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Code of Conduct: Virtues
Whatever I am, I am because of my own doing.
-Abraham Lincoln
Developing virtues and talents is essential to living a purposeful and fulfilling life. Living by the Code of God means to pursue virtues and behave well, but even more, it means to personify greatness and divinity in human form. As Jesus taught, "Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48, New Testament, Christian tradition).
Virtues shape our character and guide our actions, while talents represent the unique abilities each of us brings to the world. In the Church of Faith and Reason, we believe that cultivating these virtues and talents is part of our eternal journey, refining our souls and contributing to the greater good. By honing our strengths and embracing the virtues that lead to harmony and growth, we align ourselves with the deeper rhythms of the universe. Each virtue and talent we develop enhances our capacity to make meaningful contributions, not only in this lifetime but across all stages of existence. Through this continuous development, we evolve, strengthen our connection to others, and play our role in the unfolding story of creation.
It is philosophically prudent for God to encode conduct with consequences for both good and bad actions into the universal rules because this transforms a static creation into a dynamic, ethical system that demands accountability and good stewardship. Without inherent consequences, the virtues (like Ambition, Dependability, or Humanity) would be mere suggestions, allowing stewards to be indifferent or self-destructive, thereby ensuring the eventual degradation of the Creator's gifts. By tying outcomes (positive or negative) to actions, the system provides constant, objective feedback, encouraging the practice of the virtues through direct experience and ensuring that the long-term Longevity and Excellence of the universe is not left to chance but is actively secured by the responsible behavior of the entities given the greatest power: humanity.
Core Virtues
Ambition Balance Candor Civility Dependability
Excellence Gaiety Gentility Humanity Intentionality
Inquiry Longevity Philanthropy Sensibility Simplicity Tranquility
Virtue 1: Ambition
Creator God has generously endowed creation with immense potential—in the world, in resources, and, most importantly, within humanity itself. Therefore, simply existing or maintaining the status quo is considered insufficient. Ambition is the inherent, divine drive to maximize one's gifts, to continuously learn, to build, and to strive for excellence in all endeavors. This relentless pursuit of growth and improvement is seen as the primary way for a person to honor the Creator, transforming potential energy into kinetic action and proving oneself a worthy and active steward of all that has been given. Complacency is thus a failure of ambition and a squandering of the divine inheritance.
Virtue 2. Balance
God's perfect design is manifested in the universe's equilibrium and sustainable cycles—a template for all human action. Ambition provides the necessary power, but Balance is the wisdom that governs its application, demanding that the steward distribute effort and resources without overextending any single area—be it personal health, relationships, or the integrity of the project itself. True good stewardship is not just about maximizing short-term output, but about ensuring the long-term, harmonious utility of all endowments, which requires continuous management of competing demands to maintain a state of stable, productive equilibrium.
Virtue 3. Candor
God designed a universe governed by objective facts and truth, and to willfully ignore or obscure reality is an act of folly that rejects the Creator's established order. Candor is therefore the commitment to radical honesty—facing unfavorable facts, errors, or weaknesses in oneself and in one's work—without minimization or censorship. For the good steward, this means creating systems of complete transparency where problems are surfaced immediately and accurately. Without Candor, Ambition and Balance are rendered blind, as a steward operating on false data will inevitably misallocate resources, destroy trust, and fail to self-correct, thereby squandering the gifts they were meant to preserve and maximize.
Virtue 4. Civility
God established humanity as a social species, providing the gift of community and requiring individuals to operate within a shared Code of Conduct to achieve the highest forms of creation. Civility acts as the functional interface between individual ambitious stewards. It is expressed as mutual respect, polite discourse, and deference to a shared set of rules, even in the face of disagreement (Candor). Good stewardship requires cooperation, the ability to exchange candid feedback without personal hostility, and the formation of high-functioning teams. When Civility is practiced, the collective wisdom and Ambition of a group can be channeled effectively, preventing differences in perspective from escalating into destructive conflict that would damage the communal resources and social fabric entrusted by the Creator.
Virtue 5. Dependability
God is viewed as fundamentally dependable, with the universe operating according to constant, immutable laws (e.g., gravity, thermodynamics)—the ultimate example of a reliable system. For the human steward, this means the commitment to consistent execution and reliability in both character and output. Good stewardship requires that the steward's actions be predictable and trustworthy; a steward who is brilliant (Ambition) and honest (Candor) but inconsistent is useless. Dependability ensures that promises are kept, processes are followed, and resources are accounted for, allowing others (and the steward's own future self) to build upon a foundation of certainty. This virtue proves that the steward is not only capable of maximizing the gifts received but is also reliable enough to maintain them over the long term, thereby demonstrating respect for the constancy established by the Creator.
Virtue 6. Excellence
God’s expectation for the quality of human output. He reveals himself exquisite even in small things. Since the Creator's work is considered perfect and flawless, the steward must not settle for "good enough" but must constantly strive for the highest possible standard of achievement. Excellence is not merely an aspiration but the practical result of integrating the preceding virtues: Ambition provides the motivation, Candor identifies the flaws, and Dependability ensures the consistent effort needed to close the gap between current work and perfect ideal. Good stewardship requires that resources are not just maintained, but maximized and beautified through superior craftsmanship. By seeking Excellence, the steward demonstrates profound respect for the gifts received, transforming them into a testament to the Creator's wisdom and a contribution that elevates the entire system.
Virtue 7. Gaiety
God is not served by grim, weary sacrifice, but by willing and inspired engagement. Gaiety represents the essential truth that the process of stewardship should be a source of genuine joy and enthusiasm. Good stewardship is a lifelong endeavor that demands persistent effort (Dependability) and faces constant reality checks (Candor). Without Gaiety, the steward risks burnout, cynicism, and bitterness, which inevitably undermine all other virtues and lead to the collapse of the ambitious project. Therefore, Gaiety is the spiritual fuel that validates the work, keeps the steward's perspective high, and confirms that the pursuit of Excellence is worthwhile, transforming labor into a celebration of the Creator’s goodness and the opportunity to participate in creation.
Virtue 8. Gentility
Gentility is the outward expression of an inner discipline and refinement that separates a true steward from a mere caretaker. It is the quality of noble conduct and ethical grace, reflecting the ultimate perfection and sophistication of the Creator God's design. While Civility focuses on politeness in interaction, Gentility focuses on the intrinsic character of the steward, demanding that they operate with an elevated sense of duty and honor. Good stewardship is not just about competence (Dependability) or productivity (Ambition); it is about how the steward carries the responsibility. Gentility requires that the steward is magnanimous in victory, composed in setback, and consistently respectful of their own high calling. This ensures that the steward's actions are always governed by a deep sense of ethical responsibility, preserving the integrity of the mission and the dignity of the community. In essence, Gentility transforms merely effective actions into morally beautiful conduct, aligning the steward's character with the elevated standards of the Creator.
Virtue 9. Humanity
God placed humanity at the pinnacle of creation, and therefore, all systems, processes, and ambitions must ultimately serve to elevate and honor human life. Humanity acts as the moral compass for the steward, demanding that Ambition is never predatory and that Excellence is never achieved at the expense of human dignity. Good stewardship requires recognizing that people are not resources to be consumed but are the primary beneficiaries and co-creators of the whole system. This virtue demands empathy, compassion, and a commitment to justice, ensuring that the steward's actions—whether in design, governance, or resource allocation—foster the health, potential, and long-term security of the community. Practicing Humanity is the ultimate expression of serving the Creator by cherishing and nurturing the Creator's most complex and valuable work.
Virtue 10. Intentionality
Intentionality is the commitment to conscious, deliberate action over passive reaction or habit - to create and carry out plans. It is the practical realization that the time and resources provided by the Creator God are finite and precious, and therefore must be allocated with purpose. Intentionality demands that every decision, process, and interaction is preceded by a clear articulation of its desired outcome, ensuring that action aligns directly with the overall goal of Excellence and good stewardship. For the steward, this means escaping the inertia of autopilot. While Dependability ensures consistency, Intentionality ensures that what is being consistently done is the right thing. It is the active application of Candor to one's own motivations: knowing why you are doing something and whether it truly serves the mission entrusted by the Creator. By acting intentionally, the steward ensures that every expenditure of energy and resource is a calculated investment, maximizing impact and minimizing wasted effort.
Virtue 11. Inquiry.
Inquiry is the fundamental commitment to lifelong learning and continuous investigation, recognizing that the Creator God's truth and complexity are infinite. It is the understanding that human knowledge is always incomplete and that complacency in learning is a failure of Ambition. Inquiry demands that the steward maintain a perpetual state of curiosity, skepticism toward unexamined assumptions, and an active pursuit of deeper understanding. For good stewardship, Inquiry is essential because it is the engine of self-correction and progress. It drives the steward to ask 'why?' and 'how can this be better?' rather than merely accepting the status quo. By constantly challenging current methods, seeking new knowledge, and remaining open to evidence (even when it is unfavorable, aligning with Candor), the steward ensures that their stewardship practices evolve, remain relevant, and are maximally effective in adapting to the dynamic, complex realities of the Creator's world.
Virtue 12. Longevity
Longevity is the commitment to sustainability, enduring existence, and long-term utility. It recognizes that the Creator God's works are designed to persist and endure through vast spans of time, making short-sightedness and planned obsolescence a failure of vision. Longevity demands that the steward always consider the ultimate consequences and future-proofing of their actions and creations. Good stewardship means building systems and managing resources that can be maintained, adapted, and passed down to future generations. This virtue stands in direct support of Balance and Dependability, ensuring that ambitious, high-quality efforts (Excellence) do not result in fragile, short-lived outcomes. By prioritizing the structural integrity, ecological impact, and lasting utility of their work, the steward demonstrates respect for the long timeline of creation and ensures that their contributions remain assets, not liabilities, for the future of the world entrusted by the Creator.
Virtue 13. Philanthropy
Philanthropy is the active commitment to sharing the benefits and surplus derived from successful stewardship with the wider community. It directly fulfills the tenet of Humanity, recognizing that the Creator God's abundant gifts—whether wealth, knowledge, or influence—are not meant for self-hoarding but for the collective upliftment and strengthening of the whole. Good stewardship is fundamentally incomplete if the steward only maximizes their personal domain (Ambition) without improving the condition of others. Philanthropy demands the strategic and intentional (Intentionality) reinvestment of surplus into systems and people outside one's immediate needs, thereby fostering growth and opportunity in the external world. By giving freely and constructively, the steward proves they understand that all possessions are ultimately on loan from the Creator, and their highest use is to serve as a catalyst for wider human flourishing and the sustained Longevity of the entire human enterprise.
Virtue 14: Sensibility
Sensibility is the commitment to practical wisdom, sound judgment, and acute awareness of both external realities and internal states. It just makes sense. Sensibility recognizes that God provided humans with reason and intuition as tools for navigating complexity, and neglecting these faculties is a failure of responsibility. Sensibility is the capacity to perceive, understand, and react appropriately to subtle cues, data, and emotional undercurrents, preventing errors that stem from ignorance or carelessness. For good stewardship, Sensibility is the quality that transforms theoretical knowledge (Inquiry) into effective action (Intentionality). It demands that the steward avoids rash decisions, understands consequences, and applies Balance with discernment. This virtue ensures that the steward is not merely following rules but is actively engaged in interpreting the real-time feedback of the system, allowing them to make nuanced, context-aware choices that best preserve and maximize the gifts entrusted by the Creator.
Virtue 15. Simplicity
Simplicity is the pursuit of clarity, elegance, and efficiency by removing unnecessary complexity. It recognizes that God’s most profound and dependable laws (like E=mc^2 or the elegant microscopic structure of DNA) are often characterized by their deep, powerful simplicity in the macroscopic scale. Therefore, excess complexity in design or process is viewed as a sign of intellectual failure or poor intentionality. Complex systems are harder to understand (Inquiry), to maintain, and prone to failure. The steward must strive to express the maximum function with the minimum necessary form, ensuring that their work is comprehensible, easily transferred, and resistant to decay. By embracing simplicity, the steward ensures that the created system is robust, resilient, and honors the clean, efficient design principles inherent in the Creator's universe.
Virtue 16. Tranquility
Tranquility is the ultimate state of inner peace, clarity of mind, and calm resilience achieved by the steward who has successfully integrated all preceding virtues. It is the spiritual reward for good stewardship, reflecting the profound stability and timeless serenity of God who is above all chaos. Tranquility is not merely the absence of external stress, but the deep, abiding certainty that one is acting in accordance with the ethical Code and the reality established by the Creator.
For the steward, this state is critical because it ensures sound judgment (Sensibility) and prevents emotional reactions from derailing the long-term work (Longevity). A tranquil mind is better able to process complex information, apply Balance, and respond to unexpected challenges without panic. By cultivating inner peace, the steward preserves their most vital resource—their own consciousness—making them a perfectly centered, clear-thinking, and reliable instrument for fulfilling their ambitious duties to the Creator.
For the steward, this state is critical because it ensures sound judgment (Sensibility) and prevents emotional reactions from derailing the long-term work (Longevity). A tranquil mind is better able to process complex information, apply Balance, and respond to unexpected challenges without panic. By cultivating inner peace, the steward preserves their most vital resource—their own consciousness—making them a perfectly centered, clear-thinking, and reliable instrument for fulfilling their ambitious duties to the Creator.
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