Islam, Islamism and Islamophobia

Islam, Islamism & Islamophobia poster

Wednesday 27th November 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

by Martin Holst

Islam, the world’s second largest religion, is often seen as posing a threat to western democracy and values, but most Muslims claim its teachings are peaceful.

In this presentation, Martin explores what is known about Muhammad and how the religion of Islam developed, and considers its impact on the modern world. He embraces a critical approach to Islam/Islamism without being offensive or hostile to Muslims, and suggests how we can engage with them in different contexts.  Martin believes we need to improve our understanding of Islam and appreciate its internal driving forces because this affects how we seek to establish good relations with Muslims.

A former maths lecturer, Martin Holst is a Methodist preacher, and a member of the National Executive of the Christian Socialist Movement. He regards improving community cohesion as a key issue in the pursuit of peace.

Join us for a respectful analysis of the religion of Islam

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed from Gervis Road, which is better lit and has roadside parking).

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

West Dorset Humanists New Website

WDH websiteOur sister group in West Dorset have recently launched a new improved website. Check it out for details of their forthcoming events and activities.

http://www.westdorsethumanists.org

For other posts about West Dorset Humanists on this website click here.

Religious Education in a Secular Society

Religious Education PosterSaturday 9th November 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

by Dr Heather Meacock

Is there still a place for religious education in our increasingly secular society, and if so what form should it take? Despite church attendances in Britain being at historic lows, surveys that ask broader questions about belief (such as ‘Do you believe in a god or other transcendent being?) suggest we still have a fundamental interest in finding meaning beyond our physical world.

Dr Heather Meacock will discuss the value and format of religious education and ask whether schools could provide a better understanding of our children’s spiritual and philosophical needs than that offered by churches. Heather is a retired Senior Lecturer in Primary English Education.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of our children’s religious education.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website. 

Events Programme Update

DH Events Prog Sep13 to Jan14 Our latest events programme taking us through to January 2014 is now available for download here.The new programme includes presentations and discussions on a range of subjects as diverse as an atheist on the Alpha Course, religious education in a secular society, and global Humanism's struggle to defeat witchcraft and superstition in developing countries. We've also been making excellent progress with planning this year’s forthcoming events, so do look out for future programmes and website updates as well.

We try to ensure all event details in our programmes are accurate, but please check this website, our monthly bulletins, and/or facebook for any last minute updates to our event schedule.

Most Dorset Humanists meetings and events are held at Moordown Community Centre, 21 Coronation Avenue, BH9 1TW, Bournemouth, Dorset. (google map), or The Green House Hotel, 4 Grove Road, Bournemouth.BH1 3AX.

Click here to view details of forthcoming and recent events on this website.

October Bulletin

DW 6298984 (crop)Jonathan Pearce is one of our most entertaining and thoughtful regular speakers and there's another  opportunity to hear his ‘Unholy Questions’ presentation (retitled as ‘God on Trial’) on Thursday 10th October at Bournemouth University.  Please go along and support this event presented by the Bournemouth Students Humanists and Atheists Society. 

On Saturday we are honoured and delighted to welcome the President of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies Rory Fenton to Dorset Humanists.  Rory also works for the British Humanist Association and he will be answering the question "Can atheists and faith groups work together constructively?". 

Also this month in our bulletin, fantastic news about the Bournemouth Remembrance Service, news about One World Week, the launch of our new Jane Bannister Winter Appeal, and plans to start a Humanist group for young people. 

We look forward to seeing you soon at our events. 

David Warden
Chair, Dorset Humanists

http://dorset.humanist.org.uk/DH-Bulletin-October-2013.pdf

God on Trial: The Case for God Examined

BSHAS God on Trial Poster

Thursday 10th October 7.30pm

Barnes Lecture Theatre, Poole House, Talbot Campus, Bournemouth University. BH12 5BB

by author, educator, and philosopher Jonathan Pearce

Bournemouth Student Humanists and Atheists Society have kindly invited us to a retitled repeat of author, blogger and philosopher Jonathan Pearce's entertaining and thought-provoking 'Unholy Questions' presentation. If you missed it last time, or would enjoy experiencing it again, this is an excellent opportunity to hear this popular speaker in action, and gain some new insights on the question of God's existence.

Jonathan will be skilfully guiding us through a range of arguments for and against the existence of God. He will also offer some novel arguments that challenge the concept of an omniscient, omnipotent, omni-benevolent God. With Bournemouth University having quite an active Christian Union, we're expecting a robust Q&A session after Jonathan's presentation, so this should be a really enjoyable evening for everyone with an interest in the God debate.

Jonathan is a teacher and author from South Hampshire, who has dedicated many years of his life to all manner of things philosophical and theological. He is the author of several popular books including ‘The Nativity: A Critical Examination, ‘Free Will? An investigation into whether we have free will, or whether I was always going to write this book’, and ‘The Little Book of Unholy Questions. As an interlude from writing about philosophy and theology, he has also written a book of advice for dads of twins; Twins: A Survival Guide for Dads. He is a founder member of the Tippling Philosophers, a friendly group of disparate believers and non-believers based in Hampshire, and is also a founder author for the Skeptic Ink Network (SIN), an online community of skeptic writers, bloggers, academics, thinkers and activists. Check out their blog at http://skepticink.com/tippling/ and their facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skeptic-Ink

Everyone welcome!
Free entry (voluntary donations appreciated from any non-students attending)

[If you aren't familiar with the university layout, just enter via the main Talbot Campus entrance, head to the reception desk and they will direct you to the Barnes Lecture Theatre].

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.