Are you a bright?

[freeztar]

Science is amenable to change. Brights should be the same.

Until a better theory comes along, I think the BBT is a good theory that does a good job of explaining observed phenomena.

Do you see the difference between scientific theories and things such as ghosts and unicorns?

[Jay-qu]

I am now a registered bright

[C1ay]

Originally Posted by coldcreation

Is your world-view really free of supernatural or mystical forces, and entities? What about forces or entities such as spacetime wormholes, black holes, magnetic monopoles, domain walls, cosmic string-like defects, quintessence, false vacuums, Higgs particles (the God particle), supersymmetric point-like and surface-like defects imagined to be extremely stable and extremely massive, strings, superstrings, extra dimensions (in addition to the known four), non-baryonic dark matter, dark energy.

Originally Posted by CraigD

If I were to encounter a god or a ghost, this world view would lead me to attempt to explain it in natural terms – for example, as a psychological effect, such as a dream or hallucination, or a natural phenomenon external to my body.

Yes, like Craig, I look for natural explanations. Just because we encounter things man doesn't understand yet does not mean they are supernatural. IMO, everything is natural, even ghosts if they exist. There are just some things in nature we don't understand yet but that doesn't make them supernatural.

[coldcreation]

Originally Posted by C1ay

Yes, like Craig, I look for natural explanations. Just because we encounter things man doesn't understand yet does not mean they are supernatural. IMO, everything is natural, even ghosts if they exist. There are just some things in nature we don't understand yet but that doesn't make them supernatural.

You bring up a very good point C1ay.

The natural explanation must be sought, always.

We could look at each one of the items listed above separately, but it would take too long and would be the subject of another thread. Lets just, for the sake of argument, compare two differing world-views; one that begins with a bright flash of light (Fiat Lux), and the other that begins with a bright flash of light (the Big Bang). Within the context of the latter (and by implication, the former) Arthur Eddington writes:

“The test of extrapolation to the most distant future does not, I think, disclose any definite weakness in the present system of science—in particular, in the second law of thermodynamics on which physical science so largely relies. It is true that the extrapolation foretells that the material universe will some day arrive at a state of dead sameness and so virtually come to an end; to my mind that is a rather happy avoidance of a nightmare of eternal repetition. It is the opposite extrapolation towards the past which gives real cause to suspect a weakness in the present conceptions of science. The beginning seems to present insurmountable difficulties unless we agree to look on it as frankly supernatural. We may have to let it go at that…Instead of honestly facing the intricacies of our problem, we may be led to think that its difficulties have been solved when they have only been swept over the boundary. Sweeping them back and back, the pile increases until it forms an unclimbable barrier. Perhaps it is this barrier that we call “the beginning.” (Eddington, A. 1958, The Expanding Universe, 1958, p. 124, 125)

My bold...



CC
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[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

No, I don’t identify myself as a bright or a super

I'm a Me!

I like to think for myself and more importantly be myself...kinda hard to do when adopting labels...I can and will change my mind and therefore refuse to adopt titles which impede said change and impose the title of hypocrate upon my person due to the afforementioned changes

[Moontanman]

While I am a registered "Bright" I to have problems with labels. I am not comfortable with any label, labels are just a way to categorize people. If at any time the idea of a bright is something I cannot live with I will be out of there. So far the whole idea is to be a community of people who do not allow things that are not a part of or subject to natural laws to control your life and it's also a platform for people who want to be independent of the supernatural to contact each other and discuss the ideas we have. If at some point I cannot be a part of this group because they try to define my reality I will be gone gone gone........

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

"Yes, I’m a registered bright"
"Yes, I’m a bright, but haven’t registered with any organizing body or constituency " I have to wonder how many of the votes for these two have more to do with the positive assumed nature of the word "bright" than the assigned meaning of "bright" in this thread.

I consider myself a "bright" (Even "super"on occasion on those rare days when I actually kinda like myself) person Ie. intelligent, smart, etc.etc. but not a "bright" (or super) within the confines of this thread.

[coldcreation]

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“Belief in the supernatural reflects a failure of the imagination”
(Edward Abbey)





CC

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

Originally Posted by coldcreation

.

“Belief in the supernatural reflects a failure of the imagination”
(Edward Abbey)

CC

Now that is a contradictory statement...I'd say it requires equal imagination to life either way.
You lack imagination if you believe in imaginary things!!!!

[C1ay]

Originally Posted by CraigD

I am a bright (or, if I chose to explicitly identify myself with the website-supported movement, a Bright, with a capital B).

Are some of the poll options inconsistent with this?