Within human history, we reached behavioral modernity about 50,000 years ago and began recorded history about 6,000 years ago.

Regardless of your belief system, humans have converged on a set of timeless values and behaviors that, despite our flaws and errors, that we all aspire to ourselves and admire in others. Within recorded history, we have collected original language describing the nonzero values. We encourage the reader to take a “yes, if…” not “no, because…” stance instead of the intellectual laziness of being tripped up by any particular faith system. Please see below.

• Reliability

  A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
  בְּכָל-עֵת, אֹהֵב הָרֵעַ; וְאָח לְצָרָה, יִוָּלֵד
  pr-17-17
  One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
  .אִישׁ רֵעִים, לְהִתְרֹעֵעַ; וְיֵשׁ אֹהֵב, דָּבֵק מֵאָח
  pr-18-24
  

• Teammates

  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
  .בַּרְזֶל בְּבַרְזֶל יָחַד; וְאִישׁ, יַחַד פְּנֵי-רֵעֵהוּ
  pr-27-17
  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of [God].
  Ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε, καὶ οὕτως
  ἀναπληρώσατε τὸν νόμον τοῦ χριστοῦ
  ga-6-2
  

• Unselfish Play

  Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
  יְהַלֶּלְךָ זָר וְלֹא-פִיךָ; נָכְרִי, וְאַל-שְׂפָתֶיךָ.
  pr-27-2
  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
  δοῦλος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, κλητὸς ἀπόστολος,
  ἀφωρισμένος εἰς εὐαγγέλιον θεο
  ro-12-10
  

• Clear Focus

  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
  καὶ μὴ συνσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλὰ
  μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοός, εἰς τὸ
  δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον καὶ τέλειον
  ro-12-2
  Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of [God]? Or am I trying to please people?
  Ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν θεόν; ἢ ζητῶ
  ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν; εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον,
  .Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην
  ga-1-10
  

• Fearlessness

  Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the [Lord] is kept safe.
  .חֶרְדַּת אָדָם, יִתֵּן מוֹקֵשׁ; וּבוֹטֵחַ בַּיהוָה יְשֻׂגָּב
  pr-29-25
  No test has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And [God] is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear. But when you are tested he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
  πειρασμὸς ὑμᾶς οὐκ εἴληφεν εἰ μὴ ἀνθρώπινος: πιστὸς
  δὲ ὁ θεός, ὃς οὐκ ἐάσει ὑμᾶς πειρασθῆναι ὑπὲρ ὃ
  δύνασθε, ἀλλὰ ποιήσει σὺν τῷ πειρασμῷ καὶ τὴν
  .ἔκβασιν τοῦ δύνασθαι ὑπενεγκεῖν
  1co-10-13
  

• Purpose

  You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
  :תּוֹדִיעֵנִי, אֹרַח חַיִּים
  .שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת, אֶת-פָּנֶיךָ; נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח
  ps-16-11
  It is for freedom that [God] has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
  Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἡμᾶς Χριστὸς ἠλευθέρωσεν: στήκετε
  —.οὖν καὶ μὴ πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε
  ga-5-1