BRIGHTON & HOVE
HUMANIST SOCIETY
LIVING WITHOUT RELIGION. Promoting a rational, responsible
approach to life, relying on reason and shared human values.
50th Anniversary Year 1958-2008
Welcome to the Brighton and Hove Humanist Society homepage
Programme
About secular humanism Publications and downloads
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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
2008
Wednesday 1
October: The Equalities Debate and Secularism. Anna Behan, Vice President, National
Secular Society.
Wednesday 5
November: The Churches and War. Denis Cobell
Wednesday
3 December: Ripping Yarns from the New Testament. Ken
Humphreys
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
alike. 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.
Alternatively, you can order copies by writing to the author, Robert Stovold,
at Flat 5, 8 Bath Street, Brighton, BN1 3TB.
The booklet costs £2.99 + 50p postage; cheques should be made payable to NSS.
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 pamphlet 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:
“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 five lengthy contributions
(appearances?) on Premier Christian Radio, on a programme called
"Unbelievable?". All five 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.
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 an excellent introduction to humanism. |
Local Organisations: Though not affiliated to the Brighton and Hove Humanist
Society, humanists and anybody else 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 though it has no formal links to the
Society.
Articles featuring the Society and its members: There’s
an article on Bill McIlroy in Wikipedia. Thanks very
much to whoever wrote it!
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Contact details for the Brighton & Hove Humanist Society |
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Chairman |
Secretary |
Newsletter editor / Website designer |
Humanist funerals and |
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baby-naming ceremonies |
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Mike Jelley |
Fleur Jacot |
Robert Stovold |
Bill McIlroy |
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6 Middleham Close |
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Flat 5 |
Tel. (01273) 227549 |
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Ringmer |
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8 Bath Street |
Valerie Mainstone |
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Lewes |
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Brighton |
Tel. (01273) 729311 |
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East Sussex |
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East Sussex |
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BN8 5EN |
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BN1 3TB |
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Tel. (01273) 814057 |
Tel. (01273) 461404 |
Tel. (01273) 245990 |
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