The Effect of Atheophobia on PR

[usregimechange]

I think it is more than possible that many Brights are unaware that they have been discriminated against and have a tendency to not view negative treatment in a way that recognized minorities do. In other words, to have the propensity to say that we have been discriminated against, to have pride in ourselves, and to not be dissuaded by the fear of our own status in society. Because such discrimination and prejudice is not called for what it is, even by Brights, we tend not to see it that way either.

As a result, I think, we have this pent up fire that explodes when we are comfronted by atheophobic responses and treatment. We respond emotionally with anger and resentment because we have not, to sound like a psychoanalysts, brought those emotions to the surface and disposed of them constuctively.

My advise (if you are a nontheist): Say your name in public, attach the title Bright to it, and wave it like a flag!

"A Bright is a person who has a naturalistic worldview." www.the-brights.net

Be careful not to "misunderstand the humble noun as an arrogant adjective" (Dawkins, 2003).

[usregimechange]

1. Comments by Oxford Professor Richard Dawkins

"So, the bright meme is launched. Will it spread, like gay, and basically, and the backward baseball cap? Or will it nose-dive into the sand? I'm hoping it will take off. I'm even betting that it will, despite the hostility of those who misunderstand the humble noun as an arrogant adjective, and those who, notwithstanding the success of gay, resent all such coinings out of hand. But mostly, I am simply curious, as a disinterested scientist, to see what will happen."

By Richard Dawkins for Wired Magazine October, 2003
http://www.brightrights.org/cites/religionbedamned.html

[expatriot]

3. why do we need the term 'brights? -- it has elitist connotations...

it infers that we think we are more 'BRIGHT' than others.
Sure, you can say that homosexuals who embraced the term 'gay' must have thought they were more 'GAY' than others but that is an emotion, and any living creature is capable of happiness or sadness but "BRIGHTNESS" infers a higher mental capacity or attainment than others and is therefore inhererntly ELITIST and would go counter to our intended aims.

[usregimechange]

4. Noun

"it infers that we think we are more 'BRIGHT' than others."

"...despite the hostility of those who misunderstand the humble noun as an arrogant adjective" (Dawkins, 2003).

[expatriot]

2. i think someone wants hits to his website...

usregimechange, is www.the-brights.net your website? You sure like to promote it.

[usregimechange]

5. Web-site belongs to:

Paul Geisert and Mynga Futrell of Sacramento. I am from Missouri and have never met them...

???

[usregimechange]

6. I also...

do not own meetup.com, which I link to.

[Book Lover]

7. What's wrong with just plain atheist?

I don't think the answer is to join another group, or to paste a different label on me. I share the sentiment, but can't condone the action...

[even]

8. I believe the term atheist

bars one from public office in many states.

[usregimechange]

9. Yes.

In fact in South Carolina Herb Silverman was refused a public office because he was a Bright. That was in 1992. About 8 State constitutions bar Brights. Although it has been unconstitutional to enforce for about 40 years now.

[BurtWorm]

10. Has any atheist tried to challenge the law?

That would be a worthy use of an otherwise useless candidacy. Sincerely.

[Stuckinthebush]

11. Is an agnostic a semi-bright?

Or a semi-dull?

Just wondering?

:-)

[ret5hd]

12. maybe an agnostic is ...

one of those FLICKER-LAMPS!

[Terwilliger]

13. or a trick candle

that doesn't go out when you blow it out

[usregimechange]

17. Noun again???

Bright is a noun not an adj. Agnostics are Brights if they do not believe in the supernatural, most do not.

[JHB]

14. Can't say I agree with the "Brights" label...

...but I do like the light-bulb as a symbol.

[Terwilliger]

15. ok, you made that up

atheophobia? Is that what the god-pod's do?

[JHB]

16. They're scared of Athenians...

Beware Greeks bearing gifts! But Corinthians have that cool leather. That's what they tell the Spartans... :evilgrin: :silly:

[usregimechange]

18. term

atheophbia: the fear and hatred of atheists.