Archive for May, 2009
Footballers move in a world of Spirituality
Posted by: | CommentsFootball and the Garden of Eden? What do they have to do with each other?
Each delineates a sacred sphere of freedom and order, innocence, spirituality and justice from our everyday world of chaos, bondage, injustice and guilt.
According to Elemer Hankiss in his article
Football and Philosophy
by
Yes, players move in a world of spirituality. They act according to clear, sacred rules. While in play, they are supposed to act as pure rational beings who leave behind their everyday passions and emotions, personal wishes or fears. They move in the world of pure morality and justice. The player’s world is one of justice and total impartiality; of a perfect equality of opportunity, which is never achieved in our everyday lives. Even advantages deriving from the direction of the wind are balanced. The two teams change sides at the half. When and where do we, the privileged and the underprivileged, change sides in the real world?
Elemer Hankiss is a Professor at the Institute of Sociology, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest
Picture of GATTUSO GENNARO IVAN (Milano) taken from the free gallery of
Local Council Manifesto : Handy Doorstep Questions
Posted by: | Comments
We suggest asking candidates for local council elections the following questions, in person or in writing, as neutrally as possible, to extract answers that will help you make a rational decision about how to vote. Afterwards, tell the candidates what you thought of the answers – that way you may influence future policy!
1. Is it right for local councils to treat humanist organisations and
representatives on a par with religious groups and
representatives (e.g. in consultations)?
You can find out more about the above issues at
2. Do you think that local community cohesion initiatives should include
representatives of non-believers such as humanists?
3. Should local faith leaders be targeted for inclusion on Local
Strategic Partnerships and Local Authority Agreement panels? Who else
from the community should be included?
4. Do you think that the Human Rights Act helps or hinders an inclusive,
cohesive society?
5. Should anti-discrimination legislation make exceptions to cater for the
religious beliefs of faith organisations and faith schools?
6. What are your views on faith schools?
7. Do you in principle favour the council contracting with faith groups to
deliver public services?
Humanists want a society that values cooperation and compassion at least as much as competition. It must be fair, inclusive and secular – that is, giving no privilege to any particular religion or belief, including Humanism. We call it an ‘open society’; one that is “based on the recognition that people have divergent views and interests and that nobody is in possession of the ultimate truth.”
Women’s Spirituality Conference
Posted by: | CommentsBH have been asked to give publicity to the conference detailed below. Humanists are ambivalent about the concept of spirituality. Is it the word that is an umbrella term for all the unexplained mental, imagined and physiological feelings encountered during the span of the human condition? Certainly non religionists need to find a place for it in their concepts folder, not just reject it.
Sam Harris, in The End of Faith, as well as on various YouTube clips talks about spirituality. He practises meditation, and sees no need to believe in spirits to be spiritual. Here’s a quote:
“It is difficult to find a word for that human enterprise which aims at happiness directly – at a happiness of the sort that can survive the frustration of all conventional desires. The term ‘spirituality’ seems unavoidable here … [Harris uses it to describe] a form of well-being that supercedes all others, indeed, that transcends the vagaries of experience itself.” p 205, The End of Faith, 2004.
The latest Jesus & Mo cartoon chimes well with the spirituality issue.
Our invite came form a member of the Hindu faith who said
It would be great to have women at the conference who can say with more conviction than I – being a religious monastic – that women’s spirituality should never depend on belief in god or a god, especially since we are excluded from the masculine god anyway; that spirituality is a dimension of being human and that is as aspect worthy of exploration quite outside of any particular faith.
Cultivating Women’s Spiritual Mastery
A unique participatory conference in northern Italy for women of all faiths
Turin, Italy
June 26 – 28, 2009
Post-conference women’s retreat
Valchiusella Valley
June 30 – July 4, 2009
Books for Troops
Posted by: | CommentsForwarded from a BH member and Lorraine Streamer
Subject: Appeal from The Army & Navy Club
Books for Troops
NB This appeal is now closed – see letter of comment from the Rev Peter Scott
PLEASE NO MORE PARCELS
We have just received the following appeal for help from the chaplain with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan
(This was originally addressed to the Chaplain of the Portsmouth Retired Naval Officers Association, but deserved a wider distribution)
“Hi everyone – Hello from a rather cold Afghanistan.
Could I make a request from the Chaplaincy here for the Royal Marines?
We are asking for books and sweeties for the lads from supporters at home. There is a lack of books, and sweets always go down well. If you feel able, could you please ask among your friends if anyone has old paperbacks that the lads might like to read – anything really except Mills and Boon romances. Also sweets – the sort that come individually wrapped – like boiled sweets.
Packets under 2kg are posted free from any UK post office.
If you can help, please ask folk to post any of the above to,
Rev Peter Scott, Chaplain, Cdo Log Regt Royal Marines, Bastion, BFPO792.
(Tell them not to write Afghanistan anywhere on the address)
Many thanks indeed.
Peter”