We believe we are the Ancestors to a trillion diverse species spread throughout the stars. Our answer to "are we alone in the universe" is maybe - but only for now.
As the Ancestors, we have a responsibility to our Descendants to ensure both their existence and that the universe they inherit is one of abundance and wonder. We believe that this is our fundamental purpose, and that the arc of history is not shaped like a rainbow, but the trail of a rocket.
We come from different faiths, different earthly-political backgrounds, and different cultures. Where we disagree, we become stronger, as we are united around a desire to see each one of our home traditions represented as entire worlds unto themselves. We reject that one must divide in order to conquer. Instead, we work together in order to take off.
Ancestorism has the following core tenets:
1. We believe that human life must be spread throughout the stars.
2. We think "solving the Earth's problems first" is a trap.
3. We have a reverence for life.
4. We embrace competition and true diversity of thought.
5. We believe technology is worth the risk.
These ideas are largely compatible with whatever you believe now. You don't need to abandon who you are in order to become an Ancestor. We don't want you to. We want you to be given space to flourish and time to develop. Unlike on Earth, the resources in the cosmos are infinite, and there is nobody already living there.
We believe that human life must be spread throughout the stars.
As we once left the ocean in search of the land, we are now leaving the land in search of the cosmos. There is no dogmatic explanation for why we must do this. We are explorers, and that is enough.
We think "solving the Earth's problems first" is a trap.
We do not dispute that there is real work that must be done here on Earth. We do not dispute that there is widespread suffering, and our reverence for life pulls many of us towards humanitarian projects. But, the problems are as infinite as the cosmos, and what we build out there will help those who remain down here.
We have a reverence for life.
It is impossible to believe that human life must be spread throughout the stars without believing that life itself is worth defending.
We embrace competition and true diversity of thought.
Competition and diversity have been pitted against one another in the stage of contemporary politics, with the latter often being misused as a blunt instrument against the former. We believe that competition and diversity are complementary forces, and that neither can exist without the other.
We believe technology is worth the risk.
We know that building the tools that will help us in our ascent to the stars comes with risk. We believe that this risk is not only worthwhile, but fundamentally necessary. However, we are not fools. We would not put our children on a leaky starship merely to get up there faster. We believe in strong, consistent, and safe momentum - but we also know when to stop overthinking and to start the launch sequence.
Become an Ancestor
Becoming an Ancestor means having children, because you expect them to inherit the universe. It means building tools of abundance and exploration, and daring to do so even when the entire world is telling you to remain stuck. It means taking your family out into a place where you can truly see the stars and showing them the beauty that is ours to find.
Becoming an Ancestor means your present moment is someone else's past. The weight of this is something you can feel.
We know that not everyone will want to leave. If you do not want to come, we will not make you. The gardens on Earth must be tended to, and we support people sticking around. But, our respect for the earthly way of life is something that we demand be two-way. If you want to stay, we will not coerce you into coming. All that we ask is you do not force the Earth to become our grave, as well.
It’s a compelling vision that reframes long-term thinking at a species level, though it also raises important tension between exploration and stewardship. The challenge will be ensuring that ambition for the future doesn’t come at the expense of responsibility in the present.
So much this