farnham HUMANISTS

covering W. Surrey and N.E. Hampshire.

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contact 01252 794021: Little Craigy Barns, 37 Frensham Vale, Farnham GU10 3HS David.savage44@btinternet.com

Since our last newsletter we have enjoyed talks on "Science or religion?" by Vincent Marks author of "Panic Nation"; "Islam" by Mufti Liaquat Ali from the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking, "Do we have free will?" by Dr Jeremy Stangroom of The Philosophy Magazine and as a group we have discussed the "Age of Enlightenment". We visited Darwin's House in April, enjoyed a walk round Puttenham and pub outing in June and provided a stall at the July Charities Fair in the Farnham Library Gardens.

Other current and recent activities are updated as follows:

• Schools - Barbara Burfoot gave a talk on Humanism atTreloar College near Alton.

• SACRE - Jennie Johnson attended the combined Surrey SACRE and Surrey Agreed Syllabus conference meeting on November 14th and the BHA annual SACRE meeting on November 18th. She continues to push for the RE Syllabus to be more inclusive of ethical world views other than religious beliefs and to take account of the large number of young people who do not follow a particular religion. The next syllabus meeting is on January 16th.

• U3A debate - Alec Leggatt was the proposer for a December U3A debate "Religion is the enemy of reason" with Dr Rosemary Thomas seconding. The Rev John Innes opposed the motion. The motion was passed in a vote at the end.

• Euthanasia debate - The debate "Voluntary Euthanasia is not acceptable" in November was a great success and a collection raised nearly £500 for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. Speakers for the motion were Rt Reverend Bishop Kieren Conry RC Bishop of Arundel and Brighton and Dr Kathryn Myers consultant in palliative care and a representative for the Care not Killing Alliance. Speakers against the motion: Dr Margaret Branthwaite Consultant Physician and Barrister representing Dignity in Dying, Peter Cave Chairman of the Humanist Philosopher's Group of the British Humanist Association. The motion was narrowly passed by 71 to 67 with 1 abstention. The Farnham Herald printed a full report of the debate together with a photograph.

• Remembrance day - Several members attended the service at the Farnham Memorial and laid a wreath. David Savage said that he had been contacted by a humanist group from Devon asking how he had arranged it as their council had not allowed them to attend their local memorial service.
  
• Website - Eleanor Hill (not a member) said that she had been working on the website and that soon the website would be ready and she would hand it over to one of the members for maintenance. Eleanor kindly added that the person who took it over could come to her house to do the updates using Dreamweaver if they wished. Eleanor agreed to add submissions from Jim and Alec (about Jim's talk on the history of Freethought and Alec's debate) if they were emailed to her.

• AGM - The Farnham Humanists' AGM will be on the 18^th Feb 2007 and Hanna Stinson, Chief Executive of the BHA, is coming to give a talk.

• NSS - Jim Herrick has been re-elected as the vice-president of the NSS.

FUTURE PROGRAMME:

Meetings are free and normally on a Sunday, starting at 7.30pm.

At the kind invitation of the Society of Friends we meet at the Quakers Meeting House, 36, Tilford Road, Farnham GU9 8DL

(It is a few minutes walk from Farnham Station. Travelling up the hill from the station it is on the right, a little higher up than the Catholic Church on the left. If anyone would like a lift, please could they contact David Savage on 01252 794021.)

Provisional programme 2007/8 (Events from June not confirmed)

January Sunday 14^th: Annual dinner, The Lobster Pot, Upper Hale, Farnham. 7.30 for 8.00pm

February Sunday 18^th: AGM & talk by Hanne Stinson, Chief Executive of The British

Humanist Association.

March Sunday 18^th: The second in our faith series. Talk on Buddhism by Carolin Bevan a

practicing Buddhist.

April Sunday 22^nd: Discussion ‘What Humanism means to me’.

May Sunday 20^th: Ramble and pub lunch. Jim Herrick will organise another great day.

June Sunday 24^th: Talk, ‘Persecution of the religious and non religious in today’s world’.

Speaker from Amnesty International

July Sunday 22^nd: Visit to the Hellfire Club. If you are going to hell, come along for a preview!

Summer Perhaps a sailing trip.

September Sunday 23^rd: Talk ‘The moral aspects of global warming’

Speaker, Mayer Hillman, Emeritus member Policy Studies Institute

October Sunday 21^st: Talk Details to be decided. Depends if MPs are available.

November Date to be fixed. Annual debate ‘Can there be a just war?’ Speakers may include Bruce Kent (peace activist), Lord Tim Garden (Lib Dem Defence Spokesman), Major General Pearson (Commandant Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst), Peace Pledge Union (main secular pacifist group), Anglican Pacifist Fellowship (sectarian pacifist group). Location may be Aldershot, may be on garrison site.

December Sunday 16^th Discussion, ‘Is prostitution moral?’

January 2008 Annual dinner

February 2008 Sunday 24^th February AGM & talk by Norman Bacrac South Place Ethical

Society, editor of the Ethical Record.