Diary
Multiple choice answers
Monday, May 16, 2011The Big Questions on BBC TV on Sunday was amusing. It was supposed to be about “The future of British Islam”. Nicky Campbell lost control of a bunch of Muslims all shouting at one another, while Dame Anne Leslie kept chipping in with comments prefaced with “When I was in Pakistan/Iran/Afghanistan…”, etc. When she referred to the burqa as a “bin bag”, that really fanned the flames of indignation. I had to Google Dr Taj Hargey, whose posture indicated his contempt for most of the opinions being expressed by sitting right back in his chair, while others leant forward as they tried to outshout one another.Are you ready?
Saturday, May 14, 2011I hope you haven’t made any plans for the end of October onwards, because we’re all going to fry, apparently, on the 21st October. The world will be destroyed by fire, say those who hope to be “God’s elect people”, but they’re not expecting to be here after the 21st of this month, when The Rapture happens and they’re all swept up into heaven to leave us unbelievers behind. Our webmaster was planning to spend six months in Ghana from the beginning of next month but now he’s beginning to wonder if he should change his plans.May newsletter out now
Thursday, May 5, 2011[]( http://www.suffolkhands.org.uk/files/1/SH&S News May 2011.pdf “SH&S May 2011 news”)Our May newsletter is available now for you to download. [Click here](http://www.suffolkhands.org.uk/files/1/SH&S News May 2011.pdf “SH&S May 2011 news”) or on the image for your copy. For help with pdf files, click here. Read about our next meeting (on recommended reading), what a SACRE is, the Uncaged Monkeys in Ipswich, a good woman with green fingers, our healthy finances, what we thought about the burqa ban, the BHA’s new president and his book, and plans for the next three months, which include a visit from Prof.Pre-Uncaged Monkeys meet-up
Sunday, May 1, 2011Ipswich Science in the Pub people are meeting at McGinty’s for a pre-Uncaged Monkeys drink. Look for the table with a copy of New Scientist on it.Darwin & religion
Friday, Apr 29, 2011Campaigning against religion can be socially counter-productive. If teachers take the uncompromising line that God and Darwinism are irreconcilable, many young people raised in a faith-based culture will stick with their religion and be lost to science. Moreover, we need all the allies we can muster against fundamentalism – a palpable, perhaps growing concern.Topics for debate
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011Two stories that have been in the news have attracted lots of attention; the French burqa ban and the Big Society. Eric Pickles and Sayeeda Warsi seem to imagine that religious organisations are the best ones to provide public services in the Big Society. In yesterday’s Guardian, Rahila Gupta wrote, “Faith” has increasingly become the new way of constructing racial minorities, a trend that started under Tony Blair and continues under the Tory-led government.On disestablishment
Monday, Apr 18, 2011In the Independent, Adrian Hamilton writes, … this Easter week, I can’t help feeling more than ever that the Church of England will not survive my children’s lifetime and quite possibly not even my own. He opines that the C of E may do better if it severs its ties with the state. We’d like disestablishment too, wouldn’t we?New group committee
Sunday, Apr 17, 2011At its AGM last week, the Suffolk Humanist & Secularist group failed to elect a new chairperson, as no one wanted the job. It was agreed that a chairperson would be nominated from the attendees at each meeting, while the committee would take it in turns to chair their meetings. The new committee consists of Denis Johnston (secretary), John Mellis (treasurer), John Palmer, Tom Boles, Colleen Nunn, Michael Imison, Tom Boles, Sue Hewlett and Peter Davidson.Martin Rees
Friday, Apr 15, 2011As to Martin Rees accepting the Templeton prize, it’s rather like the Pope accepting the secularist of the year award.Monthly meeting deciding how to consult our members about partnership with the BHA
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2011Group members will be consulted about the BHA’s proposal to change the relationship with us, signing up to a detailed agreement. We are currently affiliated but could become a partner. We’ll be deciding when and how to consult members.