Basics Beliefs and Practices
What do you worship in Lunai?
Lunai is a secular pantheist religion. We believe that “God” is synonymous with the universe, or that everything as a whole is divine.
We don’t believe in divine beings, supernatural phenomenon, or other magical thinking, but believe that true joy is found through the worship of what is objectively real.
One can be spiritually touched by a stroll in the mountains, a visit to an art gallery, or reading a great book. One can find God in a quiet moment by the ocean, a transcendent experience at a concert, or in the birth of a child. Blessings, miracles, enlightenments, and inspiration do not have to come from a supernatural source to be worthy of veneration.
In short, we worship anything that brings joy.
What does “Lunai” mean?
Lunai, pronounced /lʊ’naɪ/ or /lə’naɪ/, means “Born of Light”.
One of the main goals of Lunaiism is to experience frequent “mini enlightenments”: spiritually transcendent experiences or moments in which we feel metaphorically filled with light. These experiences can come from almost anywhere; from learning something new or finally understanding a challenging concept to a deeply touching conversation or moving book or film. They are experiences that touch us spiritually, change our perspective or our behavior, and make our lives better.
“Lunai”, however, is simply an invented word to convey an idea. It is just a name, not something we worship.
Do Lunaiists pray?
They can. Though we don’t believe that deities are taking our requests and choosing whom to bless and whom to deny, we know that praying can still be a very beneficial practice. It can help us collect our thoughts, express our gratitude, and assess our needs and desires; it can bring clarity, cultivate compassion, and inspire hope. Praying as a group can even help bring unity of heart and mind.
In personal prayers, we can pray without addressing a listener, but it can also be beneficial to imagine you are speaking with someone. That might be the universe, a loved one, an ancestor, or even just one’s self. Personal prayer can really be whatever one needs it to be.
Where do you believe we come from?
Around 13.77 billion years ago, there was a speck, in which was contained everything. All matter, anti-matter, and energy was contained in an unformed state within a single point.
In an event that is commonly referred to as the big bang, the speck suddenly and rapidly began to expand. The matter in the speck began to move about. Over the course of the next 13.77 billion years, a series of completely random interactions, collisions, and events resulted in the birth of atoms, molecules, stars, planets, galaxies, and life which then evolved from single celled organisms to conscious beings, eventually resulting in: us.
Everything we know of, every person, every creature, every star, every idea, and every experience, was a potentiality inside of that speck. The atoms that compose the world we know and everything in it, have also been the building blocks of many other things in the past and will be used again and again in the future. The energy we use to eat, move, and even think, is transferred and converted, never beginning, never-ending, only changing. Everything is connected.
What is our purpose here?
Understanding our connection with the cosmos can help us feel more connected with our world and those we share it with. This is one of countless examples of how the more we know, experience, and understand, the more equipt we will be to live our lives well: Experiencing art can fill our lives with color and imagination, but it can also give us insight into the lives and emotions of others helping us to develop greater empathy. Studying our history can be entertaining while giving us new perspective and helping us make better choices for our future. Meditation can help us to reflect and contemplate more completely, but it also improves our health physically and mentally and helps us to become more resilient and open minded.
The purpose of life is to enjoy it, to learn and understand who we are, where we came from, and to work toward the best possible future. We should strive to live as well as possible and help others do the same. We should seek to fill our lives with knowledge and understanding.
What comes after this life?
Our atoms and our energy are eternal. They have lived in the cosmos for billions of years as a part of a myriad of things and they will continue on for eons after we are gone. When we die, our legacy remains in the memories carried by those who survive us. Our individual consciousness ends at death.
Why do you think bad things happen?
That’s just how things go sometimes. This answer may not be as comforting as “Everything happens for a reason”, but it’s honest. Things don’t always happen for a “reason”, neither for consequence, nor fate. Things just happen. Sometimes those things are wonderful and sometimes they are pretty awful. Attempts to make sense of every struggle are misguided.
Do you believe that Lunaiism is the only true religion and that other religions are wrong?
We don’t believe that we are the only true religion. In fact, a core tenant of lunaiism is that one should never be stubbornly certain they are right. No one is infallible. We base our belief of what is real on modern, evidence-based, peer-reviewed science. The beauty of science is that mysteries, the unknown, doubts, and even mistakes all present opportunities to learn and discover. But even though science makes mistakes, and lacks some answers, it is always the most dependable, accurate, and current source. Lunaiism will always be willing to change any belief or practice to reflect the modern scientific consensus.
Obviously, we have to accept that some other religions, or aspects of other religions, are incorrect. We believe in the big bang & evolution and therefore cannot also believe in creationism; We support lgbtqa+ people and therefore cannot follow any tradition which views homosexuality as a sin or gender as a binary; We support gender equality which forbids a belief that men are supposed to rule over their households. We seek to be inviting and inclusive, but never at the expense of truth or right.
Do you have a religious text?
I suppose this FAQ qualifies, but not specifically, no.
Why form an organized religion?
Many people dislike the idea of organized religion based on their previous experiences with other religions, and even among the many religions of the world a lot of people say “I don’t need to go to church for my belief, it’s just a part of me.” One absolutely can practice their own beliefs any way they like, including completely separate from organized religion, or other people at all. There are, however, a lot of benefits to having an organized religion.
The core motivation behind founding Lunai was to build an organized community around the spiritual celebration of art, science, nature, and life. Many people struggle with the lack of community they experience after departing more traditional organized religions for a more secular life, often disingenuously returning to organizations they disagree with seeking to fill that void. We are seeking to provide a place where you can routinely come and be a part of a community of people who see the spiritual value in secular things.
There are also legal benefits in many countries to organized religion. Many nations have laws that protect people from religious discrimination.
If Lunaiism is secular, how is it a religion?
Lunaiism is secular, but also celebrates spirituality; We just don’t believe that something must be supernatural, or ineffable, in order to be spiritual. When one experiences a spiritually transcendent moment related to something that is real, they should be encouraged to celebrate and share that experience. How many lives have been changed through experiencing “Claire De Lune” by Claude Debussy, “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh, or “Pale Blue Dot” by Carl Sagan? How inspiring is it to know that we are made of stardust? The fact that science can explain why some feel spiritually rejuvenated when they are near the sea or in the mountains doesn’t in any way diminish those spiritual experiences. We believe it amplifies them.
The world has changed. The things that inspire us have changed. But the joy and hope, the need to give and receive help, to inspire and be inspired, have not changed.
Lifestyle, Standards, and Policies
How are gender roles defined in Lunaiism?
We support gender equality.
Are all races and nationalities welcome at Lunai?
We celebrate diversity and embrace all people of all races and nationalities. No degree of racism, xenophobia, or bigotry is acceptable in Lunaiism. A more diverse community breeds greater tolerance and compassion. We are only intolerant of intolerance and ignorance.
Are LGBTQA+ people welcome/accepted at Lunai?
Yes! LGBTQA+ people are welcome, accepted, and supported, and we take a proactive position in support of LGBTQA+ rights. We view all* genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, relationships, and marriages as valid and equal.
What is your stance on abstinence and family planning?
We are pro-choice and support comprehensive sex education and easy, affordable access to birth control for all.
Sex can be a glorious part of life. Questions of if, when, how, and with whom to have sex are no one’s to answer save the person answering for themselves.
One should wait until they are mature and feel well informed and prepared before deciding they are ready for sexual relationships. All parties must express consent prior to engaging in any sexual activity. One should never feel shamed or pressured into having sex, nor should they feel shamed or pressured for choosing to have or to not have sex.
*Lunaiism explicitly forbids any romantic or sexual relationship which is manipulative, abusive, pedophilic or otherwise age-inappropriate (including situations of grooming), incestuous, or nonconsensual by any party.
Do you have a dress code?
Your body and how you adorn it is up to you. This includes clothing, body art, body modifications, and tattoos. We don’t follow antiquated ideas of arbitrarily or misogynistically defined modesty or propriety. We simply encourage followers to dress appropriately for the activity at hand where possible.
Do Lunaiists have to follow a special diet?
No. We do, however, encourage healthy eating based on sound science. As a part of our focus on living well and living with compassion, we also encourage followers to consume mindfully and sustainably to the best of their ability. People should always be mindful of where our food comes from and be grateful.
Do Lunaiists drink/do drugs/take medication?
All people should be mindful how the things they consume affect their lives and the lives of others. Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs, legal and illegal, have a long history of use, and abuse. There is also a lot of information and misinformation available about their consumption and effects. Approach the use of alcohol and drugs responsibly and safely. Seek out accurate information from reliable sources prior to deciding to try anything. One should avoid using any substance that has adverse effects on their health, mental/emotional/spiritual state, behavior, or decision making. Compassion also requires that one consider how their substance use effects their loved ones as well as the safety and wellbeing of others.
Prescription medications can improve and save lives. If and when to use them is a matter for a patient to discuss with their physician, not their church. If you are unhappy with your medical treatments, seek the guidance of a more qualified medical professional.
While there are countless beneficial alternative treatments, there are also a lot of dangerous, ineffective, and fraudulent substitutions. A qualified physician can help you navigate these questions safely.
What is your position on vaccines?
The data is clear. Vaccines are safe and effective. Refusing to vaccinate your children is irresponsible and puts your children and others at risk. Get vaccinated and vaccinate your children.
Do you celebrate holidays/birthdays?
Yes! We love a good celebration. We celebrate birthdays, national holidays, and traditional holidays (Christmas, Halloween, etc) with our communities, and we encourage our followers to respectfully take part in any cultural and religious celebrations to which they are invited.
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