What We Believe
TCC is a bridge for those who want to be part of a community built on the good and positive aspects they may find in a traditional church, temple, mosque, or synagogue, but without the undesirable aspects such as dogma and superstition.
The Formation of TCC
The vision for forming The Conscious Church (TCC) evolved over time. Originally, I was simply going to write what ended up being The Distinctions document as a way to explain the world view that I had developed over many years of contemplation and study. During the time of writing The Distinctions I had conversations with various individuals who expressed the need for community for those who never had or no longer have a church home. At the time I did not know the extent of the freethought movement and their community building efforts. TCC is a bridge for those who want a community similar to other churches or temples or mosques, etc. but have not found their home elsewhere inside or outside of the freethought community.
We are a small organization today yet I see The Conscious Church growing into a community of individuals beyond Michigan. The individuals involved will determine how it grows and the programming that is offered. Building on the good things of historic religion, I can see regular meetings with various topics centered on ethics and good living, plus after school programs and activities for all ages. I see the TRNI affiliates becoming the organization through which members volunteer their time for the betterment of the larger community in which they live. The legal structure of TRNI has been designed to be duplicated anywhere in the world. If you would like to discuss a local affiliate (i.e. a conscious church, conscious temple, conscious mosque, or conscious synagogue, etc.) in your community send me an email: Dan@TheConsciousChurch.org.
The Conscious Churches in Grand Rapids and Baldwin came together to form The Realigious Network International (TRNI) as their parent entity. The purpose of TRNI is to be the organizing and authoritative body for conscious affiliates wherever they are formed. Until recently, the freethought community has been fragmented and has historically been lacking a unifying force, mainly because of lack of focus on community building. TRNI is there to help build community by being a bridge for those on a journey from traditional faith based religious belief into a natural world view that builds on reason and scientific understanding.
Our beliefs are expressed in or organizational documents including the Articles of Organization, The Constitution, and The Distinctions document.
The Distinctions
To understand The Distinctions, one must be able to see the world not from the perspective of a world created by a supernatural, personal God with human like characteristics, but simply a world created by a force that is the cause of the universe and everything in it and everything beyond it. This concept is established in The Distinctions.
The Distinctions set forth the theology that is the foundation of The Conscious Church. Like most texts of a religious nature The Distinctions may not make sense to those who come from other religious backgrounds. If you have been immersed in the teachings of a particular faith or one of the traditional religions you may have developed and possibly even come to rely upon a world view that is based on a personal God, a God that guides you and is there to listen to you and to help you, a God that is separate and distinct from the laws of nature that the rest of the creation must abide by. The term supernatural refers to God as being beyond and apart from what exists to the rest of us. The Theology explained in The Distinctions is not based on a supernatural God and therefore may be difficult to understand for those who hold God to be a personal God.
When humans establish patterns of thinking built upon initial assumptions then set those initial assumptions into rigid, often unquestionable beliefs, it can be difficult to overcome that rigid solidification of belief to see how others outside of that belief view the world. When brought up in a traditional faith-based religion, one’s understanding is often built upon the assumption of a God as the center of understanding, and that God is typically a personal God with human like characteristics.
To understand the creative force that lies behind what is and what will be, we must study what is and what has been. The Distinctions is built on the concept that the creative force, i.e. god, cannot be distinct from the creation, i.e. that which is, and to understand the creative force, i.e. god, we must study the creation. The Distinctions also explains that we are a part of what is and therefore we are also reconcilable within this context. Fundamentally, The Distinctions present a world view that is not constrained by historic religious teachings but seeks to reconcile within and through a scientific understanding.
The Distinctions was written by Daniel Holland, the founder of The Realigious Network International and The Conscious Church. Mr. Holland has transferred his rights and interests in The Distinctions to The Realigious Network International for use by its related conscious affiliates. Within TRNI The Distinctions are under the auspices of The Council of The Distinctions, the body tasked with updating The Distinctions over time as our understanding of our world and the universe evolve. While the historic texts of the historic religions are often understood to be the unchanging word of God, The Distinctions shall reflect an evolving understanding and shall be updated over time as our understanding evolves.
Affirmations of Humanism
Adopted from: The Affirmations of Humanism: A Statement of Principles by Paul Kurtz
WE ARE COMMITTED to the application of reason and science to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems.
WE DEPLORE efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside nature for salvation.
WE BELIEVE that scientific discovery and technology can contribute to the betterment of human life.
WE BELIEVE in an open and pluralistic society and that democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities.
WE ARE COMMITTED to the principle of the separation of church and state.
WE CULTIVATE the arts of negotiation and compromise as a means of resolving differences and achieving mutual understanding.
WE ARE CONCERNED with securing justice and fairness in society and with eliminating discrimination and intolerance.
WE BELIEVE in supporting the disadvantaged and the disabled so that they will be able to help themselves.
WE ATTEMPT to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or ethnicity and strive to work together for the common good of all humanity.
WE WANT TO PROTECT and enhance Earth, to preserve is for future generations, and to avoid inflicting needless suffering on other species.
WE BELIEVE in enjoying life here and now and in developing our creative talents to their fullest.
WE BELIEVE in the cultivation of moral excellence.
WE RESPECT the right to privacy. Mature adults should be allowed to fulfill their aspirations, to express their sexual preferences, to exercise reproductive freedom, to have access to comprehensive and informed health care and to die with dignity.
WE BELIEVE in the common moral decencies: altruism, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, responsibility. Humanist ethics is amenable to critical rational guidance. There are normative standards that we discover together. Moral principles are tested by their consequences.
WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED with the moral education of our children. We want to nourish reason and compassion.
WE ARE ENGAGED by the arts no less than by the sciences.
WE ARE CITIZENS of the universe and are excited by discoveries still to be made in the cosmos.
WE ARE SKEPTICAL of untested claims to knowledge, and we are open to novel ideas and seek new departures in our thinking.
WE AFFIRM HUMANISM as a realistic alternative to theologies of despair and ideologies of violence and as a source of rich personal significance and genuine satisfaction in the service to others.
WE BELIEVE in optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather than despair, learning in the place of dogma, truth instead of ignorance, joy rather than guilt or sin, tolerance in the place of fear, love instead of hatred, compassion over selfishness, beauty instead of ugliness, and reason rather than blind faith or irrationality.
WE BELIEVE in the fullest realization of the best and noblest that we are capable of as human beings.