I have been having lots of discussions with people of various faiths and belief systems about their spititual journeys and evolving beliefs as part of the research for a book I am writing (don’t hold your breath, but hopefully ready for publication within the next 12 months).

Some of the discussions have looked at where our morality comes from and whether the teachings of traditional religions remain valid in the modern age. This has led to me examining my own morality and got me thinking about what I would have in a 10 Commandments for today.

Those of you that know me will expect this exercise to be informed by humanist ethics, environmental justice, socialist values and social equity considerations. So here goes:

1. Thou shalt honour the dignity of every human being, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or creed, recognising that our worth is inherent, not earned.
2. Thou shalt protect the Earth and its ecosystems, understanding that the climate crisis is a moral emergency and that future generations depend on our stewardship today.
3. Thou shalt demand economic justice, ensuring that labour is fairly compensated, that wealth is not hoarded at the expense of the many, and that basic needs like housing, healthcare, and food are guaranteed rights.
4. Thou shalt seek truth and reject misinformation, committing to critical thinking, scientific consensus, and the free flow of accurate information in an age of algorithmic manipulation.
5. Thou shalt dismantle systems of oppression, actively working to undo the legacies of colonialism, racism, sexism, and ableism embedded in our institutions and laws.
6. Thou shalt practise radical empathy, listening to those whose experiences differ from your own and centring the voices of the marginalised in decisions that affect them.
7. Thou shalt value community over individualism, recognising that our collective well-being is the foundation of a healthy society and that isolation is a failure of our shared humanity.
8. Thou shalt protect bodily autonomy, affirming that every person has the right to make decisions about their own body, health, and reproductive choices without coercion.
9. Thou shalt embrace diversity as strength, celebrating cultural differences and linguistic variety as essential to human innovation and resilience, rather than threats to be suppressed.
10. Thou shalt act with courage, speaking out against injustice even when it is inconvenient, and refusing to remain silent in the face of tyranny or indifference.

This list attempts to capture the core ethos of modern progressive thought: a shift from individual salvation to collective flourishing, from static tradition to dynamic adaptation, and from hierarchy to horizontal solidarity.

I would welcome comments and feedback!