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2007 Annual Humanist Summer School | |
'The Joy of Humanism' Carlingford Heritage Centre, Co. Louth Friday 17th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August 2007 Introduction: The Joy of Humanism * * * * * The Joy of Humanism
Where does joy come from in Humanism? It is a celebration of what we can achieve as independent people, as individuals within a society. It is about what we can achieve together, with a common purpose, a constructive and at times challenging way of looking at the world, and freedom of thinking. That’s enough to create a bit of joy? To add another dimension to our ongoing wok as humanist organisations, our annual summer school is a focus on bringing together friends with shared values, the intellectual stimulation which seems to be a core characteristic of humanists, and the opportunity to enhance our understanding of humanism. Together with the regular acitivies – walking, eating, talking, singing, workshops (and with a title like the ‘Joy of …’ there could be some interesting ones!) – it should be a joyous weekend. We are delighted to welcome speakers who throw light on thinking, not just in an academic way but through the arts as well: a novelist and a professor of media studies to reflect on society on the island. We also welcome a colleague from France, Philippe Besson, to talk about shared values and humanism as a common European legacy. A great weekend - come and share it. When I became convinced that the universe is natural –that all ghosts and gods are myths, there entered into my brain . . . the joy of freedom. . . . I was free – free to think, to express my thoughts . . . free to live for myself and those I loved . . . free to investigate, to guess and dream and hope. . . free to reject all ignorant and cruel creeds, all the ‘inspired’ books that savages have produced . . . free from popes and priests . . . free from sanctified mistakes and holy lies . . . free from the fear of eternal pain . . . free from devils, ghosts and gods. . . . There were no prohibited places in all the realms of thought . . . no following another’s steps. . . no need to bow, or cringe, or crawl, or utter lying words – Robert Ingersoll To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy…is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them – Ralph Waldo Emerson “Not in Utopia, subterranean fields, – William Wordsworth ProgrammeFRIDAY 17th AUGUST Speaker ProfilesJustin Keating Carlingford Heritage Centre
According to Irish legend, the giant Finn MacCool roamed the land around Carlingford, and on his last day he gathered a large piece of earth and threw it out to sea. He then lay to rest and ended his life as the mountain Slieve Foy, which rises behind the seaside town. The shape of his body can be seen in the shape of the mountain. And the earth he threw? Naturally, it became the Isle of Man. Carlingford, a beautiful medieval town located 65 miles from Dublin and 55 miles from Belfast, nestles between Slieve Foy, Carlingford Lough and the Mourne Mountains. It has more ancient buildings than any similar sized town in Ireland, and one of them - right at the foot of the mountain - is the Heritage Centre. This former place of worship is now a secular venue and therefore a perfect setting for a Humanist gathering. AccommodationCarlingford has several hotels including the new Four Seasons, The Park and Harwood Heights and well as Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Carlingford is a very popular spot for visitors and tourists. The best places to stay fill up quickly! So please make sure to book your accommodation as soon as possible. Carlingford Tourist Office, Co Louth, Tel. 00353 (0)42 937 3033. Email info@carlingford.ie www.carlingford.ie You can find a list accommodation links here. ApplicationsTo attend the summer school please book by sending your contact information together with payment to any of the following Humanist Association of Ireland Important note: |
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