AtheistGospel/TenCommandments

(For amusement value only. Not to be carved in stone without an official licence to go around prophesying. OP == DR)

Rule 1 : Thou shalt not kill.

Rule 2 : No, really, I mean it. Not as a soldier, not as a police
officer, not as an executioner. Not even in defence of your self or
your children. Take no action that recklessly endangers the life of a
sentient being, without their undeceived and uncoerced consent.

Rule 3: In fact, don't deceive people. Even if you think it is for
their own benefit. Especially, try to avoid deceiving yourself.

Rule 4 : And while you're at it, try to avoid the coercion thing too.
Go out of your way to not to hurt people at all. And if you do find
yourself in a situation where at least some people will get hurt and
you are the one with the power to determine who, or where if someone
isn't coerced a bit, they're going to harm lots of other people, try
to minimise the total harm, and have the humility to take all the
precautions you can (such as consulting with your community) to ensure
that you're not deceiving yourself into thinking you're doing
something for the greater good when in fact you're not, or there's a
better solution.

Rule 5 : Harm is not just physical but, while we're talking about
physical harm, let me just specify that the only physical coercion
acceptable is the minimum amount required to arrest and detain. Rape,
torture, beating, or any form of physical punishment is right out.

Rule 6 : The natural resources of the Earth, including the biosphere,
the environment and all the genetic diversity therein, belong to Me.
I lend them to you only, so that you may improve them, to the benefit
of future generations. If you break it (or pollute it), you fix it.
That's why I gave you a brain; not to worship, but so you can learn,
improve, fix and create - tidy up your own messes. That's the
difference between a house and a home.

Rule 7 : Which is not to say that property is theft. You own your
body and, for the duration of your lifespan, all the improvements you
spent your time to make. However, when you give your undeceived and
uncoerced word, you should intend to keep it, else you are guilty of
deception, so if you consent to join a society and accept its rules,
it is not theft if, according to those rules (or any other freely
agreed to contract), some portion of your belongings are removed. In
general, though, don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal, don't break your
word. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Try always to behave
with impeccable integrity and, when you fail, do your best to put
things right. Take responsibility for the consequences of your own
actions.

Rule 8 : Love all that you can. Your ability improves with practice,
and loving one person doesn't reduce the love you have for another.
Sex, by the way, though great fun and nothing to be ashamed of, isn't
the same as love. Don't confuse them. I'm sorry to say there is no
afterlife, only the reputation you leave behind you, so be generous,
because you can't take physical goods with you when you die. Return
wisdom for stupidity, kindness for hatred, gentleness for violence,
understanding for intolerance, and truth for lies.

Rule 9 : That last one is important. It is insufficient to just avoid
deceiving people. You must actively stand up for truth. Avoiding
killing and selfish force does not reduce the duty to stand up to
tyrrany, or that you should enable the greedy, cruel and selfish.
Oppose them, but let truth and community be your weapon. They do not
understand the power of these things, even when wielded with kindness
and understanding.

Rule 10 : There is no one meaning to life, and suspect anyone who
tells you there is, including Me. This rules is left blank, because
this ruleset is just training wheels on a bicycle. They are not writ
in stone (though they're a pretty good starting point). They're to
provide you guidance until you've developed sufficient moral sense to
improve and go beyond them. By their fruit ye shall know them. Put
your OWN rule here, and let doing what thou wilt be the whole of thy
law.

If you had the opportunity to write the core piece scripture containing a pithy numbered summary of what's prohibited, for a new religion (or liberally re-write one to be used by a new sect or denomination of an old religion), and you wished to avoid ambiguity, how would you word it?

CategoryComedy CategoryFiction CategoryGivePeopleABoundaryAndTheyHaveToTestIt CategoryLanguage CategoryPhilosophy ReligionMatters