Brianism
Brianism
'Brianism' is also a new, groundbreaking religion which started in the UK. It is based almost entirely around Brian Blessed and his twelve disciples. These disciples range from the well-known Bill Oddie to the lesser known Crispin Blunt. It started on a webpage but now there are rumoured to be over 70,000 Brianists living in the UK.
The religion has no formal symbol as yet, but the patron animal is the hawk. Brianism has a serious and important set of mores and morals that most Brianists adhere to. Brianism is growing at a greater rate than any other religion in the UK, and is spreading to the US.
Brianism, another movement
Circumpunct, symbol of the religion. Size and proportions vary; creativity is encouraged.
Brianism describes itself as "a religion-substitute" based on the writings and sayings of Brian the Cyber-prophet, as set down in the Book of Brian. It appeared in the 1990s as an outgrowth of the skeptic movement. Followers of Brianism are termed Brianists and the symbol of Brianism is the circle with a point at its centre, which Brianists term the Circumpunct.
Goals, principles, and practices
It aims to provide the positive aspects of organized religion without the "mumbo-jumbo or irrationality" of traditional organized religion, based on a framework of scientific skepticism compatible with the beliefs of atheists, skeptics and scientific rationalists. The main goal of Brianism is to safeguard the evolution and propagation of intelligent life. Brianism terms this the 'Prime Directive.'
Brianists believe that the human race has an evolved predisposition to form pyramid-shaped social structures under an 'alpha-male' and that conventional religions naturally result from the imposition of this structure on the universe at large. The religion does not necessarily believe this is desirable, rather, that it is simply a human disposition to do it .
Conventional Brianism is based on seven pillars, or principles:
- Intelligence - the preservation and continuation of intelligent life.
- Rationality - firm rejection of conventional religion and pseudo-science.
- Propagation - eventual emigration to other worlds.
- Environment - protection of the terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments, in so far as this is compatible with the Prime Directive.
- Evolution - continued evolution, even into artificial intelligences, if required.
- Knowledge - scientific progress, teaching and the acquisition of information
- Heritage - preservation of beneficial aspects of our heritage.
Brianists are encouraged to participate in activities that will help promote the preservation and continuation of intelligent life. Suggested activities include personal growth (getting fit, studying) and community-minded service (giving blood, volunteerism).
Book of Brian
The First Testament of the 'Book of Brian' consists of 6 books of 6 chapters of 6 verses. Each verse is of 4 sentences containing 3, 7, 10 and 18 words, as illustrated by this quote:
- Continue to evolve. Technology is starting to outrun the mind.
Evolution is not what it was in the recent past. If you make a machine
in the likeness of a human mind, you must give it its due. — Sura 1, verse 5.
The only major Brianist organization is the World Brianism Foundation in the United Kingdom. Local congregations are called covens and their gatherings sabbats, terminology chosen to shock and confound Christians. The majority of a sabbat consists of whatever activities the congregation wishes to carry out.
See also
