tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302216725340267357.post4853620881285827301..comments2023-06-06T17:49:58.134+01:00Comments on Hastings Humanists: A Day Out at Conway HallGeorge Jellisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912766967103087963noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302216725340267357.post-73182021612913368972009-06-12T10:57:15.173+01:002009-06-12T10:57:15.173+01:00Ann, Sorry I didn't see you there! I suppose w...Ann, Sorry I didn't see you there! I suppose we were on opposite sides of the hall, and consequently went out to different areas for our coffee. I also went off to attend to other business in the lunchbreak. I did meet John Catt, from Leicester.George Jellisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14912766967103087963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302216725340267357.post-3241671023957048182009-06-09T20:36:48.952+01:002009-06-09T20:36:48.952+01:00On Saturday, my husband Phil and I also attended t...On Saturday, my husband Phil and I also attended the one day conference organised by the British Humanist Society. My main reason for attending was to hear for the first time Richard Dawkins and A.C. Grayling speak. Neither disappointed and I’m pleased to say that they came across even better in the flesh. Richard Dawkins ended his session with the words, Evolution! The Greatest Show on Earth: The Only Game in Town. The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution is the title of Richard’s new book.<br />All the speakers were excellent but the two who stood out for me were: James Williams of Sussex University with his talk on the insidious effects of creationism on primary age children and how he felt the teaching of evolution through science must start early on in the curriculum for very young children and Babu Gogineni, a humanist and rationalist, who spoke of the effects Hinduism has on the progress of science in India. Babu spoke of a university in India that had dropped funding for physics and chemistry courses in favour of an astrology department. Babu also campaigns on behalf of the Dalits (untouchables) in Asia.<br />The day, a sell out, was informative and uplifting, despite the seriousness of the subject, speakers laced their talks with wit and humour. Never let it be said that Humanists can’t be funny.<br />I do agree with George that the sounds from translation booths were a distraction and need some better soundproofing.Keziahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17306889210724334291noreply@blogger.com