Abstract

An advanced constitution is proposed to allow the age-old conflict of religion and reason to evolve and progress as have other human institutions. No specific resolution is imposed, but rather all sides are prohibited from dismissing in the disputation that which they have already accepted in practice. We work back from points at issue to the common ground, and then work forward using forms of inference accepted by all in practice. This method has the appearance of an argumentum ad hominem, but the intent is to subsume all parties under the same principles. We are left with those who reject all reason as such, the insane, the frivolous, the fanatic, and the coercive. Our constitution is able to bring in even this troublesome and disruptive population by using an aesthetic appeal that meets them where they are and shows that even their madness can be turned toward the good.