Humanist Groups Newsletter no. 5 December—January 2008/9 Dear Group Secretary & Group Members, st Following the bus 21 October and the response was overwhelming. The £5,500 “It is my hope that this campaign around the country is a success, because it took me target was reached on the first day. By 24 th [October] donations years to figure out that I was a The “Atheist Bus Campaign” has humanist. Raising awareness of piqued enthusiastic interest up totalled over £100,000. ... Many donors [leaving comments on the non-religious path can only and down the country, not least in be a good thing. There are so the www.justgiving.com/atheistbus the newsletters and blogs of many good humanists out there affiliated local humanist groups. site] are pleading for the campaign who Reigate & District’s November probably newsletter explained the to be taken to other cities.” “donors are pleading for don’t know campaign, saying that a religious they have a organisation (not actually the the campaign to be taken But on the home in Alpha Course, although they have to other cities” Berkshire our undertaken widespread marketing Humanists’ blog, community. this year) ran an advert on buses Robert Ede expressed concern: This is one way in which we can which: reach out to them and let them “when I first read about this “featured the URL of a website in know they are not alone.” campaign in the news I was which it is said that non- ready to write a scathing entry in The Times called it a “humanised” Christians would burn in hell for my personal blog. My initial message, and it is already being all eternity. emulated by Ariane Sherine other national came up with Humanist an idea to organisations. counter this. And they’re not The hope was the only ones to raise £5,500, with the same which would be idea. Phillip enough to run Rowland asks his advertisements local humanist on 30 buses group, via the across the capital for four weeks reaction was, “Why oh why do Coventry and Warwickshire with the slogan: “There’s we get into these tit-for-tat November/ December newsletter: probably no God. Now stop battle of words with religion!” ... “How about we follow up on the worrying and enjoy your life.” I still dislike the actual slogan bus advert ... by doing something Ariane Sherine said “With your itself, because it’s so non- similar on the buses in the help, we can brighten people’s committal and wishy washy, but Coventry and Kenilworth areas? days on the way to work, help ... I heard from a fellow humanist I’ve not done any costings on this, raise awareness ... in the UK, and that the slogan had to be but thought I’d throw the idea hopefully encourage more watered down because of the into the hat”. people to come out...” advertising rules... hence the “... The BHA is supporting the ‘probably’. ... The BHA can confirm that plans campaign and administering “The campaign clearly shows are afoot and Ariane’s donations. It was launched on there is some strong feeling “humanised” message may well against organised religion be coming to a town or a city near Another successful Group Reps’ and its constant you, starting January, wherever intrusion on our you are in the UK – including Annual Meeting – Page 4 daily lives. Coventry! Humanist Groups Newsletter: Dec/Jan 2009 Page 1 of 6 From Humanist Group Newsletters and Blogs… Snippets of news, opinion, and select upcoming events from affiliated Groups’ newsletters and blogs Feed us your news! Stoke stoke the engine It was nic e to see this enthusiastic blog entry from Stoke Humanists We’re always hungry. If your Group doesn’t while the Atheist Bus Campaign was kicking off toward the end of forward a newsletter to the BHA, why not start? October. “ Wanna spread a message of comfort and joy to your We can’t include your news, events or original fellow man, then join this incredible campaign that grows and grows opinion pieces unless we know about them. every time you press refresh. www.justgiving.com/atheistbus . Today, in the space of an hour I refreshed the screen three times,seeing the fund total raise from £62,000 to £65,000 to £70,000 on and on and on...” (www.stokehumanists.co.uk/blog/?p=58 ) Greater Manchester: Wed 14 Jan A talk on “positive humanism” by Bob Churchill Abolish religious education? Roy Adderley of Reigate & District Humanists says: “The SACREs, which determine religious education Norwich and Norfolk: Thu 15 Jan syllabuses, of some authorities now have a humanist Will NASA see God in member”. But this is not the end of the matter. the Heavens? Vince “The bias is still towards faith, especially the Shropshire: Wed 4 Feb Chainey gives a talk established one. … The very title Religious Education Darwin and the illustrated by will give teachers so inclined an excuse to be biased. Darwinian Controversy, a astronomical slides talk by Prof. Anthony … In preparing children for the future schools should from the Hubble Grayling. … give children an accurate picture of the world. This Telescope. would include something about religions … But this should be kept in proportion. … There should also be recognition of other, non-religious philosophies. … I am proposing replacing religious education … with a East Kent Humanists: Thu 15 Jan much wider, more truthful subject”. (Reigate & John Severs talks on Heaven on District Newsletter, November 2008) Earth – Gerrard Winstanley and the Diggers and Levellers of the 17 th Century Reigate & District Humanists: Sun 18 Jan What are our values? A discussion using article “Atheism and Humanism”, copies Brighton & Hove Humanists: Wed 7 Jan of which will be available. Spritual Care on the NHS: Chaplains or Charlatans. A talk by Robert Stovold. Details and websites of all affiliated Groups can be found at www.humanism.org.uk . Click “Humanist Groups” in the main menu. The Beeb blogs HUMANI progressive and sceptical voices, non-Christians. So there is no such as the Founding Fathers and choice in the matter, even though BBC journalist Will Crawley the United Irishmen. 14% say they have no religion turned over his blog to Brian and non-Christian denominations “Northern Ireland is about a McClinton of the Humanist are growing. Humanists believe generation behind England in Association of Northern Ireland that believers and non-believers th matters of religion, and England on the 18 November. Brian should both have the freedom to itself is about a generation argued that: choose on this matter.” behind France. Take the recent “Atheism is one of the last debate on abortion. The anti- The column attracted a mixed taboos, and Northern Ireland is abortionist political spokesmen bag of nearly 100 comments, similar to America in this respect. stressed that Northern Ireland is considerably above average for ... It’s a shame because 200 years a Christian society, which seems the blog. You can read it at: ago both Ulster and America to imply that Christians have a www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2008/11/a_col were dominated by radical, right to impose their values on d_house_for_atheists.html Humanist Groups Newsletter: Dec/Jan 2009 Page 2 of 6 The DCSF and Darwin “More detailed plans are currently in Rebooting South preparation. We will continue to work Hampshire A couple of Local Groups have with other Government Departments been asking the BHA campaigns and organisations such as the Natural The South Hampshire group is team what we are doing to push History Museum who lead on Darwin sponsoring a new competition for the Department for Children 200 activities and events to see what Darwin’s bicentenary. Open to more can be done to engage schools, Schools and Families about what Year 7 pupils in South Hampshire, teachers, children and young people.” they are doing for Darwin 200. As the contestants are asked to submit a drawing or painting which this edited extract from our represents evolution “in an correspondence shows, the DCSF interesting, creative and original Humanist Library Boxes has responded positively: way.” The competition closes on in Camden Darwin Day, Thursday 12 th “These anniversaries provide a great opportunity to increase young people’s February 2009, at midnight. Diana Rookledge, President of interest in science in a captivating and Hampstead group, has outlined her real way. The DCSF is working with The group also has a new site at plan to provide ‘Book Boxes’ on supporting a range of activities that www.southhantshumanists.org.uk . are being developed by other Humanism for the library at Swiss organisations. Cottage. Diana wants to include microscopes, telescopes and simple The Wellcome Trust have developed a set of kits that will be available to all geological time-scale charts and a primary and secondary schools very basic book on Darwinism. If (www.survivalrivals.org & anyone has anything which Diana www.greatplanthunt.org ). We are helping can use or have any suggestions, them to promote these kits to schools please email her at though various media. Courses will be [email protected] . offered by the National and regional science learning centres (joint funded by the DCSF and the Wellcome Trust) to provide updates on current A moral workshop in East Grayling in Shropshire evolution research, explore and Kent develop excellent teaching practices Organised by Shopshire group and investigate the many exciting As an alternative to a talk – which and the Shrewsbury coalition, A. projects on offer for Darwin year. they feared might not be “neutral” C. Grayling will talk on Feb 4th These will be available at if it came from a representative of a at 18:30 in the Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury.