The Revenge of the Mayans

Mayan temple at Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico 

This is a startling revelation. I'd tweet it to the universe but I'm not a twit and have zero followers there. My problem has always been that I can't say anything in 140 characters or less.

So I will release my finding here to the Society of Honor cadre of capable commenters with the understanding that you will do all that is in your power to make the greater world understand what has happened.

I know there are skeptics amongst you, and that is fine. I'm looking for the converts, however, those who have the farsight to grasp new dimensions of existence. Those who are not bound by the past. Those who would accept reincarnation as truth if they somehow met themselves both coming and going.

Here's the deal, in bold headlines.

THE WORLD ENDED ON DECEMBER 21, 2012

Okay, I know, I know you are throwing up your hands and saying, "ach, what's this lunatic American smoking now?"

You are thinking: "The Mayan end-of-the-world prediction has been debunked. We are still here."

Well, straight shot, here's the science that's involved. What we thought was a theory is evidently true. The principle of the Multiverse is true. For those of you who believe science is something like STD, to be avoided at all cost, I provide you with this down and dirty snippet from the famed Astronomy Department of Pomona University:

The Elegance of the Multiverse

• The Multiverse theory for the universe has been a recently accepted theory that describes the continuous formation of universes through the collapse of giant stars and the formation of black holes.  With each of these black holes there is a new point of singularity and a new possible universe.  As Rees describes it, "Our universe may be just one element - one atom, as it were - in an infinite ensemble: a cosmic archipelago.  Each universe starts with its own big bang, acquires a distinctive imprint (and its individual physical laws) as it cools, and traces out its own cosmic cycle.  The big bang that triggered our entire universe is, in this grander perspective, an infinitesimal part of an elaborate structure that extends far beyond the range of any telescopes." 

On the day the Mayans pointed to, the day the world as we know it ended, we encountered a seamless transition to a different universe, to a different place.  Same timeline and history. Same people and events. Same places. Very different godly foundation. Trust me, the devil is indeed in the details.

What the Mayans knew they kept to themselves, that the "end" meant it was time for a new era of existence, a new plane of existence, a world we shall, in our language, call:

THE REVENGE OF THE MAYANS

JoeAm's second favorite cousin (next to Angry Maude), is a hot chick named Sylvia who once danced with Elvis Presley. She is a skilled archeologist of the Indiana Jones school of study, believing field work, or temple climbing and cave creeping, are essential archeological skills.

Her single-minded obsession has been to prove that Elvis, indeed, is still alive. She wants to try that dance again because, you see, she was married the first time she met him at a bar in Lake Charles, Missouri. As the evening played out, and after several romantic slow dances, Elvis asked her if she wanted to leave with him. She said "no".  As the fates of that universe would have it, she soon discovered that her husband was an abusive jerk and they divorced a couple of years later. She has regretted for a lifetime not leaving that bar with Elvis.

(Note to self: advocate for Philippine Divorce Bill, in respect of Sylvia's abuse.)

Mayan Range: Mexico and Guatemala. Click to enlarge.

Cousin Sylvia is now 77 years old and was feisty as hell the last time I spoke with her, 11 weeks ago.

But I digress.

The Mayans predicted the end of the world would arrive at 6:12 am, New York Time, on December 21, 2012. This was worked out through study of carvings on a Mayan stone tablet called "Monument 6", carved by Mayan priests in 700 A.D. In the most delicious of mysterious fates, half of that tablet, until now, has been missing. (Source: CNN)

Mayans divide (intentional use of the present tense) time into periods called "baktuns" which are each 144,000 days in length. The 13th and "final" baktun of the old world ended on December 21, last year. (Source: NPR)

Temple near Parque Nacional Sierra Del Lacandon, Guatemala

HERE'S THE EARTH-SHATTERING NEWS SCOOP; even Rupert Murdoch does not have this one: Sylvia informed me through secret channels that she managed to recover the missing half of the broken tablet. She calls it "Monument 6b".  The journey of her discovery started at the Mayan temple at Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico (refer to Google map, above, and the photo at the top of the blog). Newly excavated carvings led her to a more remote temple in the mountains of Parque Nacional Sierra Del Lacandon in northern Guatemala (refer to map and photo). There she found another ancient map, carved in stone. She declined to provide the route or place of actual discovery but did enclose photos suggesting Monument 6b was found in a cave hidden behind a remote waterfall (photos). She said to keep this in confidence and release it only in the event she should encounter problems with trecherous treasure hunters, or governments.

I have not heard from her in 11 weeks, after considerable effort and expense at trying to locate her. So I have decided to reveal these secrets. I was also influenced by how uplifting this discovery is likely to be to Filipinos.

Unkown Waterfall

Read on.

The translation of the tablet was stunning.

The Mayans knew that the earth was destined to be pulled into a transitional wormhole at the end of the 13th baktun. Life as we knew it would end, but it would begin anew, immediately. Ensuing would be a period  during which Mayan priests would exact their revenge on the heathen faiths and scurrilous souls of our time. The prediction is echoed in stories told by the hill tribes of remote Guatemala whose elders speak of a "período de redención y venganza", a period of redemption and revenge, led by reincarnated Mayan priests.

Cave of Sylvia's Discovery

Long story short: We have gone through a multiverse transition. It was seamless. No one knows, until now.

I asked Sylvia to explain exactly what this meant in terms that Filipinos might understand.

She laughed lustily, for, post Elvis, it seems to me she always laughed lustily. She whispered:

"The internet, Cuz. It is the vehicle of redemption. You figure it out."

Well, boy howdy, two and two instantly added up.

I recalled the visit paid by VP Binay, former President Estrada, and Senate President Enrile to suspended and rebellious Governor Garcia of Cebu. I thought at the time, what a mistake. Binay is killing his election chances.

You see, these guys are still operating by the ground rules of the universe that died on December 21. In the new universe, they are subject to the revenge of the Mayans.

Strange Humanoids of the Dead Multiverse

I'm not sure exactly how this will work out. But I figure the Philippines has suddenly been given a new direction, a new lease on life, and those scurillous politicians and family barons who continue to operate under old world values are on the way out. Severe anxieties and punishments are headed their way. And they are completely oblivious.

It follows from the newfound tablets that Mayan descendants now live in the Philippines, either sailing the Pacific directly or via birth through the Spanish or via some avenue that is not yet clear. If so, the Philippines is blessed with good Mayan fortune.

And as for the Catholic Church, which spent 400 years holding the Philippines in dark age purgatory, I figure the CBCP leaders, too, believe they are still in the old, dead world where what they say matters. A world they ruled badly, judging from the angers and poverty rife in the Philippines for centuries. And the priests are now on a path that is most assuredly headed toward extinction. The only question is how anxious the Mayan priests are to exact their revenge, and whether or not they have any compassion for misguided priests who engage in political deceits and power plays like ordinary man. 

I also surmise that President Aquino is a former high chieftain of the Mayan tribes. His stunning resurrection of Philippine confidence and economic energy most assuredly came from a mysterious power, a religious power. And it is even within the realm of belief that we bloggers and netizens are advocates of the Mayan faith. Is there any other way to explain the amazing blossoming and power of social media and the internet in the Philippines?

Is it coincidence or Mayan will that Joe Am arrived in the Philippines just prior to the end of the 13th baktun? Is Raissa Robles a Mayan priestess?

How are YOU feeling today?

The Seven Commandments of Secular Ethics

Guest Article

by Edgar Lores

In the blogosphere, there has been much discussion about religion and ethics.  These observations have been made:

• Filipinos observe a variety of religions, with Roman Catholics (81%) being in the majority followed by Protestants (6%) and Muslims (5%).

• Despite the religiosity of the Filipino, with 92% professing belief in a higher power, there is widespread unethical behavior.  The Philippines has a ranking of 129 in the 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International.

• Ethical behavior may not necessarily arise from religiosity but from spirituality.

• Spirituality may be independent of organized religion.

In the face of conflicts in religious beliefs and of improper conduct between and among believers and non-believers, there is a need to arrive at a common understanding of what constitutes the Good.  The Dalai Lama has called for the creation of a secular code of ethics.

• "All the world's major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness can and do promote inner values.  But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate.  This is why I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether."

In response to this call, people have pointed out that there are existing non-religious codes of ethics, such as:

• The Golden Rule
• The Rotary Four-Way Test
• Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence

It must be admitted, however, that none are comprehensive.

Several personalities - including Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, A.C. Grayling, Penn Jilette and Ted Kaczynski - have advanced alternatives to the Ten Commandments.  The first four are known critics of religion and are (or were) atheists, and the fourth is an illusionist as well.  Surprisingly, the fifth is the American murderer known as the "Unabomber".

All of these alternative versions are worthy of study.  The principle objection to these, in the eyes of this author, is that they do not incorporate the principles articulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).  They propose ethical norms from a purely individual point of view.  For much of political history and theory, it has been argued and accepted that the State is essentially amoral.  The UDHR rejects this view and advances the concept that the broader behavior of the State vis-à-vis its citizens should be brought under the umbrella of ethics.

Written in 1947 and adopted in 1948, the UDHR is man's greatest cooperative ethical achievement to date.  It is a distillation of mankind's political wisdom in all of recorded history.  It is infused not only with tenets of the Abrahamic faiths but also those of Confucianism.  Consisting of a preface and 30 articles, it is a luminous document, and foundational in its scope, clarity and prescience.

It is not within the purview of this essay, but the question should also be asked: If the State must act ethically towards its citizens, should it not also act ethically towards other States?  

This essay is an attempt at a draft for a comprehensive secular code of ethics.  Before listing the commandments of the code and discussing them, there is one qualification and seven considerations to make.

• The qualification is that the author is a layman.  He is neither a philosopher nor an ethicist.  He is an ordinary person with perhaps a slightly above-average, but not necessarily acute, sense of the failings of men and of himself.

The seven considerations are:

• The code is more a synthesis rather than an original work.  It is a fusion and a reinterpretation of the Abrahamic tradition, Confucianism, and the Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
• The code is grounded on humanism, on the belief that man is perfectible - if he follows the reasons of the heart and of the mind.  The reasons for its adoption would be the Faith that the good in humanity will prevail, and the Hope that it will.  Or the Hope that the good will prevail, and the Faith that it will.
• The code is comprised of seven normative commandments, and their corollaries, which are mostly self-enforcing.  The corollaries embrace legal constructs and principles only to the extent that they conform to the commandments and are consistent with the UDHR.
• The ultimate goal of the code is to develop a healthy conscience.  While ethical violations may incur legal consequences, the highest penalty that is hoped to be realized is that of a guilty conscience.  The intention is to teach, not to frighten.
• The code seeks to answer the question of the faithless and of the faithful who are losing faith: "What should we teach our children?" 
• If generally accepted, the code can only take root through education by parents, by schools and by society at large.  Education is not only by talk but by practice, not only by thought but by deed.  The code can be formalized as a teaching tool in Civics and Ethics classes at the primary or secondary levels in both sectarian and non-sectarian schools.
• Implicit in the code and in its observance are the attitudes of learning and respect.  These are needed to constantly re-evaluate the code as it is used to clarify and resolve ethical dilemmas.  As envisioned, the commandments are absolute but must be applied relatively.

The Seven Commandments of Secular Ethics

Commandment	Corollary
1. Do no harm.	1.1. This shall include not only harm to fellow human beings but to all living things and to the planet as a whole. 1.2. Where conflict arises, the primacy of the individual human being shall prevail.
2. Observe the rights and freedoms of every individual.	2.1. These are established in (a) the UDHR and (b)  the Constitution of your country. 2.2. Where conflict arises, the UDHR shall prevail over the Constitution.
3. Observe the duties and obligations of every individual.	3.1. These are established in (a) the UDHR, (b) the Constitution of your country, and (c) the rules of your associations. 3.2. Where conflict arises, preceding items in 3.1 shall prevail over succeeding items.
4. Do not lie.	4.1. Seek and know the truth. 4.2. Speak only what is both true and helpful.
5. Do not steal.
6. Observe proper sexual and marital conduct.	6.1. These are established by (a) the UDHR, (b) the laws of your country, (c) your conscience and (d) your religion. 6.2. Where conflict arises, preceding items in 6.1 shall prevail over succeeding items. 6.3. Where the laws of the State, regarding sexual conduct only, conflict with those of Conscience, the latter shall prevail over the former.
7. Honor yourself.	7.1. Avoid substance abuse. 7.2. Avoid overindulgence. 7.3. Be mindful.

First Commandment - Do No Harm

This commandment is derived from the Hippocratic Oath and the Eastern religions.  It is the equivalent of the sixth Biblical commandment of "Thou shalt not kill".

The virtues of this commandment are peace, humaneness, love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and conservation.

Strangely, the Biblical injunction is limited to the extreme act of killing.  It does not encompass the sense of compassion and environmentalism invoked by the Eastern religions which, as indicated in corollary 1.1, cautions against causing hurt or injury not only to human beings but also to all living things and to the planet itself.

From the viewpoint of Eastern religions, man is not regarded as a sinner by nature and is seen to be perfectible.  In contrast, Christianity regards man as endowed with Original Sin and is seen to be in need of salvation.  In the Christian cosmology, death is perceived as the gateway to the final and eternal destinations of heaven or hell.  In Eastern thought, death is transition, and perfection can be attained within a lifetime albeit after many lives.

Also in the Christian view, man has dominion over the earth in the same manner that God has dominion over the Universe.  In the Eastern view, man is indivisible from nature and must live in balance and harmony with it.

The negative form of the Golden Rule - or the Silver rule of "Do not do unto others what you do not wish to be done unto you" - may be subsumed under this commandment.  The Golden Rule is not universally accepted because of "differences in values and interests", such as sadomasochism as noted by George Bernard Shaw.

The inclusion of a conflict-resolution rule in corollary 1.2 is necessary.  Such a rule is appended to most of the other commandments.  It specifies which construct has primacy in the event of conflict.  These two examples illustrate this principle of primacy:

• Man has stewardship over the earth; animals, plants and minerals may be used in the service of his survival.
• Nations must not prosecute internal or external wars because they are harmful to individuals.

The UDHR does not explicitly contain this commandment, but there are Articles that implicitly embody it such as those against slavery (Article 4) and torture (Article 5).

With respect to killing, there are many, many types that may be classified into four categories.

• There are types that are generally sanctioned by the State and by law, and two of these are killing in defense of the State and in the defense of Self.
• There are types that are countenanced by some States, but not all States, and are deeply controversial.  These include capital punishment, mercy killing, abortion and withdrawal of life support from the critically ill.
• Still, there are others accepted by certain cultures, such as honor killing, suicide attacks, self-immolation and revenge killing.  In older and not-so-old cultures, there were human sacrifices, cannibalism, seppuku, suttee (or sati), female infanticide and geronticide (aged people).
• The killing of animals for sport is also culturally accepted as in bullfights, cockfights, dogfights and trophy hunting.  Certain species are culled to balance nature.

The first category may be ethically justifiable as long as they are defensive in nature.  It is hard to develop a hard-and-fast rule for the second category, and judgement may be arrived at on a case-to-case basis.  The last two categories can be said to be ethically irresponsible with the possible exception of self-immolation, seppuku and culling.

Three ethical guidelines to observe are:

• One must not kill for a cause or idea, but one can die for a cause.  The giving of one's life is the highest morality known to man.  Giving in this sense can refer to death or devotion.
• No life is owned by another.
• The fruits of the earth should primarily be used for the basic needs of men in food, clothing and shelter; man should not use more than he needs.  He must conserve natural resources for future generations.

Second Commandment - Human Rights and Freedoms

This commandment does not enumerate what are the human rights and freedoms.  These are already established in the UDHR which has been ratified and accepted by all member nations, and which they are obligated to respect.  A secondary source is the Constitution of individual nations.

The virtues of this commandment are righteousness, prudence and justice.

A prerequisite of this commandment is knowledge and hopefully its application, which is wisdom.  One must know one's rights and freedoms in order to enjoy them and to protect them.

The Constitution of the Philippines echoes and expands the UDHR in two articles.

• Article II - Declaration of Principles and State Policies
• Article III - Bill of Rights.  Note that not all nations have Bill of Rights.

With respect to secularism and this proposed code, the freedom of religion also embraces the freedom from religion.

It is interesting to note that the freedom of opinion and expression as stated in Article 19 contains the clause "regardless of frontiers."  Without doubt, the frontiers referred to here are State borders, but it is nice to imagine that the framers had peered into the future and glimpsed of a time when a concerned Filipino, sitting half a world away, could record his thoughts and have them wafted across frontier-less cyberspace into the heart of the nation.  As in this very essay.

Article 19 gives us the right to criticize, as citizens of the world, the policies of any state, even one that suppresses these very freedoms.

Corollary 2.2 explicitly gives the UDHR primacy over a country's Constitution, although Article 30 already does this. 

Third Commandment - Human Duties and Obligations

If the Second Commandment mainly embodies the rules the State must observe towards its citizens, this commandment embodies the rules that a man must observe towards the State and towards his fellowmen.  Therefore, like the Second Commandment, it requires knowledge of these rules.

The virtues of this commandment are reciprocity, mutual benefit, loyalty and patriotism.

A duty is an act a man must do, and an obligation is an act a man has been asked to do and must fulfill.  To illustrate:

• Voting is a citizen's duty.
• Compulsory voting is an obligation.

This commandment covers the duties and obligations of man in two areas:

• The first area is his participation as a citizen in the governments of the world, his country and his local community.
• The second area is his participation as a member of non-governmental constructs, such as family, company or an associate of organizations, including a church. 

Within the first area:

• Of the 30 articles in the UDHR, only Article 29 touches on each man's obligations to his community and his need to respect the rights and freedoms of others.
• The duties and obligations of a citizen as outlined in the Constitution of his country may touch on the duty of parents, of suffrage and of public office.
• The duties and obligations of government officials in each branch of government may also be outlined in the Constitution of the country.
• Note that the preamble of the US Constitution declares as one of its aims the promotion of the "general Welfare".  And the Philippine Constitution expressedly declares that the "prime duty of government is to serve and protect the people." Are our officials performing their duties and meeting their obligations?

Within the second area:

• The commandment does not lay down the duties and obligations associated with familial roles such as father, mother, spouse and child.  The Ten Commandments itself only mentions the role of children to parents in the Fifth Commandment of "Honor thy father and thy mother".  It is unnecessary to include this precept in the secular code inasmuch as the concept of honor or respect is implicit in its entirety.
• In familial interrelationships, there are many ethical issues, like financial obligations and responsibilities, fidelity, affection, health care, parenting practices, child care, child education, child labor, and aged parents care.  
• In non-familial organizations, a hierarchy of ranks and levels are established and the duties and obligations of each rank and level are specified either formally - for example, in an organization's charter, a company's policy and job descriptions - or informally by common agreement.
• In both familial and non-familial duties and obligations which, for the most part, a man has freely taken on, an attitude of delight, rather than one of sombre observance, will immeasurably lift the heart.

Corollary 3.2 explicitly states the rules of precedence in conflict-resolution.

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Fourth Commandment - Do Not Lie

This commandment is almost a universal ethical imperative in all religions.  It is the equivalent of the ninth Biblical commandment of "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor".

The virtues of this commandment are courage, honesty, integrity, humility, trustworthiness, learning, knowledge and kindness.

From the individual view, this commandment may be the hardest to follow.  We trespass it not only on a daily basis, but several times a day.  It is estimated that we lie within 3 minutes of meeting a stranger.  We lie not only to others but to ourselves often in the forms of delusion and denial.  And lying may be an act of commission or omission.

The positive form of this norm can be seen in corollary 4.1, which is to "Seek and know the truth".  To avoid telling a lie, one must know the truth or that whereof one speaks.  Truth is the diametrical opposite of falsehood.  A simple definition of truth is that it is verified knowledge, or that which conforms to reality. 

Thus stated, this commandment loses its humdrum interpretation of simply not uttering falsehoods.  It becomes an impetus to knowing, and the ramifications are enormous.

• It is said that the first realization of knowledge is the state of our ignorance.
• The basic stance of ignorance is often times arrogance when it should be humility and wonder at the mystery of life.  Ignorance is the bliss of Night; knowledge the bliss of Morn.
• To overcome ignorance in order not to lie, man must acquire knowledge and learn.  Learning leads to the wisdom of truth and perchance to the magic of beauty.
• In avoiding lies and seeking knowledge, man transforms his life into a voyage of unending discovery.
• Much of the word is held in the thrall of superstition, with the poor majority scrabbling for survival and the rich minority scrabbling for an ease which cannot be found.
• And yet in the past century, since Einstein's Theory of Relativity, the frontiers of knowledge have been pushed forward to afford us greater glimpses into our nature as human beings and into the nature of the universe.  There have been advances in the study of the brain (neuroplasticity) and of consciousness (noetics), and we have produced more accurate maps of the unimaginably large (astronomy) and the unimaginably small (quantum physics).  We live in exciting times if only we took the trouble - or rather the opportunity - to learn.

Corollary 4.2 derives from Buddhism and the Four-Way Test.  It adds the criteria of intention and beneficence to telling the truth.  In effect, it incorporates the primacy of the First Commandment.  The intention must be one of goodwill.  And the beneficence to be considered is both the effect on the teller and the recipient(s).

This brings us to the issues of telling white lies or gray lies.  Are white lies permissible?  If the wife asks, "Do I look fat in this dress?" and she does, should one tell the truth?  In applying corollary 4.2, the heart must consider the intention or goal of marital accord, and the mind the beneficence of kindness.  Your kindness to your wife gives her esteem and proof of your continuing affection; and, in turn, your wife's kindness to you is not to commit murder, which is in violation of the First Commandment.

Gray lies are not permissible.  They are distortions of truth, previously referred to as propaganda and now as "spin".  These are contained in the daily output of columnists in print media and of trolls in social media.  They are unethical in their intention to manipulate people by shading facts in the more than fifty shades of gray.

The UDHR does not explicitly include this ethical imperative.

Fifth Commandment - Do Not Steal

Like the Fourth Commandment, this commandment is almost a universal ethical imperative in all religions.  It is the equivalent of the eighth Biblical commandment of "Thou shalt not steal".

The virtues of this commandment are integrity, charity, generosity and sharing.

This commandment and the preceding one are perhaps the most important precepts that should be emphasized in the training of the young.  If these can be fully instilled in the minds of children, they will go a long way to diminishing the problem of corruption in the citizen and in the government. 

There are two often-cited exceptions to the immorality of stealing:

• In Islam, a man may steal food if he is hungry.  The onus is on the community to exercise and promote social justice in such a way that no man goes hungry.
• In the tale of Robin Hood, a man may steal from the rich to give to the poor.

The lesson to take away, as with lying and kindness, is not that stealing is allowed or can be good, rather it is that ethics is not all "Do Not's".  It is not just avoiding doing bad deeds but, more so, doing good deeds.  And the virtues of generosity and sharing brighten our lives immeasurably, as highlighted in the celebrations of gift-giving in all religions and cultures, such as Christmas, Chanukah, Mawlid-al-Nabi, Lunar New Year and Diwali. 

Like the Fourth Commandment, the UDHR does not explicitly include this ethical imperative.

Sixth Commandment - Sexual and Marital Conduct

This is by far the longest of the commandments which may not be surprising.  Sex is a major preoccupation of man.  One study has estimated than men think of sex up to 388 times a day and women 140 times.  And it is mostly in this area, rather than in the preceding commandments, that religions seem to want to control human behavior.  The seventh Biblical commandment is not all-encompassing and merely states, "Thou shalt not commit adultery".

The virtues of this commandment are continence and tolerance.  More than these are their fruit, which is pure and simple delight.

  

The UDHR has only one provision concerning marriage and family.  It is silent on sexual conduct.  There are three sub-articles in Article 16: 

• (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
• (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
• (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

With respect to the on-going controversy surrounding same-sex marriage, the framers may not have anticipated this issue, but the first and second sub-articles can be interpreted to mean that such arrangements are not disallowed.  However, the third sub-article qualifies that the concept of family is subject to the laws of the State.  A number of countries have begun to allow same-sex marriages, and may be said to be erring on the side of liberality.

In corollary 6.2, the State has dominion over Conscience and Religion in matters of marital arrangements.  However since sexual conduct is in the personal domain, it may be said, as corollary 6.3 does, that Conscience has primacy over the State and over Religion.  That being said, it is a sad fact that sexual mores differ from country to country, and that in following our natural orientations we may be placing ourselves in legal and theological hot water.

• Until 2003, a number of US states still carried sodomy laws in their books.  These antiquated laws typically prohibited acts like oral and anal sex, which are no longer considered to be paraphilia between consenting adults, even for same-sex couples.
• The use of artificial contraception is a great issue with the Roman Catholic Church.  True believers should follow the tenets of their faith.  Where there is conflict between the dictates of doctrine and those of conscience, it should be left to the individual to resolve these. 

Seventh Commandment - Honor Yourself

If the First Commandment is ethical consideration of others and of the planet, the last and Seventh Commandment is ethical consideration of our selves.  And if the Fourth and Fifth Commandments are the ones to be primarily instilled in the young, this commandment is the one we should practice in all our stages of development.  It is a reversal of the Golden Rule, a recognition that we must, perhaps first and foremost, take care of ourselves in order to take care of others and of everything around us.  It calls into mind the Latin dictum, "mens sana in corpore sano".

The virtues of this commandment are health, temperance, cleanliness, acuity or clear perception, and inner peace.

The first corollary 7.1 points to the traditional substances prohibited by religions, namely alcohol, drugs and tobacco.  The term substance abuse is used to describe addiction to these intoxicants which can take a great toll on man's well-being - his body, his mind and his wallet.  The central truth of living may be suffering because of craving and aversion, but to use intoxicants to salve the pain ironically increases craving for them, and ultimately results in greater suffering.

The law treats the use of these intoxicants in different ways.

• There are no laws directly prohibiting alcohol intake for adults, only laws that limit its effects such as Driving Under the Influence (DUI) regulations.
• Similarly, tobacco is not directly prohibited, although laws regulating where smoking is not permitted have mushroomed in Western countries.
• Among the three, drugs are the most prohibited substance, although the medicinal use of marijuana has been legalized in Canada, Israel and the Czech Republic.  Lately, two states in America, Washington and Colorado, have declared marijuana to be legal.

The second corollary of 7.2 extends the first corollary to immoderate attachments that would adversely affect one's health.  These can include physical and mental obsessions like gambling, watching television, viewing pornography, video gaming, cutting and mobile phone use.  And it can include food-related compulsions like overeating, over-dieting, carbonated drinks and even chocolates.  Certain of these activities and items may not be unhealthy in and of themselves; it is overindulgence in them that we must guard against.

The third and last corollary is a positive norm, and it can be said to be the equivalent of the fourth Biblical commandment of "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy".  Mindfulness has many meanings but basically it is the attitude of focusing and unfocusing the body and the mind.  It consists of the wisdom that there is a time for everything.  There is a time to be with others for companionship, drinking, dancing and rowdy celebration.  And there is a time to be alone for introspection, silence and quiet contemplation.

When we are awake and engaged in an activity, we must pay attention to get the best results; later on certain activities become automatic but when a problem arises we need to recall attention.  During the day, we must pause and take breaks; and at the end of the day, we must pause longer in sleep.  If we are of the mind, we can listen to music, or sit still in silence or reflect on the beauty around us - in a stone, a leaf, the shimmering sea or the dome of stars above.

Again like the Fourth and Fifth Commandments, the UDHR does not explicitly include this ethical imperative.

Additional Notes

• Corollaries 2.1, 3.1 and 6.1 contain the phrase "your country".  This would normally refer to the country of which you are a citizen.  However the globe has become a cluster of villages, and we sometimes work or travel outside our villages. Thus country here may refer to your temporary physical location.  As a guest, one must observe the "When in Rome" idiom. This is easy to say when the issue is public display of affections in Mecca, but what about the wearing, or prohibiting the wearing of, burqas in Paris?
• A third corollary to the First Commandment, or an Eighth Commandment, may be added to indicate the primacy of the First Commandment.  This built-in self-protective mechanism would be similar to Article 30 of the UDHR or the third law of Asimov's Laws of Robotics.  It can be stated thus:
• Where conflict arises between or among the Commandments, the First Commandment shall prevail.
• On the Second Commandment, the UDHR covers the ethics of plagiarism in Article 27.  Much opprobrium has been heaped on Senator Tito Sotto and it would serve him - and the people he serves - in good stead if he studied the UDHR and acquired a modicum of ethics.
• (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
• With the exception of the Fourth, the Fifth Commandment is the least observed in the Philippines.  If government officials, servants and politicians took this commandment to heart, the country would be paradise enow.
• On the Sixth Commandment:

• Arguably, this Commandment is the most preached on and the most violated by the Church.  If the clergy had observed its vows of celibacy, it would not have lost its moral authority.
• Homosexuality and heterosexual cohabitation are socially acceptable in the Philippines.  Except for the limits imposed by the age of consent, both are legal but frowned upon by religion.

• With respect to the Seventh Commandment, the so-called Sin Tax Bill does not control the use alcohol or tobacco.  It purportedly seeks to minimize use but more to increase government revenue from them.

Summary

• Is man perfectible? The answer has to be in the affirmative.  There are men who died for their country, like Jose Rizal.  There are men who lived for their country, like Jesse Robredo.  And there are men who gained the whole world and did not lose their souls, like Bill Gates.

• Should religions follow the Seven Commandments of Secular Ethics?  Again, the answer must be Yes.  All the commandments, except the Second and the Third, are based on religion.  The author suspects that if men of the cloth observed these rules of secular ethics, they would become better messengers of their respective faiths.

• If the Seven Commandments of Secular Ethics can be summed up in one word, that word would be Respect.  It is all about Respect.  Respect for life and for the earth, for the rights and freedom of others, for our duties and obligations, for truth and knowledge, for the property of others, for sexual and marital relationships, and for the self.

  Sources:

1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml)
2. The Ten Commandments (http://godstenlaws.com/ten-commandments/index.html#.UKIf34cslyI)
3. The Laws of Robotics (http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/robotics.html)
4. How Often Do Men and Women Think about Sex?  (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-sexual-continuum/201112/how-often-do-men-and-women-think-about-sex)
5. The Scale of the Universe 2 (http://htwins.net/scale2/scale2.swf?bordercolor=white)

How Can Catholic Rightists Call Themselves Pro-Life?

Guest Article

By Andrew Lim

UNHOLY ALLIANCE

Recent developments point to a forming alliance between the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and far right Filipino politicians who reject the RH bill.

Jose Descallar, staff of Michael Velarde ( Buhay party list representative) said this after the re-election of US President Barack Obama:

• “If we will not hold our ground and make a lot of noise about our protests against anti-life measures specifically the RH bill, Malacanang will push for passage in the next Congress... ”

• “The task at hand, therefore, is to make sure that pro-lifers get elected.”

• “And junk Akbayan,Gabriela, Kabataan, ACT-Teachers, Bayan Muna and other such party-list groups. “

• “[There is also a] need to make pro-life issues an election/political issue, and to emphasize the Christian responsibility to evangelize politics. One way of doing this is by supporting and voting for pro-life candidates. ”

On November 16-17, the CBCP will hold in Cebu a “Philippines for Life” Congress 2012 featuring among others, the following speakers: Kit Tatad, Lito Atienza, Jackie Enrile, Mitos Magsaysay and impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Among the conference topics will be “The State of Philippine Politics Today, “ “Population and Good Governance: Real Keys to Progress”, “RH and MDG: How to Mangle the Filipino Soul” and “The Role of Vigilance in Preserving Faith and Freedom”.

THE INCONSISTENCY OF IT ALL

What is ironic is that the political histories of these invited personalities are striking examples of what is bad about Philippine politics and are incredibly inconsistent with Christian/Catholic doctrines.

By hijacking the term “pro-life” they have framed the debate such that they appear to be pro-life all the way – from conception to birth to adult life. Really?

Mangling the Filipino Soul? Martial law, with all its unspeakeable horrors did that. And both Tatad and Enrile took active roles in it, as spokesperson and administratoir, respectively. Good Governance? Ask Renato Corona about midnight appointments and undeclared mllions. Or ask Lito Atienza about his support for Gloria Arroyo. State of philippine politics? Ask Jackie Enrile how being a son translates into an inherited Senate seat. Or ask his bullying victims in the past. And lastly, what do you make of Cagayan Representative Rufus Rodriguez who has been stonewalling the passage of the RH bill as a “pro-lifer”, but supports the death penalty for foreign drug traffickers?

In my personal view, you cannot call yourself pro-life if you supported martial law and the oppression it created.

You cannot call yourself pro-life if you supported corrupt regimes and electoral cheating.

You cannot call yourself pro-life if you justify midnight appointments and underdeclare substantial assets.

You cannot call yourselves pro-life if you support plagiarism, and indirectly teach our youth that it is okay to cheat and copy as long as you can get away with it.

You cannot call yourself pro-life if you support the subjugation of indigenous cultures, employ violent methods in imposing your religion, take control of another country's resources in the name of “spreading Catholicism.” Which is exactly what happened in the Chamorro Islands during Pedro Calungsod's time. And yet the CBCP honors his “sainthood”.

Respect for life does not end at birth, as Thomas Friedman, op-ed columist at the New York Times writes. To quote him: “ Respect for life has to include respect for how it is lived, enhanced and protected- not only at the moment of conception but afterward, in the course of that life. “

MORAL HAZARD?

In effect, is the CBCP creating a moral hazard by forging alliances with these right wing Catholics?

(A moral hazard is a situation where some can take huge risks without fear of the consequences since somebody else will cover for them. It encourages an escalation of reckless risk taking.)

Are right-wing politicians now shielded from the consequences of their recklessness and abuse by the CBCP, since it tacitly endorses them by enlisting their support for their anti-RH cause?

Do these politicians' “pro-life” stand wash away their transgressions in the political sphere?

Won't this encourage more of their reprehensible behavior in the future?

Viewing the world through the narrow monochromatic lens of its anti-RH stand like the defeated Republicans in the US, the local Church hierarchy are just pushing themselves even more to the sidelines and irrelevancy. Politics, governance and democracy are much larger than religion- the refusal to analyze the issues and insistence on dogma results in the boxing in of these ultra conservatives.

They are placing themselves in difficult situations like what Romney faced- having to associate with extremists who reject abortion in rape cases because "some girls rape easy" or "God wanted it to happen" and because “some rapes are legitimate. “

Which makes me think: what are these so-called “pro-lifer's“ stand on pregnancies due to rape?

To paraphrase Friedman, just call yourselves “pro-conception to birth, to hell with life after that conservative”, not pro-life. Because as I demonstrated above by pointing out the politics they have practiced , they do not really care about life after birth – the quality of life or the integrity and justice required in the course of life.

SOURCES:

1. “Re-election of pro-abortion US President impetus for PH pro-lifers to intensify advocacy”, CBCP for Life website. Nov 7, 2012.

2. “Pro-life leaders to speak at National “Phils for Life” Congress 2012 in Cebu”, CBCP for Life website. Nov 10, 2012.

3. “An Alternative View of Pedro Calungsod” (In the Context of the Spanish Chamorro Wars 1671-1698) Society of Honor by Joe America, blog post by Andrew Lim. Oct 26, 2012.

4. “Why I Am Pro-Life” by Thomas Friedman, New York Times Sunday Review. Oct 27, 2012

5. “Solon bares small wrinkle on prolife stand” Inquirer Online News Nov 7, 2012.