Stephen Evans talked to us in June 2024 about the NSS Campaigns on free speech. There are increasing attempts by religious zealots to categorise offending religious sensibilities as 'hate speech' – in other words, a 'blasphemy law by the back door'. The NSS is outspoken in its defence of the freedom to criticise religion and all beliefs.

In collaboration with Reading Humanists we put on six sessions about humanism in October and November for existing and new members. The sessions covered science, religion, ethics, spirituality and society with ample time for debate and discussion. 4 sessions were presented by our own Roger, Richard and Anthony with Mark on tech support.

This volunteer led online magazine continues to succeed with a growing global  readership. Windsor Humanist members Anthony Lewis and Roger Heppleston are regular contributers. Anthony's article on Tranhumanism was one of the most read articles in 2024 - link on the image above! Contact the editor if you want to write for the publication.

Our member John Barron gave an overview of Artificial Intelligence, and a live demonstration of creating art in the style of various painters such as Dali. More information can be found in the Humanistically Speaking article by pressing the image above.

We had a well attend session watching two videos of Hans Rosling and Marion Tupe talking positively and optimistically about the future of humanity and the planet to counter the daily diet of doom and woe found on todays media outlets.

Humanistically Speaking went fully digital in 2023 and has increased its global readershp. The biggest issues this year were in November about the Public Image of Humanism and in September on all things Woke. It is a great read and is produced by volunteers - you can access by pressing the image above.

Two of our members represent the humanist perspective on the two local inter-faith groups - the WAMCF and SFP. In November Richard Doidge and others were involved with the Living Library for Beliefs and Faiths in Maidenhead as part of the national Inter Faith Week. Press the image above to go a press article about this event.

Two of our members Roger Hepplestone and Anthony Lewis together with other SACRE Reps from Bracknell and Wokingham were filmed talking about their humanism for a project  "Real People Real Faiths' sponsored by the NASACRE - the national organisation for SACRES (Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education). Press the image above to go to the films.

We had a lively and open discussion on all things woke in the garden of the Watermans Arms in the late summer September sun. The evening ended with a heartfelt group hug after a very intense honest discussion. You can read the article written by our Chair on Woke by following the link to the image above.

Chris Geake spoke to us in February about his life as a humanist celebrant and as a hospital chaplain in NW London.  It was our first face to face speaker event since the pandemic and although attendance was down a little on pre-pandemic levels it was great to meet up with other like minded humanists again - finally over a beer at the Waterman Arms!

Our second face to face speaker event of the year was an evening of secular verses led by Alex Williams - a writer, musician and active humanist.  Alex's verses appear every month in the online grass roots magazine - Humanistically Speaking. Alex encouraged attendees to share their poems which added an element of fun to the proceedings.

We held our second Summer Garden party in a members garden in Dedworth Windsor which was our best attended event of the year with over 20 people enjoying the canapes and bubbles in the early summer sunshine!  The party went on well past dusk with the last guests leaving at about 11pm - not bad on a school night!

This new online grass roots magazine is produced and written by volunteer local humanists and aims to provide readers with a range of diverse humanist perspectives and voices on topical issues.  The current Windsor Chair Dr Anthony Lewis  is an active contributer and you can read what he has written by pressing the image above which will take you to the magazine.

Windsor Humanists hosted the second in the WAMCF Dialogue events for 2022 on the theme 'What Makes us Human? ' at the Community Centre in Dedworth. There were no great revelations – just a realisation of how hard it is to answer simply the question posed! Participants said that humans can be both humane and inhumane to each other and nature, that we all mostly have a sense of wonder at existence, that we do care for each other, we are a social animal and have deep need to belong and feel part of our communities.

We met every month through out 2022 and discussed whether the war on drugs was failiing?, whether  there is an evolutionary basis to belief?, and, one month we shared our Myers Briggs profiles and had a great conversation about the veracity of personality testing and how they are used in organisations. At times attendance was down on pre-pandemic levels given that some members were still reluctant to meet face to face.  Hopefully in 2023 we will see a continuing return to normality.  Finally our Chair Anthony Lewis gave the Council 'Prayer' at the February Council Meeting - which was a first for WH!