The Brights Philippines

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BRIGHTS' SITES...

...EN ESPANOL: A shortened version of the-brights.net site is available in
SPANISH. So, if any Spanish-speaking friends are curious about the Brights,
send them to this site for a brief introduction to all the major elements of
the endeavor (Definition, Aims, Principles, Vision, People, and Action):
http://www.equalium.net/thebrights/

...EM PORTUGUÊS: There's a truncated site in PORTUGUESE, too, thanks to
Gilberto, who compares his translation to the international site as "literally,
exactly the same content." [The links to pages point to the actual pages in
English of the main the-brights.net site or point to a page translated by the
google page translator.] At BC, we also notice all the pictures of Enthusiastic
Brights that one finds on the main site. Gilberto has supplied quite a nice
addition that you can invite your Portuguese-speaking friends to check out at:
http://brightsbrasil.haaan.com/

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BRIGHTS STAKE OUT TERRITORY

Going camping means preparation! A family of Minnesota (USA) Brights wanted to
show all nearby campers the family's association with the Brights. So, when
Micki and Jeff, accompanied by daughter Cecilia, headed for vacation, they took
something special along. Micki tells about the new signs the family included in
their gear:
"They are made of metal, hung on a shepherd's hook by our camp site and backlit
with a tea light. Jeff made them with a plasma cutter."

If you'd like a look at their unique campsite sign, there's a photo now on the
main site. See it at:
http://the-brights.net/people/expressions.html

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EDUCATION AND ACTION AT TBN

The Brights' Net's activism is directed to helping more and more persons
concentrate on their naturalistic worldview and work in constructive ways to
lift their civic status. An educational nonprofit, it does not engage directly
in political activity. TBN does, however, notify new USA registrants of the
existence of the Secular Coalition for America (SCA), a Washington, DC-based
organization that lobbies on behalf of nontheistic Americans. Through the SIG-1
group, we invite American Brights to support the SCA's lobbying activities.
http://www.the-brights.net/action/activ ... g_one.html

NEWS: Just recently, the SCA gained its 10th member organization and hired a
new Executive Director, Sean Faircloth. Formerly director of a Children's
Science museum and a Maine legislator for a decade, Sean has hit the ground
running in DC. For the latest information on new developments, go to the SCA
website at:
http://secular.org/

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HOW I HEARD ABOUT THE BRIGHTS

Last month the Bulletin included one person's interesting story and invited
other submissions. Of those received, this is the one we chose. You'll see why:

FROM EMILY: "How about from a 3-year-old? I am a nanny for a very religious
couple with 3 children (at the time they were 10, 8 and 3 years of age). One
day the 10-year-old was asking me a lot of questions about why I was not
'saved,' why I was not a Christian and why I didn't want to attend church
services with them. The 3-year-old sat quietly through it all until her sister
asked if I knew any other people who were 'like me.' I replied that I had never
talked about it with anyone before and the youngest kid said, 'Why don't you
become a Bright, that's what my Uncle Scott is?'

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"A LITTLE BRIGHTNESS" GETS NOTICED

BACKGROUND: June saw several more incarcerated prisoners writing postal letters
to inquire about the Brights. Since prisoners are not allowed computer access,
Joel, a volunteer Bright, has for some time helped solve this dilemma. From his
home in Texas, he has been condensing monthly Brights Bulletins and mailing his
"A Little Brightness" newsletter, often adding items to it. Joel has also
helped his subscribers obtain additional reading material.

Now you can read about Joel's fine project in his essay, "Partners for
Prisoners," posted at:
http://reedsecular.org/2009/06/21/joel- ... ks-projec/

With the subscriber list growing apace, the task has gotten overwhelming. So,
although Joel will continue to introduce prisoners to the project and prepare
"A Little Brightness" in readiness for "publication," BC will be relieving him
of the necessity to print and disseminate the newsletter. If you would like to
help financially as BC takes on this added project, you can earmark your
donations accordingly:
http://the-brights.net/action/support/#donatenow

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NOW HELPING OUT AT BRIGHTS CENTRAL

BC has long been seriously understaffed in the office. Several dedicated
volunteers for Brights' activities exist, and this is marvelous, but most are
in other locations. Mike, the web guy, who helps part-time with the site and
database, is the only "hired help." More in-house staff has long been needed,
but there is brightness on the horizon. Kelly is just now starting her
part-time work, and we sure do hope she likes the job. Welcome, Kelly!

SUMMER ONLY: Peter, a journalism student, will be dropping in until he heads
back to college. Right now, he's putting forward ideas for promotion and
delving into the Facebook situation (it seems there are so many Brights who
haven't registered at the main site. So, among other things, he will see if
perhaps they will come our way to see the main site and perhaps register.)

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CALLING YOUNG BRIGHTS

FROM PETER: The Brights are looking to expand visibility among young people.
One way is for high school and college students to start clubs on their
respective campuses. Founding a Brights Club on campuses will create many
opportunities for its founders, leaders, members and The Brights' Net
organization, such as networking with people on campus who share a naturalistic
worldview, an impressive credential on résumés and college applications,
growing our constituency, and creating greater acceptance of the naturalistic
worldview. If you are interested in how you might proceed to form a club on
your campus, please reply to this email and put PETER'S IDEA in upper case
letters in your subject line.

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SLOVAK SITE

From Jan, who administers a Slovak humanist site:
"Good day to you my friends,
I want to inform you about our website.
http://www.humanisti.sk/view.php?cisloclanku=2009060004

...I hope that we will participate more tightly in the future."

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GLAD TO FIND THE BRIGHTS
(NEW REGISTRATION COMMENTS)

Alistair (Canada): "Extremely happy to see something sensible but not preachy.
Keep up the great work."

Daniel (Tennessee, USA): "Fantastic: I have been longing for an organization
that is not mired in dogmatism for some time now."

Chris (Netherlands): "Great name and style for a unity of atheists and
freethinkers. Finally."

Richard (Alabama, USA): "Thanks for creating this group - gives us
uncategorized nonreligious types a place to check out others with similar
bents."

Azzurra (Italy): "Now I feel freedom under my skin, thank you. I hope you could
help me and I could help you to realize a free world."

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ORDERING ACADEMIC YEAR CALENDARS

For folks in the northern hemisphere, summer is here! Think about getting a
calendar or two before school starts up again to give to a favorite teacher or
anyone headed for college. Brights everywhere may want a current calendar to
have on hand. (The time is right - this calendar starts with August 2009 and
ends with July 2010.)

The Brights' Net's Academic Calendar was crafted by a cadre of Brights via the
Forums. Pictures are upbeat and life-affirming. Textual remarks come from
participating Brights themselves. This calendar will delight supers as well as
brights. (It celebrates science and humanity, with key dates internationally
suitable.) For each print-on-demand calendar sold, just two US dollars go to
support the Brights movement. View at:
http://lulu.com/content/3754932

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QUERY FROM CASEY (CANADA)

"Hey guys, I am a bright who has recently joined the Canadian Forces and
[stating] religion is required, or the option of No Religion Expressed.
Although, that may be the case I was wondering what other ideas you may have to
write in this field. I was thinking of something along the lines of Naturalist,
or even a Bright. I understand that a religion we are not, but when the
question is raised elsewhere, my response is always 'I am a Bright.'"

ONE IDEA FOR CASEY: How about lobbying for Naturalistic Worldview Expressed (in
place of No Religion Expressed)? Even as you fail to convince, you make a
point. And the more people making the affirmative point of their worldview
(rather than continuing to be defined with regard to religion) is one point of
having the Brights. Of course, you can reply, "I am a Bright" if the intent is
to spread the term. Urge them to "Look it up" at the-brights.net.

FOLLOWUP: Here's a bit from the website that is worth recalling whenever one
finds the Brights accused of being "a religion":
A supernatural-free worldview is not an ideology. There is no creed or dogma to
which one can point to reveal (or list out) the philosophical "beliefs of
Brights." Nor is "Brightdom" ruled by a hierarchy of shamans or clergy or
organized in a hierarchical fashion with those who would reveal "Truth" to the
disciples and communicate the essence of it to laity or others. Brights are not
followers or disciples; nor are they students of a describable way of thinking
or set of values.

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BRIGHTS' NET VIDEOS

If you haven't checked them out yet, go to:
http://www.the-brights.net/movement/videos/

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HAPPILY GREETING "THE WORD"

From Jack (California, USA): "I've been looking for an upbeat positive term for
what I believe for a while. I've never liked the term atheist cuz it's too
vague (defining yourself by what you're not?) and I've wanted something more
positive. The term "Bright" will due just fine!"

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BUT ARE YOU EMPLOYING "THE DEFINITION"?

Certain occasions call for you to quickly launch a CIVIC identity. The
"naturalistic worldview" aspect proves very useful. It locates a person
appropriately with respect to a whole gamut of supernaturalistic/mystical
interpretations of the world that most any bright will likely encounter. You
can speak out honestly and with detachment: "I have a naturalistic worldview."
Such a simple and straightforward way of characterizing yourself!

The "naturalistic worldview" characterization starts you off fresh. Just a
single definition; nothing more. You aren't immediately "summed up" and caught
by others' preconceptions. Nor are you set at immediate variance to fellow
citizens based on customary cultural traps.

Have you tried it on for size?

When the discussions are of matters like improving youth education, or accurate
portrayals of history, or topics like climate change, try it! In our
experience, this self-identity slips in readily without defining you by
reference or casting you into immediate opposition. If you have already
practiced this way of identifying, we bet you are starting to catch on to how
you can position yourself forthrightly in order to better focus on whatever
topic is at hand while avoiding side issues that other terms invoke. After all,
that "free of supernatural/mystical" wraps up a pretty broad realm for you to
roam around in.

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WE"RE SURROUNDED!

From Kate (Pennsylvania, USA): "I have to admit - finding this website is a
huge relief for me. I live in a small very conservative town and often feel
suffocated by the religious majority. This website is a wonderful escape."

From Robert (Ceredigion, UK): "[We] are an island of atheists surround by an
ocean of entrenched christians. Its nice to see people organising themselves
like this..."

From Dayanna (Utah, USA): "Just want to say a quick thanks for what you do. I
used to be a lonely non-believer here in Utah but thanks to you, and
organizations like yours, I find myself virtually surrounded by others who
(don't) believe as I do. Please know that what you're doing is invaluable.
With gratitude."
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A POST SCRIPT FOR DAYANNA

Oh, but you are a believer, too. That is, we'd bet that many of those folks who
virtually surround you via The Brights' Network DO BELIEVE in a great many
notions compatible with your own. (These are unspecified, of course.)

Sure, not having "a faith" or "credence in some supreme being" is a departure
from the cultural norm. But should "believing" be defined to distract from the
wide array of genuine beliefs in other valuable things?

The prevalent milieu is one that socially stigmatizes (as "nonbelievers") those
persons who happen to have a naturalistic worldview. This narrow and scornful
characterization of people who have supernatural-free outlooks is ubiquitous in
the U.S. and has seemingly infected us all. But Brights need not buy into it.

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LINK COUNT

"Alexa" reports on various aspects of websites. It reports that 471 other
websites have placed a link to The Brights' Net site. We thank Alexa for its
report and the 471 websites for informing others about the Brights' endeavor.
http://alexa.com/siteinfo/www.the-brights.net/

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BRIGHTS GROUPS & MEETUPS

As they evolve, many local Brights clusters appear to have moved toward holding
in-person gatherings arranged as MeetUps (using MeetUp.com).The master
MeetUp.com website lists 71 Brights groups with a total of 8,414 participants.
[These groups are in 61 different cities and seven countries.] The website also
lists 3,196 Brights as "interested," but with no leader to take up the task of
forming a group.

There's a lot of variety. Some groups started out as Brights MeetUps or
clusters. Others appear to be already established entities, variously labeled
as freethought, atheist, philosophy, humanist, etc. Presumably, they extend a
welcome to all who identify by the broader civic term (as someone who holds a
naturalistic worldview).

Solid leadership and actions are keys to successful Brights groups that sustain
over time. It is to be hoped that newly formed Brights clusters will have
participants who want to engage in constructive activities that align with
movement goals.

To see if there is a Brights group in your area or to start a new Brights
group, click: http://brights.meetup.com/

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UK ACTIVITIES

http://uk.brightsonline.net/

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SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to the many newly registered Brights who donated the symbolic
US$5 at registration. Thanks also to those Brights who have registered with
PayPal for a 6-month subscription. The Bright's Net is now serving over 46,000
individuals in 183 nations.

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LOTS OF EMAILS WAITING

In early June, Mynga and Paul arrived in Phoenix where she attended an American
Humanist Association board of directors meeting and convention. Prior to that,
they had spent 10 days traversing canyon lands and soaking in some breathtaking
southwest topography and geology. It was the first joint vacation in two years,
and it was really a whirlwind visit. They saw prominent features and landscapes
around Mono Lake, Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, Grand Canyon, and
Sunset Crater, as well as some archaeological or cultural sites. Plans to check
in periodically with their laptop went astray as the laptop apparently
"decided" it was also on vacation. Paul, upon return, faced 2,159 emails that
needed processing. (He replies to queries and comments in new registrations, as
well as deletes spam items that slip through the filter).

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AMAZON AND YOU

IF you are going to shop Amazon (books, toys, appliances, etc.) simply route
yourself through The Brights URL. When you "arrive" on Amazon's site, you will
NOT see any references to The Brights' Net. Nevertheless, the Brights WILL
receive from 4 to 8% on any purchase(s) you make at that time, with no
additional cost to you.

USA: Put the following URL in your address book. Put it on your website. Keep
it handy. Others, simply copy/click to purchase
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=thebrinet-21

You can also use the USA search-box on the website AT
http://www.the-brights.net/people/books/index.html

UK: Your access route to Amazon is via the UK search-box at:
http://www.the-brights.net/people/books/index.html

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REFERENCE GUIDE TO CONTACTING PERSONNEL AND LOCATING INFORMATION

All contact and general information at:
http://www.the-brights.net/reference_guide.html

All the Bulletins, including this one, may be found via the link in the right
column of the home page at http://www.the-brights.net

To financially support the civic aims and principles of the movement:
http://the-brights.net/action/support/

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Bright Regards from Mynga Futrell and Paul Geisert at Brights Central
Contact us at the-brights@the-brights.net