BBC Radio 4 “Beyond Belief” features Susan Blackmore on Humanism and secular morality
Ernie Rea hosts a discussion on value without God, introducing it thus: “Is it possible to live a fulfilled, meaningful life, without the consolations of religious faith? Well, the 26th British Social Attitudes Survey published earlier this year suggests that as many as 43% of the population of this country describe themselves as “non-religious”, and,” – a note of surprise in his voice – “most of them seem to live perfectly happy lives. Without belief in God what shapes the meaning and purpose in our lives?”
BHA Distinguished Supporter Susan Blackmore joins the discussion to answer these questions.
Listen via http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00td8hl
BBC Radio 4 “Beyond Belief” features Susan Blackmore on Humanism and secular morality,
This was broadcast a week ago on 16th August, not 23rd August, but is available as a podcast.
The main speaker advertised as a Humanist and Psychotherapist was Fergus Stokes, though I don’t know if he has connections with the BHA. Susan Blackmore was described as a “Zen Practitioner” which I take to mean a form of meditation, or else of Japanese Buddhism.
I loved Susan Blackmore’s book “The Meme Machine”. She is definitely a Distinguished BHA Supporter though she does have an affinity for meditation and all that malarkey (sorry Susan, can’t see the appeal myself).
I used to do Buddhism myself at one time, but once disabused of all its mysticism I came to the conclusion that the whole thing was simply a means of achieving nothing slowly. – if I wanted to achieve that I could just go to sleep.
There are, supposedly, a few Buddhist humanists and brights out there, as it doesn’t require theistic belief. I’d like to hear more from this subculture as there’s always a danger that, anti-theists might all too willingly come to equate Buddhism with that of the theistic/dogmatic variety – the kind that kills people.
As non-believers, I think its important we advertise the fact that there is such a thing as ancient non-theistic, non-supernatural world-views that have clearly survived throughout history, even to this day. Perhaps members like Susan Blackmore could be part of a Buddhistic Humanist group affiliated to the BHA?
I have a copy of Susan Blackmore’s “The Meme Machine” on my desk as I type. Excellently written in a style I am copying for my own PhD dissertation.
For some reason all podcasts from before 23 August are no longer available on iTunes.
I thought that was a very good radio programme – even the tired and hollow Christian arguments being trotted out were OK because it made a good excuse for me to shout at the radio
I agree with C.J. Wilton that meditation is very much a matter of personal taste (I’m not convinced the science says much either way), and as such would have preferred not to have seen it suffixed with “and all that malarkey”.
As it happens I did try to start a group about meditation and Humanism last year
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meditation_and_humanism/
Because I think that meditation tends to get muddled with religion and supernaturalism, and thus there are a lack of opportunities for those of us who would like to learn and practice meditation in a secular context. Currently I think the best bet is Acem (and it’s a shame I’m not aware of a group with a mindfulness-based approach I could also suggest).
http://acem.co.uk/
But even I personally would have no use for a “Buddhistic Humanist” sub-group. I have been inspired and found meaning in ideas which originated from Buddhist sources, but feel that good ideas can survive the kind of sceptical scrutiny required to exist in the Humanist mainstream.
I’m currently reading the recently published second edition of Susan Blackmore’s “Consciousness: An Introduction”, and find it breathtaking how comprehensively she covers the subject. In the introduction she says “Since we are studying subjective experience we must have the courage to become familiar with subjective experience”, the context in which this is said has nothing to do with meditation, but in my view meditation certainly a valid approach to becoming familiar with subjective experience, and this more than justifies why a consciousness researcher may have an affinity for meditation.
I already do this Acem meditation every day — I call it idling or resting or lazing about.
Does it really need the support of an International Organisation?
Hi George,
Your question has brought a smile to my lips, and it’s a fair question, but the answer is definitely “yes”!
1. It’s really not that easy to just “let go”, or at least not everyone finds it so. One reason may be because there are too many things competing for my attention, even within my own head. Another reason may be because it involves activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is part of the autonomic nervous system, and therefore not under direct conscious control.
2. There is a difference between meditation and idling/resting/lazing. I’m not claiming one is better than the other. Just the fact that some people can subjectively feel a difference is more than adequate justification those who want to pursue meditation as a hobby, and why shouldn’t they form into some sort of club or organisation? But actually I think there are objective measures too that some sort of difference exists; perhaps EEG is one of them?
3. You could just as easily ask your question about Progressive Muscle Relaxation, but presumably wouldn’t because PMR forms part of demonstrably effective therapies. A better question is “why do we need meditation when we have PMR?”…perhaps we don’t – I did say I think meditation is very much a matter of personal taste, didn’t I.
Instead of arguing it’s not trivial (1), there is a place for technique (3), and it’s not the same thing (2)… I could just have pointed out there are perfectly credible organisations that support idling too!
http://idler.co.uk/