Humanist Promotion Dundee

For most of us who ‘volunteered’, yesterday’s Dundee city centre promotion of Humanism was a venture into unknown territory.   We are relieved to report that no eggs were thrown, and that many leaflets were distributed.   In fact, our only problem lay in hanging on to the gazebo when the occasional gust of wind had us all grabbing the nearest pole to prevent the whole thing taking off up the High Street.   That little bit of excitement aside, the day went off pretty smoothly, and it was a tired, but satisfied little group that packed everything away at 4pm.   

What was achieved?   Well, we might get a partial answer to this if membership enquiries increase in the coming weeks, but that will not, I think, reflect the overall success of the venture.   Our reason for being there was the belief that although many people may have heard the term ‘humanism’, they might be hard pressed to describe what it means.   This day in Dundee gave our members a chance to give away literature and to chat to people about their attitudes to the things we hold to be of benefit to the human race.   The Amsterdam Declaration was massively helpful in quickly outlining just what we stood for, and those who stopped to speak were mostly in agreement with its approach to life and the human condition.   In discussing our Manifesto, it also became apparent that many people were positive about our stance on euthanasia.   

However, that is not to say that all conversations were held on common ground; some lively discussions took place.   One chap declared he wished there were more people going for humanist ceremonies because he, as a minister, was fed up with the non-religious asking for his services.   This particular conversation ranged from the atheism of Nazism and Communist Russia and the acknowledged atrocities carried out in the name of religion, to secular v. religious schools and the mixing of church and state.   In another case, a young mother seemed to welcome, indeed was intent on discussing the issues of religion v. secularism despite the increasingly vocal demands of her children for attention.   She seemed hungry for this debate.   She was not alone.   Some people even approached us of their own volition!   A young father, who was in a hurry when first approached, came back and said that he now had some time, so please tell him about Humanism.   We had a Muslim who stopped, heard me out, and left having imparted the message that everybody should believe in God.   No surprise there.   Another local man told me, en passant, that salvation lay in Jesus, “the way, the truth and the light”.   Three young Ghanaians traded the use of our pen for an outline of Humanism.   

I hope this gives you get the flavour of the day.   Some of the conversations with the more intrepid were intense, but no blows were exchanged, and parting was always with a smile.   Sam’s guitar music and singing of popular songs from the 1960’s right up to date added greatly to the relaxed atmosphere, and entertained us all.   The children also liked the balloons bearing the message for both them and their parents;  “We’re a' Jock Tamson’s bairns”.

Frances McDonnell
Hon. Secretary, Dundee Group

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