| Human religions were started by charismatic or saintly | | | | ethical behavior. Such a stance might be hypocritical |
| personalities. They are perpetuated by other humans | | | | because it does seem that without a belief in the |
| who are usually not as saintly as the founders. Since | | | | principle of retribution by an all knowing Supreme |
| humans propagate all religions, they must contain | | | | Intelligence a human will commit an immoral act if it |
| errors. Further, even the primary percepts of the | | | | produces gain or pleasure provided he or she is |
| greatest of religions such as God, the soul and an | | | | assured of not being found out, if such a human |
| afterlife cannot be proved through the scientific | | | | does not believe in the punishment that God might |
| method. This too can lead a modern human to turn | | | | deliver. He or she would be foolish not to. However, |
| away from established religions. When a human | | | | publicly such a person may continue to support moral |
| moves away from beliefs of a religion, he or she | | | | behavior. Thus the sin of hypocrisy is added to other |
| may continue to believe in God in his own personal | | | | misery producing acts, increasing human misery even |
| way or he may become an atheist. Deprived of | | | | further. It does seem that unless a human believes, |
| reinforcements that a community can provide to its | | | | loves or fears a Supreme Intelligence from Whom |
| members, many who turn away from a religion | | | | nothing is hidden, not even thoughts, it will be |
| become atheists or do not think of God often. | | | | impossible for a human to become a fully moral being. |
| If a religion is full of poor practices moving away | | | | Thus modern human society is faced with the |
| from it should be a good thing. However, along with | | | | dilemma of either conforming to a religion that |
| that goes away a source of moral education. Thus | | | | appears to be ridden with defects or to live with |
| we end up with more of the sort of behavior that | | | | immoral and selfish behavior that leads to an increase |
| produces misery in society. There is another reason | | | | of human misery. Both are undesirable alternatives. |
| for a weakening of morality in modern times. Many | | | | Perhaps the solution lies in secular spiritualism. By |
| nations contain individuals of many different religious | | | | secular spiritualism is meant a belief in some of the |
| backgrounds. Therefore most modern governments | | | | most fundamental and essential beliefs of spirituality |
| are secular. In the past religion received support from | | | | that are common in most religions. These are the |
| governments but such support may be absent or | | | | belief in the existence of a Universal Intelligence or |
| peripheral in a secular government. | | | | God, The belief in a soul and afterlife and belief in |
| Modern educated persons may not believe in any | | | | retribution. |
| religion but in public they often support moral and | | | | |