I'm jealous of the other religions that have a concise list of statements
they believe in, a set of aphorisms to live by. Christianity, Judaism and
Charlton Heston have their 10 commandments, Satanists have their 9 statements,
and Extropy (not religion per se) has 5 Extropian Principles.
Let's see what we can come up with in the way of Virus Maxims. Should they
be descriptive (what is), prescriptive (what should be), or some of both?
I would like to see a web page displaying the Virus Maxims serve as a
good introduction to Virus.
Here are the Extropian Principles, Satanic Statements, and 10 Commandments
to fuel some ideas:
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The Extropian Principles:
[from http://www.vivid.com/~arkuat/dkrieger/principles/intro.html]
1. Boundless Expansion
Seeking more intelligence, wisdom, and effectiveness, an unlimited lifespan,
and the removal of political, cultural, biological, and psychological limits
to self-actualization and self-realization. Perpetually overcoming
constraints on our progress and possibilities. Expanding into the universe
and advancing
without end.
2. Self-Transformation
Affirming continual moral, intellectual, and physical self-improvement, through
reason and critical thinking, personal responsibility, and experimentation.
Seeking biological and neurological augmentation.
3. Dynamic Optimism
Fueling dynamic action with positive expectations. Adopting a rational,
action-based optimism, shunning both blind faith and stagnant pessimism.
4. Intelligent Technology
Applying science and technology creatively to transcend "natural" limits
imposed
by our biological heritage, culture, and environment.
5. Spontaneous Order
Supporting decentralized, voluntaristic social coordination processes.
Fostering
tolerance, diversity, long-term thinking, personal responsibility, and
individual liberty.
[Notice that an acronym of the principles spell out "BEST DO IT SO",
a cheesy, but effective mnemonic --dbm]
======
The Nine Satanic Statements
[from http://www.marshall.edu/~allen12/cosstate.html]
1. Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence!
2. Satan represents vital existence, instead of spiritual pipedreams!
3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom, instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted
on ingrates!
5. Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek!
6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern
for psychic vampires!
7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often
worse than those that walk on all
fours, who, because of his "divine spiritual and intellectual development"
has become the most vicious animal of
all!
8. Satan represents all the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical,
mental, or emotional gratification!
9. Satan has been the best friend of the church as he has kept it in
business all of these years!
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Exodus 20:1-17 (English-KJV)
[from http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?version=KJV&passage=Exodus+20:1-17]
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out
of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing
that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my
commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will
not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in
them
is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day,
and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land
which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor
his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
-- David McFadzean dbm@merak.com Memetic Engineer http://www.merak.com/~dbm/ Merak Projects Ltd.