values.
- An intelligent method of distinguishing functional vs.
dysfunctional beliefs
- Parental training, competency standards and
accountability
Harmony
with nature and evolutionary trends
The more we discover about nature and evolution, the better we
can align ourselves in harmony with fundamental natural laws and
trends. Once we correctly identify these fundamental truths, we
can immediately use them in personal and social decision making
and policy setting.
Here are some of these laws and trends, as I see them:
- Intelligence is favored over physical strength
- Non-violence is favored over violence
- Reason is favored over myth, religion, tradition
- Cooperation is favored over competition
- Moral autonomy, individual conscience and judgment are
favored over obedience
- Internal control and motivation is favored over external
control (ie punishment and rewards)
- Education is favored over punishment
- Prevention is favored over "cures"
- Reality is favored over appearances
- Self-esteem is favored over "other" esteem
Along with the above, it seems that as we evolve our needs
change. It might be fair to say that we evolve both as a species
and individually we have more need for intellectual and emotional
fulfilment and less need for physical fulfillment and sexual
fulfillment.
In particular, it seems that highly evolved people have more
need for
- Self-expression
- Understanding
- Freedom
- Intrinsic satisfaction
- Self-actualization
- Emotional support and connection
- Independence, Self-reliance
- Identification with self
- Variety
- Intellectual Fulfillment
- Emotional Fulfillment
- Creativity
Lesser need for
- Power
- Control
- Security
- Conformity
- Physical connection
- Support from clubs, groups, memberships
- Identification with groups