Author of The God Virus Announces the Formation of "Recovering Religionists"

(SANEPR.com) April 17, 2009 -- From: Jeffrey Sussman, Inc.
Marketing Public Relations
249 East 48 Street FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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For: The God Virus

Contact: Jeffrey Sussman
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AUTHOR OF THE GOD VIRUS
ANNOUNCES THE FORMATION OF
“RECOVERING RELIGIONISTS”

New York, NY --- Dr. Darrel Ray, author of the popular new book, The God Virus, which poses the question is religion a virus infecting otherwise healthy minds?, has formed an organization based upon traditional 12-step programs. It is called Recovering Religionists (or RR, which is similar to AA), and it is for those who have left behind the superstitions, ritualistic behaviour, and obsessions of religion for a world of rational thought.
“Because so many of us who have been brought up in religious households and often feel the pull to return to a world of sin and reward, of heaven and hell, of God and the devil,” said Dr. Ray, “I have formed RR to create a solidarity amongst those who are intent on recovering from the medieval concepts of a superstitious world view. It is a support group for those who want to break free, for those who believe that they have nothing to lose but the chains that had kept them bound to ritualistic behaviour and beliefs that have no scientific basis.”
Preamble
Having awakened our ability to think clearly and logically, we wish to apply the principles of rational thinking and the scientific method to our lives. Religion was often given to us as children, by well meaning parents, before we had the conscious tools to question or resist. We may also have been religiously infected during times of stress when seeking social support. Our purpose is to provide support to each other as we uncover myths and superstitions that have
governed so much of our past thinking and behavior. Our purpose is NOT to convert anyone to any organization or group, but to question superstition and irrational ideas when we encounter them. To that end, we propose these ten guiding principles for RR.
1. We recognize that we have the power to identify and eliminate irrational ideas and that our lives are manageable without religion and superstition.
2. We experience the power of rational thinking and recognize that the scientific method can help us reduce and eliminate supernatural ideas and religious infection. We are our own myth busters.
3. We are ready and willing to pursue lives based on reason, truth, self examination and integrity.
4. We have made an analytic inventory of our ideas and beliefs and dispensed with those that were based upon superstition and myth.
5. We have admitted to ourselves and to each other that we have been prisoners of myth, superstition, and prejudice born out of religion.
6. We have made a list of all persons we have hurt (through judgment or condemnation) because we disapproved of their religious beliefs or their lack of beliefs. We have made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
7. We will work tirelessly to keep religious prejudice from infecting our judgments of people and the world.
8. We will examine the sources of our feelings of guilt and determine if they come from inappropriate religious training. If so, we will strive to eliminate them.
9. We will seek through rational discussion and debate to improve our relationships with all people, believers, non-believers, and unbelievers.
10. We will live by an ethic that values humanity and human relationships above dogma and superstition.
Dr. Ray is available for interviews on podcasts, radio, and other media.
For those interested in forming an RR group in their community, contact Dr. Ray at http://recoveringreligionists.com





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