The Church of Reality supports personal choice and personal freedom. We believe in people making their own decisions to as great of an extent as possible. Our position is that anything is permitted unless there is a good reason to not permit it. We believe the individualism and self expression are necessary for positive evolution to occur. A free society allows the individual to experience their own lives in a manner of their choosing and it creates a positive atmosphere for diversity and tolerance which promotes peace and harmony. We are a church of diverse people who have chosen to unite behind reality as our common goal.
Individualism and diversity are good things because if everybody thinks alike and looks alike and acts alike then they are less likely to come up with new innovative and interesting ideas that are necessary to improve ourselves and evolve forward. We don't want Realists to all act the same and thing the same. Although it is often true the "great minds think alike" it is also true that if everyone thinks alike that it stifles creativity.
We also believe in giving the individual as much control of their personal life as possible. We believe that people have the right to make their own lifestyle choices even if it's what most people would consider a bad choice. What is a bad choice for one person might be a good choice for another. Furthermore, even if a decision is a bad choice the individual has a right to make their own mistakes. We can and perhaps should try to talk people out of making bad decisions but ultimately we hold self determination in high regard.
The primary limitation on personal freedom is if one person's freedom significantly imposes on the rights and freedoms of others. A person can't choose to be a cannibal for example because it is unlikely that the person being eaten would choose to want that. Playing loud music might keep the neighbors awake. In cases where the freedom of one person infringes on the freedoms and rights of another then one has to apply wisdom to the situation to figure out the best solution to the problem.
Examples of Church of Reality supported freedoms include:
- Abortion - Women in the Church of Reality have the right to control their reproduction. We recognize that often birth control fails and that Abortion becomes a means of birth control of last resort.
- Assisted Suicide - Ultimately the individual has the right to choose not to continue to live. This is especially true when a person is nearing the end of natural life and is faced with choosing how they will die. A person has the right to ask for and to receive assistance in termination their own life within the context of wisdom and sane policy to protect society from abuse.
- Same Sex Relationships - The Church of Reality considers sex between consenting adults of legal age to be an issue of personal choice.
We as Realists assert that our personal freedom is something that is deeply rooted in the practice and expression of our religion and that freedom is necessary in the pursuit of the understanding of reality.
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