FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do Mystriks believe in god & gods, heaven & hell, spirit & soul?
Mystriks do not believe in these supernatural concepts due to the lack of credible, falsifiable, and scientifically substantiated evidence and consistent, irrefutable logical arguments supporting them as of the date of this document. Adopting these beliefs would contradict our fundamental commitment to naturalism and the scientific method.
We do, however, believe in a naturalised "spirit", not an external, supernatural entity but an integral part of the human experience, governed by natural, physical processes in the brain and nervous system. Mystriks believe the "spirit" or "soul" is a metaphor for human consciousness or experience rather than literal, supernatural phenomena.
Do Mystriks believe in good and evil?
Contrary to supernatural religions that view good and evil as absolute moral truths, Mystriks morally evaluate actions and behaviours based on their tangible impact on the well-being of individuals, society, and ecosystems. In this framework, "good" is associated with actions that foster kindness, prosperity, harmony, and understanding. Conversely, "evil" is seen as actions that cause suffering, create alienation, and disrupt peace.
How does Mystrikism view traditional holidays?
In the spirit of Mystrikism, which values rationality and kindness, it is both acceptable and beneficial to embrace traditional religious holidays in their secularised or Mystrikal versions. This approach allows us to appreciate and participate in cultural traditions while remaining true to the principles of Mystrikism.
1. Cultural and Historical Significance:
Traditional holidays like Christmas, Diwali, Ramadan, Hanukkah, and others are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of many societies. By secularising these holidays, we acknowledge and respect the rich tapestry of human history and culture. Saying "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" expresses cultural participation rather than religious endorsement.
2. Universal Themes and Values:
Many traditional holidays, despite their religious origins, embody universal themes such as kindness, generosity, family bonding, and the celebration of life. By focusing on these aspects, Mystriks can partake in these holidays in a way that aligns with their values. For instance, exchanging gifts during Christmas or lighting candles during Hanukkah can symbolise human warmth and the triumph of light over darkness, concepts that are harmonious with Mystrikism.
3. Promoting Inclusivity and Understanding:
Participating in secularised versions of religious holidays promotes inclusivity and understanding. It allows Mystriks to connect with others from different backgrounds and beliefs, fostering a sense of global community and mutual respect.
4. Separation of Supernatural Elements:
Mystrikism emphasises a rational worldview, free from irrational supernatural beliefs. By secularising these holidays, we remove supernatural connotations, focusing instead on their cultural, historical, and humanistic aspects. This approach allows for a celebration that is consistent with Mystrikal values.
5. The Joy of Festivity:
Celebrating secularised versions of these holidays allow Mystriks to experience the joy and festivity of these occasions. It provides an opportunity to create new traditions that are meaningful, joyous, and aligned with Mystrikism’s principles.
In conclusion, embracing secularised versions of traditional religious holidays aligns well with the principles of Mystrikism. It allows for participation in cultural traditions while maintaining a commitment to rationality and naturalism. By saying "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hanukkah", and similar expressions, we engage in a shared human experience, celebrating these events as purely cultural, devoid of religious attachments, and rich in human connection and joy.
Making Traditional Religious Holidays Mystrikal
Christmas (Christianity):
Mystrikal Version: Celebrate as a Winter Solstice Festival, focusing on themes of generosity, family bonding, and the joy of giving. Incorporate traditions like gift-giving and festive meals, while emphasizing the natural cycle of seasons and the beauty of winter.
Eid al-Fitr (Islam):
Mystrikal Version: Transform into a Festival of Gratitude and Community. Focus on the theme of thankfulness, sharing meals with friends and family, and community charity events to promote kindness and social harmony.
Diwali (Hinduism):
Mystrikal Version: Celebrate as a Festival of Lights, emphasizing the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. Incorporate lighting ceremonies, fireworks, and sharing stories that highlight human wisdom and scientific achievements.
Passover (Judaism):
Mystrikal Version: Observe as a Freedom and Reflection Day, focusing on the themes of freedom, resilience, and reflection on historical struggles. Include discussions on personal and societal liberation and the importance of learning from history.
Wesak (Buddhism):
Mystrikal Version: Transform into a Day of Peace and Mindfulness, with activities like meditation sessions, peaceful walks in nature, and discussions on achieving inner peace and understanding the interconnectedness of all beings.
Yom Kippur (Judaism):
Mystrikal Version: Recognize as a Day of Reflection and Forgiveness. Emphasize introspection, the importance of forgiveness (both giving and receiving), and the value of personal growth and reconciliation.
Ramadan (Islam):
Mystrikal Version: Observe as a Month of Self-Discipline and Contemplation. Focus on personal improvement, mindful living, and empathy towards those less fortunate. Encourage activities like fasting, reflection, and community service.
Easter (Christianity):
Mystrikal Version: Celebrate as a Spring Renewal Festival. Emphasise themes of renewal, new beginnings, and the beauty of spring. Include egg decorating and hunts as symbols of new life and fertility, aligned with natural cycles.
Hanukkah (Judaism):
Mystrikal Version: Celebrate as the Festival of Light and Resilience. Focus on themes of perseverance and the power of hope. Include the lighting of candles as a symbol of endurance, along with sharing stories of human resilience and community strength.
Rosh Hashanah (Judaism):
Mystrikal Version: Observe as a New Beginnings Day. Emphasize self-reflection, setting intentions for the future, and celebrating the cycle of life. Activities could include sharing meals, reflecting on the past year, and discussing aspirations for the coming year.
Holi (Hinduism):
Mystrikal Version: Transform into a Festival of Colors and Joy. Celebrate human diversity and the joy of life through color throws, music, dance, and feasts, representing the vibrancy and diversity of the human experience.
Lent (Christianity):
Mystrikal Version: Observe as a Period of Personal Improvement and Mindfulness. Encourage self-discipline through giving up certain luxuries, promoting mindfulness, personal growth, and empathy for others' experiences.
Vesak (Buddhism):
Mystrikal Version: Celebrate as a Day of Compassion and Enlightenment. Focus on personal growth, wisdom, and acts of compassion. Activities could include meditation, sharing wisdom teachings, and community service to honor the interconnectedness of all beings.
Sukkot (Judaism):
Mystrikal Version: Recognize as a Harvest and Gratitude Festival. Emphasize gratitude for the earth's bounty and the importance of environmental stewardship. Include activities like communal meals with seasonal foods and discussions on sustainable living.
Guru Nanak Jayanti (Sikhism):
Mystrikal Version: Celebrate as a Day of "Spiritual" Reflection and Community Service. Focus on the values of equality, justice, and community service, encouraging activities that promote social welfare and community harmony.
Janmashtami (Hinduism):
Mystrikal Version: Observe as a Festival of Joy and Innocence, celebrating the joy and innocence of childhood. Include playful activities, arts and crafts, and storytelling sessions that foster a sense of wonder and happiness.
By secularising these holidays, they can be made inclusive and reflective of Mystrikism's values like rationality, naturalism, kindness, and an appreciation for the unknown, while maintaining the cultural and historical richness and traditions that accompany each celebration.
What is Mystrikism's Position on Life after Death?
Mystrikism and the Afterlife
The Union of Mystriks posits a view of death and the afterlife that is at once grounded in naturalism and imbued with a profound sense of existential respect. At the heart of this understanding is the acceptance of death as the total annihilation of the self, a view predicated on the undeniable interdependence of consciousness and the physiological state of being alive.
The Finality of Death:
Mystrikism asserts with lucid honesty that death marks the cessation of the individual’s consciousness. This finality stems from rigorous adherence to scientific understanding, which has not substantiated any claims of an afterlife despite numerous scientific explorations into the nature of consciousness and spiritual persistence. This perspective challenges the human propensity to seek comfort in notions of continuity beyond physical death, advocating for a courageous confrontation with the reality of mortality instead.
The Illusion of the Afterlife:
In a world desperately fascinated by the prospect of life after death, Mystrikism stands firm in its conviction that such beliefs are but a testament to human creativity and wishful thinking rather than evidence-based truths. A Mystrik’s stance is not born of cynicism but of a commitment to honesty and the scientific method, which has yet to unveil any credible evidence of existence of consciousness beyond death. This acknowledgment does not diminish the richness of human life but seeks to enhance its value by situating it within the tangible and the known.
Embracing Mortality for a Fuller Life:
Far from viewing mortality as a bleak end, Mystrikism celebrates the liberation found in accepting death’s inevitability. By embracing our finite nature, we are compelled to live more authentically, unshackled from the denial that often constrains the human "spirit". This philosophy encourages individuals to engage fully with the present, enriching their lives with purpose and depth, unburdened by the “spectre” of an uncertain afterlife.
The Legacy of Existence:
While denying an afterlife, Mystrikism acknowledges a form of immortality inherent in the impacts we leave behind through memories cherished by loved ones, contributions to society, and the indelible marks of our actions within the cosmic tapestry. This concept of legacy emphasises the interconnectedness of all existence, positing that while our consciousness ceases, the material essence of our being persists, woven into the universe’s fabric. Our lives, though ephemeral, contribute to the ongoing narrative of existence, offering a secular form of immortality that honours the natural cycle of life and death.
The Mystrikal view of death and what lies beyond is a testament to the power of human inquiry, a celebration of life’s finitude, and a humble acknowledgment of our place within the cosmos. By dispelling the illusions of an afterlife, Mystrikism invites us to forge meaningful lives here and now, grounded in the realities of nature and enriched by the bonds we form with each other and the world around us. In this embrace of mortality, Mystrikism finds not despair but a profound appreciation for the fleeting beauty of existence, urging us to live with intention, kindness, and awe in the face of the great unknown.
What is Mystricism's View on LGBTQIA+ Rights?
*** IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER ***
The views expressed on this page do NOT reflect those of our employees, employers, or affiliates. We acknowledge that the opinions expressed here may be considered controversial or offensive to some. We also recognise that our understanding will never be fully complete until we walk in someone else’s shoes.
If you are sensitive to differing opinions on LGBTQIA+ issues, particularly transgenderism, we strongly suggest refraining from further reading or listening. We genuinely apologise if our views cause offence or harm; this is not our intent. Our sole aim is to clarify how Mystrikism’s commitment to both kindness and the realities exposed by the methods of science are interpreted regarding dissentious real-world situations. It is also important to note that this content should NOT be considered professional advice.
*** END DISCLAIMER ***
In the realm of Mystrikism, the exploration of human identity extends beyond the tangible to embrace the profound diversity of human experience. Our understanding of sex and gender identity and our stance on LGBTQIA+ rights stem from this respectful inquiry into the human condition.
Mystrikism recognises sex and gender identity as distinct entities. We acknowledge that such controversies require a Mystrik to find a sensible yet challenging balance between compassion and rationality. This distinction forms the foundation of our perspective on transgender rights.
Sex Versus Gender Identity
Sex refers to the categories (male, female, and intersex) into which mammals, including humans, are divided based on their evolutionary reproductive purposes. Sex is rooted in evolutionary biology and involves reproductive functions, including genetics, genitalia, and hormonal profiles. These distinctions are especially emphasised by the type of reproductive cells called gametes that an individual mammal produces: males produce small, mobile gametes called spermatozoa, while females grow larger, immobile gametes called ovum (eggs).
The concept of sex is an immutable biological reality crucial for recognising and protecting the differences between males and females. This is particularly important in areas like fairness in sports, where men, generally more muscular, faster, and more aggressive, are generally given a natural competitive advantage. It also matters for safety in public facilities, appropriate healthcare, secure imprisonment, and sensible legal protections. Mystrikism is critical of policies and ideologies that obscure or deny these biological distinctions in favour of gender identity.
Gender identity encompasses the roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes an individual feels are appropriate for them and align with their self-perception. As either a congenital or experientially constructed mentality, gender identity includes a broad spectrum of gender types beyond the traditional binary concept of male and female. These identities can often be fluid and dynamic, evolving to reflect individual experiences, feelings, and lifestyle changes. This allows for a diverse understanding of gender manifestation and perception.
We support the right of any sapient being to express themselves according to the gender identity they align with best. This support extends to our purposeful use of a person’s preferred pronouns, new names, and titles. We would also defend and support any adult who chooses to use surgical procedures and cross-sex hormone therapies to assist in their transition to their preferred gender identity.
The Union asserts, nonetheless, that conflating gender identity with biological sex goes against our commitment to the methods of science. This confusion can undermine women's hard-won rights and spaces historically reserved for biological females for reasons of safety, dignity, and privacy.
The Protection of Minors
The Union believes that parents and youths who are considering using puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and undergoing reassignment surgeries, when applied to minors, should reflect extensively and widely educate themselves. While these procedures aim to align an individual's physical appearance with their gender identity, they carry significant, life-altering risks. The most concerning is the potential for irreversible sterility and anorgasmia, the inability to achieve orgasms later in life, especially when hormone blockers are followed by cross-sex hormone therapy before or during puberty, not to mention radical surgical procedures like mastectomies, hysterectomies, penectomies. These interventions produce permanent changes that cannot be undone and may later be regretted if no longer in alignment with an individual's future adult sense of self.
The Union respectfully suggests a short delay during an individual’s teenage years until they finish puberty before committing to potentially irreversible medical interventions. This approach ensures that decisions are made with fuller cognitive and emotional maturity, reducing the likelihood of future regret. This policy aligns and balances with our commitment to kindness and rationality. As most adults can attest, our teenage years are filled with fleeting notions that often fade with emotional maturity. This policy also allows the body to fully develop viable gametes, preserving the physiological capacity to conceive a child for the individual's future self.
A General Practitioner (GP) or primary care physician can determine when puberty has finished by assessing several scientifically measurable physiological indicators. These include the closure of growth plates in the bones in the hand and wrist (epiphyseal fusion), which can be confirmed via ultrasound imaging, signifying the end of height increase. Doctors can also measure hormone levels through blood tests to check for stabilisation within adult ranges, mainly focusing on estrogen in females and testosterone in males. Additionally, your family doctor can observe the completion of secondary sexual characteristics, such as breast development in females and facial hair growth in males, to determine if the patient has reached full physical maturity. These indicators collectively help the physician make a reliable determination of the completion of puberty.
Religion and LGBTQIA+ Rights
The Union of Mystriks fundamentally supports LGBTQIA+ rights. Recognising that opposition to these rights often stems from religious doctrines, we, grounded in agnostic non-theism and rational "spirituality," wholeheartedly embrace and advocate for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
In Support of Gay Marriage
At the heart of Mystrikism is the belief in the freedom to love and commit to any sapient being you choose to bond with formally. The Union supports gay marriage unequivocally. Love, in its myriad forms, should be celebrated and given the same dignity and formal recognition afforded to heterosexual unions.
Cultural Evolution and LGBTQIA+ Rights
Historically, human cultures, driven by survival imperatives, viewed homosexuality as detrimental, a hindrance to expanding the family and tribe. However, this view is archaic, a relic of a bygone era. Today's technological advancements and sophisticated cultures have outgrown such outdated perceptions.
Humanity's genetic transmission and replication proficiency has long surpassed mere survival needs. Our burgeoning populations strain our planet's ecosystems through toxic pollution, habitat destruction, and anthropogenic climate change, rendering the ancient survivalist view of sexuality obsolete.
Kindness & Science
Kindness and the scientific method are the core principles of Mystrikism. Our support for the right to choose one's gender identity and sexual orientation stems from kindness, dictating respect, acceptance, and individual freedom. Regarding the immutability of physiological sex, Mystrikism strikes a balance with our commitment to empirically supported science and biological reality.
What is Mystrikism’s Stance on Sexual Morality?
The Union of Mystriks, in its approach to sexual behaviour and abortion, reflects a deep understanding of historical context, modern scientific knowledge, and a commitment to kindness.
Sexual Purity and Promiscuity:
The Union acknowledges the evolutionary and historical roots of sexual norms. These norms evolved as social constructs to manage early human challenges like violence from sexual rivals, the spread of disease, and ensuring genetic lineage. However, Mystrikism does not strictly enforce these norms today. It recognises that advancements in contraceptive technology, medicine and changes in societal structures have altered the implications of these behaviours. The union's approach is not to impose but to understand and respect personal choice while emphasising the importance of responsible and kind behaviour - to each other and the ecosystems we share and inhabit.
Premarital Sex:
Mystrikism’s stance on premarital sex is informed by a contemporary understanding of cultural and social evolution. The union notes that the stigma traditionally associated with premarital sex has significantly diminished, particularly in developed, secular societies. This change reflects a broader cultural shift towards individual autonomy and away from historical taboos. The Union views these developments as part of a sophisticated societal progression where personal choices are respected and traditional norms are reevaluated in the light of current understanding.
Abortion:
The Union strongly upholds a pro-choice perspective that intertwines individual autonomy with scientific insight, placing paramount importance on a woman's freedom to govern her body, life choices and protect her health. Consistent with this, we advocate that, under typical circumstances, abortions be performed prior to the 24-week milestone, which is informed by scientific research on the initial potential for pain perception and fetal sentience. This guideline does not disregard the critical need for exceptions in specific medical and ethical situations, such as fetal inviability, substantial health risks to the mother, or pregnancies arising from acts of rape or incest. We call for governmental action to ensure broad, cost-free access to abortion services. This effort aims to empower women to make timely and informed decisions regarding their pregnancies, ideally before the development of fetal sentience.
Overpopulation and Environmental Concerns:
Mystrikism’s views extend to the broader implications of sexual behaviour, particularly human overpopulation and its environmental impacts. The Union urges thoughtful consideration of reproductive choices, recognising humanity's significant influence on the planet and its proven potential for destruction. This perspective encourages responsible behaviour in intimate relationships, considering personal consequences and the broader ecological impacts.
A balance of respect for individual autonomy, a deep understanding of historical and scientific contexts, and a commitment to the principles of kindness and responsibility to ALL life characterises Mystrikism’s views on these subjects. This approach reflects a progressive religious perspective that values traditional and modern understanding.
What is our Position on Evolution?
The theory of evolution by natural selection, first articulated by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, explains how species change over time through variations in traits, reproduction, and survival in specific environments.
Before proceeding, however, it’s important to clarify that the theory of evolution by natural selection is just one component of the broader evolutionary framework. This framework also includes the modern synthesis, which integrates key processes like mutation, genetic drift, and gene flow. Furthermore, emerging concepts from the extended evolutionary synthesis, such as epigenetics, developmental plasticity, niche construction, inclusive inheritance, phenotypic plasticity, genetic accommodation, multi-level selection, and evolutionary developmental biology, are also being explored, although many of these ideas are still evolving and remain topics of ongoing scientific discussion and debate.
The scientific community regards evolution as a well-established fact. In scientific terms, a 'theory' is not just a simple guess or speculation, as critics sometimes imply in an attempt to denigrate the concept. Instead, a scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of a natural phenomenon, developed through rigorous application of the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation. By dismissing evolution as 'just a theory,' critics reveal their ignorance of scientific terminology and their bias, overlooking the substantial body of empirical evidence supporting evolution and its power to consistently explain and predict biological phenomena.
An overwhelming amount of evidence supports evolution from a wide range of scientific disciplines, including genetics, paleontology, biochemistry, ecology, comparative anatomy, embryology, molecular biology, geology, anthropology, evolutionary psychology, systematics, biogeography, microbiology, archaeology, population genetics, developmental biology, ethology, and genomics. This evidence shows that species have changed over time and that all living organisms on Earth share common ancestors.
The patterns of life's evolution are documented in the fossil record, the genetic code, the distribution of plants and animals worldwide, anatomical and physiological adaptations, embryological development, molecular sequences, radiometric dating of geological formations, and observed evolutionary changes in populations over time.
Therefore, when scientists refer to evolution as a "theory", they acknowledge it is no longer merely a hypothesis but a robust and widely supported explanation for the diversity of life on Earth. It is considered a fact that evolution has occurred and continues to occur. The overwhelming consensus among scientific experts in these and related fields is that evolution by natural selection is a fundamental process that accurately describes the mechanism of biological change over time.
While discussions about fine-tuning and refinement often arise from within the scientific community, critiques of the theory of evolution, especially those aiming to replace it with unverified and unfalsifiable hypotheses, typically come from outside the scientific mainstream. These critiques fail to meet the rigorous standards of empirical scientific evidence, which requires going through the complete scientific process, including peer review, and emerging intact. Scientific scrutiny involves formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments or making observations, publishing results in peer-reviewed journals, and subjecting those results to further testing and review by the broader scientific community.
For an argument to successfully challenge the theory of evolution, it must meet several stringent criteria:
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Provide robust empirical evidence that directly contradicts the extensive body of data supporting evolutionary theory, demonstrating inconsistencies or gaps for which current evolutionary explanations cannot account.
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Undergo rigorous peer review and publish in reputable scientific journals, ensuring that the scientific community scrutinises and validates the methodology and findings.
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It should be repeatable and reproducible by independent researchers, demonstrating that the results are not anomalies and can be consistently observed under similar conditions.
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Offer a coherent alternative explanation that not only accounts for the new evidence but also aligns with the existing body of scientific knowledge. This provides a comprehensive framework that can predict and explain biological phenomena more effectively than current evolutionary theory.
To date, arguments that meet these criteria have yet to emerge from within or without the scientific community and successfully undermine the theory of evolution. In the ethos of scientific inquiry, it's essential to differentiate between genuine scientific debate and the misrepresentation or misunderstanding of science.
Mystrikism profoundly connects with the natural world, valuing scientific honesty and revering the universe's mysteries. The theory of evolution is central to its beliefs. Evolution, through natural selection, explains life's diversity, embodying Mystrikism's principle that reality is entirely natural. Evolution deepens our biological knowledge and enhances our "spiritual" journey, affirming our place in an ever-evolving, interconnected reality.
What is our Position on the Treatment of Animals?
The Union's profound respect for all living beings shapes a unique and holistic view on animal welfare. This perspective, deeply rooted in scientific consensus, recognises that most animals possess the capacity for sentience, experiencing pain and pleasure. Such an understanding demands reevaluating our ethical responsibilities towards animals in various aspects of life, advocating for a compassionate and equitable treatment that acknowledges their ability to suffer and experience well-being.
The Essence of Animal Sentience
Acknowledging Suffering and Pleasure:
Mystrikism holds that virtually all animals, beyond just humans and mammals, are capable of experiencing pain and pleasure. This fundamental recognition establishes animals' interests as deserving of thoughtful consideration, challenging us to see them as sentient beings with their rights to well-being.
Equal Consideration of Interests:
Central to Mystrikism's belief is that the capacity to suffer or experience well-being, rather than the ability to reason or communicate, renders a being deserving of ethical consideration. Our viewpoint advocates for a balanced and fair treatment that respects their natural capacities. Animal Welfare and Ethical Treatment.
Condemnation of Factory Farming:
The Union vocally opposes the cruelties of factory farming, emphasising the need for substantial reforms in animal agriculture. Advocating for more humane treatment, Mystrikism calls for changes that ensure animals are raised in conditions that respect their innate needs and dignity.
A Utilitarian Approach:
Embracing a practical philosophy, Mystrikism aims to minimise suffering and maximise well-being for the greatest number of sentient beings. This approach influences our stance on animal welfare, prompting actions that contribute to the overall happiness of all involved, including animals.
Upholding Animal Rights
Challenging Speciesism:
Mystrikism recognises speciesism as a form of discrimination comparable to racism and sexism, critiquing the unjust prioritisation of human interests over those of other species. This acknowledgment forms the basis for advocating animal rights, emphasising the moral duty to treat all beings fairly and respectfully.
Deriving Rights from Interests:
While Mystrikism focuses on the interests and suffering of animals, it lays the groundwork for a discussion on animal rights, suggesting that animals' interests, similar to those of humans, warrant protection through rights.
Distinguishing Moral Agents from Moral Patients:
Mystrikism differentiates between moral agents, capable of making ethical decisions, and moral patients, recipients of moral actions. This distinction highlights the view that animals, while not moral agents, are moral patients deserving of ethical treatment due to their capacity for suffering. Advocacy and Practical Actions.
Advocating for Legal and Societal Change:
The MCU actively seeks changes in legislation and societal attitudes to mitigate animal suffering. This includes promoting welfare legislation and ethical consumer choices, reflecting a commitment to creating a more compassionate world for animals.
Critique of Certain Research Practices:
Mystrikism critically examines animal experimentation practices, advocating against procedures that cause undue and unnecessary suffering without eminently significant benefits. The philosophy promotes ethical evaluations and supports experiments only when they promise substantial advancements unattainable through non-animal methods.
We criticise experiments causing pain, distress, or death to animals without meaningful and justifiable human or animal benefits. We are intensely opposed to nonessential experimentation, e.g., experiments for cosmetics, psychological research that causes severe stress, and educational purposes when alternatives exist.
Ethical Framework and Understanding Animal Nature
Utilitarianism and Ethical Evaluation:
Actions are deemed right if they result in the greatest happiness, taking into account the impact on all sentient beings, including ecosystems. Mystrikism applies this principle to assess the ethical implications of experiments on animals, emphasising the importance of weighing animal suffering against potential benefits.
Respecting Animal Nature:
The Union posits that each species has unique needs and behaviours essential to its nature. Recognising this, Mystrikism advocates for environments and care that allow animals to express their natural behaviours and thrive, challenging practices that deny them the ability to live according to their nature.
The Environmental Toll of Human Expansion
Rethinking Human Expansion:
The relentless expansion of the human population substantially threatens animal life and ecosystems. Our exponential growth results in habitat destruction, stress on wildlife, and the risk of extinction for many species. The conversion of natural habitats for human use disrupts ecosystems, highlighting the need for sustainable coexistence. Importantly, this real scenario calls for a shift in how we approach family planning. Thoughtless personal decisions around breeding and population growth need to be replaced with more mindful and humane considerations, including the decision to have children and the number of offspring we bring into the world. Personally adopting a more conscientious approach to population growth can mitigate the adverse effects on wildlife and their habitats, ensuring a balanced and respectful relationship with the natural world.
Reformation of Institutions and Ethical Pet Ownership
Critique of Zoos and Aquariums:
Mystikism critiques facilities that fail to respect or accommodate animals' natural behaviours and well-being, advocating for reforms toward models prioritising animal welfare, conservation, and education. Specifically, we refer to:
• Facilities with Inadequate Space: Zoos and aquariums often provide insufficient space for animals, preventing them from engaging in natural behaviours such as roaming, foraging, or swimming over distances comparable to their natural habitats.
• Lack of Enrichment: Institutions that fail to offer adequate environmental enrichment are critical for mental stimulation and physical health. Animals in such environments may be unable to engage in activities essential to their well-being, such as hunting simulations for predators, complex social interactions for social species, or adequate facilities for climbing, digging, or swimming based on the species' needs.
• Inappropriate Social Groupings: Zoos and aquariums that do not respect the social structures of the animals, either by isolating social animals or forcing solitary animals into proximity with others. This can lead to stress, aggression, and other welfare issues.
• Poor Living Conditions: Facilities that provide living conditions significantly divergent from an animal's natural habitat, such as inappropriate climates, substrates, or lack of necessary water bodies for aquatic animals, which can compromise their physical and psychological well-being.
• Breeding and Display Practices: Zoos and aquariums that prioritise breeding to maintain captive populations without considering the genetic health, social well-being, or future prospects of the animals are critiqued. Additionally, practices that stress animals for entertainment (e.g., forcing them to perform tricks or interact with humans under stressful conditions) are also critiqued.
Ethical Considerations in Pet Ownership:
The Union's utilitarian ethical framework also informs its views on pet ownership. It emphasises the prevention of cruelty and neglect and advocates for responsible pet ownership that meets animals' physical and psychological needs. Regarding pet ownership and the potential for abuse, our perspective can be understood through several key points:
• Animal Suffering and Well-being: The Union argues that the welfare of animals, including pets, should be a significant ethical consideration. Pets are capable of experiencing pain, pleasure, and suffering, and thus their well-being matters morally.
• Against Cruelty and Neglect: We unequivocally condemn cruelty and neglect towards pets, viewing such treatment as morally indefensible. Acts of abuse violate the fundamental principle of minimising suffering and maximising well-being. The Union emphatically supports more significant funding for law enforcement to tackle these matters and a substantial increase in punishments for these crimes.
• Responsible Pet Ownership: Mystrikism supports responsible pet ownership, which includes providing for pets' physical and psychological needs. This encompasses proper nutrition, veterinary care, affection, and opportunities for animals to engage in natural behaviours.
• The Ethics of Pet Ownership: The Union is critical of practices that harm animals or treat them only as property without regard to their sentient nature. We emphasise the importance of ensuring that the relationship between humans and pets is mutually beneficial and not exploitative.
• Adoption and Rescue: The Union advocates for adopting pets from shelters and rescues rather than supporting breeding practices that can contribute to overpopulation, genetic issues, and neglect. Adoption addresses the needs of animals already in existence who require care and companionship.
• Practical Ethical Choices: Mystrikism encourages individuals to make ethical choices that consider the impacts on animals. In pet ownership, this means reflecting on whether one can provide a home that meets the animal's needs and committing to compassionate care.
Mystrikism and the Union of Mystriks present a comprehensive and compassionate approach to animal welfare. We advocate for a world where all sentient beings' intrinsic value and rights are recognised and protected. Through this lens, they encourage a shift towards more ethical interactions with animals, fostering a just and caring society that honours the dignity of all life.
What is the Union's position on Nutrition?
In the Union of Mystriks, adopting a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle is esteemed as an admirable goal, embodying an ideal rather than a strict requirement. This perspective emerges from our principle values of kindness and honesty, acknowledging the complexity of nutritional science and diverse individual health needs that might necessitate the inclusion of animal products at various life stages, such as childhood, pregnancy and old age, alongside other health conditions. While plant-based diets are celebrated for their health benefits and environmental sustainability, the critical roles of certain nutrients predominantly found in animal products like Vitamin B12, heme-iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and specific amino acids are recognised for their essential contributions to optimal health. Therefore, we advocate for informed dietary choices guided by compassion, current scientific understanding, and tailoring to personal health requirements.
Reflecting on Our Evolutionary Heritage
Our commitment to the scientific method drives us to explore human dietary evolution. Anthropological, archaeological, paleontological, and evolutionary biological research consistently demonstrates that humans and our ancestors have maintained omnivorous diets for at least 2.5 million years.
Our Evolutionary Dietary Heritage
Guided by a commitment to the scientific method, the Union delves into the study of the dietary evolution of humans and our ancestors. An omnivorous eating pattern, evident in our closest extinct relatives; Homo heidelbergensis, Homo Erectus, Homo Habilis, Neanderthals, Denisovans, Australopithecines; and our closest living kin, the chimpanzees and bonobos, underscores a profound evolutionary consistency. The archaeological record provides significant and compelling evidence of this omnivorous behaviour:
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Butchering Marks: Artifacts and cut marks on bones illustrate our ancestors’ use of stone tools for butchering animals, indicating meat consumption.
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Isotopic Analysis: Analyses of bone collagen reveal dietary compositions, showing significant amounts of animal protein in the diets of our ancestors.
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Dental Wear Patterns: The examination of our ancestors’ teeth reveals wear consistent with the consumption of both plant and animal matter, suggesting a varied diet that likely included meat.
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Hunting Evidence and Use of Fire: Archaeological sites, such as Boxgrove in England, provide evidence of active hunting practices and the controlled use of fire. This indicates the consumption and cooking of meat, which would have made nutrients more accessible and digestible.
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Campsite Middens: Such findings, discovered at numerous prehistoric campsites, signify not just sporadic but regular meat consumption. These remnants, often found with primitive stone tools, attest to the systematic hunting, processing, and consumption practices integral to early human societies’ survival and development.
These findings highlight the integral role of animal products in human evolution. They contribute essential nutrients for brain development and complex societal structures. Such dietary practices were likely pivotal in human evolution, aiding the development of larger brains and complex social structures.
Encouraging Sustainable Consumption
Aligned with our guiding principle of kindness, we emphasise minimising animal product consumption to reduce potential suffering, especially through traditional slaughtering and farming practices. The environmental toll of animal agriculture, including deforestation, excessive water use, and greenhouse gas emissions, further necessitates a thoughtful reduction in consumption.
Ethical Sourcing of Animal Products
We advocate for the support of ethically raised and humanely slaughtered animals, emphasising the importance of sustainable husbandry practices that ensure animals’ well-being. By sourcing animal products from local, ethical producers, we reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to environmental stewardship, reflecting our commitment to a kind and sustainable lifestyle.
The Union’s dietary policy champions a holistic approach that integrates our ethical, environmental, and health-conscious values with practical considerations. Advocating for reduced animal product consumption, with the ultimate ideal of becoming close to vegetarian, ethical sourcing, and a scientifically informed understanding of nutrition, we strive to embody principles that honour kindness towards ourselves, animals, and the planet. We recognise and respect the diversity within our community, supporting each individual’s journey towards making choices that resonate with their values and health needs, ensuring a harmonious balance between our evolutionary heritage and contemporary ethical considerations.
