Member Sue Hewlett will lead a discussion about some of the women who’ve influenced humanist thinking. As always, guests welcome and refreshments will be provided, but if you let us know you’re coming it would be helpful. Click here to RSVP. Click here for a map and directions (pdf).

Margaret Nelson will be discussing this with some clerics (don’t know who). If you’re not in the area, you can listen online or listen again – see link below.

As news spreads of the killing of the US Ambassador to Libya, J Christopher Stevens, by an angry mob reacting to a film about Islam, there’s also news that Channel 4 has cancelled its screening of Tom Holland’s film, Islam: the untold story, in response to threats from Muslim extremists. The film that prompted the Benghazi assault on the US Embassy, as well as demonstrations in Egypt, was made by an Israeli filmmaker, Sam Bacile (who’s gone into hiding), and was promoted by Morris Sadek, an extreme anti-Muslim Egyptian Christian campaigner who lives in California.

Our September newsletter is ready for you to download. There are book reviews, a report about the popular new Ipswich Caf Scientifique, a complaint to the BBC, and a piece about the imaginary ban on crucifixes at work that some Christians are complaining about. Print a copy for yourself and pass it on to your friends. [Click here to download a copy](http://www.suffolkhands.org.uk/files/1/SH&S News Sept 2012.pdf “SH&S News Sept 2012”) (pdf).

Cartoon by Wiley, via www.gocomics.com. With thanks to the American Humanist Association.

Ten minute topics has always been a popular format. You are invited to suggest a topic for ten minutes of discussion. It can be anything you like. Everyone writes a topic on a scrap of paper and they’re drawn from a hat (or another suitable receptacle). Sometimes this generates ideas that can be followed up at a later date. Click here for maps and directions (pdf).

A couple of days ago it was reported that Moors murderer Ian Brady had given a sealed envelope to his mental health advocate that may or may not give details of where he’d left the body of his victim Keith Bennett, who was twelve. Today it was announced that Keith’s mother, Mrs Winnie Johnson, had died. Interviewing Mrs Johnson’s solicitor, John Ainley, on BBC News 24, weekend presenter Maxine Mawhinney asked if Brady was religious.

Read about him on Wikipedia

If you receive the National Secular Society‘s weekly email, Newsline, you’ll already have read this message: Why we need you to commit to your principles A message from Terry Sanderson, NSS President We know there are millions of people in this country who would prefer religion not to interfere in their life and to stay where it belongs in places of worship and in the homes of worshippers. There is a definite feeling of discomfort abroad about the way that churches, mosques, temples and other places of worship are putting out tentacles that reach into all our lives whether it is into our children’s education (another huge increase in the number of ‘faith schools’ is on the way), our taxes (why do churches get special tax privileges, like reduced VAT, when the rest of us are shown no mercy?

Via NSS on Facebook. Click here for Chris Addison’s website.