8.0.11.3.2 Public Expressions of Joy

Version 1.6 December 2016                          (Previous Version)

Now we turn to public celebrations of joy.  Global figures from the UN or NGOs don't often participate in celebrations.  National politicians aren’t generally good examples because they appeal too much to God and parochial values.  We need to be able to celebrate without the supernatural.

Traditional Religious Response

1.     Religious people give thanks to God for providing the reason to celebrate.  They often ignore directly associated suffering that has occurred.

2.     Clerics often falsely attribute the good outcome to unrelated compliance with religious demands, rather than to the good work actually done by people, not god(s).

A Reasonable Response

We can assert something like this, where it is appropriate, in appropriate words:

1.     We express our gratitude for our forebears – the people who have come before us – and the people working now, who have given us this reason to celebrate. 

To bring this about, they have sought the truth, tried to discover the reality behind our success and considered a diversity of opinions in doing so, accepted their responsibility, worked in hope, strived to promote beauty, life, love and equality – all values we share.

We must also acknowledge the sheer good luck that has enabled this celebration to occur.

2.     We must acknowledge the imperfections of life, the uncertainty, the risks that this occasion for celebration might not have come out well.  We need to focus on the whole truth.

But the success of this occasion is another source of hope for us, hope based not on the supernatural, but on real events, on history and science.

We are grateful we can share our commitment to truth, diversity, reality, life, love, responsibility, equality, beauty and hope with everyone who celebrates this occasion with us.