An Ovi Magazine Books Publication 2022 Ovi Project Publication - All material is copyright of the Ovi magazine & the writer C Ovi books are available in Ovi magazine pages and they are for free. If somebody tries to sell you an Ovi book please contact us immediately. For details, contact: submissions@ovimagazine.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the writer or the above publisher of this book. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar and Anonymous [As of now, some of the pictures are not licensed and are illustrative only] Most adults declare that they are “Spiritual, Not Religious” or "Cultural, Not Religious". They say they seldom, if ever, attend church or synagogue. The purpose of this booklet is to propose a 21 st Century Bible and ethics, based on 3000 years of experience since the original Ten Commandments for “Not Religious” peoples. The ethics are steeped in the Social Contract. It is not a promotion of atheism. God, if he exists, seems to provide absolution for sin and the sinner and thus sin continues. Since professed religious people need to be more ethical and responsible for all their actions there are insights here for them. Spiritual vs. Cultural Presumably, “Spiritual, Not Religious” means that those people believe there is a higher power or a force or a creator who they recognize but to whom they don’t pray. There are “Spiritual” people who actively celebrate their belief in a higher power by basking the beauty of creation, nature and the warmth of their fellow spiritualists. Cultural, Not Religious “Cultural”, to the contrary means that those people don’t believe in a higher power, a force or a creator. The Cultural, Not Religious find value for themselves and society in a portion, but not all, of the culture which they learned at home and in their community. The Non-Observant Then there many non-observant people, who may not belong to a church or synagogue, don’t attend services but believe in a God who won’t punish them for lack of piety. They get religious when ill or near death. Jews have celebrated Passover from Biblical Times. Passover is often the main Jewish experience. Illustration from Sarajevo Hagaddah http://www.greenchairpress.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/people_of_the_book.jpg A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com In Israel, when proselytized by Reform temples, the Non-Observant reject them by saying, “The synagogue I don’t attend is Orthodox.” One seven year-old girl, when told she must go to Sunday school, responded, “I know what bubbie is, I know what lox and bagels are, I know we came out of Egypt. I’m Jewish; I don’t need to go to Sunday school!” Ethical, Not Prayerful http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rUNAr4XL1h4/Stv9- MeH6FI/AAAAAAAAAEU/lHg4nsX1wPY/3123896992_244c5dac3a.jpg Do these players believe God supports the Trojans? D o you know anyone w ho claims an answer to every prayer? We’ve all heard, "God said no." But have we ever heard anyone say "God answers all my prayers!" I'm not saying God doesn't exist; I'm saying "God may or may not exist, but prayer has no predictive result." I heard a Haitian earthquake survivor thanking God for saving him. What about the other 150,000 dead? Time after time there have been wars, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, landslides and epidemics that killed millions of people, independent of they’re being good or bad, pious or atheist. Conversely, does ethical behavior have a predictable effect? If you find your neighbor's wallet and return it to him/her (This just happened to me in a carwash.) you can expect his thanks and good will, if not to you, then to another? If you own a small store in a small town and you become known for cheating your customers, won't those customers go to your competition? This is the Social Contract: We don't do evil to each other and we help each other out, in time of need. That's ethical conduct. A non-religious community, practicing to the Social Contract, would be better off than a religious community without the Social Contract A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com What is meant by “better off”? The majority of the community would be safer and more economically successful than communities that are religious but don’t practice the Social Contract. Do any very religious countries come to mind? Much of the Bible teaches ethical conduct; part of the Bible teaches hate and bigotry: God commanded Joshua to kill every man, woman and child and animal in Jericho, Leviticus commands killing disobedient children, killing homosexuals or masturbators, and killing people who eat non-Kosher food. Do You Have to Fear God to be Ethical? Dennis Prager , the rig ht - wing religious writer and talk show host, believes you can’t be ethical if you don't fear God and hell. Specifically Prager wrote: “... The lesson for secular Jews is to realize that ethics cannot long survive the death of monotheism.” http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/mono.html Most people reading this don't fear God and hell, and are ethical. Anti-atheist zealots claim they have studies that prove the non-believers are less ethical but don't present the studies. http://spiritlessons.com/DOCUMENTS/Unitys_Vision/Pictures/hell2.jpg Who is a Not Religious Jew? The Not Religious Jew, therefore, should be an ethical practitioner of the Social Contract who embraces the history and much, but not all of Jewish culture. Else, why would he call himself a Jew? Circumcision is not destiny. Cultural, Not Religious vs. Secular Jews Prager’s reference to ‘secular Jews’ ignores the cultural affinity of the Not Religious Jews. To the theocrats, ‘secular’ is a dirty word. They try to paint the seculars as godless hedonists. But the name calling fails if the Not Religious Jews and Christians have a professed set of unassailable ethics, based on the social contract. Prager’s assertion that the ethics can’t survive without religion, is just that, an assertion based on no historical evidence. Communist countries are not the historical analogy. They were never based on the social contract. In a National Context Seventy-four percent of Jews voted for Obama. That drives Jewish Republicans crazy. Those Jewish Republicans and right-wing Likud Israelis combine (Republicudniks) to attempt to scare Jewish Democrats and Independents to fear that Obama is an enemy of Israel. Why do the Republikudniks do that? Because they want to divide the Democratic coalition and keep their Bush tax cuts and Republican business deregulation. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com Israel and Palestine Most American Jews, both religious and secular support Israel. It seems strange to many people that the most orthodox Jews oppose existence of Israel because they feel the Messiah must come first. It is shocking to see Hassidic Jews, with fedora hats and side curls embracing Iranian President Mahmoud Amadinijad. http://artintifada.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/800px-orthodox_jews_protest_against_israel.jpg http://www.ynetnews.com/PicServer2/20122005/962805/AK04_wa.jpg There is a schism amongst Jews whether any criticism of Israel can be made in public. An example is the unequal treatment of Druze Arabs, who even serve in the Israeli army, the IDF. Druze villages don't get the same city services as Jewish villages, including water and roads. Palestinian villages also receive similar treatment. Bigger issues, such as peace policies, have fault lines, defined by disagreements between Labor and Kadima and Likud. Labor and Kadima are more willing to make ‘land for peace’ concessions and Likud, post Begin, is unwilling to give up a hectare to the Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated over making land concessions. Both extreme Jews and extreme Muslims believe it is a sin to give up land in the Holy Land. American Jews, who have more in common with the Labor-Kadima faction, are pressured by Likud, from Israel, and AIPAC, in the US, to remain silent. Not Religious Christians Notice: I'm a Not Religious Jew and not a Christian. My earliest perceptions of Christianity came from Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald movies. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com Some people, who declare themselves to be Christian, also say they are Not Religious. Again, being ethical and adhering to the Social Contract is a minimum. Honoring the culture and the history of Christianity is important. The good and the bad should be recognized. Non-church going Christians need a mechanism to pass on to their children what they value in Christianity. Creches in the mall and Easter shows give that power to stores and TV preachers. http://xb3.xanga.com/a29f0be30773169194104/z18080112.jpg Not Religious Christians could adapt the Passover Seder enjoyed by Not Religious Jews. More Jews attend Passover Seders than High Holy Days. Not Religious Christians can have Christmas and Easter Seders. When the Deli Lama asked Jews how they survived as a culture for three thousand years, he was told the basis was the Passover Seder. The child reads the Four Questions from the Hagaddah A Seder is a dinner where the story of the holiday is told. Child participation is key. All attendees read parts of the Exodus story from an illustrated book (called a Hagaddah in Passover homes) and the children read the lessons of the holiday. For Christians, the Christmas Seder could include the lessons such as peace, love of family, the Gospels of Jesus and more. For Easter, the lessons could be the everlasting importance of life, protecting the earth, and how good deeds live on after death and how Jesus' death and resurrection promised immortality of everyone's soul. Even, if symbolically. Modern Jews often augment their Hagaddah with their social and political ideals. Modern Christians may wonder about using a Hebrew word, such as Seder. But let’s not forget Jesus is a Hebrew word. Ethics and examples of the Social Contract should be emphasized in the Christmas and Easter Seders. How would Unitarians view this? In many ways, this has been their message for decades, and they are entitled to more credit. Ethical Culturalists also deserve credit for promoting ethics. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com The Strange Case of South Carolina Article 6 of the US Constitution states: "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." Now we the spectacle of the 2010 GOP primary in South Carolina, where the opposition questioned the Christian religion of South Carolina State Rep. Nikki Haley, who was born a Sikh and converted to be a Methodist.. This is after the righteous Christian Governor Mark Sandford notoriously cheated on his wife. Haley, in spite of the religious attacks and the slurs on her sexual fidelity, easily won the GOP nomination. She was endorsed by Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. Including Not Religious Muslims? This section needs an author. Meanwhile here is a statement from a secular Muslim website: The St. Petersburg Declaration April 5, 2007 We are secular Muslims, and secular persons of Muslim societies. We are believers, doubters, and unbelievers, brought together by a great struggle, not between the West and Islam, but between the free and the unfree. We affirm the inviolable freedom of the individual conscience. We believe in the equality of all human persons. We insist upon the separation of religion from state and the observance of universal human rights. We find traditions of liberty, rationality, and tolerance in the rich histories of pre-Islamic and Islamic societies. These values do not belong to the West or the East; they are the common moral heritage of humankind. We see no colonialism, racism, or so-called "Islamaphobia" in submitting Islamic practices to criticism or condemnation when they violate human reason or rights. We call on the governments of the world to • reject Sharia law, fatwa courts, clerical rule, and state-sanctioned religion in all their forms; oppose all penalties for blasphemy and apostasy, in accordance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights; • eliminate practices, such as female circumcision, honor killing, forced veiling, and forced marriage, that further the oppression of women; • protect sexual and gender minorities from persecution and violence; • reform sectarian education that teaches intolerance and bigotry towards non-Muslims; A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com • and foster an open public sphere in which all matters may be discussed without coercion or intimidation. We demand the release of Islam from its captivity to the totalitarian ambitions of power- hungry men and the rigid strictures of orthodoxy. We enjoin academics and thinkers everywhere to embark on a fearless examination of the origins and sources of Islam, and to promulgate the ideals of free scientific and spiritual inquiry through cross-cultural translation, publishing, and the mass media. We say to Muslim believers: there is a noble future for Islam as a personal faith, not a political doctrine; to Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'is, and all members of non-Muslim faith communities: we stand with you as free and equal citizens; and to nonbelievers: we defend your unqualified liberty to question and dissent. Before any of us is a member of the Umma, the Body of Christ, or the Chosen People, we are all members of the community of conscience, the people who must choose for themselves. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/isis Including Republicans http://thepeopleofpakistan.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/neo_cons.jpg Republican Jews tend to be more religious than Democrats. Church going, Dixiecrats are even more observant. But to the extent that there are Not Religious Republicans, many are Libertarians, for whom the Social Contract is an anathema. To the remnant, if they were expelled from the GOP, for being too liberal, if they can embrace ethics and caring for their fellow man more the pure profit, welcome. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com Including Libertarians? Libertarians, to the degree they embrace the philosophy of Ayn Rand, can’t be expected to adhere to the Social Contract. Caring for the meek may be too much of stretch. About 25 years ago I asked the Libertarian spokesman for their presidential candidate what obligation he had to a man lying face- down, drowning in the gutter. He responded, "I would lift his head and ask him If he knew the implication of his action." Thom Hartmann, progressive radio talk show host and author, who briefly was a Libertarian, says Libertarians espouse their philosophy just to smoke dope and get laid. Those guys are welcome. Rand Paul, Libertarian http://online.wsj.com/media/RandPaul_Senate_DV_20091112094524.jpg Loosening Leviticus Leviticus contains about 613 mitzvahs or laws. Some contribute to the social fabric and some tear at it. Here is a commentary that came as a viral email. I hope the true author steps forward. In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative: Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them. 1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com 2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? 3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence. 4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? 5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it? 6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination? 7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit; that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here? 8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die? 9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? 10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Needless to say a bible for the Not Religious would exclude the verses cited above. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com The Thirteen Commandments We now have 3,000 years of experience since the original Ten Commandments were given to Moses. Most noteworthy is that there was an expectation that the Commandments would be broken. After God gave Moses the Ten Commandments He instructed Moses on the building of the Tabernacle and the Alter. A major function of the Alter, the Priests and the sacrifices was to absolve the supplicants of their sins for violating the Ten Commandments. The Catholic rituals, including confession, were to absolve the parishioners of their sins. Thus sin and sinners were, and are, assumed. Passing new laws requires that new prison cells be built because no one expects the laws to be obeyed. Most stealing is for resale. Aiding and abetting theft should be just a big a sin as the original theft. Consider art theft, where $100 million paintings are stolen. Certainly the robber knows who will buy or fence the painting. He probably will be stealing, on order, and not on spec. White slavers know the Johns will pay for the sex services of the drugged and threatened young women or boys. Movie thieves know their $5.00 DVDs will sell quickly from their stalls and blankets. My friend Bernie reports that Moses complained to God at Mount Sinai that the Hebrews were rebelling and complaining. “What should I do?” asked Moses. God said unto Moses, “Take these two tablets and call me in the morning.” Modern Commandments need to address both the sin, the incentive to sin and doing justice. And the modern righteous must not only, not commit sin but must take responsibility not to promote sin. Atonement to God is not sufficient. There must be justice and compensation to the victims. Here are the original Ten Commandments and the proposed Thirteen Commandments that address both sides of the sins. But they can be improved on. Original The Ten Commandments are found in the Bible's Old Testament at Exodus, Chapter 20. "And God spoke all these words, saying: 'I am the LORD your God ... ONE: ' You shall have no other gods before Me. ' http://newcreationperson.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/moses1.jpg The Thirteen Commandments ONE: You shall not revere prophets of hate. TWO: You shall not defile the earth nor its creatures. You shall endeavor to conserve resources for later generations. You shall not buy from those who despoil the land and the sea. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com TWO: ' You shall not make for your self a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. ' THREE: ' You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. ' FOUR: ' Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ' FIVE: ' Honor your father and your mother. ' SIX: ' You shall not murder. ' SEVEN: ' You shall not commit adultery. ' EIGHT: ' You shall not steal. ' NINE: ' You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. ' TEN: ' You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. ' THREE: You shall not use religion or the name of God to gain wealth or do harm to the dignity of humankind. FOUR: Remember the Sabbath day and the eight hour work day and give time off for family. You shall not buy from those that exploit slaves, the weak or children. FIVE: Honor your mother and father and veterans and their survivors and care for the weak. SIX: You shall not murder nor foster policies that are likely to lead to death, injury or suffering of the innocent. SEVEN: You shall honor your spouse and children, you shall not commit adultery nor child abuse nor rape nor fornicate with sex slaves or by power or position, seduce people in weaker positions. EIGHT: You shall not steal tangible or intellectual property nor shall you buy stolen goods. NINE: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor nor use pressure or threats to make a person bear false witness nor shall you spread lies and gossip nor shall you sponsor those that spread lies and gossip. TEN: You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his land, nor anything that is your neighbor's nor shall you live in lands taken from conquered people, except if they attacked first. ELEVEN: You shall not drive yourself or your community into debt that can’t be recovered from, for unnecessary consumption or for ostentatious shows of wealth that strains the earth’s resources. Debt for legitimate defense, full A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com employment, investment or education is justified. You shall not support people who drive the community into unrecoverable debt. TWELVE: You shall not aid and abet sin or the sinner. THIRTEEN: You shall give justice to your victim. The Thirteen Commandments were formed to guide the potential sinner and eliminate the attraction to commit the sin. Any ethics need to conform to these commandments. What are ethics? It seems that even the meaning of ethics or ethical is murky. For example: ethical adj. Of, relating to, or dealing with ethics. Being in accordance with the accepted principles of right and wrong that govern the conduct of a profession. www.answers.com/topic/ ethical The definition of ethics referred to “Moral”, defined as follows: 1. Of or concerned with the judgment of the goodness or badness of human action and character: moral scrutiny; a moral quandary. 2. Teaching or exhibiting goodness or correctness of character and behavior: a moral lesson. 3. Conforming to standards of what is right or just in behavior; virtuous: a moral life. 4. Arising from conscience or the sense of right and wrong: a moral obligation. http://www.answers.com/topic/moral Both ‘ethical’ and ‘moral’ are defined in words that are vague or undefined or circular. Circular mean that the terms of definition refer to themselves. For example, “What is pious?” Pious is that which is good. What is good? Good is that which is pious. Since we are concerned with a person’s ethics and not a professional’s ethics, we need a more comprehensive definition. More of a Socratic definition: ethical adj. Behavior that reflects adherence of professed standards and Commandments and, if most people acted the same way, most people would probably be safer in their lives and their commerce. Why weasel word with “probably”? Everyone is not ethical, so everyone can’t benefit from commonly held ethics. For example murderers and thieves may be subject to legal sanctions. Thus, they would not be safer in their lives and commerce. Ethics shouldn’t faith-based; ethics should be results-seeking. This definition implies a calculation of benefits to the community. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com Immanuel Kant and the Categorical Imperative Kant urged his readers to act only on that maxim that they want to be universally applied. It’s a start, but it doesn’t relate to goals or results. Kant didn’t consider animals to be subjects of ethics. News to PETA. Results-seeking Ethics The Talmud has a lot of commentary on situational ethics. An anti-Semitic joke is “The World’s Thinnest Book: Jewish Business Ethics”. Firstly, the Talmud, which discusses ethics, is thousands of pages long, with commentaries. Secondly, ethics can be defined in very few words. Hillel, while standing on one foot, at the command of a Roman soldier, summed it up with “Do not unto him, that which is hateful unto you.” Jesus paraphrased it to “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Business ethics aren’t what they used to be. One hundred an fifty years ago slavery was acceptable. Seventy-five years ago child labor and sixty-hour weeks were OK. Sixty years ago hunting whales was exciting. Twenty years ago buying ivory jewelry was desirable. Dumping poisons in rivers was common. In the old days manufacturers ignored, denied or justified their practices. Now there are groups that discover, abhor and denounce. Raising public awareness changes perceptions and ethics. What is a CEO to do? The American public has taken an expanded view of business ethics. These days, people don’t want to buy goods made by exploited, low-wage workers. Results-seeking ethics seeks to form ethics that will conserve resources, enhance the environment and protect the health and welfare of the population. Here are some issues from the news and entertainment. 1. Is gambling ethical? If it is an even game, yes. If losses, from excessive risk, will not be felt by innocent parties, such as family or depositors or investors, the gamble is ethical. Lending money to or buying equity in a business is a risk. If the result is risk that is not excessive and the returns cover the risk, plus a return on investment, then the gamble is ethical. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com 2. Is bluffing in gambling ethical? It is a form of lying. Yes, it is ethical because it is part of the game. Poker, unlike Chess, is a game of limited information and purposeful misinformation. Good players expect bluffing and even want their opponents to expect them to bluff. Poker is good training for business, medicine and defense. The results are more effective leaders in business, defense, and medicine. http://www.core77.com/reactor/images/11.05_images/casino_P2.jpg Poker player about to bluff. 3. Is drilling 5,000 feet below the ocean for oil, with minimal safety precautions, ethical. No, it’s unethical for two reasons: First, it is likely that innocent people and animals will suffer. Second, the investors and bond holders are at risk. Oil people tend to be optimistic and understate or ignore risks. http://www.saveourseabirdscharitabletrust.org.uk/assets/images/SLS15.jpg 4. Was seeking a trans-Atlantic speed record on the Titanic, with too few lifeboats and warnings of icebergs ethical? You can fill this one from hindsight. www.altergroup.com/blog/index.php/tags/new-york/ 5. Is selling food with additives known to cause illness ethical? No brainer. Is defanging the FDA and eliminating tests on foods and drugs ethical? The Republicans think it is. Enforcement of food and drug safety regulations has resulted in healthier people. 6. Is cutting airline, building and workplace safety regulations to ease commerce ethical? The Republicans think it is. A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com 7. Is preventing immigration ethical? What about political refugees? What about economic refugees? What about family reunification? Who gains from immigration? Who loses? http://www.business-in-asia.com/images/china_worker1.jpeg 8. Is outsourcing ethical? Is laying off American workers and hiring cheaper foreign labor ethical? Is it ethical to ship machinery from an American factory to China or Mexico to take advantage of lax environmental laws and low wages? Consider the likely results: American workers wages will go down; demand for American goods will go down. Demand for American homes will go down. There will be a downward spiral in demand for American labor and goods that can’t be compensated by cheaper prices at Wal-Mart. 9. Is abortion ethical? Is killing living cells unethical? Is interfering with natural life processes unethical? Is having a natural miscarriage unethical? Is cutting out cancers unethical? Is it ethical to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes? I know that marijuana is not a gateway drug. My wife, who was suffering from chemotherapy for cancer, could smoke marijuana to relieve her symptoms and then not smoke it during remissions. She wasn’t addicted, nor did she advance to cocaine or heroin. The only progression I saw was a marijuana smoker becoming a cigarette smoker. When marijuana effectively became legal in Los Angeles, crime actually went down. Young people no longer had to buy marijuana as contraband from drug dealers. I could see young adults get certified by the doctor for medical marijuana who weren’t really ill. So what. Hundreds of marijuana smokers came to the Venice Boardwalk, but crime went down in the area and crime went down in Los Angeles when hundreds of marijuana dispensaries opened up. The opposition to marijuana is not based on facts. It’s a faith-based opposition. Meanwhile people like my wife will be forced to go back to back alleys to get marijuana, just to satisfy liquor-drinking law and order types. So the result of legalizing medicinal marijuana was to reduce crime and improve the quality of life. 10. Is employing your young child in your business ethical? A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com Does it interfere with the child’s education? Is the child in danger? Has the child freely given consent? 11. Are tariffs ethical? Which is more important, maintaining the middle class or keeping the prices of consumer goods low? Is the American economy competitive or monopolistic? 13. Is it ethical to allow addictive drugs to be used by addicts in clinical environments? If we define addictive drugs as drugs that are so attractive to users that 90% can’t break the habit without extreme measures. Thus cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana are not addictive. Cocaine, heroin and crystal meth are addictive. The war on drugs is the longest war in US history – 60 years, is a complete failure. Millions of Americans have access to and use cocaine, heroin and crystal meth. Hundreds of thousands of criminals make their living in the drug trade. The narco trade has destroyed Mexico. Billions of dollars in goods are stolen from innocent homeowners o pay for drugs. Teenagers get sucking into the habit by social contacts and free samples. 14. Under what conditions is bribery ethical? If bribery leads to unjust results it is unethical. 15. Is snitching ethical? If snitching leads to justice and safety for the community it is ethical. 16. Is it ethical to subject prisoners to degradation, pain or suffering from guards or fellow prisoners? Clearly no. The legal penalties describe deprivation of freedom. They don’t describe degradation, pain or suffering at the hands of 12. Is picking up others’ trash enabling, and thus unethical? If no one picked up trash the trash would be dangerous to everyone. If most people picked up trash, the environment would be safer for everyone. People who dump trash can be shamed to pick up some of their trash. In the aftermath of Katrina most people would not clean up trash at Superdome. www.nerdylorrin.net/.../KatrinaSuperdome.html A Bible for the Not Religious By Clifford Lazar Copyright © 2010, by Clifford W. Lazar 7/28/2010 cliff.w.lazar@gmail.com guards or fellow prisoners. It is common knowledge that weaker prisoners are raped by stronger prisoners or gangs. Finding the Right Word I’m still trying to find the right word for “Not Religious”. All the successful movements have one word names. Not Religious doesn’t have a great ring. I thought Apathist might work. Spreading the Good Word I expect that after this is published Sean Hannity will invite me to be roasted on his show. Evangelists will decry the anti-religious misguidedness. Bill Mahr, who leads the anti- religious movement, will ignore it. Our message is we are not anti-religious; we are pro ethics and not religious. Query: Bible of the Not Religious Most single adults declare themselves to be "Cultural, Not Religious" or "Spiritual, Not Religious". I have begun to write a bible for these people and propose a new Thirteen Commandments and how they relate to ethical issues of the day. So far, about 17 pages, with pictures. 5200 words. Are you interested? An Ovi Magazine Books Publication 2022 Ovi Project Publication - All material is copyright of the Ovi magazine & the writer C Ovi books are available in Ovi magazine pages and they are for free. If somebody tries to sell you an Ovi book please contact us immediately. For details, contact: submissions@ovimagazine.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the writer or the above publisher of this book.