I don't recognize any authority, for human civilization has only one authority, it's the authority of human values.

Values should dictate a society, not superstitions.

A homeless humanist with no clothes on their back is far more civilized than a well-dressed bigot.

Our worth is in our values - our worth is in our virtues - our worth is in our principles - without these we are just good-looking savages.

Soul or spirit can no longer be hailed as some supernatural force that lives on after death - they are mere metaphorical representations of the values, the principles that a person stands for.