Manifesto
Community Manifesto
1. Value System
We adhere to a Christian value system, specifically the necessity to follow (or at least endeavor to follow) the 10 Commandments.
2. Free Will and Choice
We recognize that the opportunity to Choose is granted to human beings by God, and no one can take this opportunity away from a person. Therefore, all relationships within the Community are built on the principles of voluntariness, informed consent, and responsibility toward other people.
3. Service vs. Enrichment
Our life is Service to goals that we define for ourselves. We strive to choose meaningful goals so that achieving them creates value and improves the World, even if in a single aspect of it. Enrichment cannot be the ultimate goal of Service. We view money primarily as a tool for achieving higher-level goals.
4. Value First
For us, creating value is always the primary purpose and main motivation. We do not worry about immediate returns: value created and shared with the world will inevitably find its way back to its author — in one form or another, today or tomorrow.
5. Family
Family is the highest value in the private life of every individual.
6. Priorities
If the vital interests of the Family — its safety, health, and human dignity — come into conflict with the interests of the state, we give priority to the Family. At the same time, any actions taken to protect the interests of the Family must comply with Section 1 of this Manifesto.
7. Sacrifice / Giving
We contribute from our personal income toward goals that we define for ourselves, in amounts that we define for ourselves. Businesses contribute from net profits, not from gross revenues.
8. Risk
We consider risk justified if it is conscious, clear, proportionate to the expected result, and manageable. We do not have the right, without sufficient grounds, to shift the consequences of a voluntarily accepted risk onto other people.
9. Outcomes
We believe that even from a negative outcome, a person is capable of deriving experience, knowledge, or new meaning. The presence of such experience does not turn evil into good and does not diminish the gravity of the loss suffered.
10. End vs. Means
We believe that the end does not justify the means. The means used must comply with Section 1 of this Manifesto. A violation of this principle does not become permissible due to the circumstances that caused it. If such a violation does occur, we recognize it as a violation, accept responsibility for our actions, and take reasonably available measures to remedy the consequences caused. Circumstances may explain a violation of a moral principle, but they do not turn the violation into a norm.
11. Obligations
We fulfill our commitments even when it is disadvantageous to us. However, we reserve the right to review our commitments if the situation has changed substantially and unexpectedly, and fulfilling the commitment threatens our existence or requires a violation of our moral and ethical principles. A review of an obligation implies a good-faith attempt to agree on new terms with the other party and, where possible, compensate for any damage caused.
12. Taxes
We comply with tax legislation in full, fulfilling our civic duty (“render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”). At the same time, we distinguish between our zone of responsibility (honest earnings and payment) and the state’s zone of responsibility for the allocation of these resources.
13. Language
Language is a deep spiritual and cultural component of a person’s identity, an indelible code. A forced renunciation of one’s native language for the sake of political trends is an infringement on a person’s inner freedom. We are convinced that the main thing in communication is achieving mutual understanding and respect for the linguistic identity of everyone.
14. Politics
We condemn the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia. At the same time, we reject the concept of collective guilt and do not extend responsibility for the actions of the state to the entire nation. We are convinced that blind hatred is a destructive force that ruins human dignity and human souls regardless of their side.
15. Mistakes and Failures
We recognize a person’s right to make mistakes and view errors and failures as part of the journey and a source of valuable experience. The right to make mistakes does not exempt one from responsibility for their consequences and the duty to rectify them whenever possible.
16. War and Peace
Peace is preferable to conflict, as long as the price of peace does not require consenting to evil, refusing to protect the innocent, or violating fundamental moral principles. Violence is permissible only as a last resort of defense after reasonable non-violent means have been exhausted, and only to the necessary and proportionate extent.
17. Help
We believe that accepting help in a situation where you need it is not disgraceful. Nor is it disgraceful to ask for help from those who are stronger and able to help you. However, we strive not to turn receiving help into a voluntarily chosen permanent dependency if we are capable of restoring self-reliance.
18. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
We believe that human Freedom is expressed solely through free will and choice. As soon as a person takes on any obligations, they lose part of their freedom. We recognize the equality of people before God, in human dignity, and before a just law, but we do not consider people identical in abilities, achievements, responsibility, status, and resources. We do not view social and material inequality as evil in itself. At the same time, greater abilities, power, and resources create greater responsibility toward Society. We believe that Fraternity is a personal choice of individuals and cannot be imposed.
19. Principle of Truth
We strive to speak the truth and not mislead others. We recognize a person’s right not to disclose information that they are not obligated to disclose; however, the right to remain silent does not imply the right to deceive.