The Ninth Guideline

Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.

Why it may be perceived negatively

It is possible that certain religious people would reject this ideal because it requires no concept of a “God.” Others, however, may interpret it as an embodiment of their religious ideals. Either way, what is important is that we as a species seek to find the real truth (rather than simply believing what we wish to be true), and make moral judgements which are based on love for our fellow creatures (human or otherwise). Some people may reject the idea that “beauty” should be prized, but these people should note that “beauty” can be defined as a set of qualities which are pleasing not just to the aesthetic senses, but also to the intellect and moral senses.

Why the issue should not be ignored

To ignore this guideline would be to reject all the amazing things life has to offer, and neglect to live life to its full potential. Few would deny that “love” is what gives life its fullness and meaning, and for most people a life without “love” would be unbearable. “Love” can mean so many things that a single word is inadequate to encompass all that “love” can be. The Ancient Greeks had four separate words: “agápe" meaning unconditional or sacrificial love, “éros” meaning passionate or romantic love, “philía” meaning friendship or affection for those we are familiar with and “storgē” meaning natural affection such as that felt for one’s family. All of these add joy and fulfilment to human lives and motivate right actions and attempts to make the world a better place for all.

The search for “truth,” meaning what is in accord with fact or reality, is an innate part of human nature. Throughout human history we have endeavoured to discover truths about the world we live in. Our earliest attempts were through religion - a common feature throughout most human civilisations. Many religions feature stories attempting to explain the origin of the universe and of life, to explain natural phenomena such as lightning, floods and volcanoes and aspects of the human condition such as disease and death. These things would have been confusing and frightening to our ancestors, so the belief that they were controlled by supernatural beings that could be prayed to, and appeased with sacrifices and worship seemed both rational and comforting. Gradually, however, humans began to understand more of the world as it really was, through observations and experiments, and thus “science” was born. Initially there was no disagreement between science and religion, but as science began to discover truths about the universe which were in conflict with religious (particularly Christian) dogma, such as the Earth being flat and at the centre of the universe, the two began to diverge, with many fundamentally religious people now rejecting scientific findings because they contradict religious scriptures, and indeed many scientifically-minded people now rejecting all religion because it is not backed by empirical evidence. The importance of finding what is really “true” is great, as this knowledge facilitates advancements in science and medicine, all the things which can improve the quality of human existence.

“Beauty” is all that is pleasing to us. It is art, music, literature, poetry and even the universe as a whole. Appreciation of these things adds richness and enjoyment to our lives.

What could be achieved?

A meaningful, joyous and harmonious existence, making the most of this short period of consciousness we call “life.”