Religion in Schools?

Wednesday 22^nd February 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

Whether religion has any place in schools is a controversial question engendering strong feelings both from those who see it as a good thing and those who do not.

For this evening’s event, we have assembled a panel of current and former school workers with a vested interest in this topic to present us with their differing views on the various forms of religious involvement in schools. Our panel members will be Hilary Bond who is a Schools and Children's worker for the Parish of Wareham, Cathy Silman who is a retired teacher and current member of Dorset Humanists Education Group, and Dave Pegg who is a Christian schools worker. Together they will discuss the controversial and contested domains of religious education, worship in schools, and faith schools.

Is there scope for Humanists, Christians, and people of other faiths to find common ground on the place of religion in our children’s education? Come along and join this lively discussion.

“Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the place of religion in our children’s education”

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/

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.

‘One Life’ Course: Exploring Humanism and Atheism

October/November 2014. All sessions: 7.30pm to 9:30pmThe Green House Hotel, 4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

The ‘One Life’ Course: A six week introduction to Humanism and Atheism (Course Tutor: Chair of Dorset Humanists, David Warden)
This popular and enlightening course is intended for everybody who is interested in Humanism and wishes to discover more about its principles and the activities of Humanists. It's a great opportunity to explore life's big questions from a non-religious perspective, while meeting and interacting with interesting new people in a positive friendly environment.
During the course we’ll discover how Humanism provides a rational, non-religious way of approaching life’s ‘big questions’, and how it offers values that help us to live happy, worthwhile and fulfilled lives.
Session schedule:
   1. Humanist Beliefs and History: Tuesday October 7^th 2014
   2. The God Debate: Monday October 13^th 2014
   3. Secularism and Religious Privilege: Tuesday October 21^st 2014
   4. Ethics & Morality without Religion: Tuesday Nov 4^th 2014
   5. Prospects for Happiness: Tuesday November 11^th 2014
   6. Possibilities for a Good Society Tuesday November 18^th 2014
   (No meeting on 28^th October due to half-term break).
There will be a small charge for this course to help cover venue hire. All sessions 7.30pm – 9.30pm at The Green House Hotel, Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX.
Total Course cost (The total course cost is the same regardless of how many sessions you choose to attend)
   · £15 for non-members, or £12 for members of Dorset Humanists.
   · Early booking discount: £2 off members’ and non-members’ prices if booked before 15^th Sept.
   · Flat rate of £5 for students (whenever booked).
Please make cheques payable to ‘Dorset Humanists’, or contact us for BACS payment details.
Please book early to avoid disappointment due to a limited number of places

Some feedback from previous ‘One Life’ courses:
· “An amazing course – it’s been fantastic!”
· “Just what we need to introduce people to Humanism”
· “As a Christian I felt at ease and accepted by those present.”
· “My mind continues to buzz about many issues arising from the course”
Course Tutor: David Warden BA, MA, Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Chair of Dorset Humanists.
For further information, email David Warden at chairman@dorsethumanists.co.uk or phone 07910 886629, or talk to us at one of our meetings.
(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).
Click here to view details of forthcoming and recent Dorset Humanists events on this website.

‘One Life’ course explores Humanism and Atheism

‘One Life’ - An informative and enjoyable six-week course exploring Humanism and Atheism

Weekly Itinerary
1. What do Humanists believe?
2. Humanism past and present
3. Secularism and religious privilege
4. Ethics and morality without religion
5. Meaning, purpose and happiness
6. A Humanist vision of the future

When?
Tuesdays from 2nd October. All sessions 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Where?
Moordown Community Centre, 21 Coronation Avenue, BH9 1TW, Bournemouth, Dorset

About
In this course, we’ll discover how Humanism provides a rational, non-religious way of answering life’s ‘big questions’, and offers values that help us live enjoyable and worthwhile lives. The course will be highly interactive, so come prepared to share your ideas, take part in discussion groups, and enjoy addressing interesting and challenging issues with like-minded people.

Course Cost
£15 non-members or £12 members (£2 discount before 14th Sept). £5 for students.
Cheques payable to Dorset Humanists
Book early to avoid disappointment – limited number of places

Tutor
David Warden – Chair of Dorset Humanists. David has given talks to a number of Humanist groups on ethics, the history of Humanism, the psychology of happiness, the science of climate change, how the Bible was written and many more topics. He holds degrees in both theology and management, and is an experienced speaker and business trainer.

Contact David Warden.

The History and Philosophy of Humanism - CFI online course March-May

The CFI Institute is offering a new course in its Institute Online program:

The History and Philosophy of Humanism (SEC 200)
March 1st - May 30th, 2010
Instructor John Shook, PhD, CFI VP

This three month course contains six lectures by Shook, from his next book on Humanism.  The six main topics are: Humanism Defined, Humanism and Naturalism, Humanism and Ethics, Humanist Ethics and God, Principles of Humanist Ethics, and Humanism's Destiny.  Visiting Lecturers Nica Lalli (during March) and Dale McGowan (during April) will participate in the discussion areas of the course.  

Course Fees: $60.00 for registration, $50.00 for Friends of the Center, and $20.00 for students.
Online registration begins February 1st.
Click here to register.

John Shook is Vice President and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Inquiry Transnational in Amherst, N.Y., and Research Associate in Philosophy at the University at Buffalo.  He has authored and edited more than a dozen books about philosophy and naturalism.  He has debated the existence of God with notable theologians including William Lane Craig, and his book The God Debates will soon be published by Blackwell.

Nica Lalli is a writer, educator, and former PTA president.  She is the author of Nothing: Something to Believe In (Prometheus Books, 2007), a memoir which tells the story of her life outside of organized religion and traces her many mishaps and misadventures she has had with religion.

Dale McGowan edited and co-authored Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers, the first comprehensive resources for nonreligious parents.  He writes the secular parenting blog The Meming of Life, teaches nonreligious parenting seminars across the United States, and serves as executive director of Foundation Beyond Belief, a humanist charitable and educational foundation.

The CFI Institute Online offers CFI courses entirely online - everything about the course is provided on a CFI website.  You will read the course lectures, follow links to other webpages, ask questions, and participate in class discussions with the instructor and other students on our website.  There are no specific times that you must be online.  There is no "live" aspect to these courses, and you cannot miss anything even if you can only get online at 6am or 11pm - you can log in and participate anytime day or night, 24/7.

Click here for the CFI Institute Online on our website.

For more information about online courses,
contact John Shook, jshook@centerforinquiry.net.
For questions about registration and technical support,
contact Institute Staff channy@centerforinquiry.net.