Some Ideas and notes for group activities
1) Maximising the time and effort of speakers
2) Use of Articles as the basis for discussion
4) Encourage research by members
Survey details (Library Survey - Attitudes Survey - Ceremonies Survey)
1) Maximising the time and effort of speakers
Group meetings regularly take the form of discussions on a particular topic, frequently with a speaker, either a visitor or group member who has a particular interest, or is an activist in another organisation.
The reliance on outside speakers can be a problem, and often involves speakers travelling quite long distances to talk to a handful of people.
Many of these people give similar talks to several groups, and from their point of view as well as the groups, it would make sense to find ways of maximising their time and effort, by spreading their ideas to as wide an audience as possible.
They could for instance be asked if they would like to produce a short précis of their talk, which could be used by members for future reference, and put into group newsletters or on group web-sites where they have them.
2) Use of Articles as the basis for discussion
In addition, material could be downloaded from the Internet, e.g. an article on a web-site, and photocopied and used as the basis of a discussion. The item could either be distributed at the meeting, or in advance. This would widen the scope of discussions, and could spark of lively debate on contentious issues. It would also be a way of keeping members up to date on items they may not otherwise consider.
Another way of involving group members if they so wish, and raising the quality of discussion, would be to have 'seminars' on a particular subject, with several members dividing up material between them and preparing for a discussion. This would be a way of dealing economically with the explosion of information now available on any topic, to the benefit of the whole group.
4) Encourage research by members
Both of the above are ways of making it possible for members to contribute to meetings while encouraging and using members learning, research and experience in the interest of the whole group.
In every locality there are issues that need addressing from a secular/humanist point of view.
There may be services or clubs that are run on sectarian lines, such as children's groups that require the children to pray, or sing hymns, or swear oaths. Meet in halls decked with religious promotional material, and even insist that those running it must be members of that particular church, the Baptists are particularly 'good' at this I am told! It is difficult to counter this sort of covert church influence, since it is often not possible to set up in competition, given the advantages of the churches paid activists, premises, free publicity, and state funding of religions.
However, there are state and council funded services that should reasonably be expected not to tolerate sectarianism, and discriminate against non-religious people. One such is public libraries, yet many, while holding considerable amounts of literature on religion and church activities, have no material available on atheism, secular/humanism or rationalism. This is one area that could be addressed by doing a survey, and seeing what the facts are in a locality. Some school libraries, primary and secondary, are likewise full of religious material in one form or another, (not to mention distorted views of women role models for girls). Much of this is so much part of the wallpaper that it goes unnoticed and unremarked.
Another area for local research is on the numbers of children encouraged to take RE as a soft option GCSE to boost the statistics of a school's performance. Not only is it a covert way of pushing religious material, but can be considered as unfair to children from homes in which there is critical attitude to religion.
Another way is to devise surveys as a group activity, and in order to gain information on which further action could be based. See Survey details
6) Use and Promotion of the Internet
More and more people are getting to grips with the Internet. Adult education classes are full, and many older people are beginning to see the possibilities it opens up and filling the learning opportunities classes that are being held all over the country.
We can be sure that the religions will be in there, using it to further enhance their already considerable advantages which come from its privileged position in society.
If the Humanist Secular Movement does not take up the challenge it will be a sad indictment
of its failure to advance its stated aims.
Promoting widespread familiarity with sources of information for members is imperative. Even though it is an uphill task there are ways for a Humanist group to illustrate its value and importance.
a) For new members to see the range of material now available on the Freethought Movement and the various organisations, range of views, activities etc.
b) Information for freethinkers to use in promoting secularism, secular humanism, atheism, rationalism.
c) For member information, education ; communication and organisation
See article on this on - www.shaw.freeuk.com
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