Suffolk Humanists and Secularists

Hitchins & Fry versus the Catholic Church debate now online

Margaret — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:28:01 +0000

The recent Intelligence Squared debate - 'The Catholic Church is a Force for Good in the World' - when Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry soundly thrashed Anne Widdicombe and Archbishop Onaiyekan, is now online. Watch and enjoy.

Onward Atheist Soldiers?

Margaret — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:03:34 +0000

Although there were representatives of other faiths at the Cenotaph this morning, the religious part of the remembrance ceremony was Christian, as usual. Today and on Tuesday (Armistice Day, 11th November), Christian ceremonial will predominate, regardless of the fact that services personnel are of all faiths and none, and that those who join them on Remembrance Day are also a diverse cross-section of society. To be wholly inclusive, such ceremonial should be completely secular, allowing those who are religious to have separate ceremonies afterwards.

Not many people will know that there is now a UK Armed Forces Humanist Association, which welcomes new members. Those who serve in the armed forces should not be expected to participate in religious ceremonial that has no relevance to them.

Lords call for more Humanist broadcasting

Margaret — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:10:34 +0000

While the BBC Trust deliberates today on whether to allow more Humanist broadcasting, including Thoughts for the Day, Humanist peers debated the issue last night. One of the speakers, Baroness Massey of Darwen, said,

Humanism is growing in strength. It has growing public recognition in non-religious ceremonies such as marriages, funerals and baptisms. This has made significant contributions to public policy. The moral values held by humanists are weighed and considered. Humanism is a philosophy in its own right and is not a negative response to religion. The BBC needs in its programmes to give a perspective from the non-religious viewpoint.

There've been Humanist Thoughts for the Day on BBC Radio Suffolk since 1995, though the slot has been cut to Sundays only for a while now, presumably because it wasn't popular.

In praise of humanist funerals

Margaret — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:26:49 +0000

In today's Guardian, Phil Hall writes about humanist funerals, and why he finds them much more satisfying than ...

... religious funerals, where a stranger usually officiates and witters on about heaven, often fail to commemorate a life well lived properly. Religious funerals can be a whimpering anti-climax.

He goes on,

In contrast, the humanist funerals in our family were completely satisfying and eclectic. They looked backwards and allowed us to see the lives of our loved ones clearly. We did not need to look forwards towards some sort of puzzling postscript. Perhaps the last thing people want after a death, during the messy form of group therapy that is a funeral, is for some sanctimonious stranger to stand up and start talking about a the afterlife.

Emitos Girls Humanist Football Team, Uganda, needs money

Margaret — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:40:27 +0000

Emitos Girls Humanist Football Club is a really special project running in Uganda. Supported by Women and the Free World Organisation (WOFEWO), the aim of the club is to empower and educate girls aged 12-20 years through football. The Central London Humanist Group is aiming to raise £3,700 for football kits, the costs of playing away and for 3 Workshops on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS through the International Humanist Trust, the charitable arm of the IHEU. Click here to donate now.

Latest Gay & Lesbian Humanist magazine online now

Margaret — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:11:45 +0000

The latest Gay & Lesbian Humanist online magazine is available now - free. It includes a look at what life is really like for gay people in Russia and the former Eastern bloc countries of central and Eastern Europe.

One Law for All London rally, November 21.

Margaret — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:59:28 +0000

A message from Maryam Namazie of the One Law for All campaign about the rally on November 21:

I am now responding to Sharia-related comments and questions every day of the week until the One Law for All rally on November 21. You can see my responses for the past two weeks by visiting the One Law for All website. If you have any questions or comments, please email them to me or post them on the website and I’ll be sure to respond.

Also, don’t forget to tell everyone you know about November 21. It is an important day to raise our voices against Sharia and religious laws and defend humanity, secularism and universal rights, including the right to asylum for those fleeing political Islam. If you can’t get to London and want to organise something in your city, contact us so we can help you do so. Click here for more information on the London rally.

The Galaxy Song - a happy way to end the day

Margaret — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:45:30 +0000

7 days to listen to the Creationism debate on Radio Suffolk

Margaret — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:39:43 +0000

The discussion about creationism in school science lessons on BBC Radio Suffolk is now online.

It's on James Hazell's programme, 26th October, about 35 minutes in. You have 7 days to listen.

"Rebranding Christmas"?

Margaret — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:57:48 +0000

The Bishop of Lichfield has criticised councils that "rebrand" Christmas to avoid offending other religions. This is ironic, considering that the Christian church rebranded the earlier pagan midwinter festival in about the 4th century. The bishop needs a history lesson.