Yes, but isn't the commandment "Ideology is sin" ideological itself?
Whether you are a "believer" or not, or someone that hasn't given much thought to it either way, this is a great list to live by.Test all things; always check your ideas against the facts, and be ready to discard even a cherished belief if it does not conform to them
This plus:Form independent opinions on the basis of your own reason and experience; do not allow yourself to be led blindly by others.
and this: Question everything.
seem to be the key differentiators between atheists and believers. But I will say that I know some people of faith that adhere to all of the things on this list.
That's funny, because as a non-believer (actually as a person; my religious beliefs have nothing to so with it), I think this list is bullshit. How are we to "test all things"? Its a nonsense idea. Most things we have to take as true. Are we to get out the microscopes and check to see that our computers have lots of transistors on their integrated circuits? Does each of us need to make detailed measurements to assert that the Earth revolves around the Sun? And what about forming independent opinions based on my own experience. A black guy didn't hold the door for me this morning; should I be a racist now? I'm not attacking you; I just chose your comment to respond to, because I thought it was an interesting and funny juxtaposition to me. These types of grand assertions are ridiculous and have no place in a pragmatic world. Say what you want about the original 10 commandments, at least they're practical. We need the ability to take others' word for it sometimes. If an idea smells funny, let's figure out if its rotten. But if not, maybe let's spend our time on other things.
I feel so picked on, so oppressed... :-) I'M BEING OPPRESSED! They may be grand - but I like the notion of general goodness and striving. Though I would agree that it doesn't make sense to bust out lab equipment at every turn - it is good to metaphorically be open to new ideas.
To be fair to the list, numbers 1-6 seem like nice directives. But then, they have nothing whatsoever to do with atheism. They seem like what I was taught in Sunday school as a youngster. In fact, I would say that the reference to evil in #4 makes this list overtly religious, as the very idea of evil implies some apriori moral order to the universe, an idea that many non-religious people reject.
steve and b_b have you ever seen George Carlin's take on the 10 commandments pretty damned funny. Wish he was still around.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this - it's not my idea, but I don't remember where I heard it. There's only one atheist commandment - "Don't be a dick".
A quick search on teh google tells me that comes from Wil Wheaton.