The Rise of the “NONES”

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Numerous polls indicate that roughly 25% of the respondents answer “none” when asked their religious affiliation. Mostly, the chattering class (aka The Great and Good) regard this result in a positive light. It means that American rubes are becoming more sophisticated . . . more European. All right thinking people believe the Europeans are more civilized and advanced than we are.

Naturally, I would disagree. I believe that most of the “nones” are substituting one religion for another. There seems to be embedded in the psyche of most human beings a desire for religious experience. Perhaps it’s the need to figure out why we are here. Perhaps it’s a way to cope with fear of the unknown. Perhaps it’s a need for spiritual fulfillment. Perhaps it’s just the emotional high resulting from feelings of righteousness. Something pushes most people to reach beyond physical reality for some solace.

There are lots of religious options now available that aren’t Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist. WOKE is a religion. Vegan is a religion. Some forms of LGBTQ (and probably several other letters of which I’m unaware due to insufficient WOKE) are a religion. Climate hysteria is a religion. The fringes of contemporary politics have most of the trappings of religion. Even some forms of atheism are religious. Any belief system that relies on faith and asserts itself as the only true way is a religion, in my view.

Allow me to propose a cult with no religious trappings that provides a useful way to live and an ethical foundation. A path for “nones” who don’t want to end up migrating to an undeclared religion. A place for those who believe that we were not put here by a Higher Power and that our physical existence on this planet is all we got. Here are the tenets:

1. Death: We’re all gonna die, but let’s not die of something stupid (credit my son for this blinding insight).
2. Tolerance: Aside from some exceptions in the physical sciences, there is no fully verifiable truth. Our search for truth is a matter of respectful listening, dialogue and experimentation. Live and let live. Your opinions are just that — opinions. The opinions of others are worthy of consideration.
3. Responsibility: Be self-supporting through your own contributions. Grow stronger through dealing with your problems; don’t blame others for your problems. Try to leave your little patch of the world a little better than you found it.
4. Moral Compass: The one thing we can take away from virtually all religions and most moral philosophers is some form of the Golden Rule — do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Most of the ethical dilemmas you face in life can be solved by using this test.

I would assert that my version of None would give us a more peaceful, prosperous and creative existence.