1. Jesus Christ (c. 4 BC – AD 30)
Principle: Jesus’ teachings on love, forgiveness, and salvation form the cornerstone of Christian ethics and the value of self-sacrificial love, which aligns with the church’s teachings on compassion and virtue.
Relevance: Jesus’ focus on love for one’s neighbor and forgiveness reinforces the church’s commitment to collective well-being and spiritual transformation.  

Quote: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Sermon: “The Power of Love and Forgiveness in Our Eternal Journey.”


2. Muhammad (570–632 AD)
Principle: The Prophet Muhammad’s revelations, compiled in the Qur’an, emphasize submission to God’s will, justice, mercy, and community, resonating with the church’s teachings on stewardship and unity.
Relevance: Muhammad’s life and the concept of Ummah (community) reflect the church’s belief in building a unified society grounded in moral responsibility.

Quote: “The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.”

Sermon: “Living a Life of Integrity and Service.”


3. Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) (c. 563/480 – c. 483/400 BCE)
Principle: The Buddha’s Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path provide a structured path to enlightenment, focusing on self-discipline, mindfulness, and the cessation of suffering.
Relevance: Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness and inner peace support the church’s focus on introspection and the conscious evolution of one’s soul.

Quote: “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
Sermon: “The Path to Inner Peace and Enlightenment.”


4. Moses (c. 1400 BC)
Principle: Moses is revered as the lawgiver who received the Ten Commandments, which serve as foundational ethical guidelines in monotheistic religions.
Relevance: Moses’ focus on divine law and justice aligns with the church’s teachings on the pursuit of virtue and ethical responsibility.

Quote: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness.”
Sermon: “The Moral Compass: Learning from Moses.”


5. Confucius (551–479 BCE)
Principle: Confucius taught the importance of respect, duty, family, and the role of moral integrity in personal and social conduct. He emphasized moral virtues and social harmony, focusing on ethical principles rather than empirical inquiry.
Relevance: His focus on ethical behavior in relationships aligns with the church’s emphasis on virtue and respect within families and communities.

Quote: “Respect yourself and others will respect you.”
Sermon: “Harmony and Honor in Relationships.”


6. Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Principle: Martin Luther’s emphasis on individual faith and his critiques of religious corruption catalyzed the Protestant Reformation, advocating for reform and personal conviction in belief.
Relevance: Luther’s call for religious reform resonates with the church’s encouragement of critical thought, personal faith, and resistance to dogmatic structures.

Quote: “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”
Sermon: “The Courage to Reform: Lessons from Luther.”


7. St. Paul (c. 5 – c. 64/67 AD)
Principle: Paul’s writings in the New Testament stress faith, grace, and the transformative power of love, key concepts that underscore the church’s teachings on inner transformation.
Relevance: Paul’s emphasis on personal conversion and moral growth parallels the church’s focus on lifelong spiritual development.

Quote: “If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Sermon: “Embracing Transformation: Faith in Action.”


8. Guru Nanak (1469–1539)
Principle: Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, emphasized equality, selfless service, devotion to God, and the oneness of humanity.
Relevance: Nanak’s vision of a just and united community reflects the church’s ideals of inclusivity, selflessness, and unity.   

Quote: “He who has no faith in himself can never have faith in God.”

Sermon: “Serving Humanity with Humility and Love.”


9. Joseph Smith (1805–1844)
Principle: Founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, Smith taught the eternal progression of the soul, communal unity, and the value of continuous revelation.
Relevance: His teachings on the evolution of the soul and familial unity echo the church’s beliefs in spiritual growth and familial bonds.

Quote: “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!… Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you”

Sermon: “The Eternal Family and the Journey of the Soul.”


10. Zoroaster (c. 1500–1000 BC)
Principle: Zoroaster introduced the concept of dualism, the eternal struggle between good and evil, and the importance of choosing righteousness.
Relevance: The themes of ethical choice and the pursuit of good align with the church’s teachings on moral responsibility and self-improvement.

Quote: “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.”
Sermon: “Choosing the Path of Light in a World of Darkness.”

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11. Socrates (c. 1500–1000 BC)

Principle: Socrates, through his method of questioning, advocated for self-knowledge and examined life as essential to human happiness and wisdom. His teachings encourage critical reflection and humility. Socrates encouraged a life of ethical questioning and reflection, advocating for moral truth beyond empirical evidence.

Relevance: Socratic questioning is a vital tool for the Church, encouraging members to seek personal and universal truths through curiosity and self-inquiry.

Quote: “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Sermon: “The Examined Life: Following Socratic Wisdom in Our Daily Journey”

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12. Friedrich Nietzsche (c. 1500–1000 BC)

Principle: Nietzsche delved into existentialism and morality, urging individuals to define their purpose beyond societal norms. His idea of the “Übermensch” (or Superman) and his critique of traditional morality encourage individuals to create their own values and rise above societal norms.

Relevance: Nietzsche’s call for self-overcoming resonates with the church’s emphasis on personal growth, inviting members to transcend limitations and realize their potential.

Quote: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”

Sermon: “Beyond Good and Evil: Following Nietzsche’s Call to Self-Mastery”

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13. Søren Kierkegaard (c. 1500–1000 BC)

Principle: Kierkegaard, the father of existentialism, focused on the leap of faith, the necessity of individual commitment, and the personal relationship with God. His existentialism highlighted personal faith as a deeply individual journey, one that often defies rational explanation.

Relevance: Kierkegaard’s philosophy supports the church’s encouragement of faith and individual spiritual journeys, particularly the courage to seek truth beyond certainty.

Quote: “Faith sees best in the dark.”

Sermon: “Taking the Leap: Faith and Personal Commitment in Kierkegaard’s Thought”

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14. Laozi (Lao Tzu) (6th century BCE)

Principle: Laozi, the ancient Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism. His teachings center around the concept of the Tao (the Way), an underlying, ineffable force that guides all things in harmony with nature. His philosophy emphasizes simplicity, humility, and non-action (wu wei)—the art of acting in harmony with the natural flow of life rather than forcing outcomes.

Relevance: Laozi’s philosophy aligns with the Church's teachings on interconnectedness and the importance of living in balance with the universe’s natural order. His ideas underscore the value of humility, patience, and acceptance, encouraging a life that aligns with larger universal patterns rather than striving against them.

Quote: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

Sermon: “Embracing the Way: Learning Harmony from Laozi”

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15. Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892), born Mírzá Ḥusayn-‘Alí Núrí

Principle: Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, preached the essential unity of all religions and humanity. His teachings emphasize that the diverse religious paths, while varied in practices, are united in purpose, each illuminating a different aspect of spiritual truth. Central to his vision is the belief that humanity is one family under a single, loving Creator, and that world peace and unity are not only possible but inevitable.

Relevance: Seeks harmony between diverse perspectives on faith and science. His teachings invite individuals to see beyond cultural and religious divides and to strive for collective spiritual progress. This aligns with the Church’s commitment to honoring the diversity of religious, scientific, and philosophical contributions, recognizing them as vital parts of a singular, greater truth.

Quote: “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” 

Sermon: “Unity in Diversity: The Path to Oneness”

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15. C.S. Lewis (1898–1963), born Clive Staples Lewis

Principle: C.S. Lewis, a British scholar and Christian apologist, taught that faith and reason are not adversaries but allies, guiding us to live with purpose and integrity. His writings emphasize that our moral choices and deepest longings reflect a universal order, illuminating the path to a life of meaning and service.

Relevance: Lewis’s vision of a reasoned faith aligns with the Church of Faith and Reason’s mission to harmonize spiritual and scientific understanding. His teachings encourage us to see our actions as meaningful within the pixelated universe—a grid-like reality where every choice resonates, urging us to live authentically and contribute to a world of hope and unity.

Quote: “We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork you must make a decision.”

Sermon: “Reasoned Faith: Choosing the Path of Purpose””

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16. Martha Beck (1962–present), born Martha Nibley

Principle: Martha Beck, a Harvard-trained sociologist, reforming influence in the Latter-day Saint community, and bestselling author, teaches that integrity—living in alignment with one’s true self—leads to freedom and joy. In The Way of Integrity (2021), she outlines a four-stage path inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy: acknowledging misalignment, releasing false beliefs, acting authentically, and sustaining inner harmony.

Relevance: Beck’s emphasis on personal truth and her journey away from Mormonism resonate with the Church of Faith and Reason’s mission to refine faith through introspection and authenticity. Her teachings encourage individuals to harmonize faith and reason by mining personal convictions for universal truths.

Quote: “Integrity is the cure for psychological suffering; it’s the way to joy.”

Sermon: “Finding Your True Path: Integrity as Faith.”

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17. Marcus Aurelius (121–180 AD)

Principle: Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, penned Meditations, personal Stoic reflections on virtue, reason, and resilience, famed for guiding his rule through the Antonine Plague and Marcomannic Wars. His Meditations emphasize reason, virtue, and universal order. As a philosopher-king, he led with justice. Meditations shaped ethical thought, inspiring Stoic revivals and resilience and rational acceptance of nature’s order.

Relevance: His rational faith, facing great challenges, aligns with the Church’s mission, remembered for inspiring ethical growth in a pixelated universe.

Quote: "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

Sermon: “Enduring Trials: Stoic Wisdom’s Lasting Light.”

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18. Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
Principle: Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, veiled philosphy as comedy and taught that humor, curiosity, and imagination are powerful tools for navigating an absurd universe. His writings emphasize the importance of crafting one’s own meaning, embracing adaptability, and fostering unity through shared wonder.
Relevance: Adams’s blend of rational inquiry and faith in human potential aligns with the Church’s mission to harmonize reason and faith. His teachings encourage individuals to write their own lives with creativity, find purpose through exploration, transform through wonder, and elevate humanity by celebrating interconnectedness.
Quote: “The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.”
Sermon: “Don’t Panic: Embracing Wonder in a Cosmic Journey.”

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19. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) 

Principle: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French Jesuit priest and paleontologist, taught that evolution is God’s divine process, guiding humanity toward a Noosphere of shared consciousness and an Omega Point of spiritual unity. His vision unites science and faith, seeing technology as a tool for divine wisdom.

Relevance: Teilhard’s synthesis of evolution and spirituality aligns with the mission to harmonize faith and reason. His Noosphere foreshadows Homo Sapientioris, a wiser humanity blending biology and technology in a pixelated universe taught in the Church of Faith and Reason, where choices reflect God’s purpose and foster collective growth.

Quotes:

"The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason to hope.”

“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.”

Sermon: “Evolving Toward Love: Teilhard’s Vision for a United Humanity.”

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20. Comedian Steve Harvey (1957-present) 

Principle: Steve Harvey, a renowned comedian, television host, and author, teaches that faith, resilience, and gratitude are essential for overcoming adversity and achieving success. His motivational teachings, rooted in his Christian faith, emphasize trusting in God’s plan, taking bold leaps of faith, and using humor to inspire and uplift others. 

Relevance: Harvey’s blend of faith-driven optimism and practical wisdom aligns with the Church’s mission to integrate faith and reason, encouraging individuals to persevere through challenges and find purpose through spiritual and personal growth.

Quote: "Your setback is just a setup for a comeback.”

Sermon: “Faith, Humor, and Resilience: Rising with Steve Harvey’s Wisdom.”

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