Professor Richard Dawkins to be Our Guest Speaker at Conservative Party Conference 2008

12 Responses

Francis Mortyn, on June 28, 2008 at 4:55 pm Said:

Why do the Humanists apparently accept the label “fringe?” Humanism is not marginal; it has been the central thrust of advancing western civilization since the Renaissance.
Jeff Peel, on June 28, 2008 at 4:58 pm Said:

Francis I think you miss the point…all meetings outside the main Party conference are referred-to as ‘fringe’ meetings. Although you may be being ironic, I’m not sure.
Francis Mortyn, on June 28, 2008 at 5:19 pm Said:

I’m in California and have no knowledge of what the term “fringe” means in the British political party context. I suspect the American equivalent might be a “breakout session” at a conference. In any case I certainly would not accept any suggestion of marginalization or language that so implies.

Further, sir, I would not speak of “lack of faith” as you do. I am a survivor of cancer and speak of “recovery of health,” or “freedom from cancer,” but will not refer to recovery of freedom from any sort of disease as a “lack.” No child is born with faith; he is infected with it. Percy Bysshe Shelley and Ralph Waldo Emerson knew that faith is a disease, not a desideratum to be “lacked.”

Keep in mind the old saying: “If you let your adversary choose the language of debate, you have already lost.”
Jeff Peel, on June 28, 2008 at 7:34 pm Said:

Francis, no marginalisation is implied in the fringe word. I assure you. It’s a British thing!

Re. the ‘lack’ word, I suppose you might be right. I hadn’t really considering ‘lack’ as in ‘lacking’ but now that you draw my attention to it I shall avoid its usage in the context of my lack of (aka freedom from), er, faith.

Jeff
Peter Chamberlin, on July 17, 2008 at 10:59 am Said:

I agree with Francis regarding the use of the word ‘lack’ – I don’t lack anything either! Fringe is definately an Anglicism – it doesn’t mean marginal, it just means that the meeting isn’t an official party-organised one.

Anyway, great news securing Dawkins – what a coup! I look forward to it greatly.

Peter
Francis Mortyn, on August 8, 2008 at 7:16 pm Said:

This is off thread, but I don’t know how to post otherwise.

I am curious to know more about Polly Toynbee. Is she a Labour Party person? She writes for the GUARDIAN. Is she a Fabian?

The other reason I am posting today is to inquire about Margaret Thatcher. Is she perhaps a freethinker?

Her close friend Ronald Reagan is buried here in California and I visited his grave. To my amazement I found it humble and simple and completely free from religious superstition.

Bear in mind that this is of his own choosing, studied and planned before the Alzheimer’s took over. Take a look at the Reagan grave, at http://www.HFSD.info – it strikes me that no Humanist could do better.
Francis, on August 13, 2008 at 9:32 am Said:

Francis,

There is a very good article on Toynbee at:
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polly_Toynbee

Her grandfather (totally off topic) was a very interesting chap too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_J._Toynbee

Thatcher was raised a very strict Methodist – her father was a lay preacher. I am certain that this upbringing informed her character strongly, however I am not so sure she worshipped God as much as she exploited his voters!

Best regards,

Peter
Lawrie Scott, on August 26, 2008 at 6:44 pm Said:

I always thought of the Conservative Party as the political wing of the Church of England so it is wonderful to see that Richard Dawkins will be at their conference. Congratulations to the Conservative Humanist Association. May it bring you much publicity and even votes.

Lawrie Scott
Jeff Peel, on August 26, 2008 at 6:49 pm Said:

Lawrie many thanks for the kind words. We’re trying to change the perception that the Conservative Party is some C of E offshoot and is a broad enough, ahem, church, to embrace those of all faiths and none. My suspicion is that most (intelligent) Conservative MPs have no faith – but getting them to come out is the challenge.
Philip Parkin, on September 5, 2008 at 10:40 pm Said:

Really pleased to hear there’s a Conservative Humanist Association and looking forward to the fringe event at the conference. I’m a councillor and relieved to hear that not everyone in the Tory party is religious, contrary to how it often seems. Any help, please let me know.
Ian Collard, on September 17, 2008 at 3:49 pm Said:

Like previous posters, I am delighted to learn that there is a Conservative Humanist Association and that RD will be addressing the fringe meeting.

As with JP’s post of 26/8, my experience has been that there are many in the party who have no religious beliefs, but they are scared to say so for fear of being ostracized or jeopardizing their chances of being selected as candidates.

At a time when our party seems to be placing greater emphasis on faith-based involvement in delivering services, I believe it is essential that we have a voice to promote the the secularist approach that has served this country so well.
Pyers Symon, on September 17, 2008 at 8:12 pm Said:

Glad I have found you people – probably my natural home within the party.My main annoyance is that I won’t be able to meet up in Birmingham (bigger grr since I live just down the road) – esp to meet RD. Brilliant coup though – its called starting off on a big high!

I hope – with Jeff’s permission – to be submitting, regular but probably infrequent , articles both here and on ConHome. My first will be concerning the teaching of the scientific method and philosophy at GCSE level