Full User Manual coming soon.


What is an “open source religion”?

In a sense, all religions are “open source”. Source codes (sacred texts) are made available to developers (priest classes) who shape and release them to end users (followers). Adherents to faiths may be encouraged to engage with the original code, but as with modern software, it’s generally the exception. The moral functions adopted from the sacred codings, however authentic or repackaged, define our behavior and spiritual persona, or lack thereof.

How is KRNL different?

KRNL (pronounced, “kernel”) seeks to simplify the code, and build outward. Starting with just four words, it is a declaration of possibly productive pillars of human potential. These four words—Knowledge, Respect, Novelty, and Love, which represent huge concepts—in dynamic, positive interplay can give rise to balance, wisdom, and progress, and aid in the journey of understanding oneself and the world.

The initial release, displayed at thekrnl.org, expands the four core concepts into a concise, 256-word summary that hopefully captures the potential breadth of the exercise. It is not meant to be prescriptive, but rather, provocative and/or evocative.

That’s all there is to it? The whole “religion” is four words?

The future of KRNL is in experimentation and unique, personal user implementation. Currently under construction is a platform to build individual expressions of agreement with the core concepts.

The system being designed will allow users to create their own “versions” of KRNL, and have followers and break-off sects. An effort will be made to create versions of KRNL within the context of existing religions, to create a cross-faith forum grounded in productive values.

In the end, KRNL is meant to create new kinds of conversations around faith, morality, and self-understanding. If nothing else, it is a passion product of deep personal introspection and broad comparative religious research.

But… It’s a pun, right?

What, KRNL? Yeah. It sounds like “kernel”, like a “kernel of truth”, or the kernel of an operating system. In computers, the kernel manages some of the most fundamental functions — translating software requests into the electrical language of hardware.

The pun is that our subjective experience, behavior, and reactions are our “operating system”, and this is a simple mental system through which to filter our own choices and electrical impulses.

Is this for real?

Yes, this is for real. I completely believe what I’m saying.

But you’ve called it an art project elsewhere.

I’ve also called it a joke. But if you don’t believe in your art, what the hell are you doing?


-David Jenkins