Atheist Humanism Millions of people enjoy happy and responsible lives without god and religion.

1. Atheist HumanismMillions of people enjoy happy and responsiblelives without god and religion. Name of speaker goes here DASH: Derbyshire Atheists, Secularists and Humanists www.SecularDerby.org These are my personal opinions and beliefs - you are free to agree or disagree with them.

2. About me

3. The Universe is big, very big! About 13,750,000,000 years old

4. Some big numbers • Sun to Earth: 149,000,000 km (93,000,000 miles) • Moon to Earth: 384,000 km (239,000 miles) • Light travels at 300,000 km per second (186,000 miles per second) • It takes 8 minutes and 19 seconds for the light from the Sun to reach Earth. • In one year light travels 9,460,740,472,580 km. • Nearest star (Proxima Centauri) is 4.2 light years away. • Furthest star without a telescope: 2,000 light years. • Andromeda Galaxy: 2,500,000 light years. • Hubble can see 13,200,000,000 light years.

6. About 4,540,000,000 years old

7. About 66 million years ago

8. Atlas mountains, Morocco, North Africa

9. Trilobites: about 525,000,000 years old

10. A fossil table

11. A rock?

12. No - a trilobite: about 525,000,000 years old

13. The meaning of words • Theos: Greek word for “god”. • Theist: someone who believes in a god. • Atheist: someone who doesn’t believe in god. • Atheism: no such thing. • Theocracy: a country controlled by religion. • Secular: things not connected with religion. • Secular country: one not controlled by religion. • Sceptic: someone who asks questions and looks for evidence before believing something.

14. Respect • People earn respect for what they do - not for what they say or what they claim to believe. • Beliefs are not people - they are ideas. • Should we respect sincerely held beliefs? • Should we respect the sincerely held beliefs of Nazis, Fascists or racists? • Should we be free to criticise, or even laugh at, all ideas and beliefs? • Should we treat religious ideas differently from other ideas? If so, why? • There is a big difference between criticising ideas and criticising people.

15. Is something true: • because it’s in a book? • because someone says so? • because lots of people believe it? • because we can see it for ourselves? • because we have evidence for it? We must ask for evidence when someone claims something is “true”. A person making a claim, like god, must prove it - it is not up to someone else to disprove it.

16. Why I don’t believe in god Occam’s Razor “The simplest explanation is usually the best - the one that makes the fewest assumptions and invents the fewest new ideas.” • God is an unnecessary idea for which there is no evidence. • There is nothing explained by god that cannot be explained simpler without god. • So, I don’t believe in god.

17. The big questions of life • Where did everything come from? • What happens after we die? • What is the purpose of life? Can we answer these questions in a simple way without inventing the idea of god?

18. Florence

19. The BIG questions • Where did everything come from? • The Universe is always changing, it has always existed, in one form or another, and it will continue to exist, in one form or another. • What happens after death? • You cease to be you and the atoms that made up your body are recycled in the Universe. • There is no “soul” and no “life after death” but death is not something to be afraid of and I want a dignified death. • What is the purpose of life? • To lead a happy, fulfilled and responsible life and to help others do the same.

20. How many gods are there? Abaangui, Abellio, Abeona, Abundantia, Achelous, Acheron, Acis, Adeona, Adephagia, Aditya, Aeolus, Aeons, Aequitas, Aera Cura, Aeternitas, Aether, Africus, Agdistis, Agni, Agrona, Agé, Ahti, Ahura Mazda, Aius Locutius, Akal, Akhenaten, Alastor, Alaunus/Fin, Alcyone, Alectrona, Alemonia, Alexiares, Allah, Alpan, Alpheus, Altjira, Amanikable, Ambisagrus, Amihan, Amlak, Amman, Amon, Amphitrite, Amum, Amunet, An, Anakes, Anansi, Ancamna, Andarta, Andraste, Anextiomarus, Angerona, Angitia, Anicetus, Anitan, Anitun Tabu, Anjea, Anna Perenna, Antariksha, Antevorte, Antheia, Anubis, Anuket, Apep, Aphaea, Aphrodite, Aplu, Apo, Apocatequil, Apolake, Apollo, Archons, Arebati, Ares, Aristaeus, Artemis, Artio, Asase Ya, Asclepius, Ashwinis, Asopus, Aspasia, Astraea, Ate, Atea, Athena, Atropos, Attis, Atum, Auseklis, Auxo, Averna, Aveta, Ayaba, Ayaba, Baal, Bagadjimbiri, Baiame, Bakonawa, Baldr, Bamapana, Banaitja, Bangputtis, Bast, Bastet, Bat, Bathala, Belatu-Cadros, Belenus, Belisama, Belobog, Bendis, Berstuk, Bes, Bia, Bia, Bobbi-Bobbi, Bona Dea, Boreas, Borr, Borvo, Bragi, Brahma, Brekyirihunuade, Bridget, Brigantia, Brigit, Brihaspati, Brizo, Bubona, Bunjil, Búri, Cabiri, Caelus, Caerus, Calliope, Calypso, Camma, Camulus, Candelifera, Cardea, Carmenta, Carna, Castor, Catillus, Celaeno, Ceres, Cernunos, Ceto, Chalchiuhtlicue, Chaos, Charon, Chasca, Christ, Chronos, Cinteotl, Cinxia, Circe, Cislobog, Cissonius, Cladeus, Clementia, Clio, Cloacina, Clotho, Cocidus, Cocles, Concordia, Condatis, Conditor, Coniraya, Consus, Convector, Copia, Corus, Cotys, Coventina, Coyolxauhqui, Cragus, Crnobog, Cuba, Cunina, Cupid, Cura, Curiatii, Cybele, Da, Dagda, Dagr, Dajbog, Damara, Danu, Daramulum, Dea Dia, Dea Tacita, Dei Lucrii, Delling, Demeter, Devera, Devi, Dewi, Di Penates, Dia, Dian Masalanta, Diana, Dilga, Dionysus, Dioscuri, Dis Pater, Disciplina, Dishas, Dius Fidus, Diwas / Dievas, Djanggawul, Domiduca, Domiducus, Domitius, Doris, Duellona, Durga, Dyaus, Dylan Ail Don, Dziewona, Edusa, Efreisone, Egeria, Egestes, Ehecatl, Eileithyia, Eingana, Eir, Ekkeko, El, Electra, Elpis, Empanda, Endovelicus, Enki, Enlil, Enyalius, Enyo, Eos, Eosphorus, Eostre, Epona, Erato, Erebus, Eris, Eros, Esus, Eunomia, Eurotas, Eurus, Euryale, Eurynome, Euterpe, Evander, Eventus Bonus, Fabulinus, Facunditas, Fagus, Faunus, Faustitas, Febris, Felicitas, Ferentina, Feronia, Fides, Flins, Fontus, Fornax, Forseti, Fortuna, Fraus, Freya, Freyr, Frigg, Fríge, Fulgora, Fulla, Furina, Gaia, Galeru, Ganesh, Gbadu, Geb, Gebeleizis, Gefjun, Glanis, Glaucus, Gleti, Gnowee, God, Gorgons, Grannus, Gu, Guarani, Gwydion, Hades, Hanuman, Hapy, Hathor, Haumia-tiketike, Hecate, Heget, Heimdallr, Hel, Hemera, Hephaestus, Hera, Heracles, Hermes, Hermóðr, Hespera, Hine Raumati, Hine Titama, Hine-nui-te-po, Hlín, Honos, Horae, Horatii, Hors, Horus, Huehueteotl, Huitzilopochtli, Hukluban, Hybris, Hygieia, Hypnos, Hêbê, Hêlios, Höðr, Idianale, ik Onkar, Ikapati/Lakan Pati, Ilamatecuhtli, Illapa, Ilmarine, Imhotep, Imporcitor, Ina, Inanna, Indra, Ingui Fréa, Insitor, Inti/Punchau, Inuus, Invidia, Irene, Iris, Isis, Itztlacoliuhqui, Iusaaset, Iðunn, Jagaddhatri, Jah, Janus, Jarilo, Jeebo, Jehova, Jengu, Jove, Julana, Julunggul, Juno, Jupiter, Jurupari, Juthrbog, Juturna, Jörð, Kaili, Kali, Kalinga, Kan-Laon, Kane Milohai, Karewit, Karora, Karpo, Khepry, Khnum, Khonvoum, Kidili, Kon, Krishna, Kubera, Kunapipi, Kurche, Kvasir, Kwaku Ananse, Lachesis, Lactans, Lada, Laima, Lakshmi, Lalahon, Larenta, Lares, Larvae, Laverna, Levana, Liberalitas, Libertas, Libitina, Lima, Lisa,

21. How many gods are there? Lofn, Loki, Loko, Lono, Loucetios, Loviatar, Lua, Lucina, Lugh, Lupercus, Lyr, Ma'at, Maahes, Mabuyan, Mafdet, Magwayen, Mahte, Maia, Maiesta, Mama Allpa, Mama Cocha, Mama Pacha, Mama Quilla, Mama Zara, Mami Wata, Manannan mac Lir, Manco Capac, Mandangan, Manes, Mangar-kunjer-kunja, Manggagaway, Mangkukulam, Mania, Manisilat, Maponos, Mara, Maria Makiling, Marowit, Mars, Marutas, Matronae, Maui, Mawu, Mayahuel, Mayari/Bulan, Ma’at, Meditrina, Medusa, Mefitis, Melletele, Mellona, Melpomene, Mena, Menhit, Menrva, Mens, Menthu, Mercury, Meretseger, Merope, Messor, Metis, Mictlantecuhtli, Mielikki, Moira, Momus, Moneta, Moordha, Morpheus, Morrigan, Mucius, Murcia, Murugan, Muses, Musikavanhu, Mut, Muta, Mutinus, Mwari, Máni, Mímir, Naenia, Nammu, Nana Buluku, Nana Buluku, Nanna, Nantosuelta, Nascio, Naunet, Neith, Nekhbet, Nemain, Nemesis, Nemestrinus, Nemetona, Nephthys, Neptune, Nereus, Nerio, Nerþus, Nethuns, Ngai, Nike, Ninhursag, Ninlil, Nixi, Njörðr, Nodens, Nodutus, Nona, Notus, Novensilus, Nuadha, Numakulla, Nundina, Nut, Nyadenga, Nyame, Nyx, Nótt, Obarator, Occator, Ogma, Ometeotl, Óðinn, Orbona, Osiris, Otso, Pacha Kamaq, Pales, Pan, Papa, Papa-tu-a-nuku, Pariacaca, Partula, Patalena, Paventia, Peitho, Pekko, Peko, Pele, Peneus, Perkele, Perkunas, Perséphonê, Perun, Phorcys, Picumnus, Pietas, Pikne, Pilumnus, Pleiades, Podaga, Poena, Polydeuces, Polyhymnia, Pomona, Porewit, Porus, Poseidon, Postverta, Potina, Potrimpos, Prajapati, Priapus, Prithvi, Promitor, Prorsa, Proteus, Providentia, Ptah, Pudicitia, Pundjel, Pusha, Puta, Quetzalcoatl, Quirinus, Quiritis, Ra, Ra-Horakhty, Radegast, Ramachandra, Ranginui, Rauni, Rederator, Reparator, Reshep, Rhiannon, Robigo, Robigus, Robur, Roma, Rongo, Rosmerta, Ruaumoko, Rudianos, Rudra, Rugiwit, Rumina, Runcina, Rusina, Saki, Saklas, Sakpata, Sakpata, Samael, Saritor, Sarurn, Satis, Satnam, Saturnus, Savitr, Seaxnéat, Securitas, Segomo, Seker, Sekhmet, Selene, Selket, Semonia, Sentia, Seshat, Set, Seth, Shakti, Shiva, Shu, Sieba, Siebog, Sif, Silvanus, Sin, Sirona, Siva, Sjöfn, Skaði, Skirnir, Smertrios, Snotra, Sobek, Sogbo, Sol, Soma, Sophia, Soranus, Sors, Spes, Spiniensis, Stata, Statanus, Statina, Sterope, Stheno, Strenua, Stribog, Subruncinator, Sucellus, Suedela, Sulis, Summanus, Supay, Surya, Svarog, Svetovid, Sága, Tala, Tamesis, Tane Mahuta, Tangaroa, Tapio, Taranis, Tartarus, Taweret, Tawhiri-matea, Taygete, Tefnut, Tellumo, Tempestes, Tepeyollotl, Terminus, Terpsichore, Terra Mater, Tezcatlipoca, Thalia, Thallo, Thanatos, Tharapita, Thetis, Thor, Thoth, Tiamat, Tibertus, Tinia, Tiw, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Tlaloc, Toci, Tonacatecuhtli, Tore, Toutatis, Triglav, Triton, Tu Matauenga, Tuonetar, Tuoni, Tupa, Turan, Typhon, Týr, Uenuku, Ukko, Uku, Ulanji, Ullr, Uni, Urania, Uranus, Urcaguary, Utu, Vacuna, Vahiguru. Vanemuine, Varuna, Vayu, Veles, Venus, Veritas, Verminus, Vertumnus, Vervactor, Vica Pota, Viduus, Vili, Viracocha, Virbius, Viriplaca, Virtus, Vishnu, Vishvedavas, Vitumnus, Voltumna, Volturnus, Volumna, Vulcan, Váli, Vár, Vé, Víðarr, Vör, Waaq, Wadj-wer, Wadjet, Waheguru, Wala, Wawalag, Wepwawet, Wodan, Wosret, Wuriupranili, Wéland, Wóden, Xevioso, Xipe Totec, Xochipilli, Xochiquetzal, YHWH, Yahweh, Yaldabaoth, Yama, Yao, Yurlungur, Zamolxis, Zaramama, Zeme, Zephyrus, Zeus, Zinsi, Zirnitra

22. How many religions? Aaiyyanism,Adventists, African Initiated, Ahl-e Haqq, Ahmadi, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Alawi, Alevi, Amish, Anglican, Apostolic, Arya Samaj, Asatru, Atenism, Ayyavazhi, Babism, Bahá'í, Baptist, Bektashi, Bhakti, Bhatra, Brahmo Samaj, Brethren, Buddhism, Cao Dai, Candomble, Caodism, Catholicism, Chinese folk religion, Chishti, Chondogyo, Christian Science, Christianity, Church of England, Confucianism, Congregational, Conservative Judaism, Damdami Taksal, Digambar, Druz, Eastern Orthodox, Elim Pentacostal, Episcopal, Falun Gong, Friends/Quakers, Gabars, Ganapatya, Greek Orthodox, Hinduism, Ibadism, Islam, Ismailism, Jainism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaism, Kharijism, Latter-day Saints, Lingayats, Lutheran, Mahayana, Mahdavism, Mandaeanism, Manichaeism, Mazhabi, Mennonite, Methodism, Mormon, Namdhari, Naqshbandi, Neo-Hindus, Neo-druidism, New Apostolic, Nihang, Northern Baptist, Nuwaubu, Orfism, Orthodox Judaism, Oveyssi, Paganism, Parisada Hindu Dharma, Parsis, Pentecostalism, Plymouth Brethren, Polytheistic reconstructionist, Prarthana Samaj, Presbyterian, Qadari, Quraniyoon, Ramakrishna Mission, Ramraiya, Rastafari, Reconstructionist Judaism, Reform Judaism, Reform Hindus, Reformed, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, Sant Mat, Santeria, Sathya Sai, Scientology, Secular Judaism, Seventh Day Adventism, Shaktism, Shaivism, Shia, Shinto, Shrautaism, Sikhism, Smartism, Southern Baptist, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana, Sthanakvasi, Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement, Submitters, Sufism, Suhrawardiyya, Sunni, Svetambara, Swadhyay Movement, Swaminarayan Sampraday, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Thelema, Theravada, Twelver, Unaffiliated Judaism, Udasi, Unitarian, Universalism, United, Unity, Vaishnavism, Vajrayana, Veerashaivas, Wahhabism, Weslyan, Wicca, Yazidi, Yiguandao, Zaidyyah, Zoroastrianism I counted over 1,000 gods and there are estimated to be over 4,200 religions in the world today. Can they all be right? Could they all be wrong?

23. HippoismThe one true religion The Pink Hippo Hippoists believe the Earth is held in space balanced on the nose of an invisible and intangible dancing Pink Hippopotamus. And they can prove it is true www.ThePinkHippo.org

24. The Pink Hippo • The Pink Hippo has always existed. • The Pink Hippo was alone and nothing else existed. • 6,047 years ago, in October, on a Tuesday, just before tea time, The Pink Hippo said: “Let the Universe and everything in it be created in an instant - now!” • Everything: galaxies, stars, planets, seas, land, layers of rock, mountains, streams, fossils, ancient civilisations, archaeological sites, plants, animals, humans - was created in an instant - just as it is today. That’s why we can find fossils of sea creatures at the top of Mount Everest. • Hippoist holy books say this is true. • It has a web site: www.ThePinkHippo.org. • Hippoists are adults - and they say it is true. • So it MUST be true.

25. Do I believe this? No - I am an atheist! • I made up a new god: The Pink Hippo. • I invented a new religion: Hippoism. • I wrote the holy books of Hippoism. • I created the web site: www.ThePinkHippo.org • The same story is told in the holy books of Judaism, Christianity and Islam - I just changed “god” to “The Pink Hippo”. • All gods and holy books were made up by someone.

26. A few non-believers There is no gene for religion. Babies start life as non-believers. We cannot choose our skin colour or if we are a boy or girl. We should be free to choose what we believe. A few religious people Have these babies made a free choice about what they believe?

27. Becoming religious People become religious because: • their parents, family, friends and community are religious. • they worry about what happens after death. • they think religion answers the big questions of life. • things happen that they don’t understand. • they think holy books provide moral values and rules. • it provides support, a social life and a feeling of community. • they enjoy the rituals of religion. Should you: • accept the first religion that comes along? • investigate and find out more about other beliefs? • be free to make up your own mind? • be free NOT to believe if you don’t want to?

28. How many people are religious? How many people take part in religious activity? <10% Over 90% do not! How many adults believe in a god? <40% Over 60% do not! How many young people (12-16) believe in a god? <30% Over 70% do not!

29. Good without god • Do you know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad? • Can you be a good person without believing in god? • Do we need holy books to tell us what is right and what is wrong? • Growing up means taking personal responsibility for your decisions, words and actions. You can’t delegate responsibility.

30. Humanists • We are atheists - we don’t believe in gods. • We support freedom of belief - as long as it causes no harm. • We want all young people to make a free and informed decision about what to believe. • We have no holy books, no holy men, no holy places and no rituals. We are not “religious”. • We celebrate major events (birth, marriage, death) with family, friends and a party. • We do our best to lead happy and responsible lives without gods and religions. • You don’t have to join anything to be a humanist.

31. Thinking for yourself • Find out about as many beliefs as you can. • Talk to people with different beliefs. • Discuss “the big questions” with your friends. • Be a sceptic: ask for evidence before accepting anything. • Question everything - never stop asking questions. Think for yourself and make up your own mind about what you believe.

32. Summary • Occam’s Razor: “the simplest explanation is usually the best.” • God is an unnecessary idea for which there is no evidence. • Things explained by god can be explained simpler without god. • The big questions of life can be answered very simply without inventing gods and religions. • You can be good without god. • Millions of people lead happy and responsible lives without god and religion.

33. A few atheists • Daniel Radcliffe (Actor: Harry Potter) • Ian McKellen (Actor: Gandalf) • Elton John (Musician) • John Lennon (Musician: The Beatles) • Steve Wozniak (Founder of Apple) • Bill Gates (Founder of Microsoft) • Richard Branson (Founder of the Virgin group) • Ricky Gervais (Comedian) • Jimmy Carr (Comedian) • Charles Darwin (Author: "Origin of the Species") • Albert Einstein (Physicist) • Stephen Hawking (Physicist) • Peter Higgs (Physicist: The Higgs Boson) • Richard Dawkins (Scientist: "The God Delusion") • Stephen Fry (Actor) • Hugh Laurie (Actor) • Helen Mirren (Actor) • Nigella Lawson (TV chef) • Alan Sugar (Businessman) • Brian Clough (Football Manager) • Grayson Perry (Artist) • Damien Hirst (Artist) • .... and millions more. Almost all scientists are atheists

34. Things to think about • Why did people come up with the idea of gods? • Why are there so many gods? • If there is only one god, why so many religions? • If god created the Universe, what created god? • If god is so good, why do bad things happen? • Why do people get upset if their religion is questioned? • What needs are met by religions? • Why do some people need religion and others don’t? • Would the world be a more peaceful place if people were a little less serious about religion?