Fellowship of Reason
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The Fellowship of Reason is a moral community based in Atlanta. Its founder, Martin L. Cowen III, calls himself a "non-theist", and says that although he does not believe in God or other things supernatural, he nonetheless thinks that churches serve a useful function by providing "moral communities". Wishing to have a moral community that is not theistic (although not officially opposed to theism) he founded that organization.
Fellowship of Reason is also the title of Cowen's book.
Cowen has to some extent been influenced by Ayn Rand's tenet that "Reason, Purpose, [and] Self-esteem" should be the three highest values guiding human life, and by Abraham Maslow's writings on self-actualization. He advocates human relations based on reason and goodwill.
Six essential activities of the organization
Participants in the Fellowship of Reason® practice CEFLOR:
- Celebration: They participate in ceremonies that symbolically mark significant life events or uphold important values.
- Enjoyment of Art: They enjoy art as a means of gaining emotional fuel.
- Fellowship: They gain greater awareness of themselves through friendships with others of similar values.
- Learning: They discuss philosophy and literature to learn to live more wisely.
- Orientation: They remind themselves of their chosen values and principles regularly.
- Reflection: They take time to quietly reflect on the challenges of their lives in order to improve their ability to meet them.
