Global Beliefs Home Page Version 1.10 April 2012

This site contains an attempt to define “global beliefs”:

· Beliefs that can be held by anyone in the world, regardless of their ethnic or religious background: they are “global” rather than local; and

· Beliefs that cover the critical issues in philosophy, science, history, religion, art, personal development and politics: they are comprehensive and “global” in their subject matter.

There is no book or web site that presents a comprehensive description of what normal, sane, reasonable people can believe, or at least use as working hypotheses, to guide their day to day choices and major life decisions.

This web site is an attempt to fill that gap, based on contemporary philosophy, modern science, ancient and modern history, and religion through the ages. It tries to answer the big questions:

What are reasonable values, reasonable beliefs?

What is really important to you?

Or, perhaps, what should be important to you?

We need beliefs that are true. We need to be able to work out why they are true. We shouldn’t have to believe 3 impossible things before breakfast.

We need beliefs which are more than just philosophically sound, scientifically accurate, and historically valid. The plain truth is not enough.

We need beliefs that satisfy our deepest emotions, our spiritual needs, our longing for connection, otherwise they are fundamentally unconvincing, superficial and won’t really affect us. The truth must be accompanied by insight into meaning.

We need beliefs that explain values and guide our choices for practical action. Otherwise there is no point putting in the effort required to gain the understanding. Our view of the truth, meaning and values must guide our action.

It is a struggle to work out what is a reasonable way to live a valuable and meaningful life in today’s real world. Ask any good believer and they will tell you what a struggle it is.

We are trying to define a reasonable approach to the fundamental questions of life, rather than adopting either a religious fundamentalist approach, a vague mystical approach, or a too stridently sceptical approach. So these “global beliefs” could be supported by ● liberal or reformed Jews, Christians and Muslims; as well as ● Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs; as well as ● evidence based scientists; and the ● passionate sceptics and atheists! We are not strange, just describing what is reasonable, to help those who are confused. You don’t need to be weird to accept what is being proposed here. These ‘global beliefs’ are not a new dogma or a fixed creed. They are based on reason and evidence, which we can all see and understand, regardless of our religious, ethic or political background. As we obtain more evidence and our understanding changes, so our conclusions will change, even our most fundamental beliefs – that’s what being rational means.

There are 4 major parts to this site: 1. A set of conclusions outlining the core beliefs, with links to more detailed explanations of why they are reasonable to believe. (more …) 2. A summary statement that a person might say, if they accepted these ‘global beliefs’. This is a bit like a creed, so long as you don’t take it too seriously, because as we learn more, it will need to be refined. (more …) 3. A few reviews of related literature and (perhaps later) comments on world events. (more …) 4. Other pages with introductions, explanations and conclusions, which are more about ‘global beliefs’ than part of the beliefs. (about …)

So this site is an attempt to explain “everything” – how it all fits together.

We can’t pretend that this is the definitive answer, now and for all time. This is not an unchanging dogma. As individuals (and as humanity as a whole) we continue to learn and develop new understandings.

As the global beliefs proposed here are developed it should become apparent that they cover a wider scope than conventional world religions, and provide a better basis for belief and action than the alternatives.