The Sunday 4th December meeting, the last for this year, was one of our 'Headstrong' discussions. This time we had visitors: Tony M. Robinson of the Humanist Party came up from London and Mike Lake of the new Derby and Derbyshire Secular Society came down from Derby. My hope was that we could concentrate on 'Activism' issues, but as usual the talk wandered over a whole range of topics, from representation on SACREs to demonstrating in support of the production of 'Jerry Springer the Opera' at De Montfort Hall.
At one point there was some dispute about what is and what is not 'Religion'. One speaker maintained that Buddhism is not a religion because it does not involve belief in a god or gods. However, this seems a mistaken idea about Buddhism. They have a concept of 'Brahma' which means 'Great One' which is very like a god to me, though probably of an impersonal nature. Brahma is also the supreme creator god in Hinduism.
I'd started to prepare a set of posters, which I set out on a table in the hall and in the window display, covering such topics as 'Wake Up, Sleeping Humanists', 'What is Wrong with Religion', and 'How Do We Know What We Know', as a means of trying to get our message across better. I would welcome suggestions for other posters. See my 'Omega Therapy' page.
I would like to set up an Omega Course complementary to the christian Alpha Course with the purpose of bringing humanist ways of thinking to people who may be confused or unclear about them (like me quite often) and of helping people move away from a religious upbringing. Perhaps this could begin in a small way as a discussion group meeting at Secular Hall midweek.
At one point there was some dispute about what is and what is not 'Religion'. One speaker maintained that Buddhism is not a religion because it does not involve belief in a god or gods. However, this seems a mistaken idea about Buddhism. They have a concept of 'Brahma' which means 'Great One' which is very like a god to me, though probably of an impersonal nature. Brahma is also the supreme creator god in Hinduism.
I'd started to prepare a set of posters, which I set out on a table in the hall and in the window display, covering such topics as 'Wake Up, Sleeping Humanists', 'What is Wrong with Religion', and 'How Do We Know What We Know', as a means of trying to get our message across better. I would welcome suggestions for other posters. See my 'Omega Therapy' page.
I would like to set up an Omega Course complementary to the christian Alpha Course with the purpose of bringing humanist ways of thinking to people who may be confused or unclear about them (like me quite often) and of helping people move away from a religious upbringing. Perhaps this could begin in a small way as a discussion group meeting at Secular Hall midweek.
Let children make their own minds up what is so wrong with religion? I assume the renaissance, the works of Bach and the Bible soaked imagery of Herman Melville has passed you by. I assume we should all look forward to nothing except a bio degradbale box and a tinny rendition of 'bridge over troubled water'
ReplyDeleteSad really.
Thank you Bishop! It's a pity you aren't prepared to express your views under your own name.
ReplyDeleteI shall probably be listening to BBC Radio 3 up to christmas, since they are presenting the complete works of Bach. That will be a great antidote to the wall-to-wall christian propaganda (in the form of christmas carols) on Classic FM and most other channels.
The bible-soaked imager in Moby Dick hadn't escaped me! Cap'n Ahab's obsession with the Great Whale has always struck me as an allegory for fundamentalist religious belief.
I wonder if they stil teach "On Ilkley Moor Baht 'at" at school. A good old secular folk song. Or is it all "sweet baby Jesus" carols?
As regards the 'Omega Course' idea, I've been busy trying to put a 'secular programme of learning' on the new website, though there's still a lot to cover.
ReplyDeletePart of my idea for a midweek meeting is for members of the Society to exchange their views on philosophy. We come to the lectures on Sundays and some of us express views in reaction to the speaker, but there is a wide range of views and I for one would find it helpful to know in more detail what other members think on important issues.
I must admit that my resolve to listen to the works of Bach on Radio 3 has largely lapsed. Far too many 'cantatas' that he obviously churned out to order. And the way the programmes have been arranged makes it difficult to pick out the instrumental works. The endless carols and choirs and other 'spirituality' on Classic FM also proved too much. To cheer myself up I had to put on my CD of military marches.