X-Message-Number: 25205
From:
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 09:07:18 EST
Subject: Brights posting, trying again
Content-Language: en
Hello, Cryoneters,
Yeppers, I was concerned that my forwarding yesterday of the "Brights
Bulletin" would not forward to the cryonet format. Actually, I applaud the
fact
that the system purges regular forwards.
Anyway, since I got several emails from folks who were interested, I am
trying to reprint this here again, this time via a "Cut and paste" mode.
We know cryonics is non-religious, and cryonics as a field makes no claims
or counterclaims about religion, faith, secularism, etc. Nor is my or our
intention to blatantly antagonize the majority of humans who seem to need the
(perhaps necessary) mythologies of a religious worldview.
But there are more agnostics, freethinkers, atheists, skeptics, and those
who question religious authority out there than many of us realize.
The Brights movement is supported by some folks I like and respect, like
Richard Dawkins and Michael Shermer. It is also controversial even among
skeptics, as some feel the term itself has inherent problems with the earlier
connotation. And will lead folks who already think skeptics are arrogant and
intellectually snobbish to be confirmed in this belief.
So, to now see if the cut and paste format will work, heeeeeres the post!
The Brights' Bulletin #19, November 30, 2004
THE ACTION ARENA OF REALITY ABOUT MORALITY
The Brights' Network's choice of "Reality about Morality" as an Arena for
action is a momentous choice for a first significant action foray. The
selection is not one of diffidence; nor is the venture for the faint of heart.
The Brights will directly confront the commonly accepted explanations of how
people come to have principles of right and wrong motivating their conduct.
We shall counter, and counter most vociferously, the notion that "religion is
the necessary ingredient for morality." We will do so, though, only after a
committed enterprise to first furnish comprehensible (by public and press),
fully documented and irrefutable (scientifically substantiated) statements
regarding the genetic and social evolution of human morals.
So that you are fully informed and can offer input should you so wish,
please visit the Web site to read an introductory overview and to look over a
brief sketch outlining various project areas being considered. The discussion
is
available at
http://www.the-brights.net/action_arena_intro.htm
If you are interested in reading some brights' comments about this arena,
they are available at
http://www.the-brights.net/action_arena_comments.htm
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
The Brights' Italia new Website is up, and warrants your taking a look
even if you don't read any Italian!
http://brightsitalia.dafflitto.com
NEW BOOKS BY BRIGHTS
Book titles continue to roll in. Here are the latest additions:
Secular Wholeness: A Skeptic's Paths to a Richer Life
The Essence of Humanism: Free Thought versus Religious Belief
Theological Incorrectness: Why Religious People Believe What They Shouldn't
Heretics: The Bloody History of The Christian Church
Why Intelligent Design Fails: A Scientific Critique of the New Creationism
For a complete listing, information on each title (and stipulations for
adding books), go to
www.the-brights.net/brights_books.htm
BRIGHTS' ICON AND WEB DEVELOPMENT
The desire to have a visual image to represent the Brights' constituency
came early on. Many Brights sent in their artwork proposals. Across two
"rounds"
of submissions, Brights Central spent much time and energy processing the
volunteered artwork, polling constituents, and considering feedback. No image
submitted ever sparked consensus (or anything close). As we stated in an
earlier Bulletin, it is important for "branding purposes" to move ahead.
For the Phase 1 site modification now in progress, we have settled on an
optimistic Brights' icon to appear within the logo/banner design. It will be
part of "the new face" for current site content, but we would expect that, over
time, this simple image will undergo further "evolution" (such as when we
pursue a full-fledged site overhaul in 2005).
The working image is consistent with notions of "global Enbrightenment"
(Turn up the Brightness!) a hopeful concept that hearkens to the 18th century
period of Enlightenment when science and reason seemed to offer the key to the
future. Some will appreciate its somewhat "sciency perspective." Sorry, but
the image will not be unveiled until we complete the transfer of files,
testing, and so forth and launch the new site milieu.
GERMAN ARTICLE ON THE BRIGHTS' NET
German Press Die Sueddeutsche Netzeitung has an article on the Brights'
endeavor. It has spurred German registrations to the constituency, which in turn
spurred us to employ Google's free Web page translation service to get a
(barely comprehensible) translation.
From what we can decipher, the article features, among others, four of our
Enthusiastic (and influential) Brights: James Randi, Michael Shermer, Richard
Dawkins, and Daniel Dennett. On the surface, the article appears to be
correct regarding the essence and purposes of the Brights' Net. We did see a
few
errors regarding the origins of the Brights' endeavor. These will spur us to
add to our "To Do" list. We simply must upload to the Web site a correct
"history" for use by the press. To read the article (or practice your German),
go
to:
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/artikel/860/43817/
A BRIGHTS' MUSIC PROJECT
Many Brights, and particularly parents and educators, would appreciate
having access to a focused repertoire of "naturalistic worldview" musical
selections. So here we go. Tony has volunteered to coordinate a Music Project
seeking identify those songs particularly evocative of the naturalistic
outlook, as
follows:
1. Songs that speak to life without hint of God, supernatural forces or
entities, a hereafter, etc.
2. Songs that speak to human values.
3. Songs that speak to stewardship of the earth.
4. Any children's songs that have secular texts in harmony with #1,#2,#3
[i.e., avoid the well-known traditional children's songs that are probably in
collections anyway, e.g., Fr re Jacques.]
Message From Tony:
Songs can be submitted in any language. They can be traditional or composed.
The latter may present some problems unless the copyright has expired, but
let's give it a go anyway.
Send title and source of the song(s) via email address to
[]. Do not send to the Brights' Net.
I plan to empanel a group to assess the music's quality and appropriateness
for various ages, so if you are interested in being part of the panel, let me
know.
After a Panel review, the Music Project will put the texts out for review by
the constituency to ensure the compilation is representative of the
interests of Brights in general.
EMAIL of BrightenOp
Thanks to everyone who took the time to forward the BrightenOp message (sent
you November 6) regarding the results of the U.S. presidential election.
Your actions produced a significant increase in Brights' registrations across
the next ten days. It really does work when you let others know about the
Brights.
==================
A SEARCH FOR EXAMPLES OF DISCRIMINATION OR BIAS (USA)
For a lawsuit that is being filed soon, Dr. Michael Newdow (a Bright) would
welcome testimony of any Brights who, because of their naturalistic beliefs,
have been subjected to bias or discrimination. In order to demonstrate that
anti-atheistic bias pervades American society, he is asking anyone who has
experienced such bias (whether they deem themselves atheists, brights,
freethinkers, humanists, skeptics, etc.) to provide him with a declaration
attesting
to a specific situation or event. More information, and how to prepare such a
declaration, is provided at
http://www.the-brights.net/bias_example.htm
Disclaimer: The Brights' Net takes no position on whether the Pledge
litigation will benefit brights. The reality is that litigation will proceed
regardless of our feelings on the matter.
REALITY TV AND CALL FOR AN ATHEIST FAMILY (USA)
--UGH-- BUT IT WILL HAPPEN ANYWAY
A new ABC television series with a rather salacious title ("Wife Swap")
wants to feature on one show a family headed by parents who are raising their
children without imposing religious beliefs on them. On this particular show,
two mothers (one Christian and one atheist) exchange families for two weeks,
such that both can explore another family's values and lifestyle and share
perspective. The format has won awards in the UK. These comments are from the
American press:
Time Magazine: "One of the most entertaining new entries in reality TV, Wife
Swap reminds us that the American living room is as fascinating a laboratory
of human emotions as Borneo or the corporate boardroom."
Washington Post: "Wife Swap is promisingly sly and serious, funny and
flabbergasting. It's a reality show, yes, but also in its way a fascinating pop
sociological experiment, one that increases in complexity and impact as it goes
along."
If you have interest in participating on the segment placing together
Christian and Atheist families, see details at
http://www.the-brights.net/wife_swap.htm
=======
Brights' Net Disclaimer: This invitation is presented to Brights as an
opportunity only because ABC will put this show on, regardless. We would hope
to
find among Brights who identify as atheist a family that could represent the
outlook in a principled, civic fashion specifically, a family that can
champion the stance of a naturalistic worldview in a broad and constructive
manner
(not anti-religious). The Brights' Net is not sponsoring or responsible for
the actions of any family chosen.
BRIGHTS' LOCAL CONSTITUENCIES
Murali is forming a national BLC in India and would like anyone who is
interested in working together to contact him at
HOT SPOTS ON THE BRIGHTS' NET
Jeffrey has suggested that the Bulletins should provide the URL of the
Brights' Forum. In the future, that link will be part of the "TAILINGS" at the
end
of the Bulletin. For now, here is the Forum URL along with a few other
often-used parts of the Web site:
Brights' Forum: http://www.the-brights.net/forums
Brights Local Constituencies: http://the-brights.net/blc_list.htm
Books by Brights: http://the-brights.net/brights_books.htm
Activities: http://the-brights.net/beingabright.htm
Supporting the Brights: http://the-brights.net/support_info.htm
Enthusiastic Brights:
http://the-brights.net/enthusiastic_brights_1.htm
TAILINGS
If you have a problem receiving this Bulletin, please e-mail the Webmaster
Kevin () and place the word PROBLEM in the subject
line.
The archive of all prior Bulletins is at
http://www.the-brights.net/broadcastarchive.htm
To suspend e-mailing of Bulletins and read them online instead, you can now
change status yourself at:
http://the-brights.net/unsubscribe.htm
If you need to change your registered email eddress to a new one, you can
now do this by going to:
http://the-brights.net/emailchange.htm
Do you have comments for the Co-Directors regarding the Bulletin? Send to
and put DIRECTORS in the subject line.
Brights' Forum: http://www.the-brights.net/forums
Brights Central
Co-Directors: Mynga Futrell and Paul Geisert
Webmaster: Kevin Schultz
http://wwww.the-brights.net
Email:
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