Leicester SECULARIST Journal of the Leicester Secular Society February 2014 no 59 NAs aE haWte ca mRpaEignL isI dGirecOtedU agaSin stC a EmoNderSateO MuRslimS, Hwe sIePe a

Since 2005, the cartoon strip WHAT SHOULD WE DO? and Mo has been appearing on the net. When Essex born Maajid Although the Blasphemy Nawaz tweeted a picture of a t- Laws are dead in Britain, in shirt of a 'Jesus and Mo' cartoon, reality the perceived threat of he received death threats. v i o l e n c e b y M u s l i m Led by Liberal Democrat party fundamentalists makes such a law unnecessary. member Mohammed Shafiq, Islamists and political opponents The Secularist has not mounted a campaign against published any of the Jesus and Nawaz and 20,000 people signed a Mo cartoons. Should we do so? Let us know what you petition to deselect him as a Lib Channel 4's censored image of Mo. think. Please write in with Dem parliamentary candidate. According to the cartoon’s author this Jesus & Mo at the LSE your views. You can find more was: “betraying the principles of information at this website: journalism...and providing fuel for A t-shirt, featuring a print of the www.jesusandmo.net. comic strip was at the centre of a true anti-Muslim bigots.” similar row last year, when the Liberal party, and Liberals in Leicester London School of Economics Mohammed Shafiq have issued a banned two students for wearing In 2003, the support given by the rather strange joint statement in it, then apologised. Jesus and Mo Mosques to the Liberal Democrats which they: recognise that there are has caused fury amongst those over Iraq was crucial to the many Muslims who have taken who believe images of the Liberals and Tories taking control offence, and we assert that images of Muhammed are forbidden. As a of the Leicester City Council. the spiritual leaders of all religions result, no conventional news Although freedom of expression is should be deemed to be respectful .. organisation has published any of a core value of the Liberal Whilst making the gesture to the the cartoons. When Jeremy Democratic party, local Liberals principle of freedom of speech, Paxman interviewed the author of are keen to appeal to both the they found the need to: understand the cartoons last month on devout Muslims of Highfields as the importance of respect for others’ Newsnight, he was careful not well as the middle classes of views and of moderation of language. show any images. In turn, Channel Knighton. They can be forgiven for Meanwhile, the Liberal Baron, 4 censored the image of ‘Mo.’ hoping that this issue will quietly Hasty Compromise Dick Taverne, quoting Lord Justice be forgotten by the time of next Sedley wrote: Freedom to speak year’s local elections. Under pressure from the national inoffensively is not worth having. Inside: 5.3 Billion are Victims of Discrimination - Religion in our Schools - 2014: The Year of Religion in Football W H AT ’ S O N Your Subscription at the S e c u l a r H a l l Is Due Dear Member, As another year comes Sunday 9th February, 6.30pm around, subscriptions fall Darwin Day Lecture. What Genetics Tells Us About Evolution. Prof due. Please can you pay Mark Jobling of Leicester University presents the latest genetic these promptly. We need the evidence on adaptation and, amongst other things, our relationship funds to continued to both with the Neanderthals. Free campaign for Secularism Sunday 16th February 6.30pm and maintain our home in The News at Kate, My Professional Opinion. The Leicester Comedy the Secular Hall. Festival comes to the Secular Hall. Kate Smurthwaite is outspoken on Please consider making an religion, politics and just about everything else. Must book! £7.50, concessions £6. Book with Mike on 0116 2703335 or via the Comedy additional donation Festival Office 0116 2423595. The subs for 2014 are being Sunday 23rd February 6.30pm frozen at the same level as 2013. They are: The New - What’s So New? Chris Street of Atheism UK compares the writings of Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett and Harris Individuals £21 with their forerunners in anti-religion movements of the past. Free Low income £7 Household (multiple Sunday 2nd March 6.30pm members) £28 What Can We Do About Female Genital Mutilation In The UK? A Please send your cheques, made joint event with the Leicestershire Fawcett Group to mark UN payable to Leicester Secular International Women’s Day. Speakers TBA Free Society, to: Sunday 9th March, 6.30pm John Catt An Official Opening! The official opening of the newly 32 Bramcote Road modernised ground floor. Free Loughborough LE11 2 SA Sunday 16th March, 6.30pm If you use internet banking, you Secularism in Derby. Mike Lake, long-time campaigner can credit the Society’s bank forsecularism in Derby, talks about his work and the saga of the Al account as follows Madhani Muslim free school. Free ACCOUNT NO 20195380 Sunday 23rd March, 6.30pm SORT CODE 08 60 01 Annie Williamson and Hamish Whiteley entertain. Top-quality Please confirm such transfers folksong and witty poetry and stories from this acclaimed pair of with an email to: local artistes. £5 on the door (£4 concessions). [email protected] Sunday 30th March, 6.30pm If you prefer to pay by cash, you Can You Be Good Without God? Member Peter Thompson reviews can hand this to any Board the fiction of George Eliot and Iris Murdoch for a demonstration of member. the ways in which people create morality in their everyday lives. Thank you Sunday 6th April, 6.30pm John Catt Jihadism: Then and Now. Ghaffar Hussain, senior researcher at the Membership Sec/Treasurer Quilliam Foundation, reviews the history and evolution of Islamic jihadism.

2 Leicester Secularist THE SUNDAY ASSEMBLY IS HERE from the But Why Does Leicester Need One? editor

The Sunday Assembly is a godless congregation for people who Those local Secularists who work want to get together to celebrate life, to live better, help often, and with asylum seekers are only too wonder more. Only started last year, it is now a worldwide aware of the human misery caused phenomenon in England, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Dublin, Silicon by the Home Office’s failure to Valley, Melbourne, and now HERE. recognise genuine refugees. Over Our launch Assembly is at 11am on Sunday 9th March at the Secular the last ten years, the treatment of Hall. We are lucky this event will be hosted by founders Sanderson and asylum seekers by the Home Office Pippa! has been labelled as inept, incompetent and inhumane. There will be singing, clapping and dancing (all optional), readings, Huge efforts have been made to try inspirational words of wisdom, and a great deal of fun. We plan to and stop the deportations of people have a music group and the lyrics to songs will be projected onto a who should have qualified as screen for all to join in. refugees. Such injustices are not But it is really what we make it and so we're giving this launch surprising when we learn that Home Assembly a Leicester twist. We know food really matters; those that Office staff are offered cash eat together stay together. So following your spiritual nourishment at incentives to meet deportation the Sunday Assembly we'll be providing some bodily nourishment targets. (lunch) for everyone. (Free of charge but donations welcomed). However, there has been one small It is important to book your (free) tickets at the www.eventbrite.co.uk chink of light in this gloomy saga. An website (search for Sunday Assembly Leicester) so we can plan the Afghan citizen has been granted asylum in the UK because he is an catering. In case you don't have internet access please contact: atheist. The man fled to the UK from Amarjeet on 07973 796622, or Harry on 07795 097635 a conflict involving his family in This is open to all ages, and will be great family fun. Really looking Afghanistan in 2007, aged 16. He forward to seeing you there! Amarjeet, and the rest of the Sunday was allowed to stay in the UK until Assembly Team. For further information or to volunteer to help please 2013. He was brought up a Muslim, contact: [email protected] but during his time in the UK became an atheist. If he returned to Afghanistan, it is likely that he 133rd Anniversary Celebration would face persecution and possibly a death sentence. In the last issue of the Secularist, we On March 9th, the Secular highlighted the 13 countries in which Hall celebrates its 133rd the penalty for blasphemy and anniversary. It will also be apostasy is death. Is so called back the ‘official’ re-opening of door diplomacy going to encourage the refurbished hall. To these intolerant governments (and cultures) to respect the rights to free mark the occasion there expression? Is it not time for more w i l l b e a s p e c i a l l y explicit response to these medieval researched re-enactment regimes? If they are allowed to of the Hall’s original continue there will just be more people opening in 1881. forced to flee. Although the failure of the heavy hand It is hoped that Mssrs, of military intervention has failed to G i m s o n , B r a d l a u g h , secure a fair and just society in Holyoake and Mrs Law Afghanistan, is not time for the and Besant will be in Government to do something more than just hand wringing . attendance.

Leicester Secularist 3 Hall News NEW NAMES FOR ROOMS AT THE HALL Notices Please note that owing to the sanding and varnishing of the ? floor at Secular Hall, absolutely no access will be possible between 09.00 on Monday 17th F eb rua ry a nd 1 7.00 on Thursday 20th February. If you need anything from the store or Sydney Gimson, left and his father Josiah right. Unfortunately, there is no kitchen to use during that photograph of Harriet Law known to exist. period it must be taken out by the evening of Sunday 16th Our Hall Manager Mike Burden, has the case for renaming the February. redecorated Francis Ridley Room. He suggested it be re-naming as the Josiah or Sydney Gimson Room. He also suggested renaming the Green Room too because it was no longer green. It was Two yoga classes are held suggested that it be called Harriet’s Room to commemorate Harriet r e g u l a r l y o n M o n d a y mornings in the Gimson Law, the pioneering Secularist, Socialist and Feminist who spoke at Room. All are welcome, of any the opening of the Hall in 1881. age, including beginners. Mats Before Christmas, members were asked their views about this and are provided. two responded. One thought that Francis Ridley was a good Time : 9.45 to 11.15 - £5 Secularist and Socialist and no change should be made. Another 11.30 to 12.30 pm - £4 wrote in favouring the name of a living woman Secularist. Contact: Fiona, tel 01162418175 The L.S.S. Board has now considered the proposal and decided that mob 07929 182772 the two rooms should be renamed. They will now be known as the Gimson Hall and the Harriet Law Room. There are no plans to FUNDAMENTALISM name the new toilet after anyone. Suggestions to the editor. COMEDY FESTIVAL AT THE SECULAR HALL "Religious people claim that it is just the The News At Kate 'fundamentalists' of each My Professional Opinion religion that cause all the problems.... But there's got Come and have a guaranteed good to be something wrong laugh with the nationally renowned with the religion itself if atheist comedian Kate Smurthwaite. She will present her one hour stand- those who strictly adhere up show at Secular Hall on Sunday to its most fundamental 16th February as our first venture principles are the violent into the Leicester Comedy Festival. bigots and sexists." Don’t let it be our last! Pay bar. David G. McAfee Doors open 6.30pm for a start at (columnist for the Canadian 7pm. Freethinker Magazine and a Booking essential. £7.50 (£6 concessions). Call Mike on 0116 270 contributor to the American 3335 to book your seat. Atheist Magazine)

4 Leicester Secularist Peter Flack challenges the notion that faith groups should have special privileges in education NONSENSICAL AND DANGEROUS

In Edinburgh, Scottish Secularists recently challenged Alongside this, the grip of religious representatives on the place of religious representatives on Education local education committees has also expanded. The Committees. This followed revelations about Leicester Education Scrutiny Commission currently evangelising Christian groups from the US using the has places for Church of England, Catholic, Hindu, place of religious organisations in education to Muslim and Sikh representatives. One has to wonder actively target groups of children. It also came in the what is so different or so special about the children of wake of revelations that church representatives held each of these groups that they require a separate voice the balance of power in 19 out of 32 local Authorities. in discussions. One also has to wonder why it took the So perhaps it is time for those of us in England to start prompting of trade union representatives to secure a asking some questions. place for the local secular community on the Scrutiny This year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1944 Commission. In all probability, people who practice no Education Act. This established basic principles of faith are a majority in our city. No Special Privileges education for all, initially to the age of 14 but gradually, by the 1970s this had extended to 16. The '44 Act also The notion that having a faith somehow should give a firmly embedded the place of the Church in education. group of people special privileges in relation to the Church schools, which had existed since the early 19th education of children is both nonsensical and century, were afforded a privileged place in state dangerous. Nonsensical, because no one claims such a education. They would be state funded, but would privilege for women, for gays, lesbians, bisexual and remain separate, with the diocesan education board the transgender people, for socialists, or for any ethnic employer of the teachers and the determinant of policy. group. Dangerous, because education should be about In addition, church representatives were guaranteed the child and the freedom of each child to explore ideas places on Local Education Committees. and human learning whereas the privileges granted to State Funding of Relious Schools in Leicester religious organisations are almost exclusively about That remained broadly the status quo throughout the adults (not necessarily parents) ensuring that THEIR latter half of the twentieth century. However, under beliefs are passed on to those children. In another Tony Blair a new enhanced role was envisaged for faith context this use of education to impose particular views and for a diverse range of faith schools. Not only did the on young people would be called indoctrination. New Labour government promote faith schools as In the second decade of the twenty first century it is time being 'superior' to other schools, it also encouraged the that we began to question the place of these very special Church to become a major sponsor of its new Academy interest groups. Around the world, religion is schools. This ushered in a new wave of religious repeatedly used as an excuse for intolerance, prejudice expansionism in education. One fruit of this was the C of and discrimination. The recent statement by a UKIP E sponsored Samworth Enterprise Academy. Another councillor that the powerful storms over the holiday was the Madani High School, a Muslim school. This was period were caused by the introduction of gay marriage rapidly followed by a Hindu school and a Sikh school. is a measure of the inanities that can spring from these All state funded. bizarre superstitions. Segregation Value Diversity

That this took place at a time when an overwhelming These are not the kind of values that education should majority of the population were shown to be opposed to be promoting. Education should be about encouraging state funded faith schools in a Guardian poll shows the children to explore our world, to respect each other and extent to which government was motivated not by respect difference, to value diversity rather than just 'modernising' the education system, but by a desire to tolerate it and to be open minded when considering use religious groups as a battering ram to fragment ideas. For none of these do we need a special place for education provision and promote privatisation of religion or religious groups. Encouraging people from education. The Sikh and Hindu schools in Leicester are all our communities to participate in education both so-called 'Free' schools, privately run but at public planning and governance, whatever their background, expense. There is little room for experiencing diversity ethnicity, gender, faith, sexual orientation or politics in such religiously segregated schools. should be Leicester's approach to the world as we live it.

Leicester Secularist 5 S E C U L A R W O R L D N E W S from the National Secular Society 5.3 Billion are Victims of Religious Discrimination

Half the World Violence and discrimination against religious groups by rival faiths and governments have 64% of the world's population lives where there are reached a six-year high worldwide. This is the severe restrictions on religious freedom. These finding of the Pew Research Center. Their research include limitations on preaching, banning shows that in 2012, 5.3 billion people (74% of the conversions, or privileging one religious group over world's population) experienced high levels of another. In nearly half of the world's countries, force restrictions on their religious freedom. This was used against religious groups. Those countries compares to 52% in 2011. imposing the strictest government restrictions, Increase in China included Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, The greatest levels of intolerance were shown in the Maldives, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Muslim-majority States Most Restrictive Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Israel, Pakistan, and Somalia. However it was the rise in sectarian conflict The regions of the Middle East and North Africa and religion-related terrorism in China that caused continue to have the highest median level of the sharp increase for 2012. The research takes government restrictions. Nine out of ten of the most ‘social hostilities’ to include armed conflict, terrorism, restrictive countries for religious freedom in terms of sectarian violence, harassment, intimidation or abuse state policy were Muslim-majority states. motivated by religious factors. Challenge to crucifix in Polish parliament fails Half the World’s Countries POLES GET CROSS OVER CROSS The study found that religious minorities suffered abuse in half the word’s countries. Violence, or the An MP in Poland has lost a court challenge to the threat of violence, used to force people to adhere to presence of a large crucifix in the country's religious norms increased in 39% of countries. This parliament building. The crucifix was placed, compares to 33% in 2011 and 18% in 2007. without consultation, in the session's hall of the Intensified violence in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka parliament in the middle of one night in 1997 by a against Muslims and Christians and in Muslim- Catholic MP. Recently members of the small Your majority Egypt against Coptic Orthodox Christians Movement party asked that it be removed, but the was noted, as was terrorist-related violence such as appeals court has rejected the challenge. Judge the March 2012 shooting at a Jewish school in France, Edyta Jefimko ruled at the Warsaw court that the by an Islamic extremist. crucifix is not just a religious symbol, but also one Only Seven Countries Improve of "culture and natural identity" in the Some of the greatest increases in hostilities against predominantly Catholic country. European Court those of religious belief were seen Afghanistan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mexico, Syria and Tunisia. A secular opposition party, the Palikot Movement Only seven countries saw a significant improvement, has also made attempts to have the cross removed. In these included Cambodia, Cyprus and Ethiopia. 2010 a large cross was placed outside the presidential The study shows that harassment against Christians palace and became the focus of much controversy occurred in 110 countries, against Muslims in 109 and and division. It was quietly removed to the against Jews in 71. The harassment of Hindus, president's chapel to stop demonstrations by Buddhists, and members of other smaller religious secularists. groups (which includes atheists) also increased. Opponents have now vowed to take the case of the Whilst Sikhs and Baha'is experienced government parliamentary crucifix to the European Court of restrictions more than social harassment, the Human Rights in Strasbourg, claiming that their opposite was the case for Jewish people. rights as non-believers are being breached. 6 Leicester Secularist SA NOewU StRudCy oEf SRe liOgioFu s IFuNndTamOenLtaElisRm Ain NEurCopEe

Six Country Immigrant Integration Comparative Survey - report compiled by Ned Newitt A new survey looks at the extent and impact of percent of conservative Republicans) think the Bible religious fundamentalism on the Continent. It was should have more influence on U.S. laws than the conducted in six European countries amongst American people. Many prominent politicians immigrants and natives. The survey, by the WZB believe the Constitution is or should be based on the Berlin Social Science Center, suggests that religious Bible. Likewise, anti-Semitism and homophobia are fundamentalism is not a marginal phenomenon in also more widespread than in Western Europe. Western Europe, nor is it restricted to . The report finds that despite being born in Europe, What is Fundamentalism? young Muslims are as fundamentalist as the older The study defines the Fundamentalist belief system generation. Cas Mudde, of the University of Georgia by three key elements: says that: "This finding goes against the received wisdom that 'immigrants' have assimilated by the third Ÿ that believers should return to the eternal and generation; a process that used to hold up for most of the unchangeable rules laid down in the past. 20th century, but seems to have changed in the current Ÿ that these rules allow only one interpretation interconnected world. However, recent research in and are binding for all believers. France shows that the fourth generation is much Ÿ that religious rules have priority over secular more integrated than the third.” laws. A Nourishing Environment Two thirds of Muslims interviewed said that The report is at pains not to equate fundamentalism religious rules are more important to them than the with the willingness to support, or even to engage in laws of the country in which they live. Three quarters religiously motivated violence. Nevertheless, the of the respondents held the opinion that there is only hostility shown by fundamentalists towards those one legitimate interpretation of the Koran. These outside their group, is very likely to provide a numbers are significantly higher than those from nourishing environment for the fanatic. local Christians: only 13% of this group placed In Western Europe, Muslims make up a relatively religious rules above national law; just under 20% small minority of the population. This means that refused to accept differing interpretations of the although the level of fundamentalism and out-group Bible. A Source of Intolerance hostility is much higher among Muslims, in absolute numbers there are at least as many Christian According to Ruud Koopmans, "We find a strong fundamentalists as there are Muslim ones. The large correlation between religious fundamentalism, among majority of homophobes and anti-semites are still both Christians and Muslims, and hostility toward out- ‘natives.’ groups like homosexuals or Jews." Some Problems Almost 60% of the Muslim respondents rejected The most problematic part of the report is the homosexuals as friends; 45% thought that Jews unintentional but nevertheless unfortunate, cannot be trusted; and an equally large group distinction between “Muslim immigrants” and believed that the West is out to destroy Islam. Of the “Christian natives.” In Europe, as in Britain, most Christians, as many as 9% were openly anti-Semitic; Muslims are not ‘immigrants’ but born and raised in 13% did not want to have homosexuals as friends; their native European country. The survey does not and 23% thought that Muslims aim to destroy seem to account for the fact that many non Muslim Western culture. European ‘natives’ are not Christian. According to However, there seems to be little difference in the survey some 70 percent of the ‘native religious fundamentalism between Muslims in respondents’ indicated that they were Christians. Europe and Christians in the United States. In the This is a incredibly high proportion for a largely U.S.A., 30 percent of the whole population take the secular region and does place a another question Bible literally, 60 percent of White evangelicals (or 49 mark over some of the findings.. Leicester Secularist 7 BURNS NIGHT LETTERS A Less Formal Layout for the Hall?

When I saw the mini modernisation of the Secular Hall, I was very impressed. It has been done with taste and care and made excellent improvements. Harry Perry and team need to be congratulated. One suggestion for using the space with a different type of meeting is as follows: Buy some folding tables that could be set out to make the hall look more like a cafe. Have hot water jugs or urns nearby for self help coffee or tea making facilities. Encourage people to come and discuss issues in small groups. Discussions can be organised around a theme or collection of themes. Ideas can be coordinated and collected in or not or the cafe discussion could follow from a short lecture of film. The advantages are (1) Getting to know each other AT THE SECULAR HALL better (2) Less scary than discussions in big meetings (3) Able to explore a point in more depth (4) More ideas about how to develop campaigns or projects could be generated. I have always found that when developing a project or campaign, it is worth collecting lots of ideas, even ridiculous ones, as it is easier to narrow down than it is to hit on the 'correct' solution straight away. Also through this process you may have more people willing to help. Helen Pettman 6.30pm Sunday 2nd March, Secular Hall

Above: The cook, Nikki Finch, dancing to the Greenshoots Ceilidh band at the Burns night celebration. Jan Roberston entertained with verse, songs and music with Honora on the NO FGM How can we stop female genital mutilation in the UK? accordion. Below right: John Hoffman pipes in the Haggis. Sadiyo Siad (Eva Organisation for Women Detective Inspector Mark Parish (Leicestershire Police Domestic Abuse Team) Joint meeting of the Leicester Secular Society & the Leicestershire Fawcett Group to mark International Women’s Day We know that FGM goes on, but there have been no prosecutions. A campaign is now building with the police and other authorities to enforce and strengthen the law. There will be additional speakers and time for discussion.

8 Leicester Secularist Wilf Gaunt What did the Dutch ever do for us? NO LEICESTER WHAT COULD THEY DO FOR US NOW? CHRIST DRAMA

This Easter, Christians will not The Dutch built the Thames last demarcated districts are be staging the dramatic barrier. They drained the already being built on pontoons, r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e marshland around the Wash as far and ring-linked to positioning crucifixion in Humberstone West as the present A15 between poles, up and down which they Gate. Costing over £40,000 the Lincoln and Peterborough, will eventually be able to float as event ran into financial trouble transforming it into some of the the tides dictate. The latest large as the City Council reduced and richest and most productive city building for Rotterdam was eventually ended its support. farmland in Britain. Holland was only recently floated into place. the only nation whose ships kept Education The event had a substantial annual grant from the Diocese trading with, and supplying, T h e N e t h e r l a n d s b e i n g a of Leicester as well as donations London during the plague that matriarchal society, which has a from charitable trusts, churches preceded the great fire in the 17th care for all its children without and individuals. The Christ in century: this last earning Dutch exception, does not allow the Centre charity has now ships free use of one of London’s academia to completely dominate been wound up by its trustees. docks in perpetuity. Perpetuity the outcome of children’s having since been demarcated by schooling: where only the brightest The event began in 2003 and the rise of container shipping. prosper. Every citizen in Holland grew over the years. The annual Three Problems leaves the education system with a crucifixion drama was seen by There are three problems from recognised certification of s o m e a s a r e a c t i o n b y which our country currently competence in a trade, calling, or Christians to the other public suffers, featuring regularly in our university degree according to religious events. The Diwali TV news bulletins, yet for which their abilities and interests; and, lights ceremony and the Sikh the Dutch have long since had in until that certificate is awarded, Vaisakhi procession every place satisfactory solutions. They they are all counted as students, April made some Christians are: flooding; skill shortage; and a with all the benefits thereto feel they had to compete. At the troublesome part of the welfare bill accruing. This rich source of time, they complained that the (Tax Credit). competence attracts international Council had left Easter and Climate Change businesses to set up in Holland, Christmas out of a list of local faith festivals. The Council G l o b a l w a r m i n g a n d t h e and helps to maintain full replied that it spent money on consequent expected dramatic rise employment. Living Wage Christmas lights and a nativity of sea levels have concentrated the scene in Town Hall Square, but minds of those running the Employers in The Netherlands are the Christians’ sense of injustice Netherlands; where well over 50% required to pay a laid down, remained. of their land’s surface already lies realistic, annually revised, living There were some Christians lower than that of current mean sea wage: the state does not reckon on who were troubled by the levels and requires the protection subsidizing employers with a ‘tax spending of £40,000 on what of dykes and the continual credit’, welfare payment system to they saw as an extravaganza. pumping out of any introduced their employees, as we do here. They believed the money surplus water in order to maintain Employer subsidies, disguised as should go directly to the poor. It the status quo. They have already welfare, denigrate the perceived may well be that the inability of reviewed the anticipated future social standing of those receiving the Church of England to situation, decided what can be them; while elevating government sustain the Easter event simply saved as is, and formed a plan to statistics into the realm of cloud- reflects the declining number of turn as much of the rest as is cuckoo land, or vehicles of Christians in Leicester. possible into a sort of Venice deliberate deception. situation. New buildings in these Leicester Secularist 9 HamisAh SW Ih iPteLlEeyA:SEAS I PLEASE

At the board on Sunday we decided to try and book a when food was scarce there was a very strong stall at the Greenlight Festival which is to be held on imperative to bite into the most nourishing part of Saturday 22nd March from 11am until 6pm in the any food item first, because other bigger folks might Queens Building of De Montfort University Campus, take the food from you. I think that's the reason they Leicester. We thought we could perhaps take some bite into the softest, most jammy or cheesy bit of a leaflets and our second hand book stall. Are there sandwich first, rather than politely nibbling away at any members interested in environmental issues the less nourishing crust at the end. who would be willing to take a lead on this? Or who would be willing to help? Enthusiastic readers And I'm sure I won't be the only contributor to take should talk to any board member… my hat off to Pete Seeger. It's one thing to write or talk about it, and quite another thing to do it, all My office has still not had a reply from the Bishop through your life. 'If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in telling us what he did during the anti-apartheid the morning.' Too right I would. campaign. Is this because his activities were so extensive that the list is taking some time to compile, or because he thinks what he did (or didn't do) is none Religion and Tax of our business? I know that our members are keen to know, so come on Tim, put us out of our agony. Religion this ancient police force no longer a tour de force. It seems like the Pope is still having trouble with his The EU has banned creationism pigeons. Or more correctly his doves, which he European theocracies isolationism. releases from the Vatican from time to time, and which keep getting pounced upon by tough secular seagulls. Of course this seemingly didn't happen The days of heaven and hell are gone with THE dove when it was released from the ark, but but Popes and Bishops still dwell on. perhaps that was because all the other tough birds of Coventry Cathedral eight pounds in, the time were cooped up below decks. Strange to Westminster Abbey holy chagrin. wonder why the wandering albatross wouldn't have been allowed to wander, seeing that it can keep aloft I wonder what Jesus would say for years at a time. I remember years ago working about this capitalistic display. with a group of students with special needs, helping Isn't it time they paid some tax them put on a play about Noah and his Ark. I a few frocked ones got the axe. explained the story and they all got to work making animal masks. After some time they had finished and proudly put their masks on. One boy had made a Twenty six Bishops in The Lords beautiful mask of a fish! I wanted to hug him, but what for these awards? remembered that we were no longer allowed to do Many pensioners are taxed such things. their working days relapsed.

Everyone must have noticed that young children British Governments be fair always bite into the middle of the long side of any don't just sit and stare. sandwich, thereby getting their cheeks and ears Cuts and gather tax covered in jam, and all efforts to get them to nibble for centuries you've been lax. politely from a small end are hopeless. Not until they John Bishop are older will they abandon the need to bite into the long side first. I've often wondered why this is and would be interested to know what people think. My own Darwinian explanation is that in earlier times

10 Leicester Secularist

New Documentary Film Shown WAR & THE SECULAR SOCIETY

The history of Leicester Secular Society was the subject of a feature length documentary shown at the Phoenix. Leicester Secular Society and the Early Wars of the 20th Century was a film created as part of the All Our Stories History Project. The world premier of the hour long film played to a packed house on Sunday January 12th. Interviews

The film looks at the way local Secularists reacted to the Boer War, the First World War , the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. Although there were differing attitudes to the conflicts, the common feature was the availability of the Secular Hall for debate and discussion about the wars. The film features interviews with many members including Louie Croxtall (shown left). She recalls the days when the Hall’s basement became an air raid shelter for hundreds of people and how the Green Room was commandeered for use by the A.R.P. The video was made by RootCause a local video production company. The film was written, narrated, filmed and edited by Sam Newton with help from James Black. Research was by Gillian Lighton.

The Zimbabwe Association’s choir providing entertainment at the 12th January meeting. The Association is a regular user of the hall. YouTube

There will be another opportunity to see the film at the Phoenix at 3pm on Sunday 9th February. Please reserve your seat by leaving a message on 07989122917. You can also see it for free on YouTube. Just search for Leicester Secular Society. Following the showing of the film on January 12th, Gillian Lighton reported on the progress of the All Our Stories History Project to the evening meeting. She gave an outline of all the excellent work of the project during the year. 12 Leicester Secularist

committee room, and Freethought Book Shop. On the basement floor there is a large room about 55 feet by 22 feet, paved with a peculiar hard O U R H I S T O R Y light-coloured concrete, suitable for bowling, billiards, or other ITEMS FROM SECULAR SOCIETY’S PAST purposes. There are the various Research by Ned Newitt lavatories and other conveniences, and the remainder of the premises THE NEW SECULAR HALL IN LEICESTER form the manager's house. Leicester Chronicle - Saturday 5th March 1881 The architect was Mr. W. Larner Sugden, of Leek, and the works have About seven years ago the Secular Hall Company was formed, and very soon been very creditably carried out came into possession of a valuable site in Humberstone-gate, measuring under his supervision by the some 2,000 square yards. There were houses on the property, and as the f o l l o w i n g t r a d e s m e n : - Secular Club, which was formed, only occupied a small space, the rents and Stonemasonry, Mr. John Goffey; the profits from the sale of publications returned an annual dividend of five per carving, Mr. Harry Hems, of Exeter; cent. The scheme, as at first entertained, proposed to build a hall suitable for the brick-laying was commenced by unusually large meetings. This has Mr. Urban Burdett, and completed not yet been fully carried out, but front on the ground storey, are to be by Mr. T. S. Bromage; carpentry and sufficient space has been reserved read the names of Socrates, Jesus, joinery, Mr. Robert Wilson, of for the purpose, the present building Francois Michael Arouet de Voltaire, Darlington; plumbing and painting, not occupying more than one-sixth Thomas Paine and Robert Owen; Mr. William Hill; plastering, Mr. of the area. The new premises and in corresponding niches just Robt. Austin; heating and smith's occupy the site of the old Secular above occur striking busts in red work generally, Messrs. Illston; Club premises, numbers 75 and 77, terra cotta of these worthies, while wrought metal gates, &c, Messrs. in Humberstone-gate, which were bronze belts round the pillars will be Ellgood; stained glass, Messrs. taken down for the purpose. inscribed with quotations from their Brown and Boreham; painted tiles, The style adopted by the architect is utterances. These five of the Mr. De Morgan, and Messrs. Marks, a free treatment of Flemish illustrious dead all hold high places Durlacher Frères; polished brass gas renaissance, and the materials used in the Secular calendar as devoted fitting, Messrs. Faraday. The terra for the front are, as is de régle with world-menders and reformers, a cotta busts were modelled by Mr. A. buildings aspiring at all to the sufficient piece of evidence to the L. Vago, and Mr. Wllm. Bailey picturesque, such as are presentable very eclectic character of this performed the duties of clerk of the on the scene of harmonious colour. workday Positivism. works. Above the ground floor, which is The walls of the lecture hall, and of We were struck by a simple built of best hard buff Darley Dale the various staircases and lobbies, arrangement of lecture-room seats, stone, the front is executed in very are finished in red and white brick, made under his direction, and at his thin brownish-red Coalville bricks, and glazed and hand painted tiles of Vulcan Works, by Mr. Gimson, the with white mortar joints, except the quiet colour, a very durable system chairman of the Directors of the moulded and carved portions, of decoration. The roof and gallery Secular Hall Company. It is very which are in bright red rubbers, and are entirely of clean wrought strong, having wrought iron the pediment copings and similarly woodwork, varnished without supports, of which the special exposed parts, which are of the staining. The accommodation feature is that they hinge the seat, Mansfield stone. The portion of the comprises the following: - On the which can be turned up, allowing front - the tower - constituting the first floor the lecture room, which is the seats to be quickly placed out of house, has the regulation eighteenth 66ft. by 31ft., and 30ft. high, and has the way against the walls for dances, century panes of crown glass, the galleries at each end, that over the promenade concerts, picture windows falling in the gable of the platform being for the use of the exhibitions, and such purposes, for hall proper, being all glazed with choir; lecturer's retiring room, ladies' which the Lecture-room, being well antique glass in leads. The roofs are room, and small room available as a lighted from the ceiling, appears to covered with brown Broseley tiles. In refreshment bar. On the ground floor be admirably adapted. the carved capitals of the five - the general club room, 66 feet long massive stone pillars which carry the and 22 feet wide, with bar;

14 Leicester Secularist Leicester Secular Society ODrP BrianINI ONicolN Board Meeting Coventry & Warwickshire Humanists 26th January 2014 l A meeting is to be requested I have had a busy morning. Since between the Mayor and breakfast I have helped to save the representatives of the Board. Amazon rain forest, protested about l cruelty to pigs in Portugal and the It was agreed to change the toleration by police of rape in names of the Green Room and Morocco. I have also helped, the Francis Ridley Room (see successfully, to persuade the Sun page 4) Newspaper to support the current l It was agreed to sponsor the Assisted Dying Bill in the Lords. Sunday Assembly and provide All this, I admit, was not too onerous. support for. Thanks to on-line petitioning we can l Problems with size and postage all make our voices heard on almost rates of the Secularist were every subject of interest to us. discussed. Thousands, and in some cases l Two people had joined the hundreds of thousands of people, Society since the last meeting. outraged by injustice and cruelty l The Board agreed to continue throughout the world can come the sponsorship of Sharifu together to make their voices heard. Nyago at the Mustard Seed The biggest of the on-line petitioners School in Uganda. Avaaz has over 32 million members and can gather hundreds of l The problems of archiving thousands of signatures for electronic communications emergency appeals very quickly. It is were discussed. fascinating having signed a petition l There was a report on the to watch on their website the names continued problem with the of people all over the world being sewer. Harry had single flagged up at the rate of two a second handedly gone into the sewer and to realise how many people care. and unblocked it. A report from And it often works. Change.org Dyno-Rod is awaited. Harry’s based in the UK has about 2.5 million heroic action was saluted. people registered. They can support l The resurfacing of the floor in (or not) any of the petitions on offer the Gimson Room will take Leicester or start their own quite easily. Under place during the week of 17th SECULARIST pressure the Bank of England agreed February. to put a woman on the new bank note Advertising Rates l It was agreed to seek donations (Jane Austen), when a judge called a to finance specific projects like 13 year old victim of a sex attack Colour or black & white 'predatory' 55,000 signatures soon new curtains. 1 l The City Council has not 8 page: £5 brought a retraction. The National Lottery agreed to a substantial supported the installation of a ¼ page: £7 donation from unclaimed winnings defibrillator at the Hall. ½ page: £12 to the Philippines Disaster Fund l The treasurer reported on the full page: £20 when 155,000 people asked it to. Society’s finances. There are still I would urge all liberal minded 77 members who have not paid Payment in advance and people to sign up to Avaaz.com and this year’s subscription. Cheques payable to Change.com. United we can l It was agreed to participate in Leicester Secular Society. accomplish a great deal to make the the Greenlight Festival on 22nd world a better place. March. Leicester Secularist 15 Leicester Secular Society Contacts Leicester All can be reached by post via the Hall address SECULARIST President - Gush Bhumbra deadlines Tel: 07966443097 Email: [email protected] Chairperson - Anthony Matthew The copy deadline for the next Tel: 0116 2703143 Email: [email protected] edition is 12 noon, on Friday Membership Secretary/Treasurer - John Catt: March 7th 2014. Tel: 01509 211468 Email: [email protected] We welcome new articles, Company Secretary - Kate Housden: letters, jokes, poems, news, Tel: 07900 583306 Email: [email protected] cartoons, book reviews, etc. Hall bookings/maintenance - Mike Burden: Please send via the Hall or Tel: 07722 782727 Email: [email protected] email to Ned at the address in the adjacent box. Events Coordinator - Harry Perry Tel: 07795 097635 Email: [email protected] Please include photos or illustrations where you have Secularist Editor - Ned Newitt: them. Aim to write less than Tel: 0116 2707076 Email: [email protected] 500 words, although longer Website and news - Frank Friedmann: articles may be accepted if Tel: 07947 573951 Email: [email protected] appropriate. Please ensure Library and archives - Gillian Lighton: they are submitted well ahead Tel: 07989 122917 Email: [email protected] of the deadline. If you submit Keyholders: Mike Burden, Harry Perry and Gillian Lighton handwritten articles, please Audio-visual kit: Normally held by Mike Burden. give us enough time to type your article into the computer. Leicester Secular Society Ned Newitt (editor) Registered Office: Secular Hall, 75 Humberstone Gate, Leicester LE1 1WB BOOK THE HALL Email: [email protected] Website: www.leicestersecularsociety.org.uk The Secular Hall can be booked LSS is a company limited by guarantee Reg. No. 06292639 for morning, afternoon or evening sessions. The hall offers a fully equipped kitchen, wi-fi and an accessible toilet. The Dear Members rates for booking are: Large Hall (the Gimson If you move or change your contact details, please update the Hall) - seats up to 75 or up Membership Secretary. John Catt’s details are above. to 60 diners. Kitchen and multi media facilities are available. £30 per session, Disclaimer, Code of Conduct and Copyright (£5 extra to use the kitchen The Leicester Secularist is a not-for-profit undertaking of Leicester Secular Society. for catering) Please note that the views and proposals expressed in this journal are not necessarily Small meeting room (the those of the Editor or the Board of the Society, and the Editor, the Society and its officers Harriet Law Room) - will accept no liability for views expressed. As the journal of a Freethought organisation any seat 10 people. £12 per member’s views may be published subject to the usual constraints of avoiding libel, session. The times of the occasional editing to fit the space available and intrinsic merit. sessions are: When writing please abstain from gratuitous bad language and avoid being Morning: 9 - 1pm unnecessarily offensive, especially to other members! We express our thanks for non- Afternoon: 2 - 6pm Society images sourced under the fair use convention for the purposes of debate and Evening: 6:30 - 9:30pm education. Resolution is reduced to prevent onward commercial use. The contents may Contact Mike Burden on be reproduced at will unless the item is accompanied by a copyright symbol. An 0116 2703335 to book or for acknowledgement of the source (for original material) would be appreciated - with a link more details.

16 Leicester Secularist