Archive for the ‘Humanism’ Category

Yesterday saw Tom Williamson speaking at Leeds Skeptics in the Pub on “The Scientific Method: Uses and Abuses.” He was a really good speaker and I really enjoyed the talk. I was also quite pleased that even though it was August there was good attendance. Good times all round really.

I’m very dubious about this phrase. I mean, surely there is only one sky? On Planet Earth at least, but then that is the only sky we’re supposed to be watching – surely we’re not supposed to be watching over planet’s skies?

In any case, I was invited onto BBC Radio Leeds on Wednesday morning for a debate with the organiser of the Exopolitics conference taking place in Leeds this weekend. It was only a 15-minute slot, including going over to the US to speak to Riley Martin – a man who has spoken to aliens (they tell him, “friend Martin…”) but was never the less interesting.

Anthony seemed a very well educated and smart guy (kind of like the good kid that falls in with the bad crowd 😉 ), he seemed very rational about the whole thing. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the Exopolitics movement as a whole. A quick look at their website is very revealing.

The era of looped debating whether ETI [extra-terrestrial intelligence] exists and are engaging our species has pragmatically shifted to assuming this to be the case – until we can gather and validate further information.

Basically, they’ve given up trying to work out whether aliens are visiting Earth and just decided they will assume they are until someone proves them wrong. Because that’s how science works 😉 .

EDIT: Since the blog post was written, http://www.exopolitics.org.uk/ has closed.

While what’s really important in any community group is really interesting and well thought through content (which I will be blogging about over on the Leeds Humanists blog), what I was most excited about this month was us rolling out our new happy humanist roller banner! Look at it sitting there behind Gijsbert, how nice 😀 .

With Mr Foley’s looking like our home for the moment, we had a great Skeptics in the Pub meeting in July with a really strong turn out despite it being in the middle of summer. Perhaps due to the excellent quality of talk delivered by Jonni on “The Mind, Illusion and the Need for Science.”

Browns played host to this year’s End of Year Ball in Leeds, with them providing us with no less than two private rooms – one for the reception and one for the dinner. As a bonus my fish came as an entire fish too.

The World Cup manages to get everywhere – and arguably so it should – though it was surprising to find that it even made it as far as the Humanist Community of Leeds with Gijsbert dressing up in all orange to support his home country, The Netherlands.

The June Skeptics in the Pub meeting was held at Mr Foley’s on The Headrow. It’s interesting that when you describe it as “opposite the art gallery” nobody really knows where you mean but as soon as you say “next door to Wildcats” everyone knows exactly where it is!

For the innocent of you, Wildcats is one of Leeds’ many strip joints.

June’s talk was by Stewart Richmond who is the man that proved magnetic bracelets are of course a load of nonsense. Good times.

One of the aims I always wanted for the foundation, was that we would be an organisation that got out there and did stuff. Not just talked about it, or planned it, but actually got out there and got something going. I’m pleased to say that our work seems to be inspiring other organisations to do the same.

Having just read the latest copy of the BHA News which arrived through my door a few days ago, I noticed they have now formally launched their equivalent to our One Life course, Exploring Humanism, complete with a overtly stock image as I am a sucker for using on our projects too.

Just a week after our Enquiry 2010 conference took place, the BHA have announced the return of their annual residential weekend conference and following our public announcement of the Humanist Chaplaincy Network during the weekend, they have also announced they will soon be launching the Humanist Chaplaincy Working Group too.

I’m really proud that despite only being a year old, the work of the foundation is already inspiring many others in the non-religious community to get out there and make a difference. Long may it continue!

Last Sunday saw the May meeting of the Humanist Community of Leeds. It was well attended and all those who spoke to me gave positive feedback – indeed a record number of people stayed on for Sunday lunch and we had to have the restaurant expand the area we are normally in!

Tuesday saw Leeds Atheist Society’s 2009/2010 AGM. Congratulations to all those who were elected to the coming year’s committee, especially John who is now our new president. Afterward we finished off with the tradition karaoke session that constitutionally every AGM must end with.