A book in progress
The World Book of Peace
A founding document for people who want to build a coherent ethical practice from the best of human wisdom, free of doctrinal commitment, presented through the thought experiment of starting humanity over on a new world.
From the book
A few years ago, I noticed something about myself that bothered me.
I was raised with a religion. Like most people, I never really picked it. It came with the family, the same way the dinner table came with the family. By the time I was old enough to think about it, I was already inside it, looking out.
When I got older and started actually reading what my religion said, some of it rang true and some of it didn’t. I tried to talk myself into the parts that didn’t fit. That worked for a while. Then it stopped working.
I tried the easy answer. I left. I told myself I was done with religion.
But here’s the thing. The parts that did ring true were still ringing. Be kind. Be honest. Take care of people who can’t take care of themselves. Don’t lie. Don’t kill. Don’t take what isn’t yours. Those teachings didn’t go away when I stepped out of the building. They were still in me. I just didn’t have anywhere to put them anymore.
So I started reading other religions. Not to convert. To listen.
What happened next changed how I see the world.
The book
The Opening Question
The personal story. How the project began. The Jefferson move applied to every tradition. The Mars thought experiment: if we were starting humanity over, what would we bring?
The Charter
Twenty universal messages drawn from human moral history. Stated cleanly. Organized into four groups: personal virtues, relational principles, social values, worldview commitments.
The Evidence
Each message traced across twenty traditions with primary-source citations. Honest about where traditions agree, where they fell short, and where modern thought has filled the gaps.
The Wrappers
New practices for modern people: daily, weekly, yearly, and life-stage rituals drawn from the best of human wisdom across all traditions. Doctrine-free. Open to anyone.
The Open Project
An invitation to scholars, practitioners, and skeptics to contribute. A built-in correction mechanism. The long-term vision for a community that lives by the Charter.