Note – this page is here for historic archive reasons – The Manchester Humanists have changed their membership fees and constitution elements since I left in 2002. For current information, see their official website is online at http://greatermanchesterhumanists.googlepages.com/ You can contact John Coss, their current secretary at JCCsk6@aol.com
Arthur Chappell - HUMANISM DEFINED
"It seems to me that God is a convenient invention of the human
mind." (Isaac Asimov)
"Where it is a duty to worship the sun, it is pretty sure to be a crime
to examine the laws of heat." (John Morley).
"Beliefs are what divide people. Doubts unite them." (Sir Peter
Ustinov).
There are as many definitions of
Humanism as there are Humanists. Common to most is the understanding that we
live in a world without any supernatural, or divine forces whatsoever
controlling, manipulating, or governing human affairs. This is the only life we
get, and we should therefore make the best of it for ourselves and equally
importantly, for each other, before we die. Most Humanists are openly
sceptical, atheistic, or agnostic. We believe that the Universe has origins
that are entirely explainable within the empirical laws of science. Humanists
have little regard for pseudo-science and occult-sciences. Much of our
literature shows strong criticism of religious beliefs & practices. We are
‘Freethinkers.’ However, we know that many people do believe in some form of
God, paranormal activity, and we respect their rights to hold and promote such
beliefs, as long as they NEVER, EVER
a/. deceive people into believing things which can be demonstrated as not
being true,
b/. Brainwash or indoctrinate children at home, or in schools by teaching
them that their religious view is a factual way of seeing the world we live in,
or that any other way of looking at the world is wrong. (Humanists would not
claim that ours is the only way of looking at the world.
c/. claim that non-religious people, like Humanists, have no foundation for
moral and ethical decision making or behaviour.
d/. Finally, Religions must never be allowed to commit human rights abuses,
such as female circumcision, ostracising members of the gay community as social
pariahs, setting death sentences on their critics (as has happened to Salman
Rushdie), deny members of other faiths and non-religions an equal say in the
press, or in TV and radio discussions, or refuse schools the right and
obligation to teach scientific, and secular knowledge. All of these abuses go
on in the name of religion, and Humanists are daring to challenge such harmful
practices. We don’t always agree with every point and policy raised before us,
but that is because we think for ourselves and never give in to the kind of
dogmatic thinking that religion often causes.
HUMANISM - WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO.
We do more than just talk. We organise radical, lively meetings to discuss
many moral, social issues, ranging from voluntary Euthenasia (which most
Humanists support), to capital punishment (which Humanists generally oppose).
We promote non-religious weddings, baby-namings and funerals. We publish
articles and newsletters and magazines locally, nationally and internationally
promoting and establishing our views. We organise peaceful protests, (usually
through letter writing campaigns) against some practices (such as the
government’s support for exclusive privately controlled religious schools, and
the deliberate exclusion of Humanist guests on programmes like Radio 4’s
Thought For The Day). We do socialise and have fun too. We are actively looking
into hospital visiting activity to be able to provide visitors for patients
expressing the opinion that they do not wish to see a hospital chaplain, but
that they would like a non-religious visitor. If you would like to know more
about any of our ongoing projects do let us know. Our outlook is a positive,
optimistic one.
THE 1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER HUMANIST GROUP.
1/. TITLE AND AIM - The group shall be called ‘The Greater Manchester
Humanist Group’. The aim of the group shall be to promote Humanism.
2/. MEMBERSHIP - Any person who agrees with the aim of the group may become
a member upon payment of the annual subscription. The executive Committee may
terminate the membership of, or refuse to admit to membership, any person whose
conduct they consider to be inconsistent with the aim of the group.
3/. OFFICERS - The officers shall be: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and
Treasurer. These shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the
group.
4/. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - The Executive Committee (EC) shall consist of the
officers and five members to be elected at the AGM. Any vacancy may be filled
by the EC by co-option until the next AGM. The business of the group shall be
controlled and carried out by the EC, whose meetings will be presided over by the
Chair or Vice-Chair, or in their absence a pro-ten Chair elected by those
present. It shall meet at least once every three months and at least ten days
notice of the meetings shall be given to committee members. A quorum shall be
four members including the Chair.
5/. GENERAL MEETINGS - An AGM shall be held before the 1st March each year.
It shall receive audited accounts and the report of the EC for the year that
ended on the previous 31st December. It shall elect officers of the group, and
members of the EC, and appoint an auditor. At least 21 days notice of the AGM
will be given to all members: nominations and notices of resolutions must be
received by the secretary at least seven days before the meeting. A special
General Meeting may be called by the EC, or shall, on receipt of a request
signed by not fewer than 15% of the membership be called by the secretary
within six weeks of receiving such a request. At least 21 days notice shall be
given to all members. Only business on the agenda shall be discussed at Special
General Meetings. The Quorum at all general meetings shall be 15% of the
membership or ten members, whichever is the larger. In any dispute concerning
the affairs of the group, a general meeting shall be the final authority.
6/. FINANCE - The income and property of the group shall be devoted to the
promotion of the aim of the group. Officers and members of the EC may not
receive payment for their service to the group, though their expenses may be
reimbursed. In the event of the group having to be wound up, all funds shall go
to The British Humanist Association or a successor organisation after the
payment of liabilities. The annual subscription of the group shall be set by
the AGM.
7/. CONSTITUTION - Amendments to the constitution may only be considered at
general meetings, and all members shall be informed at least 21 days in advance
of the proposed motions. To be carried such motions shall require support by at
least two thirds of the votes cast.
8/. AFFILIATIONS - The group shall seek affiliation to the British Humanist
Association. Affiliation to other bodies may be made by resolution at a general
meeting.
MEMBERSHIP DETAILS.
All members of the Greater Manchester
Humanist Group receive 11 newsletters per year, minimum, and news of all
activities and of the group. We hold monthly meetings, currently on the second
Wednesday of each calendar month, at The Friend’s Meeting House, Mount Street,
Manchester. Meetings begin at 7 PM for 7.30 pm and end at 9.30 PM. Early
arrival is always advisable. Details of the content of each meeting are given
in the newsletter, and further details are always available from the Secretary
or Chair of the group. Room hire is expensive, and we sadly have to charge
members and visitors an entrance fee at present, in addition to the membership
and newsletter subscription. Members pay £1.50 for each meeting. (including
free tea and coffee refreshments). Non-members may attend, but they will be
asked to pay £2.00 per meeting.
Membership Costs.
Full annual membership is £10.00 per annum.
Family membership (parents and Children) is £14.00 per annum.
Concessionary membership (the unwaged, OAP’s, students, etc) is £7.50 per
annum.
We have a list of the names and addresses of members who have expressed a
desire to have contact with others in the group. If you would like your address
adding to the list do let us know. Members not taking this invitation, are not
included on the list. We respect anyone’s wish for privacy. Only paid members
of the group receive this list.
Membership of a local group is quite independent of membership of any other
Humanist organisation, though we do affiliate to The British Humanist
Association, as a group. Individual membership of the British Humanist
Association, (or of the Rationalist Press Association and/or the National
Secular Society, is entirely a matter of personal choice, though I can
personally recommend them. News of national events is always relayed to members
of our group at meetings and via the newsletter. Details of other groups,
nationally, internationally, etc, are available upon request. All paid up
members can have a say in the running of the group, especially at our AGM
meetings which are always held in February, but we welcome feedback and
criticism at all times.
Useful addresses - Our group contact addresses are given in the newsletters.
The British Humanist Association, . (BHA) The Rationalist Press Association,
(RPA) and The National Secular Society (NSS) , and The International Humanist
& Ethical Union, can all be contacted at 47, Theobald’s Road, London, WC1X
8SP. Members in Stockport and Cheshire may also wish to contact the Stockport
secular Group, run by our Chair, Carl Pinel (see newsletter for contact
details). There is also The Gay And Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) who
can be contacted at 34, Spring Lane, Kenilworth, CV8 2HB.
As well as our newsletter you may wish to look at the following periodicals;
Humanity (bimonthly BHA journal); The Freethinker, (radical monthly magazine
produced by the NSS), and International Humanist News (quarterly journal of the
IHEU. The Gay & Lesbian Humanist is a quarterly magazine produced by GALHA.
Display copies of current issues of these are often on show at our meetings.
Please feel free to ask any questions, and we will do our best to answer them
for you. Best wishes. Arthur Chappell.
© Copyright. Arthur Chappell
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