This is a statement of the purpose for the creation of the World Embracing Hope Foundation

This foundation has been developed in the hopes of finding a means of fusing what religion, science, and philosophy have to offer us in order that we, the last remaining member of the specie Homo Sapiens, may come to a consensus regarding what it is we believe we are and why it is we believe we exist.

The World Embracing Hope Foundation was formed based on the belief that the means of developing such a consensus is through the development of a concept defined by Steven Hawking as a universal philosophy. As such, the World Embracing Hope Foundation would like to welcome you to this site.

This is a foundation in search of truth. This is a foundation in search of a Universal Philosophy based upon these truths.

This universal philosophy, this means of modeling a universal ethic upon which we can all agree, needs to be found in order to resolve the many socially divisive issues we confront as a specie.

Perhaps more importantly, we need to develop this understanding, this model, before we confront other life forms with which we may have decidedly differing views.

This process of building a model of a universal philosophy which will act as a foundation for our present perceptions, is in essence a search for truth based upon perceptions. Perceptions are concepts we form regarding what we understand to be truths. As specie we appear to have three means of forming what we believe to be truths:


  1. We form truths based upon what we believe.

  2. We form truths based upon what we observe.

  3. We form truths based upon what we reason.


Modeling our present perceptions is not an impossible task. It is, in fact, quite the contrary. It is the building of such a model that will be the focus of this foundation. But before we begin the building of sample models, there are two basic fundamentals that need to be clarified regarding any model we build as an attempt to clarify what it is we believe, observe, and reason:

First, models are not meant to be absolutes. Secondly, as we pass through existence, as we experience and learn, the model will either:


  1. Be reinforced by our three means of perception (by what we believe, observe, and reason as time passes) or . . .

  2. Will need to be changed slightly or . . .

  3. Will need to be changed significantly or . . .

  4. Will need to be totally dismantled and replaced with another model that fits our perceptions more accurately.


And why is it we should begin this project? Without the model we cannot begin to visualize the answers to the three questions, Where are we? What are we? And why do we exist?

We have tried to find the answers to these questions but we have never, as specie, come to a consensus regarding them. The world Embracing Hope Foundation was established based upon the belief that building and using a model of a universal philosophy will help us resolve these issues. Being a visual creature, building a model appears to be a logical way to proceed. Once having built a rough form of the model, we can begin the process of modifying our model.

Building a universal philosophy requires a willingness to take the risk of being considered arrogant. It is this willingness to take the risk of being considered arrogant which allows this foundation to be established. And with this acknowledged we can now begin. But just where does one begin such an endeavor? We begin with finding truths for it is truths which will act as the building blocks of our model. We begin by establishing truths as best as we are able to perceive them to be. And just where does one look for truths?

That is up to the philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders. That is up to the participants of this competition. That is up to the students, teams, think tanks, universities, religious sects, scientists, philosophers, corporations, and independent thinkers to decide. Where these thinkers take us is what will prove to be the roller coaster ride of this site. It is these thinkers who will provide us with an insight as to where it is we think we are, what it is we think we are, and why it is we think we exist.

And so it is we will journey searching for truths lead by the thinkers of today, in order to find the answer to our three most perplexing questions confronting our specie, Where are we? What are we? And why do we exist?

And what good will it do to find the answers to these three questions? one may ask. It is the answers to these questions, which may hold the key as to why it is we are violent specie. It is the answer to these questions, which may hold the key as to why it is we abuse not only others and abuse ourselves but also abuse the very home within which we live - our environment. With understanding comes change. With understanding may come a solution or a significant partial solution to the problem of abuse.

Perhaps the construction of a universal model will provide us with the key to a new perception of ourselves, which in turn will reduce the abuse, the subjugation, and the violence we pour upon ourselves, we pour upon others, we pour upon our environment.

So where do we begin? The process of model building has three components to it:


  1. Find the materials with which you wish to construct your model.

  2. Build the model using the materials you decided upon.

  3. Examine the impact of your model to determine if the model produces the outcomes that you are seeking.


It is the intent of the Foundation to use the competitive nature of our specie to develop a model that tells us what it is our faiths, observations, and reason, our religions, sciences, and philosophies all seem to tell us in terms of what it is they sense we are.

And lastly it is the altruistic ambition of the World Embracing Hope Foundation to initiate the beginning of the process which may finally lead members of our specie, lead you and I, into an understanding of just why it is we exist. Once we understand the answer to this question, we will begin to understand just what types of behavior we are willing to tolerate not only in regards to our individual selves, not only in regards our own specie, but in regards to other species as well, be they earthbound or otherwise.

Some would say life is like a game of chess and we are the pieces being moved on the board, others would say life is like a game of chess and we are the players moving the pieces. Whatever the case one or the other may very well be a close approximation to the truth.

The World Embracing Hope Foundation was formed based upon the fundamental principle that we have free will, that we are the players moving the pieces not the pieces being moved. It is the belief in our ability to control our own behavior, to determine how we will affect the future, that the competition of the Foundation was established. It is the belief in the significance of the individual and our very specie that has motivated the energies to form the World Embracing Hope Foundation. This foundation is expressly dedicated to finding a purpose for our existing. It has one task. Its sole intent is to establish the mission statement regarding our purpose for existing in our universe. Its sole intent is to define the reason why it is the individual, society; our very specie must take responsibility for the actions they generate.

Perceptions generate action. Actions generate reactions, and reactions generate ambiance. Ambiance embraces us all. Ambiance sweeps through and molds the type of environment, the type of society, you and I, our children; the children of all humanity, the children of all other life forms must travel within. The ambiance we create not only embraces us and those with whom we come into contact, but the ambiance we generate reaches outward and passes through the very boundaries of our universe and into the very essence of what lies beyond our universe, what it is our universe as well as other universes are immersed within.

At first glance, it may appear that this foundation is an obvious or not so obvious attempt, to push symbiotic panentheism. It is nothing of a kind. This foundation is just what it has been defined to be.

So why begin with the model displayed, with symbiotic panentheism? We need to begin somewhere in terms of both understanding what a universal philosophy is and what a universal philosophy has to offer us as specie. Symbiotic panentheism is considered by the World Embracing Hope Foundation to be a first try at developing a universal philosophy, a form of universal ethics. Symbiotic panentheism is the initial model, which the Foundation is using in its competition. It is the model being placed upon the pedestal to act as the target, the initial sample of what it is we are to displace and replace with a better, more acceptable model.

It must be fully understood that the initial model used by this foundation as an example of a universal philosophy is simply a model. The model displayed is not intended in any fashion to be the model In fact it is understood by the World Embracing Hope Foundation that no model will ever be the model, that models are just that, models. That is why the competition has been setup. The competition has been set up on the World Wide Web for the express purpose of providing a vehicle by which all people worldwide can begin to participate in this new and exciting concept.

This foundation was established based upon the principle that once we understand what a universal philosophy is and how to build one, we, you and I together, can begin the process of discussing the concept of a universal philosophy. The process of discussing and developing a universal philosophy can be a rewarding, satisfying, educational, introspective, exciting process for both the individual and our specie, Homo sapien. With a universal philosophy in place, we will be able to understand not only our own personal purpose for existing but why it is others around us exist, be they from the same local regions, country, planet, or for that matter other planets from other stars and galaxies.

With this said, the World Embracing Hope Foundation would like to welcome you to this site and invite you to participate in this competition.

- Daniel J. Shepard - Founder and Director




A Universal Philosophy must be constructive, be understandable to the general public, detail the impact of the model upon the past, present, and future, and detail the impact of the model upon social dilemmas such as:-


  1. Abortion

  2. Capital Punishment

  3. Morality

  4. God's significance and presence

  5. Effects on God

  6. Humankind's significance

  7. Sexism, genderism, racism, generationalism, and other '...isms'

  8. Life confined to physical existence

  9. Abuse of the individua1, species, and environment





A Universal Philosophy would attempt to address future social dilemmas facing our species, such as:-


  1. Cloning

  2. Artificial intelligence superseding human intelligence

  3. Collapse of the universe and a reversal of the Big Bang

  4. Time placing limits upon existence and purpose

  5. God confined to a permanent state of equilibrium

  6. Submission to each other, other life forms, and God

  7. Parallel universes

  8. Communicating with other universes





The World Embracing Hope Foundation is presently looking for volumtary members to assist in organizing and judging the entries to the competition. Voluntary members would:


  1. Act as judges for the Universal Philosophy competition

  2. Act as judges for the monthly article and gallery competition

  3. Act as editors for the quarterly philosophical review





Daniel J. Shepard - Founder & Director

Timothy Shepard - Director

Stephen Moore - Director & Webmaster

Dennis Seligma - Director & CPA








Purpose
of the Foundation


Guidelines of a

Universal Philosophy


Addressing Future

Social Problems


Committee Members

Needed


Board of Directors




Copyright © 2000
The World Embracing Hope Foundation
All rights reserved