Our Activities

Our mid-week discussion group ! Note the venue for this event is the pub   📍The Castle 

The intersection of Buddhist skillful speech and humanist ethics is grounded in a shared pragmatic approach to human interaction that evaluates morality without relying on divine commandments. While modern liberal frameworks often emphasize "free speech" as a legal right protecting individuals from state censorship, Buddhist ethics provides a complementary layer of voluntary ethical self-restraint and personal responsibility. At their core, both philosophies share a consequentialist view, evaluating words based on their real-world outcomes—specifically, whether they reduce suffering and promote human flourishing or breed hostility and division. By valuing intellectual honesty, rational restraint, and compassion, both traditions ultimately align on the principle that language should be actively wielded as a tool for connection and care rather than used as a Bringing non-religious people together to develop their own views and an understanding of the world around them.

Humanists are people who shape their own lives in the here and now, because we believe it's the only life we have.
We make sense of the world through logic, reason, and evidence, and always seek to treat those around us with warmth, understanding, and respect.

Our mid-week discussion group meetings are back! RSVP here!

Bringing non-religious people together to develop their own views and an understanding of the world around them.
Humanists are people who shape their own lives in the here and now, because we believe it's the only life we have.
We make sense of the world through logic, reason, and evidence, and always seek to treat those around us with warmth, understanding, and respect.

In this meet, we propose to discuss The Golden Rule as a starter on our series ethics on rationality and without religion. (quick wiki reference) 

It is an elemental & fundamental concept that should provide plenty of room for an easy, engaging discussion. Material is also easy to find for reference.

Our mid-week discussion group meetings are back!

This week's topic: Viktor Frankl: A Search for the Meaning of Life. 

There will be a short introduction followed by sharing views and informal discussion. For background see, for instance, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Frankl .

Bringing non-religious people together to develop their own views and an understanding of the world around them.
Humanists are people who shape their own lives in the here and now, because we believe it's the only life we have.
We make sense of the world through logic, reason, and evidence, and always seek to treat those around us with warmth, understanding, and respect.

At our upcoming pub meet-up, we’ll be diving into The Powers and Perils of Charisma.

Whether you’re a regular at our events or a newcomer looking for engaging conversation, a quick primer to get your mental gears turning before we meet to explore what charisma is, why it matters, and how it intersects with our humanist values.

What is Charisma?

The word charisma originally derives from the Greek for divine gift. Today, we understand it not as anything supernatural, but as a deeply human psychological phenomenon. It is that indefinable magnetism, charm, and persuasive power that allows certain individuals to captivate an audience, inspire devotion, and lead movements.

But charisma, as history repeatedly shows us, is a double-edged sword.

The Powers (The Good)

Charisma can be an incredible force for positive change. It can mobilize society toward justice, compassion, and progress. Think of the great civil rights leaders, environmental advocates, and scientific communicators who have used their personal magnetism to unite people. By articulating complex or difficult ideas beautifully, charismatic figures can inspire us to build a better, more equitable world.

The Perils (The Bad)

On the flip side, charisma has a dark side. Because it operates largely on an emotional level, it can easily bypass our critical thinking. Charismatic individuals can be manipulators, cult leaders, demagogues, and fraudsters. History, and our current political climate, is littered with figures who have used their undeniable charm to divide, deceive, and lead people toward authoritarianism or harm.

The Humanist Connection

As Humanists, we champion reason, evidence, empathy, and free inquiry. We actively reject blind faith and strive to base our worldview on critical thinking.

This makes charisma a uniquely interesting challenge for us. By its very nature, charisma tempts us to trust the messenger rather than evaluating the message. It asks us to feel rather than to think.

This leaves us with a compelling dilemma to discuss:

• Must we learn to wield charisma to effectively spread humanistic values like equality, reason, and compassion in an increasingly noisy and populist world?

• Or should we remain deeply skeptical of it, actively working to dismantle cults of personality wherever we find them?

Before you join us at the pub, here are a few questions to ponder

• Have you ever found yourself swayed by a charismatic speaker, only to later realize their actual arguments were flawed or lacking evidence?

• How can we protect ourselves and our society from charismatic manipulators?

• Does the Humanist movement need more charismatic leaders to compete with religious and populist figures, or does relying on a charismatic leader contradict our commitment to independent thought?

• Can you truly separate a great idea from the person delivering it?

Join the Conversation!

You don’t need to have all the answers or any of them! Our pub meet-ups are all about friendly, open, and respectful conversation. Come to share your thoughts, listen to others, or simply enjoy the company of like-minded free-thinkers.