Welcome to KOAR

Why KOAR

Religion gives people a framework to live by and an answer to death, but asks them to believe in illogical ideas. Atheism frees people from those constraints but offers no guidance or comfort. KOAR is a third path: the truth.

God and the Universe

God is the universe. It is all-powerful, and its rules cannot be broken. The universe has no intelligence; it cannot judge, reward or punish. It just is.

We are God's children: the intelligent form of the universe. We have the ability to become gods within this universe.

Science is how we discover the universe's rules. Science and God are not in opposition; they are one and the same.

What We Must Accept

To seize the opportunities of our origins, we must accept three things.

1. Accept death. Death is part of the cycle of birth and rebirth that the universe and nature constantly go through, and we must embrace it. When we are young we are curious and constantly strive for change and new things; as we mature we gain experience but embrace change less. The cycle of death keeps humanity alive. Pursuing eternal life is futile and will lead to our eternal destruction. Not accepting death makes us fearful of change, and we lose our adaptability, which will eventually lead to our downfall. We live forever as a species, and individually we live forever through our descendants and our ideas.
2. Work with the universe and nature, not in opposition to it. Working against nature is futile. This applies to everything: we tend to assume we are above the laws of nature, but this is never the case. We destroy mangroves to build beach houses, and the houses are then destroyed by the flooding that the mangroves would have prevented.
3. Accept risk and challenge. Being challenged builds resilience. Humanity currently tries to reduce the challenges we face, which makes us less resilient, less adaptable and weaker people.

Death and Eternal Life

There is no soul, and there is no judgement after death.

Our atoms are eternal; they existed before us and will continue after us.

The purpose of all living things is the perpetuation of their DNA. DNA is what we are.

Humans carry a second inheritance: our ideas, knowledge and theories. Like DNA, they can live beyond our lifetime, and the best ideas and knowledge can live forever.

We stay alive for as long as our descendants and our ideas stay alive. This is how we obtain eternal life.

Death follows the universe's rules. We do not fear it.

The Funeral Rite

The family forest. Each family has its own grave site. A tree is planted on the body or with the cremated ashes, so the tree absorbs part of the person. Over generations the grave site becomes a forest of living things, where the family gathers, plays, relaxes and contemplates life.

The ancestor stone. When someone dies, a stone object is made to represent them, similar to a personal kami. Descendants keep these representations near them to invoke the spirit of their ancestors. For example, a gymnast's descendant training in gymnastics keeps that ancestor's stone close, as a reminder that the ability is in their DNA and within their reach. Multiple representations can exist, and each person may keep any number for different abilities and traits. They also keep our heritage and ancestors remembered.

The record of life. A list of each person's key attributes and notable events is recorded, kept both in searchable digital storage and as a written copy in the grave site building.

Ancestor day. Every year on 16 January, KOAR honours its ancestors.

The Purpose of Our Lives

Purpose works at three levels. The purpose of all living things is to pass on their DNA. Humanity's purpose is to pass on good ideas and knowledge. And each of us needs a purpose of our own.

Excellence in our abilities. Everyone is born with some ability. Some are given more than others: great academic or philosophical gifts for some, more modest and practical ones for others. Whatever our ability, we strive for excellence in it, whether as a great scholar or a flower arranger, and make that our purpose.

Family and the potential in our DNA. Even if our own abilities are modest, raising good children is a core responsibility of family. Our DNA carries the chance that a descendant will one day achieve greatness.

Fulfilment and legacy. Striving to be good at something gives us fulfilment, and it gives our family something to look to and say, "this is what we are known for." When we die, we are known for something, and we have a legacy to pass on.

Human skills in the age of the machine. As robots and artificial intelligence take over ordinary, mundane tasks, what humanity will value are individual human skills: academic, physical and creative, such as painting or flower arranging, that carry a uniquely human character. We value these skills and aim to be known for them.

Every person leaves a legacy. A great flower arranger, laid in the family forest with an ancestor stone made in their image, may inspire a descendant generations later. We all aspire to be part of this greatness, and it matters more and more as humanity reaches out to the stars.

The Cycle of Life

We are born. We grow and gain knowledge. We build a family. We help the younger generations onward through our experience. We die, and leave a legacy. And the cycle continues.

Birth, growth, family, guidance, legacy, and the cycle continues.

Mastering the Machine

Humanity is changing fast. As AI and robotics reshape the world, people will increasingly divide into those who understand and direct technology and those who only consume it. KOAR is dedicated to progress, science and nature, and to mastering technology rather than being mastered by it.

The Way of KOAR

• We never do anything alone
• Work with nature and the universe, not against it
• Have a vision, be the vision
• Always follow the truth
• Be grateful
• Find contentment in your journey
• Keep our traditions
• Don't be afraid of death

Personal: we strive continually for knowledge, truth and self-improvement, and pursue a vision for our lives.

Community: we look after nature, lift others up, protect our culture and heritage, take an active interest in science, space and exploration, and honour our ancestors.