Faith to Faithless

Saturday 14^th October 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

With Co-founder of Faith to Faithless Imtiaz Shams

Although non-religious people account for around one-fifth of the world’s population, those of us who do not believe are treated poorly in many communities. Discrimination and ill treatment can occur in many areas of life including within families, institutions, societies, and states. For those who are minorities within minorities, such as apostates or those having different faiths within majority faith communities, such discrimination is often much worse and can include rejection, victimisation and even violence. ‘Faith to faithless’ was founded in 2015 by Aliyah Saleem and Imtiaz Shams to support people facing religious discrimination and to draw attention in particular to the discrimination faced by minorities within minorities. It also offers a platform to the faithless to come out in public and speak out against this discrimination. Faith to Faithless is now a part of Humanists UK (formerly the British Humanist Association).

“Join us for a review of the activities of ‘faith to faithless’, and an insider’s view of life as an apostate within a religious community”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome! 

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

Escaping from Mormonism

Wednesday 28^th January 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With former Mormon, Ben Taylor***

Founded in the 1820s by Joseph Smith, a gifted opportunist with a talent for creating self-serving revelations, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka ‘the Mormons’) demands strict obedience from its adherents, and controls almost every aspect of their daily lives.

Ben Taylor will be sharing his personal experiences of being raised as a devout believer in this secretive cult, revealing how he spent most of his adolescence being routinely questioned about his ‘sexual purity’ by bishops, parents and peers. He was also obliged to knock on countless doors with Mormon missionaries, tithe at least ten per cent of his income to the church, and shun ‘apostates’. At the age of nineteen he greatly expanded his horizons by joining the army, with his military duties having included the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and a tour of Afghanistan.

“Ben Taylor reveals the harsh realities of growing up inside the Mormon church”

***Update***

We regret to announce that our advertised speaker Ben Taylor has had to pull out of this event at short notice. Instead, Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden will present key facts about the history and beliefs of Mormonism, and Dean Robertson will provide an entertaining and informative selection of video clips about Mormons and ex-Mormons. We expect this to be an interesting and lively event so please come along.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed via its rear entrance in Gervis Road. The hotel has a small onsite car park, and roadside parking is also available in Gervis Road).

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

We’d really appreciate it if you can 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.

Create Your Own Cult: The Scientology Way

Saturday 8^th November 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

A presentation by Dr Martin Poulter

Scientology has been described in the United States as “ruthless, litigious and lucrative” and in this country as “corrupt, sinister and dangerous”, yet it has gained the approval of many A-list Hollywood celebrities, and accumulated enormous quantities of money. Thanks to the internet, it now faces unprecedented global opposition, but how did it all begin?

Skeptic Martin Poulter has been keeping a close watch on L. Ron Hubbard’s secretive cult since 1995 when he was threatened with legal action over Scientology material he had posted online, and in this presentation he’ll be revealing how it all began, its subsequent development, its recruitment methods, and many of its most disturbing secrets.

Martin will also be providing us with a checklist of useful points to keep in mind if you ever decide to create your own successful and highly lucrative cult!

Join us for an entertaining examination of what may be Sci-Fi author L. Ron Hubbard’s weirdest creation - the cult of Scientology.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Martin Poulter has a Philosophy and Psychology degree from Oxford University and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Bristol. He is a key figure in Bristol Skeptics and his current main interest is in promoting critical and scientific thinking. He also gives talks on cognitive and social psychology.

Another easy way you can help our group grow is by indicating your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and the opportunity to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

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