Dogma is the rigid enforcement of unquestionable beliefs—rules that demand obedience, punish dissent, and stifle the very instinct that makes us human: the drive to question. I know this oppression firsthand. As an ex-Mormon, I have felt the suffocating grip of institutionalized faith, the fear of doubt, the isolation of questioning, and the unbearable weight of a system designed to control rather than enlighten. I created what I call Dogma Zero because I can no longer ignore the silent suffering of those who feel trapped in religions they no longer believe in, yet cannot escape. The consequences of indoctrination are far more than spiritual—they erode individuality, fracture families, and break the will of those who dare to think for themselves. This is not just about belief; it is about liberation. It is about giving people the permission they were never granted—the permission to question, to walk away, and to reclaim their own minds. Dogma Zero exists to tear down the walls of institutional control and offer an alternative: a path where truth is not dictated, but discovered.
Humanity's innate curiosity is unmatched, and our tendency for religious thought is no exception. The relentless search for answers—both simple and profound—has driven our species to overcome the seemingly insurmountable.
Religious fervor, a relic of a bygone, decadent era, threatens the future of our species by eroding individuality and social progress. Institutionalized faith perpetuates stagnation, leaving behind a legacy of violence and repression.
We chase immutable truth to explain our origins and destiny, just as mystery and intrigue pursue the heroes of myth. We long to predict the unpredictable and explain the unexplainable. Yet, the mind that acknowledges its inherent ignorance has a distinct advantage over the arrogance of intellectual complacency. To assume a question is fully answered—and no longer open to inquiry—invites dire consequences, both personally and collectively.
The craving for peace of mind and security renders us susceptible to the harsh effects of doctrine, impeding our resilience as a species through the institutionalization of thought. The blind acceptance of absolute truth stifles progress, suppressing the agents of change inherent to each successive generation. Our ability to adapt is the definitive measure of our longevity as a species, yet clinging to widespread indoctrination disadvantages both the faithful and society at large.
To liberate thought and transcend the status quo, we must dissolve institutional dogma in favor of individual enlightenment, intellectual autonomy, and philosophical fluidity. As we gain insight into the natural world, anarchic spirituality and philosophical naturalism provide a conscious framework for resolving life’s unanswerable questions.
Spiritual anarchism and philosophical naturalism form the unshakable foundation of the Dogma Zero Movement, a direct challenge to the suffocating grip of institutionalized belief. Spiritual anarchism rejects the notion that wisdom must be dictated by authority, refusing to submit to prepackaged ideologies that demand obedience over understanding. It is the assertion that meaning is personal, that truth cannot be confined within doctrine, and that the pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong rebellion against intellectual stagnation. In a world where conformity is mistaken for unity, spiritual anarchism dares to dismantle the false sanctuaries of organized faith, replacing them with an ever-evolving exploration of self-determined spirituality. Dogma Zero embraces this defiance—not as a rejection of meaning itself, but as an emancipation from the chains of imposed belief.
Philosophical naturalism, the second pillar, demolishes the illusion that truth is something to be handed down rather than sought. It rejects supernatural explanations, demanding that reality be examined on its own terms—through reason, evidence, and relentless inquiry. Unlike blind faith, which suffocates progress, philosophical naturalism thrives on the courage to embrace uncertainty, to seek knowledge not as an inheritance but as a conquest. Dogma Zero does not bow to the comfort of absolute answers but revels in the ongoing search for understanding. To accept that truth is a pursuit, not a possession, is the ultimate act of liberation. It is not enough to simply abandon dogma; one must actively oppose it, replacing stagnation with movement, submission with curiosity, and obedience with intellectual autonomy. Only then can humanity reclaim its birthright—the freedom to think, to question, and to evolve without constraint.
Dogma Zero embraces individualized, evolving frameworks of reason and discovery as a means to examine ethics, purpose, and wonder—preserving the comfort of belief without the oppression of indoctrination. It is not faith that imperils us, but the rigid walls we erect around our convictions.
I reject the notion that wisdom must be prepackaged, disseminated, and enforced by authority. Meaning should not be dictated by institutions or individuals who benefit from conformity. Philosophical naturalism acknowledges that truth is not a possession but a pursuit, and deciding for oneself is the only way to keep it free.
A culture that values independent interpretation of personal philosophies, rather than blind acceptance, fosters continuous growth and adaptation. Free from institutional constraints, civilizations could evolve intentionally in response to new knowledge rather than resisting it outright.
Many argue that without dogma, society would fragment. Yet true unity arises not from enforced conformity, but from shared ethics, critical thought, and mutual respect—values far stronger than doctrines built on exclusion.
History has demonstrated, through great tragedy and bitter tears, that indoctrination divides rather than unifies humanity. Religious institutions splinter into factions, each enforcing conformity over freedom. By its very nature, religion fosters tribalism, dictating who belongs and who does not.
Institutions built on blind compliance are inherently fragile, crumbling under the weight of progress and scrutiny. In contrast, a society founded on reason, community ethics, and mutual respect has not only the capacity but the mandate to adapt and thrive. Unity does not demand the surrender of individuality; rather, it is strongest when individuals are free—if not encouraged—to question, learn, and develop their own identities.
If dogma fractures society and hinders progress, the solution is not to abandon belief entirely, but to evolve it into something flexible, individualistic, and liberating. Dogma Zero does not require submission to authority but encourages individuals to take responsibility for their own moral and philosophical growth. It values continuous learning over blind faith, emphasizing an eclectic journey of development rather than a rigid destination.
Dogma Zero does not seek certainty but embraces the courage to face uncertainty, to pursue knowledge without fear, and to engage in inquiry rather than passive acceptance. This approach is not merely an intellectual endeavor but a moral obligation: the duty to question, to grow, and to maintain one's independence from external influence.
I therefore reject institutionalized religion in its entirety. It does not seek enlightenment, but control; not curiosity, but obedience. Any system that demands blind faith and suppresses inquiry is, by nature, an enemy of progress and truth. The liberation of thought is only possible when we break from the structures that seek to constrain it. Intellectual freedom is not a luxury—it is a necessity. The refusal to conform is not an act of rebellion, but an assertion of autonomy. A mind that does not belong to itself is no mind at all.
Deviation from the norm is not just an option—it is a necessity. Conformity kills progress; obedience to dogma is the surrender of self. The only way forward is to think independently, challenge authority, and embrace uncertainty instead of fearing it. The individual path is not always easy, but it is the only path that is truly one’s own. In the end, the greatest defiance—the greatest act of self-realization—is refusing to let others dictate what is worth believing.
Dogma Zero is more than a rejection of authority—it is a declaration of intellectual sovereignty, a movement to equip future generations with the tools to think freely, question relentlessly, and carve their own paths through the vast unknown. It does not dictate answers but encourages the pursuit of better questions, fostering a culture where self-guided exploration is not just accepted but expected. The next generation must not inherit belief systems built on fear and obedience but be empowered to construct their own evolving philosophies, unchained from institutional control. True progress is not found in submission to inherited truths but in the fearless examination of existence itself. Dogma Zero stands as both a refuge and a challenge: a refuge from dogma’s oppression and a challenge to embrace the boundless freedom of thought.
Cited:
Chase Zehlchen, "The Unfaithful Manifesto: Dogma Zero," Zehl Files, Release: February 4, 2025. Edit: February 4, 2025. Available: https://zehlchen.com/talk/dogma-zero-manifesto
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