What's in a name? Atheist, Freethinker, Bright...

Newbie First Class Joined: Apr 26, 2008 Posts: 44

I find myself typing along and never really knowing what to call "us" . I also don't know what to call "them" . Most of the time I have simply opted to call people of faith "the faithful" and people without faith "freethinkers" .

The Brights movement started solely as an attempt to "rename" the many people who go by so many different names that are (to one extent or another) despised by the vast majority of people in the US. "Atheist" being the most despised of the bunch. The Brights name has been very controversial and the meme is developing very slowly (contrary to their claims). It does not help that the Brights adopted a symbol used by both the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII and the Holy Spirt Association for the Unification of World Christianity, known by its popular name, The Moonies . And then the brilliant Daniel Dennet (who I love) decided to try and soften the Brights name controversy by naming the faithful "Supers" , after supernatural. A desperate act if there every was one and guaranteed to fail. (Plus the Brights website sucks.) In my opinion the Brights movement is just another in the long and sorry history of really crappy "marketing" by the atheist, deist, agnostic, secular, humanist, non-believers, freethinking, rationalist, infidel, pagan, heathen, etc. movements. (Damn, the list is nearly endless!!!!! My fingers are bleeding.)

Now I am not proposing a new "popular" name like the Brights tried to do. What I am proposing is that WE come up with two names that we use amongst ourselves. One for them and one for us.

One characteristic of religion that seems to be universal is the fear of God and his wrath, although I understand that some religions have no such precept. But for the sake of argument and because our focus is generally on Christianity and its allies, let's assume FEAR is the foundation of the religions we are concerned with .

One characteristic of most of you in the Infidel Guy website is that none of you appear to fear God . Look at the Infidel Guy. His adopted name is actually a name that is most despised by the single greatest enemy to peace on the Earth, jihadists.

So, to make my own life just a little easier and remove two little thorns from my writing psyche, I am going to, from now on, refer to the faithful as...
"THE FEARFUL"

And I am going to refer to all of you and myself as...
"THE FEARLESS"

Because that is just the way it really is. Now THAT really is a "bright" idea huh?

Just Arrived Joined: Jun 01, 2008 Posts: 3

Good thinking, Everbleed! Although I am not quite sure about "The Fearless" rather something like "Without Fear" or "No Fear". I'm still ruminating about this. Something about "The Fearless" does not work with me. Stay tuned.

BTW, I miss the old "Bearded" avatar, but the sea anemone is good too.

65Roses

Just Arrived Joined: May 28, 2008 Posts: 8

Mr. 65Roses may have missed the point. I think Mr. Everbleed wants to be able to use The Faithful and the Fearless in a sentence.

I voted YES. It floats my boat. I have always been fearless. Gonna stay that way too.

Graduate Thinker Joined: Mar 26, 2008 Posts: 522

It appears that since Everbleed is refering to a lack of fear in god as we all question god, then I would say, yes. This does float my boat.

Grand Poster Joined: Oct 24, 2005 Posts: 2505

How about atheist and theist


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