MK HUMANISTS is a Non-Prophet Organisation

Milton Keynes Humanists provides a means for like-minded individuals in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas to meet and have a forum for the discussion of humanist values, principles and relevant subjects. We also aim to raise awareness of humanist perspectives (see below).

Next Meeting

Thur. 9th February 2012

The Cruel Myth of Paradise & Everlasting Life

Mainstream religions offer the promise of paradise and everlasting life for those that believe and live by their creed ― and purgatory or hell for those that fall by the wayside. Believing in an afterlife  can lead to heroic and humanitarian deeds and maybe give purpose to an otherwise troubled or difficult existence, but it also impoverishes the lives of millions who live in guilt or subjugation, and it gives us the suicide bomber.

In this session we will explore what different religions teach about the ‘afterlife’ and consider the nature of spiritual existence (when you don’t have a mortal body to moderate your appetites!). And we will look at other ways people gain immortality through their genes, achievements, writing or deeds (like Jesus, Darwin and Shakespeare). Humanists believe that we have only one life and that we should behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after we die.

Most people have great difficulty contemplating non-existence, but is this really any more difficult than thinking you will somehow live for ever and ever and ever? To paraphrase Mark Twain, why fear death in view of the fact that we have been dead for billions and billions of years before we were born, and we have not suffered the slightest inconvenience!

We will post more details of the meeting shortly. All welcome!

2012 Programme

For our full programme of meetings and events please take a look.  

In Brief

Here's a brief overview of the last six months (excuding our monthly meetings): 
Dec 11: winter solstice party
Nov 11: attended the opening of the MK Rose (in Campbell Park) and laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Bletchley on Remembrance Day; attended a meeting of BHA partner and affiliate groups in London.
Oct 11: co-opted onto the local SACRE (Standing Advisory Group on Religious Education); hope to have some input into the development of religious education in the city;
Sept 11: worked with parents of young children concerned about the activities of local evangelical groups in their children's schools.
Jul 11: invited to give talk on 'Humanism' to the Milton Keynes Interfaith Group; interested to find how much we have in common with many (though not all!) in the groups represented.

We have also been getting to know some of the faith groups in Milton Keynes.

About Us

Milton Keynes Humanists:

• provides a means for like-minded individuals in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas to meet and have a forum for the discussion of humanist values, principles and relevant subjects;
• raises awareness of humanist perspectives;
  
• campaigns for respect for those who seek to live ethical and responsible lives without religious or superstitious beliefs
• campaigns against religious privilege; and 
• supports local initiatives concerned with charity and public service.
  

We aim to do these things in a way that is welcoming, tolerant and enjoyable.

We've highlighted some of the things that we are interested in and concerned about in this word cloud:

Faith in Humanity

We are affiliated to the British Humanist Association and share its vision of “a world without religious privilege or discrimination, where people are free to live good lives on the basis of reason, experience and shared human values”. Humanists believe that Man created God, and not the other way around -- as Richard Dawkins has observed: "We are all atheists about most of the Gods humanity has ever believed in, some of us just go one God further". If you would like to find out more about Humanism please contact us using the links on this site, or come along to one of our meetings. You don't have to be a member.