Name that new religious movement!

This is a semi-serious to serious question, so please, only semi-serious to serious answers. :hi:

I'm working on a writing project set about 50 years in the future. The story involves a kind of secular humanist version of Wicca. I've been trying to decide what to call this movement, with no luck.

The movement seeks to redress what it calls the three separations of modern life: separation from nature, separation from each other and separation from what it means to be human. It provides a diverse, mutually supportive and open community and a framework for marking milestones (birth, coming-of-age, marriage, death, etc.)

It's teachings are ethical rather than moral, along the lines of "do what is right because it is the right thing to do" rather than "do what you are told or else." These teachings promote inquiry and critical thinking, especially with regards to itself. "Why?" is the first question a child learns to ask, and this question should be asked often throughout one's life; "I don't know, but I want to find out" is the first step towards wisdom. Emphasis is put on community service, civic responsibility, reducing one's personal environmental impact and other humanist and "green" values.

There is a festival calendar similar to the traditional Wiccan one. Gatherings (with a capital 'G') are held eight times a year, on the equinoxes, solstices and cross-quarter days (these last four are placed between an equinox and solstice, and do not correspond to the traditional Wiccan dates.) Gatherings are times for the community to come together and celebrate, share news, sing songs, tell stories, eat, dance and generally reconnect as a group. Smaller local gatherings (small 'g') may take place weekly or semi-monthly, depending on how many adherents there are in an area; these often center around a speaker and discussion, much like many UU church services. Adherents are encouraged to fast from sunrise to sunset once a month, preferrably on the day of the new moon; this is both to provide another link to the rhythms of nature and to remind adherents that hunger, poverty and other such issues are still big problems. This fast also marks an opportunity for charitable contributions and other forms of community service.

The movement is distinctly apatheological. While its ceremonies, traditions and beliefs make no mention of gods or other supernatural agents or phenomena it does not condemn other religions, nor does it prohibit adherents from holding religious beliefs or following religious practices. Religion is considered a personal choice that should remain personal.

In my storyline, the movement began in Europe (I'm thinking France, with Spain and the Netherlands also possibilities.) It was started as an effort to recapture the positive aspects of religion and membership in a community of faith without actually being religious. The non-religious aspects are self-enforced, largely because adherents have come to value having a community that is not rife with sectarian conflicts and where Christians, Muslims, atheists and everyone else are valued and welcomed.

So, any thoughts on what to call this movement? I don't want anything that is cutesy or obscure, and I would like for the name to show a clean break from existing philosophies and religions.

(Ethical) Co-adunationism:

My first thoughts leaned towards 'unity,' bu that nears unitarianism. But co-adunation is a zoological term that denotes unity through growth. Growth as a spiritual community - unity with nature, with each other, with one's humanity.

The "ethical" part isn't necessarily needed, but it might stress the ethicality (?) over a blind moralism

Plus, "coadunationist" sounds kind of religious.

Good luck.

Ethica.

The Ethica Gatherings.

Or maybe Neo-Transwiccanity. :)

Wiki it.





Seriously, I would go with something having to do with the name Gaia.

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1)Biosphere Collective

2)Gaia's children.

3)Earthen Lantern

4)Earth's Bowel (Movement)

5)Seefahrer Galaxy.

6)Ashton Doesn't Deserve Demi Gathering.


Or any combination of these: i.e. Earthen Gathering, Gaia's Seafahrers, Ashton Deosn't Deserve Demi's Bowel, etc.


And these are my ...heh...semi-serious ideas.

Sort of a back to the garden movement.

Gardenism.