Writer Alain de Botton has
created a set of 10 new virtues for atheists, ironically reminding us of the 10
commandments format found in the Old Testament. Atheism is an increasing
factor, mainly in the West; however, it is inevitable that even the modern
epoch, the modern West takes its thought from a previous philosophical and
theological school of thought, embedded in the culture and the way of thinking.
Hence it is obvious that the following commandments are actually also Christian
ideas and ideals. What does this say about the atheists?
The 10 commandments for atheists
are:
1. Resilience. Keeping going even
when things are looking dark.
2. Empathy. The capacity to
connect imaginatively with the sufferings and unique experiences of another
person.
3. Patience. We should grow
calmer and more forgiving by getting more realistic about how things actually
tend to go.
4. Sacrifice. We won't ever
manage to raise a family, love someone else or save the planet if we don't keep
up with the art of sacrifice.
5. Politeness. Politeness is very
linked to tolerance, the capacity to live alongside people whom one will never
agree with, but at the same time, can't avoid
6. Humour. Like anger, humour
springs from disappointment, but it's disappointment optimally channelled.
7. Self-Awareness. To know
oneself is to try not to blame others for one's troubles and moods; to have a
sense of what's going on inside oneself, and what actually belongs to the
world.
8. Forgiveness. It's recognising
that living with others isn't possible without excusing errors.
9. Hope. Pessimism isn't
necessarily deep, nor optimism shallow.
10. Confidence. Confidence isn't
arrogance, it's based on a constant awareness of how short life is and how
little we ultimately lose from risking everything.
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