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Chris OConnor 
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 Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:47 am Post subject: BookTalk MISSION STATEMENT
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I'm asking all members to help us establish a proper "Mission Statement" for our community. As it stands our current Mission Statement could be considered the first two sentences on our ABOUT page.
Quote:
BookTalk is an online book discussion community dedicated to the advancement of critical thinking, reason, intelligence, freedom of inquiry, philosophy and the scientific method. We are a secular community, which means we support and promote a naturalistic worldview.
Your participation in this thread would be greatly appreciated. I value your opinions. 
Note what we're claiming to be about...
critical thinking
reason
intelligence
freedom of inquiry
philosophy
scientific method
secular
naturalistic worldview
Things have changed over the years. We're now doing fiction in addition to our nonfiction selections. Should we add verbiage about fiction? ...or about "reading" in general?
Again, here are the ways we're describing ourselves. I'll post a comment on each.
critical thinking
could we just say "freethought?"
reason
If we used "freethought" we wouldn't need "critical thinking" or "reason," would we?
intelligence
This one needs to go. I'd suggest replacing it with "education" or even "self-education."
freedom of inquiry
Again, this is what "freethought" is all about.
philosophy
If we have "philosophy" in our Mission Statement shouldn't we add "history" and "politics" and "current events?" We don't focus on philosophy more than any of these.
scientific method
Extremely important.
secular
Alienating, but I have always liked it. Should we care about alienating theists?
naturalistic worldview
This is extremely important to me.
Again, here is the current Mission Statement:
Quote:
BookTalk is an online book discussion community dedicated to the advancement of critical thinking, reason, intelligence, freedom of inquiry, philosophy and the scientific method. We are a secular community, which means we support and promote a naturalistic worldview.
Here are some possibilities:
Quote:
BookTalk is an online book discussion community dedicated to promoting quality reading, freethought, seperation of church and state, the scientific method and a naturalistic worldview.
Although we all know what "freethought" means I am wondering if the general public understands. Maybe we don't use that term in our Mission Statement, but instead use "reason" and "freedom of inquiry."
Quote:
BookTalk is an online book discussion community dedicated to promoting quality reading, self-education, personal growth, freethought, science, and a naturalistic worldview.
Edited by: Chris OConnor  at: 9/9/06 1:48 am
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Chris OConnor
Rhodes Scholar
BookTalk.org Owner
Usergroups: None
Joined: 05 May 2002
Posts: 7346
Thanks
Given: 53
Received: 20 in 16 Posts
Gender:
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 1:00 am Post subject: Re: BookTalk MISSION STATEMENT
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Ideas...
BookTalk.org is an online book discussion community dedicated to the advancement of critical thinking, reason, freedom of inquiry, the scientific method and a naturalistic worldview.
BookTalk.org is an online book discussion community dedicated to quality reading, self-education and personal growth. Our nonfiction book selections promote freethought, secular humanism, critical thinking, reason, freedom of inquiry, science, and a naturalistic worldview. |
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Dissident Heart
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: BookTalk MISSION STATEMENT
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Here's a shot:
Booktalk is an online community commited to engaging the leading writers of our day, discussing the defining issues in contemporary society, supporting freedom of thought and the power of critical thinking. We are independent thinkers allied according to the principles of rational inquiry and the scientific method.
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Chris OConnor
Rhodes Scholar
BookTalk.org Owner
Usergroups: None
Joined: 05 May 2002
Posts: 7346
Thanks
Given: 53
Received: 20 in 16 Posts
Gender:
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: BookTalk MISSION STATEMENT
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| BookTalk.org is an online book discussion community that promotes quality reading, freedom of inquiry, and personal growth. As a secular community we are dedicated to the advancement of critical thinking, reason, the scientific method, and a naturalistic worldview. |
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Chris OConnor
Rhodes Scholar
BookTalk.org Owner
Usergroups: None
Joined: 05 May 2002
Posts: 7346
Thanks
Given: 53
Received: 20 in 16 Posts
Gender:
Location: Florida
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Chris OConnor
Rhodes Scholar
BookTalk.org Owner
Usergroups: None
Joined: 05 May 2002
Posts: 7346
Thanks
Given: 53
Received: 20 in 16 Posts
Gender:
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:48 am Post subject: Re: BookTalk MISSION STATEMENT
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Revised again...
Quote:
BookTalk.org is a free online book discussion community that promotes quality reading, freedom of inquiry, and personal growth. As a freethinker community we are dedicated to the advancement of critical thinking, reason, the scientific method, and a naturalistic worldview.
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