The Hunt for the Higgs Boson

Wednesday 24^th October 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

The amazing story of the elusive ‘God Particle’

In this illustrated presentation, scientist Chris Street, who recently visited the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, recounts the discovery of the Higgs Boson, and how it provides a giant leap forward in our understanding of the universe.

Chris will also explain the nature of the Higgs Boson, why scientists are so excited about it, why it was called the 'God Particle', and how it gives mass to everything, as well as providing us with key highlights of the fifty year search for the ‘Holy Grail’ of particle physics.

Join us for “A fascinating introduction to the story behind the resolution of one of science’s greatest mysteries”

Chris Street is a founder member of Humanists4Science, and Dorset Humanists’ Education Officer.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Please 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.

Fear and God

How fear and anxiety leads to more religion by Tomas Rees

On 14th April, Tomas Rees gave a presentation (see above video) to Dorset Humanists entitled 'Fear and God'.


In the talk he reviewed many of the studies he’s covered on his blog, looking at how and why fear and anxiety provoke religious responses, and the link between unstable and dangerous societies with greater levels of religion (The main talk runs for 50 minutes, with another 20 minutes of questions at the end). He’s posted this talk on his blog and we reproduce the presentation here too.


If you enjoyed this talk and want to find out more, please visit Tom’s blog at Epiphenom for a wealth of additional information: http://epiphenom.fieldofscience.com. Tom is also a founder member of Humanists4Science, along with Dorset Humanists’ Chris Street.


'Anxiety a major cause of religion’ 
“Religious nations have higher infant mortality, more murders, worse corruption, more cases of AIDS, and higher levels of abortion” At our April meeting, Dr Tom Rees gave a very illuminating presentation on what makes people more religious. 


Experimental research has found that loneliness, reminding people of death and making them more anxious makes people more religious. Muslims have very high death anxiety because of a vivid belief in Hell.  It was reassuring, however, to learn that reminding atheists about death makes them less religious. 


Anxiety increases our ‘pattern-seeking’ behaviour – it makes people more inclined to ‘see God’s hand’ in everyday events. If the government is not in control people want God to be in control. The least religious people are those who enjoy good health, stable employment, are well-educated and who haven’t experienced war. Peaceful, trusting, urbanised countries have the most atheists and are the least religious. Religious societies have the lowest ‘social capital’ (social cohesion, co-operation and so on). 


Tom offered two explanations as to why the United States is so religious. One reason its vigorous free market in religion and a second reason is its high income inequality and lack of social security which increases anxiety which, in turn, makes people more religious. 


Tom claimed that state-sanctioned religion makes people more cynical about religion. If you get rid of state religion countries become more religious. If you want to reduce your blood pressure, however, religion can help.


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

Religion Explained - Fear and God: Why some people just can’t help believing - Dr Tom Rees (Humanists4Science)

Saturday 14^th April 2.00pm
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown, Bournemouth BH9 1TW
Find out why some people just can’t help believing!


Why do some people believe in God and religion whilst others do not? Why are some countries more religious than others? Our speaker Dr Tom Rees will explore the psychology of belief and evidence of a link between belief and stressful living conditions. Dr Rees is a medical writer, a columnist for 'Free Inquiry' magazine, and co-founder of Humanists4Science. 

Everyone welcome! 

Free entry (donations appreciated)

If you can help us promote this event by displaying an A4 poster, please email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF copy.
Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.