by Euphemism 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I tend to agree with you, too, Euph. I call it God though. It makes my life easier, being around religious family and my husband who does believe in the God of the Bible.
Mostly, I am unsure, but I like the way you think.
Another good book is "Living Christ, Living Buddha". Shows the comparisons are pretty startling, and compatible.
Peacefulpete: I had never heard about the "Bright" label, but on your advice I found and read Dawkins' article in The Guardian. I'm not very enthusiastic either. First, that's the kind of label we don't really need (yet) in Voltaire's country: here any public religious / cultic / occult commitment will definitely bring more scorn than trust or respect. I can imagine that a sort of "rationalistic pride" may be useful in countries (such as the U.S.?) where religious people are deemed more trustworthy, or serious, than unbelievers. Even so, I would have picked up something less elitist, on a social/educational standpoint. Because "bright", as I feel it, could create much misunderstanding and even hate, especially in view of the dominant judeo-christian "value" of "humility"... I also think of the Iranian model (my wife is Iranian), where much of the popular support for the fundamentalistic Islamic revolution was fueled by a spirit of revenge against the "enlightened" upper-class and its "bright" Western views under the Shah. A lack of pedagogy can bring us centuries backwards.
Yes, you're right that America distrusts nonreligious people. Recent polls have shown atheists to be less likely to be voted into office than minorities, Muslims, or gays. The religious right has successfully characterized these people as arrogant, vice prone and delusional. The choice of the word "Brights" to unite these tens of millions of people isn't terrible after thinking about it's intended meaning, yet it inevitably will invite the response, "You think your Brighter/smarter than believers!!" As the word has unintended meanings in common vernacular, it seems a better choice could have been made. This brings us back to the thread, and why i don't feel the use of the word "God" is appropriate for my feelings of awe or ethical universals.
