BRIGHTON & HOVE
HUMANIST SOCIETY
LIVING WITHOUT RELIGION.
CHALLENGING RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGE.
Welcome to the Brighton and Hove Humanist Society homepage
Programme About secular humanism Publications and downloads
Other organisations Contact details Latest newsletter
Humanism is an approach to life based on humanity and reason. Humanists recognise that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience alone, not on any dogma or sacred text.
The Society meets on the first Wednesday of every month (no meeting in August), at 7:30pm (8:00pm start) at The Lord Nelson Inn, Trafalgar Street, Brighton (click here for a map).
The Lord Nelson Inn is a short walk from Brighton Railway station and seven bus stops (6, 7, 27, 27A, 37, 50A, 56). It is also a short distance from London Road bus stops (alight at St. Peter's Church). There are good parking facilities nearby.
Meetings
usually take the form of a talk followed by a period of informal
discussion. Everyone is welcome, from existing humanists to people who haven't
got a clue what humanism is about and just happen to be interested in the topic
under discussion. You don’t have to be a member to attend, and admission is
free.
Programme
Wednesday 3 March 2010 Defending Darwin, Defeating Design – Dr. Robert
Stovold
Wednesday 7 April 2010 The Church of England: Time to Disestablish – Anna Behan
Wednesday 5 May 2010 Living Without Religion – Adam Trimingham
About Secular Humanism
Brighton and Hove Humanist Society is part of a national movement of
people who accept this life as the only one of which we have certain knowledge.
Consequently, our activities should be concentrated on advancing human welfare
and social betterment in the world we know.
Originating in the 19th century, the secular humanist movement has
advocated the free criticism of ideas, and promoted a moral code that is based
on human relationships. In practical terms, it influenced public acceptance of
birth control and campaigned for legal reforms relating to affirmation, Sunday
freedom, cremation, abortion, homosexuality, education and the right to die
with dignity.
In religious matters, the secular humanist movement defends people’s
right to believe what they will. But while supporting religious freedom, it
opposes privileges like church establishment, religious indoctrination in state
schools, broadcasting propaganda, and publicly-funded chaplaincy services in
hospitals, prisons and the Armed Forces.
The Society holds regular public meetings and social events. It also publishes a free newsletter for members and enquirers. Officiants are available to conduct non-religious funeral ceremonies.
Publications
and free downloads
Robert Stovold's illustrated 32 page booklet, Did Christians Steal
Christmas?
traces the origins of the Christmas story, and is intended for
Christians and sceptics alik
e. By citing Christian and Pagan sources, it
enables critical minds of any persuasion to determine “the true meaning of
Christmas” for themselves. The booklet contains a Foreword by Terry Sanderson,
President of the National Secular Society, and can be purchased securely online
from the National Secular Society’s website by clicking here.
Bill McIlroy’s pamphlet Without The Faith – Freethinkers and Freethought in Brighton and Hove can be purchased securely online by clicking here (the link will take you to the National Secular Society’s website). Alternatively, you can order a copy by writing to: Bill McIlroy, Flat 3, Somerhill Lodge, Somerhill Road, Hove, BN3 1RU (Tel. 01273 227549). The pamphlet costs £2.25 + 35p postage; cheques should be made payable to BRIGHTON AND HOVE HUMANIST SOCIETY.
An earlier booklet of Bill’s, “The Foundations of Modern Humanism”
is available free to download. It’s in PDF format; click here to
download Adobe’s free “Acrobat Reader” software if you don’t already have it.
Some talks given to the Society in the past are also available online:
“Spiritual Care on the NHS – Chaplains or Charlatans?” by B&HHS member Robert Stovold
“Evolution – A Nightmare For Theologians” by B&HHS member Robert Stovold
“Proud To Be An Atheist“ by Barry Duke, Editor of The Freethinker
“Robert Ingersoll – Ideas and Ideals“ by Robert Stovold. Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899) was an influential orator and politician who popularised a humanistic philosophy, scientific rationalism and the higher criticism of the Bible. His complete works are available free online, here.
“Simplicity and Complexity“ by B&HHS member Dr. Sam Dick.
Unbelievable?
A humanist on Christian Radio. Waving the flag for atheists, Robert has made some
lengthy contributions (appearances?) on Premier Christian Radio, on a programme
called "Unbelievable?". All of the programmes can be downloaded from here.
13 October 2007 - Has science buried God? Professor John Lennox, a Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy and Chaplain at Green College Oxford. Lennox, asserts in his book "God's Undertaker - Has science buried God?" that science and philosophy show evidence of a divine designer. In a friendly yet probing exchange of ideas, Robert argued that the methodology of science is incompatible with theism.
22 Dec 2007 - Did Christians steal Christmas? Robert pointed to the mythical elements in the Nativity story and promoted his booklet Did Christians Steal Christmas?, which argues that key elements of the Nativity are Pagan in origin. He was joined by fellow sceptic Ken Humphreys.
16 Feb 2008 - Noah and the Flood - did it really happen? Astounding that anyone in the 21st century should even ask, but that's Creationism for you. To discover why Creationism is a perversion of science, listen to Robert and co-sceptic Greg Marshall demolish some of its bogus claims.
21 June 2008 – The Big Questions in Science and Religion Keith Ward, former Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University and priest in the Church of England explains why as a "theistic evolutionist" he believes Evolution and belief in God are compatible. Robert argues that theistic evolution is bad science - and bad religion too.
23 August 2008 – Why There Almost Certainly Is a God Keith Ward, former Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University and priest in the Church of England seeks to counter arguments in Richard Dawkins’ bestseller “The God Delusion”. Robert weighs in on the side of Dawkins.
24 February 2009 - Darwin and God Robert discusses the religious beliefs of Charles Darwin with Nick Spencer of Christian think-tank Theos.
16 May 2009 – Angels and Demons Robert discusses the (in)compatibility of science and religion, with theologian and scientist David Wilkinson
26 December 2009 - Are Matthew and Luke's birth narratives at odds with each other? Barrister Charles Foster wrote "The Christmas Mystery" to show that Matthew and Luke are different (but reliable) accounts of Jesus' birth. Atheist Robert Stovold believes that the stories are a blend of Pagan myth and later invention.
Other
organisations
National Organisations: The Brighton and Hove Humanist Society is affiliated to national organisations.
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The National Secular Society speaks out for the rights of atheists, agnostics and all other non-believers. |
The British Humanist Association provides help and information to all those interested in a humanist wedding, child-naming or funeral ceremony. The B.H.A.’s website also contains a brief outline of the humanist tradition. |
Local Organisations: The Sussex University Secular Society has started up recently. Anyone with a scientific outlook would probably enjoy Cafe Scientifique - “a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology”. Similarly, Philosophy in Pubs, “a group of like-minded people searching for philosophical stimulation in a relaxed atmosphere” comes highly recommended. A new group, Skeptics in the Pub, has its first meeting in February, and the Brighton Science Festival runs from 12 to 28 February.
Other groups nearby: The Mid Sussex Freethinkers
Articles featuring the Society and its members: There’s a Wikipedia entry on Bill McIlroy.
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Chairman |
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Newsletter editor / Website designer |
Humanist funerals and |
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baby-naming ceremonies |
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Mike Jelley |
Fleur Jacot |
Robert Stovold Flat 5 8 Bath Street Brighton East Sussex BN1 3TB Tel. (01273) 245990 |
Bill McIlroy Tel. (01273) 227549 |
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6 Middleham Close |
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Ringmer |
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Lewes |
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Valerie Mainstone Tel. (01273) 729311 |
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BN8 5EN |
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Tel. (01273) 814057 |
Tel. (01273) 461404 |
Graham Towers |
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Tel. 01273 776586 |
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