Coism

Coism is an obscure ideological movement, and possibly the first new 'religion' of the 21st century in Britain. In reality, however, Coism is more of a set of universal moral values, rather than a 'religion'. Coists adhere to the Principles of Coism, a set of guidelines for principles and lifestyle. Many desire to carry out the Acts of Coism, but for their own enjoyment, self-imprtovement the easing of their conscience, rather than to seek acceptance as a 'true' Coist. Founders believed that the Principles should enable happiness, prevent hatred and be essentially liberating and conducive to stable human heterogeny.

Emergence of Coism

Coism is not a 'religion' in the way that Islam, Christianityor others may be considered to be so. It is based on a set of moral principles, to be adhered to for their own sake, rather than as a means to a spiritual end of ascension or acceptance into a metaphysical 'paradise', such as Heavenor Nibbana.

Coism began in Britain, as a number of internet users began to discuss what might constitute desirable, 'universal' moral values. The word Coism was invented to reflect the inclusivenature of the movement, and a desire to avoid certain elements of faith-based beliefs that some considered to be devicive. Coism holds a point of principle that benevolent human values should be universal, rather than faith.

Coists

Coism is intended to be a personal value, rather than a 'badge of honour', so Coists tend to be anonymous, and merely ensure that they adhere to the Principles in order to maintain a clear conscience. Coism is not a recognized religion, and there are few, if any, calls for it to be recognized as such. Some Coists may also conider themselves to be humanists, naturists, secularistsor agnostics, but, importantly, never atheists.

The Principles of Coism

The Principles were collated by founding Coists, who adhered to the convention of anonimity. Their premise was, "If humanity began tomorrow, and that humanity were essentially good, and did not have millennia of religious influence to constrain its values, what would those values be?"

Spirituality

• The existence of God can never be proved or disproved, and is thus inconsequential.
• Any theory that cannot be tested is philosophy, not science.
• Religion deserves to be treated with respect, but not reverence.
• Science does not know everything, but that does not mean it knows nothing.
• Faith does not constitute proof.

Humanity and morals

• Everybody deserves to be respected from conception, until they prove otherwise.
• Everybody deserves empathy, but not necessarily sympathy or condonation.
• It is evil to kill somebody if they want to live.
• It is evil to keep somebody alive if they want to die.
• Everybody has a right not to be hurt, deceived, insulted, defamed or harmed.
• Discrimination on grounds of age, sex, race, religion, sexuality or appearance is wrong.
• Testing cosmetics on animals, and animal cruelty for pleasure is evil.
• People are entitled to be carnivorous, vegetarian or vegan, but should respect the choice of others. Cannibalism is evil.
• The interests of human medical knowledge take precedence over animal rights, but vivisection should minimalize suffering to as great a degree as possible without reducing the effectiveness of the science.
• Wearing fur is only acceptable where essential due to cold climates.
• The ability to forgive is a virtue to be desired, but nobody has a right to expect forgiveness for an evil act.
• People must not be punished for acts committed due to mental incapacity, insanity, intense distress or fear.
• Religious belief does not excuse evil.
• Enforcers of law and keepers of peace must be respected.
• It is an honourable position to oppose a war but support its soldiers.

Life and enjoyment

• Sport, literature and the arts bring pleasure to humanity and should be treasured.
• Learning is joyful.
• The boundaries of artistic preference are infinite.

Love and sex

• Sex between consenting people of sound mind, with no abuse of trust, whether married or not, and of any orientation, is beautiful.
• People have a right to fall in love with whoever they will.
• Sexual attraction is inevitable, and is not a vice.
• All people have a right to sexual privacy and dignity, and should be free from harrassment.
• Acts of friendship such as kissing, not intended for sexual gratification, do not constitute harrassment.

Money and property

• Owning money, or desiring to make it honestly, is not a vice.
• Healthcare should not be provided in proportion to the ability to pay.
• Theft is wrong, generosity is a virtue.

Exhibitionism

• Nudity, or partial nudity, where not designed to be provocative, is beautiful. (To this end, women have an equal right to expose their upper bodies in public as men, but neither should expose their genitalia in public without artistic purpose or reasonably inferred consent.)
• The beauty of the human body should be celebrated. Nudity is not necessarily sexual.
• Beauty is not a virtue, plainness is not a burden, vanity is not a sin.
• No art should be censored due to nudity, full or partial, unless it is part of a sexual act, where discretion may be employed.
• Values of sexual modesty in all places of worship and private dwellings must be respected and adhered to.
• Reflexive gratification (masturbation) is no sin, where not causing offence.

The Acts of Coism

Due to the de-centralized nature of Coism, there is no evident imperative to carry out some or all of the Acts, or how regularly they need be performed, rather than they are humanistor even theraputicmeans to self-improvement or a clean conscience. It may be argued that some are natural human qualities and any setting out of them as formal acts is superfluous.

The Act of Love

A Coist should continuously display compassion to all other people, and strive to forgive evil. It is desirable to make those close to you feel valued, cherished, adored and respected.

The Act of Charity

A Coist should help others where he can afford, and make reasonable donations or give reasonable time to the helping of those less fortunate than himself.

The Act of Empathy

A Coist should reflect at the end of each day how their actions might have affected others, and if they might wish to act differently in the future.

The Act of Self-Improvement

A Coist should seek to learn something new, that they might value, every day.

The Act of Fun

A Coist should seek to share the joy of a sport, an art or an enjoyable or beneficial entity as often as possible.

The Act of Reasonable Consumption

A Coist should always be aware of how their consumption of intoxicants (such as alcohol, tobacco or drugs) might diminish the comfort, safety, health or dignity of others.

The Act of Inclusion

A Coist should comfort those who they may seen to be excluded from society due to hatred, prejudice or bigotry, and re-assure them of their right to be accepted, regardless of their race, sex, religion, age, appearance or sexuality.

The Act of the Body Beautiful

A Coist should be proud of their body, whatever its appearace. A Coist might occasionally wish to display their body, (except for their genitalia, if sensibilities require) for one whole day, in order to reflect on what it is to be human, acquire humility and appreciate their physicality.

The Act of Lawful Conduct

A Coist should assist natural justice when able and when feels safe to do so.

The Act of Grace

A Coist should ensure those who beat them are not resented, and those who lose to them do not become dispirited.

Criticism of Coism

Due to its small scale and relative obscurity, there is little studied criticism of Coism. There are, however, three main foci of the 'negative' views held on it. Firstly, that the Principles of Exhibitionism and the Act of the Body Beautiful might tend to encourage promiscuity. Secondly, that its Principles are too vague, and thirdly, that it is inherently unaccountable, due to the absence of an identifiable leader.

Promiscuous?

There is continual debate among both Coists and non-Coists that the Principles of Exhibitionism, and subsequently, the Act of the Body Beautiful, are inherently immodest and promiscuous. A Coist may argue that, as there is nothing undesirable about human flesh being used for aesthetic benefit when spiritual or religious considerations are disregarded, that this is a moot point.

It is speculated that there is an implied passive support by Coists for the American Topfree Equal Rights Association, and other groups who seek to assist those punished for 'innocently' baring flesh in public. Due to this controversy there are certain implied conventions regarding the Act of the Body Beautiful.

There is some debate amongst Coists as to whether nudityshould be encouraged, to celebrate the beauty of the human form, or merely tolerated, to fit in with received social attitudes. The Act of The Body Beautifulmight, on one hand, be deemed harmless or even theraputic, but on the other, indecent or intrusive. (It might not unreasonably be assumed that this Act is unfair to women, due to the inevitable greater sexual nature of baring the chest in public.)

It is sometimes suggested that Coists carry out this Act amongst each other, in order not to disturb social sensibilities, as the baring of breastsand buttocksin public is considered indecent in most Western countries. Some female Coists, however, seek to challenge this notion by appearing topless in public, (although it should not be inferred that political exhibitionists, such as T.E.R.A.or nudist colonies, are Coists.)

It is commonly considered perverse for a child to appear nude in public, especially during puberty where breasts or genitalia may be developing. With this in mind, female Coists under the age of sixteen might be actively discouraged from carrying out the Act, (although those more committed may do so in private or among other Coists, usually of the same sex.) Although the baring of a male chest carries less social stigmathan that of a female, in the interests of equality the same applies to boys under sixteen. The wearing of a swimsuit, leotardor bikinisometimes constitutes a compromise between discretion and commitment to Coism.

A possible cause of accusations of promiscuity is that, unlike naturistmeetings, meetings of Coists carrying out the Act of the Body Beautiful might usually draw attention to each other's bodies. Some Coists would see these meetings to have a theraputicelement, as it is common for attendees to discuss personal issues they may have with their body, image, health or sexuality. (It is accepted that sexual issues are not discussed in the presence of minors.)

In reality, a typical execution of the Act of the Body Beautiful may consist of little more than a day out at a nude beach, or a beachwhere the baring of the breastsis tolerated. The baring of the breasts in a public place is attempted only by a handful of more brave female Coists.

Vagueness?

It is sometimes said of the Principles of Coism that, for the most part, they are universal human values of right-thinking people and to set them out as a distinct ideology is tenuous. For instance, as few Principles of Human and Morals are likely to cause controversy, (such as support for medical vivisection), it might be argued that there is little merit in them. The Acts are perhaps the most often criticized aspect of Coism in this respect, as they are not quantified and no necessity is attached to them.

It might also be noted that there is no allusion to human development with experience in Coism; and thus there is no differentiation between children and adults (except the conventions of the Act of the Body Beautiful).

Accountability?

Criticism of the Principles sometimes touches on the notion that they are asserted, rather than demonstrated and justified. As Coism is seen as a collation of moral values without the need for spiritual faith, it is sometimes argued that, as there needs to be no organized preaching or worship, there is little need for a 'public face of Coism'. There is no known 'official' website or pamphlet of Coism, and by its nature tends to be spread by oral persuasion rather than pomp or ceremony. A critic may not unreasonably accuse Coists of being too desperate not to appear to be an organized 'religion' or 'sect'.

Verifiability and scale

Coism is a difficult subject on which to conduct research due to its tiny scale and integral lack of documentation and formal gatherings, and what does exist can be contradictory.

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coism Wikipedia article Coism.