A talk at our Ethical Culture Society posited a new ‘myth’ to make a more humane society:  there is only one soul; each individual is an incarnation of that soul, so each of us treats HIMSELF as he treats others. 

I’ll try to get the talk itself and post it on ethicalfocus.org, but, for now, here is a reply to it http://iamyouandheisme.blogspot.com/2005/01/upside-down-and.html

And here is the text of my reply to that:

“Why not create another myth? New brands of toothpaste are introduced all the time. They don’t need to be completely different; just a little different – a more minty taste, a smoother gel, whatever makes you brush more is ok. And why not?
Dr. Deming says the way to perfection is slow, consistent incremental improvements. Why not apply this to philosophy and morality. Given the fact that we’re atheists, there ain’t gonna be no dramatic redemption with the apocalyptic verve of a second coming. There are just small incremental improvements in our mood and our attitude towards each other. This is all we’ve got; so it better be enough.
And I can prove you wrong; on the way home I imagined for at least one whole afternoon that I might be the next guy; so I better be nice. If the story gets told, the meme might grow. That would be incrementally – a good thing.
BTW, great picture.”