Is ‘Goodness without God’ Good Enough?

Wednesday 25^th November 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

A debate with Moorlands College of Christian Theology

One of the core claims of Humanism is that we can be ‘good without God’, basing our morality on empathy, compassion, reason and science, rather than deriving it from ancient ‘sacred’ texts. While most Christians agree that humanists are capable of being good without God, many claim we are living off the moral capital of Christianity and that without a religious foundation questions of right and wrong ultimately collapse into relativism and subjectivity. A frequent accusation levelled against atheists is that ‘without God all things are permitted’, so is a firm foundation for ethics without God simply a hopeless quest?

Join us for this exciting debate between Dorset Humanists and Moorlands College as we consider the question: ‘Is God Required for Morality?’ Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden and Dorset Humanists’ committee member Dean Robertson will be representing Dorset Humanists, and we welcome Luke Barrs and Yaz Bennett who will represent Moorlands College. We expect this to be a stimulating debate that will be of great interest to people of all faiths and none.

“Join us for an enjoyable and informative evening as we debate whether God is required to ground our morality”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Moorlands College of Christian Theology is an Evangelical Christian Training College with campuses in Christchurch, Torquay and Birmingham.

Jonathan M.S. Pearce is a teacher from South Hampshire, UK, who has dedicated many years to studying all manner of things philosophical and theological. With a Masters in Philosophy from the University of Wales, Trinity St David, he also holds a degree from the University of Leeds, and a PGCE from Southampton. His published books include ‘Free Will?’ and ‘The Little Book of Unholy Questions’, ‘Twins: A Survival Guide for Dads’ and ‘The Nativity: A Critical Examination’.

(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.

Understanding Islam: The Qur’an

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

With Jonathan MS Pearce and David Warden.

In the aftermath of the World Trade Centre attacks, President George W. Bush characterised Islam as a religion of peace, and politicians have continued to publicly maintain the benign nature of the religion following other more recent atrocities by Islamists. Many people agree with this belief, noting that the vast majority of Muslims live peaceful lives, but others counter that the roots of Islam include violent leaders, teachings and scripture.

So what is ‘the real Islam’? Is true Islam a force for good, and if so, how did it give rise to the revolutionary ideology of Islamism?

Author and blogger Jonathan MS Pearce and Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden will each present a paper exploring ‘the real Islam’ and consider the prospects for more liberal interpretations of the religion with particular reference to the text of the Quran.

“A thought-provoking examination of the nature of Islam”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Jonathan M.S. Pearce is a teacher from South Hampshire, UK, who has dedicated many years to studying all manner of things philosophical and theological. With a Masters in Philosophy from the University of Wales, Trinity St David, he also holds a degree from the University of Leeds, and a PGCE from Southampton. His published books include ‘Free Will?’ and ‘The Little Book of Unholy Questions’, ‘Twins: A Survival Guide for Dads’ and ‘The Nativity: A Critical Examination’.

(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.

Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?

Saturday 10^th May 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

A Debate with Moorlands College of Christian Theology

Was the resurrection of Jesus a fact of history or simply a religious myth? In recent decades, Christian apologists such as William Lane Craig, Gary Habermas and Mike Licona have attempted to revive literal belief in the resurrection with increasingly sophisticated arguments, but was there really a raised and transformed body and an empty tomb?

In this debate, skeptics from Dorset Humanists will go head to head with students from Moorlands College in what promises to be both a fascinating and lively event.

Come along to hear the teams present and discuss the evidence relating to what is almost certainly the most important cold case in all history.

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.